All Forum Posts by: Laura Turner

a couple more thoughts ...

Lots of local business are trying to discourage panhandlers with a sign in the window "It's ok to say no to panhandlers", encouraging them to donate instead to charities who provide food and housing rather than directly to the beggar, where it will likely get spent on drugs.   Same concept. 

Lucky they didn't get "hurt" painting and sue you for workman's comp.

@Ted Warner, you write "Never put someone in your home without a lease." My understanding is that, if you're renting a separate property, you want a lease. But if you're renting a room in your house, the lease gives the tenant more rights, so you're better off without one.  Am I wrong? Or does it depend on the state / locality?

Legally I have the right to not renew the lease and show the property - it's spelled out pretty well in the rental agreement. As for the yard ... she never mowed the lawn until I reminded her (several times), but then she did mow it, and there are toys and bicycles and things strewed all over. I could clean it up in a short time if I had to.

My main concern is that it's just awkward to say "I want to rent this property, just not to you" since she technically hasn't violated the agreement, and she is a neighbor. I feel bad for her as a single mom who's already got enough problems with kids who are likely to end up in juvy, but I don't want her problems to become my problems.

I have a tenant who slacks on the yard care, lets her kids run around and yell loudly, is rude and argumentative, etc.  Not quite bad enough to be breaking the contract but almost.  Problem is, the property is just a few doors down from where I live, and the neighbors have complained to me about her and her kids.

The lease is over in March, and I don't plan to renew it.  I'll take my chances that I can find better tenants. 

How do I break it to her?  What if she doesn't cooperate when I want to show the property to other prospective tenants?  Should I wait until they move out?  Should I say that I need the property for family members to live in (then how do I get prospective tenants to go along)?

Has anybody ever been in this situation before?

Kevin, a 'bad rap' - reputation - is how somebody is known, what people think of somebody.  I appreciate that you acknowledge my opinion, and hope that you've learned that when you ask a question, you should be prepared to get an answer you don't like.

You have a good weekend, too.

Kevin, you asked why smokers have a bad rap.  I gave you my personal, honest answer.  If you don't want an answer, don't ask the question.

My experience with smokers and tenants in general is that they will get away with whatever they can. If you let somebody slide once, it will happen again.

I don't insist that tenants are non-smokers, because there's no way to control what they do outside, and they'll tell you they don't smoke if they think it will result in not getting the rental. But my move-in sheet has a checklist so tenants can report anything wrong with the property, and there's a space to check 'smell of smoke', 'smell of pets', and 'any other smell'.

However, I will admit to having a personal prejudice against smokers. I just can't conceive of how somebody could knowingly willingly choose to blow their hard-earned money killing themselves, or could let a drug control them. To me it shows a complete lack of self respect, and somebody who doesn't respect himself won't respect anybody else either. While discrimination against a particular race, gender, or other quality that is neither better or worse than any other is wrong, discrimination based on a choice of actions in not wrong.

@NatChan, I understand where you're coming from,not wanting to deal with somebody who's lied to you. "If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem." Being part of the solution means doing what you can to discourage unethical behavior - reporting the agent, refusing to deal with him. Unfortunately, bs is part of salesmanship, and if you insist on complete honesty, there won't be anyone left to work with. You have to pick your battles. I struggle with this all the time, and not just in real estate.

Thanks for the answers.  It just seems weird that a washer hookup downstairs would affect a sink upstairs.  But if there's no need to worry, I won't.

Yes of course, that's what's happening.

My question is, is this placement of the washing machine cold water tap ok?  And why did he do it that way?  As I've never had an issue with the cold water running hot for a bit in any of my houses or any other place, it just seems a bit strange.