All Forum Posts by: Justin Case

Nothing is wrong with the walls and no leaks. I was in there two months ago and checked it out. I am thinking they just want to paint for fun. Never was a mildew problem.

I did go look around at several rentals in the area and adjusted mine accordingly:
I offered to lower the rent $200 a month for 9months and they still said that is too little. It took them over a month to
respond. Another thing that annoys me is that they only converse in txt messages and never answer my calls.

They can not afford to buy.

I found a new fire extinguisher in my supples I will deliver to them and I will do an inspection.

They are not going to like it when I tell them no paint.

Thanks again all! I learn from all your responses :)

All thanks so much for your input.
I just wanted another landlord feedback.

I will do a inspection this week. I used mildew resistant paint in the bathroom and they just probably do not wipe it down every few months.

So should I show the place even though they are month to month? Should let them know I am showing it?
The rental market in the area is super slow nice places in the area have been vacant for 4months with low rent.

They have been great tenants I just feel like im walking on egg shells since they are month to month and the rental market is terrible right now.. High vacancy risk and they know it. Hence why they was a rental decrease of $400 month for a year lease.

Keep the input coming :)

My month to month tenants just asked to paint the cupboards and bathroom at my expense. (taking out of rent)
Their year lease expired two months ago and they will not sign another because they want to stay month to month unless I lower the monthly rent $400 a month but will stay month to month at the current rent.. Does not make sense to me.

Would you let them paint the bathroom with mildew resistant paint and cupboards at my expense? I do not want them to paint since they could leave a month later. (should I just tell them that?)
There is no mildew unless the ceiling is cleaned every 6 months. The cleaning takes 5mins with tsp and water. Should I just tell them this?

Im in a hard spot since the market is hard to rent the place if they leave.

They also want me to pay for a fire extinguisher. Would you buy this for them?

They just changed their phone number to an area code across the county. This does not make sense to me..it is not work related. Can I ask them why they got an out of state number?

I appreciate your feedback. If the rental market was better I would tell them flat out NO painting.

Thanks!

They only paid what they did I did not let them off for being nice. After the damage deposit they still owe $1350.

So not worth my time in Small claims?

Glad I found this board!
I am new to this..

I have owned 4 rentals for 14 months now in Seattle Area.
I evicted a party of two in a townhome. One of the people went MIA. The other roomate paid their own portion and vacated.
Legally, both names on the lease, owe me a total of $1350, a bit more than one months rent. Is it worth my time taking them to small claims court for the $1350?
To me it is the principal of one of them ripping me off and getting away with it. The one who paid all they could was nice and apologetic and never heard from their MIA roommate.

I asked my (X) mentor/ RE agent and they said thet would help me for $175/hr consulting fee. I was shocked. I called a law office and they gave me tons of info for free!
Now I consider them my X RE agent! They already made a lot of money from me buying several places and I see the greed set in them trying to take advantage.. sorry I had to vent..

Is it worth the time and paperwork to go to small claims for $1350?
I do not have the tenant who went MIA mail address to deliver the court notice.

I appreciate you opinion and insight on this.

Hi fellow investors,
I am new to multi family investing. I bought two duplexes last year downtown Seattle.
I just found this forum. Glad I did!
I have a few questions for experienced REIs.

TAX

Can I write off things I bought before purchase?
Examples:
Driving to look at potential props
Buying books etc? Research

What info and in what format do you take it to your accountant?
Leases & Addendums etc?
What if I lost a few receipts? (low priced items) >$100

How is mileage claimed? Gov mileage rate? 55 Cents
What mileage is allowed to be claimed? Ex driving to the the hardware store for supplies? Driving to get mail from PO BOX for property.
How do you track mileage? Put in excel sheet?

What time can you write off? Ex. Mow the lawn etc..

How to track expenses in what application?
Excel, MS Access or Quick books?
What is ideal for 4 units? LLC or Trust? ? What documents do you have to change? Title, insurance , loan etc
How do you set a budget on what to spend per year per unit?
I know $0 is ideal but you have maintenance costs. Like mowing lawn, clean gutters, risk, etc..
How do you figure this when you don’t know the future ROI on the property?

I appreciate any hard knocks info!
-J