All Forum Posts by: Richard Chang

Hi all,

I've got a job in Downtown LV and want to do a deal for a nice place within 20 minutes rush hour drive time to downtown at Charleston on 15North / juncture with 95.

I believe this is a Buy and Hold. I might come back to LA after a year or two and rent it out then.

So, which REI Club in Las Vegas would be recommended ?

Club links here:
http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-clubs/nevada.html

How to hook up with wholesalers to talk.

What advice / links should I be reading ?

What homework should I be doing ?

Will be in Vegas in a week.

Thanks, Rich C

Thanks to all the BP help here !

Yeah, after an email exchange, the issue is resolved for now. They were having friends over … I was surprised :cry: by their initial push back !

Ive summarized the responses below:

@Silvio B
Why are they moving ?

Good question. But I haven’t been able to speak with them directly and have been doing the email thing. They did say they were very happy but need to move ( not disgruntled and combative ).

@Jon Holdman
Lease Clause: Access. Landlord has the right of access to the leased Property during reasonable hours to inspect the property or, at reasonable times, to show property to a prospective tenant, purchaser or mortgagee.
I don't know what CA law says and the best way for you to be sure is to speak with your lawyer.

Yes, I will need to add this to the next lease and have them initial it ! But, I don’t think I need a lawyer for this.

@Cheryl C
Lease Clause: Show a property to prospective tenants 60 days prior to lease end. This includes placement of a sign and a lockbox.
Failure to cooperate can cause forfeit of security deposit ( whoa ? )

@T Ferrante
… Why not simply wait to show the unit until the tenant moves out. You can request to come by and take pictures of the unit so you can begin to market it ...

Ugh, waiting for the tenant to move out will mean losing an entire months rent. I do have pictures of the inside and posted them on Craigslist.

@Chris Colvard
provision in your lease that allows showing upon notice to vacate. At one time I required a specific notice to vacate form that must be used to allow this to happen

So, the tenant had to send in the form that had the show property provision on it ?

@George P
…In my lease one of the stipulation to have the Security Deposit returned is cooperating with the LandLord to show the house prior to the tenant moving out. ..

Good stuff, wonder if that is legal in CA.

Thanks, Richard C

Hi again,

Was hoping to get a little help here before discussing with the tenant.

I understand the tenant does NOT like to have people looking at all their possessions and might be afraid of petty theft ?

Of course, they can be present if they like.

Any other things that can be said to deal with the resistance ?

Saturday afternoon for a few hrs once a week seems reasonable ?

Thanks, Richard C

Hi all,

Tenant gave written notice and has been a good tenant but now I have requested to show the property on Sat 2-4pm (more than 24 hrs notice ) and now I'm told they don't feel comfortable allowing strangers into the apt until after they leave. ( no wording in the lease on this ).

What are the rules here in California ?
How to talk with tenant to cooperate ?

Need advice on this one.

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/living-in.shtml#whencanlandlordenter

WHEN CAN THE LANDLORD ENTER THE RENTAL UNIT?
...
Special rules apply if the purpose of the entry is to show the rental to a purchaser. In that case, the landlord or the landlord's agent may give the tenant notice orally, either in person or by telephone
...

Thanks, Richard C

Hi Greg,

As a hesitant newbie myself, I encourage you to blog on this "great experience".

The experts here can provide the encouragement and guidance as promised by Rob G above.

Looking forward to more.

Thanks, Richard C

Hi Bill,

I agree that the paper based application is still necessary since I have the candidate(s) fill out the form onsite and I can chat with them and get an idea of their personality by asking them questions in person.

So, if they look good and you are ready to proceed with the Transunion credit check then they will have to fill out the same information online ? I hope they ( tenant ) can save or reuse that same Transunion info for another property, if you find some negatives in the screening report ?

Thanks, Richard C

Hi all,

I got a letter in the mail from seattle based ValueAppeal which says that they could save me over $2000 on my Ca Property Tax.

Sounds too good to be true. :roll:

For $99 fee they will submit the appeal based on Comps ( and ? ) and the fee is returned if you don't win.

Hmmmm, could it be this easy ? :roll:

How can you check them out ?

Thanks, Richard C

Hi Jon,

Yeah, thanks I see that Transunion does provide this service with its mysmartmove.com website.

But, I see that the rental application info has to be entered by the tenant WITH the credit check at the same time.
So the tenant has to pay before I even see all of their information ?

I'm used to reviewing all the applications and the selecting the best tenant candidates and then having the credit check / background checks done.

Not sure this can be done with the service.

Thanks, Richard C

Hi all,

Happy Labor Day Weekend to all ! :D

Thought I'd ask to see if there is a way for tenants to fill out a "rental application" online so that they have a record of it and also provide the landlord access and ability to download form as necessary.

I read the post that Transunion has a Credit Check service online that is convenient for both landlords and tenants.

I hope their is an online way for prospective tenants to enter the rental info and history online so that I don't always have to have the "old rental forms".

After all it's almost 2012 ! There must be better ways now.

Thanks to all, Richard C :D

Hi all,

Thanks Ryan, Chris and Uwe for the feedback.

I'm marketing this way:

1. craigslist

I listed at $1700 but think I should change to $1695 right ?
Going re-add the listing every week

2. Rental Signs on the property in the next couple of days.
I've always had the best luck with the property sign over the years. People drive the neighborhoods they like and are most likely "local people" who know the area.

3. Online site: west side rentals ( for free )
Although I've never had a good candidate from them ( not sure why ? ).
I think it attracts people from out of the area ...

4. Since, I'm close to Hoag Hospital, I think I might try to post some flyer in there somewhere ?

Best to all, Richard C