All Forum Posts by: Larry T.

I am sorry if this is an obvious answer question...it is not obvious to me though:)...if anyone knows a place on the site where it is answered I would try to go there. I searched insurance and llc and other terms and still am not sure.

I had not heard of landlord insurance until this year.

Thank you Eddie, I appreciate that!

We have an LLC and have a commercial liability policy with fire and dwelling, as well as the umbrella policy that extends liability limits beyond the original policy. Do we also need "Landlord" Insurance? Or is that for people that do rentals in their own name and do not have an LLC structure?

Please any advice would be great!

Hi everyone,

We removed dishwashers as the consensus and my experience is that they are too much trouble for our units in a low-income area. So in re-tiling the kitchen, the tile guy tiled over the raised area that the dishwasher sat on. He didn't remove the plywood that was under the dishwasher, but tiled over it so now the tile is raised up 3/4 inch or so from the rest of the kitchen tile. He is putting one of those transition metal things there to connect the two heights. The higher area is only the square area that is right under the cabinets where the dishwasher was. Do you all think that this will look decent? Or am I just projecting what I would not want in my own kitchen onto our 4-plex:) He is saying that to even it out would have meant pulling out the other wood and that something about that wood or removing it or cutting it out from how it is in there currently would have made it uneven in another way. Also that there would have been difficulty in getting in to cut it right. I have never done this so not sure exactly what that means.

We plan to insert one of those little rods that you can hang a little curtain on to close of the area where the dishwasher was so they can use that area for storage (that would not show behind the curtain.)

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone...one thing to add if you don't mind, do you all think that tile upstairs would better mitigate any water issues from the usual suspects, toilet leak, sink, I have seen it all....I mean as opposed to carpet or wood upstairs. (Downstairs have tile already)

Is this possible or wise? The building was built in 1978, wood frame, etc. The downstairs is cement slab... is ceramic tile too heavy to put in the upstairs units (this is a rental)? If it is possible, is it loud for those in the unit downstairs?

I meant to add that I am asking this in terms of the new economic realities...i.e. if we fix up too much and they keep sneaking people in that mess up the efforts to make it look nice, it can be so discouraging

How far do you go and what is the minimum you do to make them look nice and welcoming without spending unnecessarily?

Also, I always seem to find ones with fake wood paneling, in this market is it worth having them sanded primed and painted by someone? (I cannot do it myself) They are not bad just dark and kind of depressing but that's my perspective, not sure if the tenants care or not or if I should worry about it even if they would like the walls a light color.

Hi,

I would like to get everyone's thoughts if you care to share them about what experience has taught you to include in your lease. I mean beyond the standard lease that I am sure is similar in most cases for a small multi-unit apartment building. I will share mine first. That I need to be specific about the trash clause. That absolutely no litter/rubbish cans, glass, paper items may be left outside the unit or anywhere at the exterior of the building including balconies, stairways, outside seating areas, doorways. They must be disposed of in a receptacle. It is amazing what people will just toss on the ground and walk away from. Even with the most detailed cautious lease it seems that 'your/my' specific situation will bring up an issue that was not specific enough in the lease.

Would love to know others experiences and what you will not leave out of your lease now due to an experience that taught you the lesson.

Thanks!

Hello,

When an applicant gives you their present name and their former name (i.e maiden name in my situation), which one is the best one to run the background check on? That will give the most thorough history of that person? The ss# would be the same so I don't know if it matters but wanted to see what you all think and do.

Thank you