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All Forum Posts by: Jack B.

Jack B. has started 419 posts and replied 1844 times.

Post: Would you rent to this person with a past bankruptcy?

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045

They didn't mention it on the phone, only mentioned that they went down to "Zero" when the real estate bubble burst a few years ago.

He gave me a detailed run down of his story (of course it's difficult to verify any of it). He said they have learned their lesson and have downsized their lifestyles, and they had a $6,500 a month mortgage payment before. I will note they showed up in an 80K Cadillac truck, and a 50K Chevy pick up (he has his own construction business, she is a stay at home mom). 

I'm a bit hesitant. They do have an existing landlord for the past 3 years, though who knows if he tells me the truth if I call, he may just be trying to get them out. I could ask for an additional deposit.

I will say as much as I want to say no due to the fact that they know how to game the system and are still living a life of lavish cars and houses (renting/leasing all probably) and his income is tied to the construction industry, so a down turn = problems.

Then again, they were OK with the additional rent for them and their pets, which is extra profit...assuming they don't screw me. On the plus side if they don't screw me, they will likely be here a long time. Almost every rental in my neighborhood is only occupied for a year before it turns. 91% of people here are homeowners, it's a highly educated, high income area, so usually when you find renters they are only temporary.

Post: Realtor rental scam?

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045
Originally posted by @Adam Bartomeo:

Good lord....

1. @James Wise is probably right

2. Why wouldn't you be happy to have potential tenants knocking on your door.

It's like finding money in the street and attacking the guy that dropped it. Be thankful for your luck

Good Lord....Something so simple.

Because 9 out of 10 people who contact me or are interested in this half a million dollar property are not even REMOTELY qualified. Literally 9 out of 10 have either evictions, felony records, or make minimum wage.  This is even with the criteria listed at the top of the ads.

On top of that, I prefer to show the house on a schedule, not just when random people show up. If you really think that sending people to my house without my consent, at random times of the day/week is OK, especially after I didn't take you up on your unsolicited services, then I don't know what to tell you, but most educated reasonable people don't behave this way. How would you like it if I sent some felon to your door at 8PM on a Friday night? Lol, never mind, no sense in arguing with people who can't grasp something this simple.

Post: Realtor rental scam?

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045
Originally posted by @James Wise:
Originally posted by @Jack B.:
Originally posted by @James Wise:

Scam is not my 1st thought. 

This is the more likely scenario.

He likely had clients who wanted to rent so he called you hoping to get a commission for showing it. You did not return his calls and his clients kept asking him to show them rentals. With no other options he referred them over to your house.

 What exactly do you call it when someone who tried to solicit you services that you never bought and never even communicated with them about, sends people to your house hoping to get a commission for referring them? Frankly I tried to find the guys number to track him down and stop by his office and tell him in no uncertain terms not to refer anyone to my property again or to ever contact me again.

 Nothing in your original post indicates to me that he expected a commission from you for sending them over.

 Right, because he referred them for free when I didn't respond. Thanks for clearing that up...On top of that you appear to be the type of Realtor who thinks sending people over to my house at random times who I have not screened is A OK? Thanks for clearing that up as well.

Post: Realtor rental scam?

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045
Originally posted by @James Wise:

Scam is not my 1st thought. 

This is the more likely scenario.

He likely had clients who wanted to rent so he called you hoping to get a commission for showing it. You did not return his calls and his clients kept asking him to show them rentals. With no other options he referred them over to your house.

 What exactly do you call it when someone who tried to solicit you services that you never bought and never even communicated with them about, sends people to your house hoping to get a commission for referring them? Frankly I tried to find the guys number to track him down and stop by his office and tell him in no uncertain terms not to refer anyone to my property again or to ever contact me again.

Post: Rude prospective tenant tour today

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045

I am honestly shocked by how dumb these people are. I've noticed a correlation between class and income. The people who show class and have people skills tend to be the higher earning prospects. 

The people who are red neck trailer trash with their kids running around like they are at a park, combined with their parents walking on the carpet with their shoes after they put them back on, and let's not forget the ones that don't mention that they have an eviction, bad credit, or eight dogs until they show up and are half way through the tour even though I had it in the top of the listing AND mentioned it twice via email, these retards usually are blue collar working at Home Depot, lol. 

