Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here
Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties. Try BiggerPockets PRO.
x
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: Marcus Pickel

Marcus Pickel has started 1 posts and replied 4 times.

Post: Tenant Moved out, 3 day notice served...furniture & trash left

Marcus PickelPosted
  • Real Estate Professional
  • Newark, TX
  • Posts 4
  • Votes 0

Update: it only took six weeks, but appears we are now roach free. Spent the weekend cleaning and going through our punch list. Their stuff was hauled to the dump after a week. 

Post: Tenant Moved out, 3 day notice served...furniture & trash left

Marcus PickelPosted
  • Real Estate Professional
  • Newark, TX
  • Posts 4
  • Votes 0

Thank you Greg. We cleaned out the house this evening and put any furniture in the garage. His lack of response to my text, after he told me the keys were in the mailbox, will stand as he doesn't want the stuff.

All the trash, all 25 bags were placed in the back yard. I'll haul them to the dump in a few days. As infested as all the furniture was, I should have drug it out to the back and burned it. I put out 20 large and small bait traps and lit off 3 bombs in the house. I'll go back Thursday and put out gel around plumping entry points and light off 3 more. It may be premature until we can get the stuff in the garage out, but it's cheap. Then, I'll have the bug guy come out and spray (I think I'll include this in my next lease, just for an excuse to go in and inspect). It's just gross getting in there to clean.  

Thank you for all the input. I feel comfortable enough to proceed. Now, I'm off to figure out how to clean up all the roach mess/droppings/dead bodies. 

Post: Tenant Moved out, 3 day notice served...furniture & trash left

Marcus PickelPosted
  • Real Estate Professional
  • Newark, TX
  • Posts 4
  • Votes 0

I may contact the city housing authority and see if I can get anywhere with them. I've read most of the sections of Texas property laws that relate to landlord-tenant, and it doesn't specify anything about abandonment in regards to landlord-tenant. I did find one section that if they were past due on rent then items in the house are surrendered, but it has to be in the signed lease. The only other state specific items I could find said refer to case law. Then again, I'm not a lawyer and may have missed something.  

In the meantime, I'll move the rest to the garage and get everything else rent ready. 

Post: Tenant Moved out, 3 day notice served...furniture & trash left

Marcus PickelPosted
  • Real Estate Professional
  • Newark, TX
  • Posts 4
  • Votes 0

Hey guys/gals! I've read several articles, but still not sure of my next step. I'm in Texas, I had a renter tell me on 9/3 that he wouldn't be able to pay rent until 9/8. I put a 3 day notice on the door and mailed a copy on 9/5. 

On 9/8, I texted him about rent and got no response. That afternoon, I went by the property and they had a Uhaul backed into the driveway. I went up and talked to the wife, and she told me they were moving out. This was the first time I heard anything about moving. She said they would be out that day or the next. On the evening of 9/9, I drove by the property and they were still loading stuff in the Uhaul. I texted the guy and asked what his plan was. He said he'd return keys to me on Monday 9/10. 

I get a text Monday afternoon that the keys were in the mailbox. When I went to the house that evening, it was still full of furniture and trash. 

My question is this still technically abandoned property, or is it just junk they left behind? The furniture that was left was really beat up and the house now has a bad roach problem. I read articles about cataloging everything and sending them a notice to claim it within a certain time frame. To me it's stuff he didn't want and not really abandoned? He's not answering any texts what he wants us to do with the stuff. I know I can throw the obvious trash out. Just wanted to see if you could provide a little guidance before I go to an attorney. 

I really want to get in there and clean and exterminate. 

Thank you in advance.