All Forum Posts by: Marcella Sheerin

Thank you all so much for the help!! I gave her notice in December and my lease ended April 15th so I gave her plenty of notice. I actually asked her if she would let me out of my lease a month early and she said no, which was fine and I continued to pay my rent. What she is saying I owe her now is one months rent because she can't rent the place out right away. I would think that after 5 years she would expect to spend some time making updates and I don't think she can make me pay an additional months rent, but I don't know that for certain at all. She sent me another text today saying "I'm sorry you have chosen this route. It is not in your best interest to act like these problems don't exist. You've cost me a lot of money. The internal problems I've quoted you are responsible for and are quoted at wholesale. Read your contract. I'll expect your check in the mail." 

I don't feel like the claims she is making are within reason and even totally legitimate. I am not sure how this one is going to end up! 

Again, thank you so much for all the details I really appreciate everyone's insight!!

thank you all for the information, I really appreciate all the insight! Open to more thoughts as well! 

I was hoping to get help on security deposits...

I am recently getting out of a lease and my landlord is trying to charge me $5K for damages done to the property. She nickeled and dimed me in every way possible (I was not surprised based on how she has been) but the headlines are: she wants to charge me $3K for new carpet (for a 900 sq ft rental). To be fair, my dog was still training when I moved in and she had accidents so I expected that she would need to get new carpet but I lived there 5 years and she had a months rent security deposit to cover any damages ($1,400) so I am surprised that she expects me to pay for it. I think the carpet was expensive and that is why she is mad but why put in nice carpet in a rental? (she approved me having a dog). The other large expense is $1K for plaster/paint damage done due to the roof leaking and the fact that I didn't call it out to her. I had just noticed the issue (it was in the very corner of the room by my closet) right as I was moving out so I didn't mention it to her. Yes, I should have caught it earlier but I think it happened because the gutters weren't cleaned out - is that my fault? Lastly, she also mentioned something about "mouse droppings" this is not something I saw when I was there and I am totally groused out by it. If this is even true... Should I be liable for that? Its a super old house (built 1900ish) and the basement is not completely sealed, the basement floods when it rains (which she is aware of), just everything that goes with an old house etc. If it is true that there were mice in the house, should I be liable for that?

Background: lived there 5 years, landlord has been pretty absent, went almost a year without her checking on the property at times (at least the inside). It's a single family rental home, 900 sq ft in Cincinnati, OH. This is her only rental.

She sent me a detailed letter with everything I owe her and said if I don't pay in the next 2 weeks she will be taking me to small claims court. Does she have a leg to stand on here? Do you think she will actually go to court, and if she does, will she win?

Any helpful tips/hints based on your experience would be realty appreciated.

Thanks!

@Josh Caldwell Thank you so much for the information! Do you have recommendations on what areas are better to focus on?    

@Tavari Keel I am interested in the Pittsburgh market for two main reasons; I continue to see reports with Pittsburgh as a top ranked city for long-term real estate investment and I have a support system there already with people that can help with managing the properties.

Thank you all for the support!

Hello BP Community!

My name is Marcella Sheerin and I currently live in Cincinnati, OH but am looking to invest in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area (where I am originally from).  I am looking to purchase my first duplex by mid 2016. My goal is to buy a value add property in a B class location. I have a network in Pittsburgh already and plan to use my sister as my property manager. I am currently researching the best locations to get started and any advice on locations and realtors that have experience in the area is greatly appreciated!  

Can't wait to get started!

Marcella