All Forum Posts by: Jeff B.

Thanks again Matt!!  I definitely have some adjusting to do to my process.  I feel I'm spending an inordinate amount of time in the selection process.  I'll check into SmartMove and see if that might make some of the process a bit easier. 

Thanks for the quick and concise replies!!

Matt, question for you about your application process.  Do you collect the application fee from all applicants at the time the application is submitted or after you have "ranked" the applicants?  In other words, do you run the credit check for all applicants or only for the chosen applicant?

Received 2 applications for tenants today for one of my houses.  The first applicant seems to barely meet my requirements (primarily income requirements) and the second meets and exceeds the requirements by a significant amount.  I have a feeling the first applicant will end up being a one year and out tenant and the second has already stated they would likely be 3+ years. 

I would very much prefer to offer the lease to the 2nd applicant, but not sure how I would go about denying the 1st since they meet my minimum requirements (though it is by the slimmest of margins).    What options do I have when I run into this situation?

Thanks for the reply Rob.  I think I do have an account with them (userxxxxxx) that is displayed when I log into Zillow.  When I view the ad for the property in Zillow, it shows that same userxxxxxx ID as the Manager for the property, so I think it is linked to my account properly.  I just don't have any of the agent info filled out on my profile, since I'm not an agent.

I've spent all morning searching Zillow for the answer to these questions, but haven't found anything yet.  So I thought I'd check the brain-trust here on BP.

I have placed an ad on Postlets for my open rental home.  I see that the ad has been placed on Zillow and have received several notifications on my phone from Zillow for potential tenants.  However, when I tap on the notification on my phone, Zillow takes me to my profile page attempting to force me to complete my "agent" profile (I'm not an agent, so I don't have the Professional Information that it is attempting to collect).  I assumed it would take me to a list of contacts who have requested more information from me.  When I log into Zillow on my computer, there is no indication that there have been any contacts from potential tenants. 

Am I wrong that there is a list of past contacts on Zillow?  I'm relatively new and haven't posted anything to Postlets or Zillow, so I'm not sure what to expect.  The Postlets and Zillow sites are very vague on how the contact process works (at least as far as I can find...).

I too, use the odd number for my offers just to make them potentially a smidge higher than another offer.  Not sure the odd number on the pricing of the listing would make a big splash though. 

Can't say I'd recommend this process for getting back rent, but if the tenant is acting like a kid....

http://www.whiotv.com/news/news/crime-law/former-waynesville-citizen-of-the-year-accused-of-/nWTZs/

So you are running checks for all adults on the lease? I'm assuming you do a full credit/background/eviction check on the primary tenant. Are you just doing a basic credit check on the others, or do you run a full check on all, or a less in-depth check? I have only been running the checks on the primary person on the lease. Perhaps I need to rethink this...

I knew about the influence system. But the fact that it was there certainly didn't give me any reason to act/post one way or another. I'm not one to keep score anyway, so "influence" doesn't impress me. Good, fact based responses from knowledgable participants does impress me.

With or without the influence system, this is the most informative real estate site that I have found. I will continue to come here to get my questions answered and to offer my limited experience to others.

Jon, carpet was 16 months old when they moved out. I had the carpet cleaned with an additional charge for the application of the enzyme for pet stains. After the carpet had dried, there was still a very strong cat urine odor. I pulled the carpet up and the backing was thoroughly stained from the urine. I don't plan to charge for the carpet cleaning, but the enzyme application is all their's ($60).

Cost of the replacement carpet is going to be a tick over $700. As stated earlier in the thread, I plan on charging for 56% or $400 ((36months typical use - 16 months used)/36) of the total cost of the carpet replacement.

I hired my cleaning crew to clean/repair much of the mess ($150).

I'm still doing some of the painting and finalizing of the place to get it rent ready. I do have supplies, etc that I will include in the bill.

Your statement that I cannot charge for the labor that I personally put into the make ready process concerns me. I have a statement on my lease that says:
"The cost for repairs and cleaning necessary to restore property to pre-occupancy condition (beyond normal wear and tear) will be deducted from the security deposit at the rate of $50 per hour plus the cost of materials."
Is that not enforceable?