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All Forum Posts by: John B.

John B. has started 1 posts and replied 5 times.

Originally posted by @Account Closed:
Originally posted by @John B.:
Originally posted by @Melissa Castaneda:

@John B. good luck South Carolina is a great market to be in!

 Hi Melissa. Yes the market here next to the military installation provides stability. The unit I'm closing on will cost me $31k after closing (paid in cash) and around $2-$3k in little odds and ends like new carpet/paint etc.. The market I'll be in will be $800-$850 a month leaning more towards $850 since it'll have appliances/trash/lawn service "fingers crossed" it will be picked up quick. I've also read "screening tenants" blog that was some good info.

 If you're not confident about how to screen, you could just trust smartmove.com.  It's run by one of the credit bureaus.  Or pay for the full service screening from a credit bureau company like the one I used when I was a manager:

http://www.cbacredit.com/Index.aspx

I did not use them for their full service option, but, paying for a service that will check everything would be worth the money.  I think the above service's max option is still under $100.

I never used smartmove, but a lot of landlords on BP use it.  It apparently gives you a thumbs up or thumbs down on an applicant. 

The biggest problem new landlords have, is being "conned" by applicants who get you to like them.  And then, when you run their credit and find out it's not so hot, you start trying to justify why you should take a chance on them anyway.

So, it would be better to hire a service to make the decision for you - a good one - and only go by what they say.  That way, you would be consistent with your criteria, too, which is the best way to avoid any fair housing issues.  If you only rent to tenants who pass the credit check service you hire, end of story.  No matter how cute they are, or how much you want to believe their stories, etc.  

"I'm sorry, but my credit check service said you are denied."  Next.

 Thank you for the helpful info!

Originally posted by @Melissa Castaneda:

@John B. good luck South Carolina is a great market to be in!

 Hi Melissa. Yes the market here next to the military installation provides stability. The unit I'm closing on will cost me $31k after closing (paid in cash) and around $2-$3k in little odds and ends like new carpet/paint etc.. The market I'll be in will be $800-$850 a month leaning more towards $850 since it'll have appliances/trash/lawn service "fingers crossed" it will be picked up quick. I've also read "screening tenants" blog that was some good info.

Originally posted by @Account Closed:

These books are great.  Really easy to read.  They don't have one specific to South Carolina, but the basics about how to find tenants, avoiding fair housing issues, tax deductions you can take, etc., is good for any landlord anywhere:

http://www.nolo.com/products/landlord-tenant/landl...

 Thank you for the info on the books. 

Thank you for your input, main reason I'm including the appliances is the matter that when I purchased the property they were included. Thanks for the tip on trash pick up as well.

Hello everyone, I'm looking to close on my 1st rental property. I have some small work I need to do before putting this property on the market as a rental. A couple of questions I have are where can I get some good info on being a landlord? I'm considering signing up on Landlord.com for a trial membership. Here is some ideas and experiences I thought I would apply as far as the contract: 

$50 application fee (rolled back into 1st month rent if accepted) what source do I use to conduct background check/credit check? Also require two recommendations

Gross Pay must be 4 times that of monthly rent example: $1000 month rent = $4000 monthly income (must include last 3 pay stubs w/application)

Deposit &1st Month Rent in two separate money orders then can accept checks after that (should I offer a 3% discount for allotment/direct deposit?)

No indoor pets preferable ($250 pet fee no refundable & additional $25 month?)

Absolutely no smoking of any type indoors.

Some services I thought I would offer to attract tenants:

Furnished washer/dryer/fridge/oven

Trash pickup 3 times a week (So I can keep an eye on the place) do you agree or going overboard?

Lawn service once a week (I mow the yard myself, take an hour of my own time)

Just a few ideas to the whole scenario what do you guys think or suggest? Am I headed in the right direction and being smart going about this? What else am I missing out or should consider? Thanks!