All Forum Posts by: Gail K.

Both of you show up.  Since this is the first time you have done this it is good to have "backup" as first timers.  Even if only one of you signed the lease the other can be there to provide support. This doesn't mean both have to speak up unless the judge requests further information that you cannot provide but your husband can.   If this is an eviction due to failure to pay rent it is recommended that you bring a copy of the lease and any other documentation (i.e., Pay or Quit notices) that you have provided to your tenant prior to coming to this conclusion.  A judge might ask for these to review.

Just remember at the hearing to keep your mouth shut and answer only those questions you are asked by the judge.  There is often a tendency to argue with the other party and provide far too much information on past issues to the court.  Often tenants being evicted sink their own ship with how long winded they can be discussing how they "suffered" through this tenancy.  Judges who preside over these hearings are well experienced in this business and have likely heard every story in the book.

Consider negotiating with the current owner that the rental property must be vacant at the time of the closing.  It would then be their responsibility to terminate these month to month leases with their tenants.

Based on the very wise theory that NO ONE should rent to friends or family this is likely to end up being a disaster that is only just now incubating.  

Rent to own situations are often disasters for tenants.  If these two decide to go this route it is best if they have this reviewed by an attorney familiar with real estate.

And what type of lease does this tenant have?  Why do you want them out?

oops margarine.

In my county once the items pulled out through an eviction hit the curb that's it.  No saving or storing anything is required on the part of the landlord.  I haven't found much of value after a move out or an eviction (well, my son and I once found a packet of what we assumed were drugs and I suppose the tenant would have found that of value but we presented the stuff to our local police instead) but I am a big one on recycling intact furniture to our local Habitat and Catholic Social Services organizations to avoid good stuff ending up in the landfill and donating canned goods to our local soup kitchen.  I did find a small box that contained the ashes of dog that had been cremated and contacted the tenant but they never responded back indicating they wanted it.

In one of our neighborhoods we sometimes time how long it takes to have others claim any furniture left on the curb.  The record was 2 minutes.  Placed a couch in pretty good shape out there and three people who were on the corner ran over and asked if we were keeping it.  When I said no two "claimed" it by plunking themselves on the couch and the third ran home to get some transportation to haul it.  They then knocked on the door and asked if we had anything else to give away.  I was able to get rid of some beat up pots and pans and they helped me clean out the frig and gladly took all the no name hotdogs, luncheon meats and something that might have passed for margaine. 

I've got a bit of a different take on blinds.  I like them (and use them in many rentals) but this rental we replaced all the windows and took quite a bit of time building frames, etc. around them.  Normally I put on blinds to avoid tenants standing on wobbly chairs nailing curtains into the walls but this time I hung rod curtains using spring loaded rods so no screwing/nailing to the frames were required.  Just signed a lease with new tenant who mentioned changing the curtains to blinds.  When I explained my rationale for not doing  this she understood and said she had some "rod" curtains that she would use in place of what I had up.

Require that the current owner provide this property empty before you consider making a bid on it.

Sometimes one should wonder why a landlord/investor might wish to sell a property.  There can be many reasons but one might be a problem tenant that they are tired of dealing with and want to dump on someone else.

$305??  Those are some expensive shoes....and house plants.

Unfortunately yes, appliances do seem to have a much shorter life than previously.  It's unusual that two of them worked improperly (or not at all) immediately at delivery.  Makes one wonder which country put them together and on the long trip over to your local stores if some damage too place.

My first "new" washing machine after graduate school and moving to start my first professional job was from Sears (the only place one could get appliances at that time).  Purchased in 1978 and used until around 2013 when the drum literally wore out and started leaking and "Old Bessie" had to be retired.  That washer went through two children and when they were babies I did not use disposable diapers so washing day was often...daily.   The only issue I ever had was placing lid switches three times (first time I watched a repair person do this and thought "hey, that can't be very hard" and I replaced the other two myself) from slamming the lid down too hard.  I think the lid switch was the only actual piece of plastic on the washer.  

I remember having to ask two friends to help me wrestle Bessie out of my laundry room; she was that heavy.  Replacement washers have been much lighter and easier to haul around,