All Forum Posts by: Katie Willcox

Hello everyone! One of our tenants in a SFH has not been up keeping the yard. The grass is pretty overgrown and we're not sure how to go about this issue. In our lease it is clearly set out that the tenant is responsible for all yard care. The tenant messaged us a few weeks ago that she doesn't have a lawn mower. We suggested she contact a business in town to do it or borrow a mower from family or a friend… it's been three and a half weeks since we had that conversation. The house is located on a corner lot on a busy street, it's starting to become an eyesore. How should we proceed??

Hi everyone!  My partner and I are going to send out handwritten letters to home owners in our nearby city. We’re wondering if any of you have changed up your approach to the info you put in the letters or specific info you include due to the hot market? 
Thanks in advance! 

Bruce - Thank you for your feedback and suggested amendments! We appreciate it.  

Ronald - A fellow Saskatchewan resident! Our rental is located within an hour or so of Saskatoon.  Thank you for your input!  Would you mind elaborating what you mean by 'supplying the questionnaire form in a more user friendly format'?  

Ron - Good point! Here are our 'qualification standards': 

1. Applicants must have valid government photo ID and a valid Social Insurance Number.
2. Background checks will be conducted on all applicants over the age of 18 years old.
3. Income must exceed three-times the monthly rent. (Rent is $1,150.00)
4. All income must be from a variable source, univariable income will not be considered.
5. All applicants must have positive references from all previous landlords from the past five
years.
6. Applicants cannot have any previous evictions.
7. Applicants must not have unpaid judgments from previous landlords.
8. Applicants must exhibit a responsible financial life. Their credit score must be a minimum
of 650. If no credit score is available, a secondary credit reference must be provided as a
co-signer on the potential lease.
9. Applicants must past the background check.
10. Applicants and all people who intend on living in the property must be non-smoking.
11. Maximum 2 pre-approved pets living at the property at any given time.
12. Maximum 2 people per bedroom living in the property at any given time.

Spencer - we have had our ads up for about three weeks now... We can afford for the rental to sit vacate for a few months.  we're just not sure if we're doing something completely out of this world.  People in our area are not use to this high of standards and think it is crazy what we're asking of them.

Matt - The rental is located in Saskatchewan, Canada.  Lower/middle class applicants, single parents, older couples..  It's helpful to hear that there isn't a cookie-cutter way of finding tenants.. Some of the people who have contacted us find it shocking that we ask for their credit score.. or ask if they have a valid social insurance number (SSN)..

I'm scared that good tenants are right in front of us, but our screening process is too intimidating for them because they are small-town oriented. 

Hi Everyone!

We took possession of our first rental on July 15th and we are self-managing it.  We've prepared a pre-screening questionnaire with guidance from Heather & Brandon Turner's Managing Rental Properties book.  We have had a lot of interest as the house is located in a small city.  However, the people who we have sent the questionnaire to didn't return it, said they don't qualify, said they are uncomfortable with providing us with their personal information, and have gone as far as saying the form is 'absurd' etc... Are we doing this wrong? Are our policies/minimum requirements too stringent? If so, should we change them?  Or should we sit tight and wait for the right tenant to come along? We followed the Turner's advice.  

Living in a small community is nerve racking and seems to be increasingly difficult as the tenant pool isn't as vast as a larger city.  I'm afraid we won't find the 'perfect' tenant. 

Katie & Brett 

Hi everyone! My business partner and I are considering purchasing an up/down duplex in a small city.  The top unit was built in 1910 and moved onto a new basement in the early 2000s.  We plan on gutting the top unit as it is still fairly dated.  However, the property has been on the market for nearly two years.  Between now and the original listing date, the house has had both power meters for the two units removed and, since the seller will not allow the meters to be re-installing until conditions are removed, we would basically have to purchase the property 'as is'... We're afraid we'll end up with a lemon and find major electrical issues.  Any thoughts or comments?

Thanks!