All Forum Posts by: Lynette P.

@Matt Devincenzo Just to clarify that those were NOT suggestions but just our thinking process as we wanted to start off on a positive note with the tenant. You are absolutely correct that the landlord has every right to ask the tenants to vacate the premises in order to fumigate. We have this clearly stated in our lease agreement. We felt it would be a nice gesture to offer compensation for the inconvenience. It's disruptive and a lot of work to remove/throw away food and relocate for a few days. That's all. Even as landlords, we can still show compassion.

@Melissa Schultz - we got so lucky that the tenant was already planning to go out of town for a week. So it worked out perfectly and the property was fumigated before we closed escrow. Prior to knowing this, we did discuss compensating the tenant for the inconvenience. How much to offer is challenging to determine. We also wanted to set it up for a positive relationship going forward. I can't remember exactly but we may have considered $1,000. We're in CA and a night at an Airbnb could be $200-300. I wish you the best of luck; you'll feel so relieved when you can check this one off your list!

@Linda S. Thank you for your response. Gave me some food for thought! Mentally, I was perceiving this inspection quite in the opposite perspective. More like dreading hearing what is wrong and having to spend more $$$. Since we just got started, we are quite in the red. But maybe a longer term view is better. Never considered including a fire extinguisher with the units. Here, only properties with 3 units or more require landlords to include fire extinguishers. This is a duplex. I wonder if including one increases my liability. Like if there's a fire and the extinguisher doesn't function. Quite honestly, I was thinking of the inspection as a way to see how the property looks one year later, and whether or not I want the tenants to stay or leave (indirectly that determines whether to raise rent or not). Our lease doesn't specify inspections except for move-out but we were planning to give 3 weeks notice. We live out of town and not very flexible with the date/time. 

Thank you for responses. So very helpful!
@Afam Agbodike - thank you for reminder to review the lease. Will do!
@Nathan Gesner - the letter template is awesome!! Thank you!
@Michele Fischer - love the good cop/bad cop roles; I'll bet that my husband will want to be the good cop. LOL 

June will be 1 year since we bought a duplex (Calif); tenants came with the property. I guess it is time to plan for the annual inspection. Gulp! (Self-managed)

1. Leases are month-to-month. If I want to make any changes to the terms, I use an Addendum? For example, making backyard maintenance tenant's responsibility rather than Landlord's. Or is it better to sign a whole new lease. Will be keeping to MTM.

2. Do I just pick a date for the annual inspection? If tenant says they are not available, then I say that I will let myself in (per lease agreement language)? That just seems awkward.

3. I think lease says 48 hours advance notice. In reality, how much advance notice do you give? 

Thank you in advance. This forum has been so helpful on so many different topics!

This is a very interesting discussion. So glad you posted this question! I also self-manage and my tenants have my cell phone number. (Great idea about getting a Google Voice #.) I am wondering what emergency would I actually be able to fix in the middle of the night? If water is gushing, tenant should turn off the water main. Just curious. 

@Jason Bott Oh bummer. Thanks for letting me know. We live in one unit of a duplex and rent out the other. Also interested in umbrella. Will keep looking!

@Grant Thompson Thank you for sharing your experience!

>National Real Estate Insurance Group - the preferred insurance partner of Bigger Pockets
Happy new year! Has anyone had experience with this insurance company? Would love to hear any feedback. Thank you in advance!

@Bassit Siddiqi - thank you for your advice! I've only talked to a couple of accountants/firms and undecided if I should just go the DIY route. Turbo Tax hasn't failed me yet! :)