All Forum Posts by: Eric Meyer

This is my first time having to advertise my rental. I have it posted on Craigslist, Zillow which also posts it to Hotpad and Trulia, and I have it posted on Facebook Marketplace. I have had a lot of interest it, in just two days. I did an open house today with only 3 people showing up. Now I let calls go to voicemail and call back when I’m ready and able to talk. No problem there. But what I’m having issues with is the Facebook messages and emails. I tried at first to answer all the messages but it seems like maybe 10% of people message me back. Now for the emails, all I get is I’m interest and their phone number. I listed in my postings to call and my number. Should I just focus my attention on the people that actually call and the occasional email that asks questions? And just disregard all those messages? I’m beginning to feel like if they are serious, they will call. Any advice would be great. My rental is in a C class neighborhood.

Sorry to ask this question like so many other people have already done, and I have searched the forums for answers and i get such mixed and older responses. What Tenant Screen Service do you use or recommend?

Long story short, I had a tenant lined up, and we were going to do the lease signing this Saturday, and he calls me Wednesday to notify me he was let go from his employer. I did call his employer to verify. Now I have to refill the vacancy.   I used the SmartMove here on Biggerpockets for that screening, but I'm not happy with it. I'm dealing with a "C" class neighborhood and just need a screening process that I punch in their information and I get the results, of course with me collecting an application fee. With Smartmove the tenant needs to do another online application, and I'm already having them fill a paper application out, which seems like to much to a lot of tire kickers.  I re-posted my vacant unit and have had more interest then I thought, with some already good phone conversations, so I decided to do an open house this weekend, So I need to find a new screening service ASAP. Thank you in advance.

@Ray J., Thank you and Congrats on your 3rd. Its very difficult to just get someone to call you back. There's people recommending people all around my local area and people advertising on Craigslist, but no one wants to call you back. I figured with a little bigger project of a bathroom it would be more profitable for someone, but everyone must  have enough work. If i find someone, I'll share them with you. 

Hey everyone! I just recently closed on my first rental property and I'm looking for a Handyman and possibly someone to do a bathroom remodel. Tenant is moving out and I would love to be able to have a quick turnaround time. The Property is located in East Chicago, IN. I've looked on Craigslist and quite frankly, not inpressed with some of the reponses or lack of. I was hoping that there was some people in my area that had some good contractors and handyman to share. I can and have been doing minor things myself, but I know I'm not always going to be able to do everything myself (skill and time wise).

@Brian Garlington

After I had started this discussion I remembered a form from reading the BP Book on managing rental properties, but couldn't remember the name. So I searched my forms and found it this morning. Then I seen your post, Thank you. I already know I need to be firm and re-retrain the tenants. I have all my forms/notices ready to be printed if needed. Everything between the current owner and tenants is all verbal and when asked separately, the stories jive, but i need it all in writing. I sent off a estoppel to my realtor today asking for it to be filled out and returned by end of next week.  Good looking out. I love all the helpful advice and look forward to helping others. 

This is good, I like the feedback, thank you. I'll definately put them on a month to month now, seeing that everyone feels the same way. I like brutal honesty.

I haven't yet closed on my first rental which is a 2 unit, but I'm trying to get ahead of the game here. I've read a dozen books, podcasts, researched, and looked at many properties. But now i'm going to be a landlord, theres no more just reading about, I have to do it. I'm inheriting tenants in each unit. One is the mother of the current owner and the other is a family friend. There is no lease, no security deposit, and they are below market rent, which they know. I will be closing just before Christmas. I've briefly talked to each tenant about what is going to happen, a lease will need to be signed and rent is going up. Let me share what my thoughts were and then please offer your opinions.

Front House: 3bd - 2ba family of 5 living there for 1 year (friends of the current owner). current rent is $750 with market being $850-900. They voiced that they plan to buy a house possibly in April. So my plan was to sit down with them after closing and discuss a plan: get them to sign a short lease until April, state that rent will be increased to $850, request a security deposit, but in return ask them if there is anything that they need done around the house, IE: small repairs and paint to make them feel like they are getting something in return. The two times that I've been to the house, they have been polite  and the house was clean and orderly.

Back House: 2bd - 1ba,  lady living there has been there 15 years (mother of current owner). current rent $550 and market being $700-750. I planed sit with her also and discuss a plan:  get her to sign a 1 year lease, raise rent to $650 and possibly raise second second year. request a security deposit, but allso in return ask if she wants any small repairs. She has already asked if I could paint the inside something different then the same biege its been forever. She is also very polite and house is extremely clean and cared for. 

I know this will probably be a burden right around christmas, but its buisness. Both tenants thought they had to move before closing but I assured them that I would like them to staty as long as we can come to an agreement. What are everybody's thoughts. Am I being to harsh, good plan, or what do you recommend?????? Thanks in advance.