All Forum Posts by: Jeff Schluer

Are you still looking for a website?  What is your budget?  I have designed some websites in WordPress and could help you put something together.

I actually don't mind lease breaks at all.  When a tenant breaks their lease they are held responsible for the turn costs (carpet clean, touch up paint, etc) as well as paying rent until the home is re-rented.  Whether it is now or at the end of their lease they are moving.  Might as well get the vacancy paid for. 

I am sure she is trying to get our with no penalty (paying rent until re-rented).  I would not allow that.  Why should you take a loss because of something you can't control.  Crime is everywhere and you can't prevent break ins.  She picked that neighborhood to live in. The only time I release a resident from a lease is when there is a habitability issue or to prevent a potential lawsuit.

Definitely the tenants responsibility.  If a tenant said "I didn't do it" and you paid for it, guess what you would hear each time something broke? 

I offer two year leases.  There is no discount, however on month 13 there is a 5% rent increase.  The benefit to the resident is that the increase is only 5%!  I manage a portfolio of about 400 homes and get about 5-10% of my tenants take me up on it.

I am confused. How is your payment $25 if you borrow $2500?  Did I read that wrong?

If you have not been in the home for a while (no maintenance issues, etc), perform an inspection 90 days prior to their lease expiring.  Then if they are not taking care of the home you can send them a 60 day notice to vacate.

I have been a property manager for 12 years and the worst is:

1.  Tenants who break things and expect you to pay for it.

2.  The lying, OH THE LYING!! There is no shame anymore.

I would do what Steve Babiak said. Check where they currently live. A call to their current landlord will clear a lot up! Ask specifics: how much was their deposit, how much will they be getting back, do they owe you money, what damage charges were there, would you rent to them again, etc.

With that said you cannot discriminate based on the age of the kids! You cannot say "3 year olds do more damage so I will rent to a family with teens". Age is another protected class (yes even the age of the kids). Odds are you wouldnt get caught but why put yourself at risk?

You need to find another way to decide which applicant to take that is not in a protected class and prior landlord referrals is a great way to do that. I would weight prior landlord referrals higher than credit and income.

That is a great idea! If you need any help putting something together let me know.