All Forum Posts by: John Smith

Hey Team,

We currently have a Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) tenant. With their lease renewal coming up we'd like to include a flat rate for their Water Sewage and Garbage (WSG) portion of the utilities. Based on our understanding the SHA can cover that cost, and it'd be a benefit to the tenant since they've had issues covering utility costs in a timely manner in the past.

Our questions:

- Can anyone else that works with the SHA confirm they let roperty owners include a flat rate utility charge as being covered?

- Are we able to word our new lease such that if utility costs exceed the established flat rate then the tenant is responsible for the difference?

Thanks!

Hey team, dumb question: Where should I start looking for tax breaks as  someone doing a house hack via a duplex? I have my 1098 from my mortgage company, and kept receipts from some big repairs, but I also recall we're able to write off depreciation? Or maybe I'm over complicating it? Since it's my primary residence and not solely an investment property  than I can just think of it like that? Thanks in advance!

Hey team,

Currently have my first unit, got our lease signed, and I'm getting into the swing of things.

I feel I always knew the broad strokes, but now that I'm in the thick of things it's definetly taken more than I expected since I'm having to learn as I go.

Looking at costs for admin tools (docs, signing, screening) seems like it'd cost the same for a property management tool (buildium, yardi) versus doing it manual (rhawa, docusign)

When did you decide to move away from managing manually? Did you need to scale after X units?? Did you start off with a property management tool? Or not at all one you got over the hump?

Would love to hear about your thoughts/experiences, thanks!

@Brandon Rush Well said. They're currently month-to-month so I'll screen them to familiarize myself with the process. But talking with the current owner about the tenant and seeing the unit during our inspection, I don't see any reason not to continue with them.

@Carini Rochester Yes, I'll require them to carry renters insurance.

@Michael Noto I like the idea of the welcome letter too! I'll definitely add that as part of our meet-and-greet.

Hey Team,

I'm nearing the end for a purchase on an owner occupied duplex. Nothing is promised, but in case everything goes through, I was thinking about what it take to actually _do_ the managing, does this seem like a good summary?

• payment collection: section 8 (contact housing authority)
• lease: residential
• screening: background/credit
• communication: call/text, email
• insurance: property, renters
• rights: tenant, landlord
• taxes: rent, property

One unit is occupied with a good history, so will occupy the vacant unit, just want to make sure it goes smooth (as it can at least).

Let me know your thoughts, thanks!