Our For Rent sign drew a city inspector like a beacon. He charged us $100 and said he would be inspecting the outside of the property. He had been watching the house for over a year while it was foreclosed and abandoned by the bank. (it's in a suburb of Cleveland)
After spending mass quantities to update the HVAC and electrical, paint, throw in some used kitchen appliances, replace 3 windows and remove a 70ft oak tree, this idiot comes along to add thousands more. He says we need to repair the sidewalks, driveway, paint the aluminum siding, reseed the lawn and do something about the patch of mulch from the tree. I called and told him there was no way we could afford to do all that and he said to call back in August. Like I will have more money in August? Looking around at the neighborhood, which we also live in, there is cracked cement, messed up grass, and many ground out tree stumps that are no different from this rental.
I made the mulch into a landscape feature by digging up plants from around the yard and installing them there. My husband put down some grass seed in the bare spots. I'm sure we spent way too much time and effort, but I wanted to mollify the guy so he will show mercy.
What could we have done differently? The for rent sign, beacon though it was, has brought a lot of interest, so I would hate to have to rely only on the internet for our next property.
Becky
