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All Forum Posts by: Henry T.

Henry T. has started 20 posts and replied 1427 times.

Post: What Section 8 Landlords need to know: Lower Voucher Payment Standards

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970

So I guess what your saying is...Aside from the city of Los Angeles chasing landlords away with anti-landlord legislation, rent control, and rental registration, etc, etc, and all the red tape that goes with it, here's another reason for landlords to close up shop and go somewhere else.  Fewer rentals being the result. Makes sense to me. I could see this coming. It's funny, looking at all of the boxes one must check to have their rental registered. It's all of the same boxes you have to check to be in the section 8 program. In other words, forced compliance.  Governments best intentions ruining it on all sides, helping no one, I think.

Post: Can I ask to see condition of prospective tenant's current home?

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970

Have it as a standard part of your listed screening criteria. 

"Current residence will be visited". Simple as that and keep it vague.

Need a reason? Evidence of smoking.  Number of vehicles. Lawn care. General appearance must meet our standard. No used tires in yard. 

Post: Tenants asking for rent reduction due to Maintenance issues

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970

No way. The problem was fixed. Done.

Post: first time landlord question

Henry T.
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  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970

Hmmm. Just wondering out loud...Have you ever tried to collect from someone that is self-employed?  Imposssssssssible.  Hot potato, drop it.

Post: When deciding to demolition a damaged home, is it better to keep the slab?

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970
Quote from @Greg M.:

Why do anything? I assume you're going to sell it to a developer, so sell it as is and let them deal with it. 

There may be a property tax benefit to leaving pieces. Where I'm at, if you leave a tiny piece of an existing wall and rebuild the remaining 99.99%, it's a remodel instead of a new build and the property taxes don't reset. 

That's excellent advice, that is often easily overlooked.

Post: New siding worth it in this case?

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970
Quote from @Noah Kellar:

@Henry T. 

Thanks, Henry. Do you recommend sticking with aluminum trim if I were to refinish wood?


 Toss all of it. Get back to basics. I'm an investor and a landlord, but also a sentimental fool. My decisions are not strictly bottom line. I want my tenants in a place that I would be happy to be in. This is simply my personal choice and I can afford it. I hate metal and plastic siding, it doesn't take long for either of those to look bad. Sure, you have to paint wood, hardy, or even smartside, but the result is much classier, in my opinion. Smartside durability is still in the to-be-determined arena.

Post: Tenant wants LL pay for high electric bill due to high cost electric furnace

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970

"I am sorry mr. new tenant. You moved in knowing the kind of furnace there is. You are responsible for the costs to operate it. I am willing to install a new gas furnace,  which should help you with your long term costs. Would you like me to do this install, or should we just leave things the way they are? Let us know. We appreciate your tenancy" Signed management.

This situ is partly your fault for not having thoroughly checked the system before renting. In the future, you might try to educate yourself about heating systems and their running costs. This will help you plan better and price units accordingly. Good luck!

Post: New siding worth it in this case?

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970

Aluminum siding is a big turn off for me personally. I'm with Bruce. IF that Alum siding was on there for 30 yrs, that's 30 that the old wood was protected. If the old wood siding is a standard type, that you can fix(where necessary) easily, that's the way to go.  Scraping and prepping for new paint aint nothin'l. That's what I'd do and have done. The results can be stellar. Carefully, get rid of the tin crap. 

Post: Tenant Refund Request

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970

Rent is by the month not per day. There have been times when (left in such good condition and clean)  I've refunded when they left early. It was to my benefit that I could get in early and be rent ready. I would never agree in advance. Usually you're left with a pig sty.

Post: Furnace or Boiler/Radiators

Henry T.
Posted
  • Posts 1,438
  • Votes 970

I'll never forget how wonderful boiler/radiator heat feels.