And these idiots are trying to rent a house in a half a million dollar neighborhood. Just WOW!

Post: Realtor rental scam?

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045

I had a Realtor call me a few weeks ago, leaving me a voicemail offering to rent the house for me for a 25% fee. I never called him back or otherwise communicated with him. I had never solicited his services, he just found my number in my online ad.

Today, while in the middle of a tour with a prospective tenant, an entire family showed up at my door. I didn't have an appointment with them and they said they were told by a realtor to stop by. I told them I was not aware of this. They then asked me if I'm the owner, which I confirmed. They said maybe it was a rental scam. I had someone else in my house unattended so I told them they were welcome to wait until the person I was with was done, but they were gone when I returned a few minutes later.

This is for an A class property, and I've had more deadbeats, weirdos, scammers and idiots than my C class properties. Just amazing. 

Post: Rude prospective tenant tour today

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045

Wow. Guy showed up, two LOUD and OBNOXIOUS kids in tow. They proceeded to run around SCREAMING throughout the entire house, attacking my dog, jumping up and down on my couch like they were at home, and then to top it off, after they put their shoes back on on their way out, he ran right onto the carpet after the dog again. 

At this point I snatched his shirt and guided him back to his dad at the door and invited them to leave. Suffice it to say, he will NOT be getting the application he requested. If you are this much of an idiot in front of your landlord, I can't imagine what your dirty kids will do to my house, considering you clearly don't parent them. 

Wow...Rough past couple months land lording. I have half a mind to send the douche bag a note telling him the house is not available to him on account of the rude behavior during the tour. 

Post: High or mid end washer and dryer for new rental?

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045

I like your thinking. The American made is a bonus. I'm sold, tx!

Post: High or mid end washer and dryer for new rental?

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045

I bought another house with a MIL apartment a bit ago and it needs a washer/dryer in the main unit (that I will be living in, though I will eventually rent the house out). This is a high end home in a 500-700K neighborhood, and it has granite counter tops and stainless appliances.

I was thinking of getting those nicer appliances since it goes with the existing higher end appliances (largely for when I rent the place out, since it is a higher end rental, I personally am fine with the mid grade ones to save a buck), though they cost about $1,500 total vs. $1,000 out the door with all the items needed for setup of the mid grade ones. Is it best to spend the extra money on the higher end appliances since the rest of the house already has them and it would be odd as a rental with a mixed bag of appliances? 

Mid grade: http://www.lowes.com/pd_670295-46-WTW4815EW_1z0utz...

High end: http://www.lowes.com/pd_588938-46-WFW72HEDW_1z11pmlZ1z10aag__?productId=50200095&pl=1

Post: Tenant Applicants say the dumbest things

Jack B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,888
  • Votes 1,045

I've had some new idiots recently:

Idiot #1: "Can I get a tour today?!"

Me: "Sure, can you tell me about your income, credit and background"

Idiot #1: "I have an eviction from my one and only apartment ever, and it was stupid, we were only there a month, it wasn't my fault, but I'm going to pay them back [it had been three years already]"

Me: "I don't rent to people with any eviction history."

Idiot #2: "Do you accept section 8?"

Me: "Section 8 pays you to live in a half million dollar house with stainless appliances and granite counters?"

Idiot #3: "[after being told twice what the credit/background/income requirements are and no pets policy and still showing up for a tour] Oh, by the way, I have an eviction, and 3 dogs, and my boyfriend has a felony conviction for armed robbery but he is a really nice guy, and oh, need you to lower the rent"

Me: "You can leave...NOW..."

Idiot #4: This lady refuses to tell me her income, even though I asked three times, because she told me she lost her apartment because she couldn't afford it on a Denny's waitress wage. Each time I asked she just kept telling me she could afford it, not to worry about it. Apparently she also had a criminal record. When she followed up again to see if I would show it to her, I told her, "Ummmmm....Noooo."

I basically talk to people like they are morons or little children now, because they prove to me each time they email/call or show up, that they are the idiots of society.

Once in a while I get a halfway intelligent person that seems to get it, as they email me that they make X amount, have x credit score and would love to see the place. Anytime I get someone who calls or emails and wants to set up an appointment to tour without talking about their background I end up finding out there is a reason for that.