All Forum Posts by: Michelle Bright

Hi! You can put in the negotiations that the current owner must serve them a 30 day notice to vacate or evict them before closing. Couple of ways to spin it so that it's not your headache once you own it. Don't let it be a deterrent if you like the property.

I know this question has probably been answered before but I searched and couldn't find it. Spent over an hour chatting with the couple getting to know them tonight. Towards the end she drops the bomb that she's been evicted before with an ex who (blah blah blah). Her current fiancé supposedly has good credit, good job and has saved up money to find them a home. They both currently live with his mother. He's 31 and she's 21. I like them and got a little soft spot for them because we chatted so long. My gut is telling me that she was young and didn't understand and that he won't allow something like that to happen this time around as they are equally responsible. Do I rent to them? I am going to review their apps and check their references in the morning but of course wanted to know what my fellow landlords are thinking... Thanks for any and all help!

Hey BP!! Has anyone signed up for Ambit Energy that can tell me about your honest experience? Sounds SO INTERESTING. It's a direct marketing company deregulating gas. Any feedback would be greatly appreciate!!

-Michelle

This is a great feed!! Thanks for all of the advise. We are purchasing a four-plex next week and I wanted to gift something to the current residents. I will definitely ask what we can repair, replace and/ or improve as I usually do. The plunger, cutting board, and snake drain are awesome ideas!! Perhaps even a few LED lightbulbs to help with energy costs. Any other green ideas out there?

I'm house hacking myself right now and a lesson I've learned this week is when installing a toilet by yourself go with a "wax-less" ring. I messed up two wax rings because the toilet was just a little too heavy to pick up and set down (I had to lean the toilet on). Third time with the wax less ring worked best and made me feel confident a leak wasn't going to occur. I've also heard not to caulk around the toilet so that if it does start to leak you and/ or your tenant will know right way instead of after the damage has been done. Great thread!!!

Hey BP! This awesome community saved me again today! We are under contract for a four-plex that has Jetz laundry service. A post was put up about this company on BP 3 years ago. It wasn't a post staying anything positive about the company so I am hoping to hear something different with this post. The post did warn me that the laundry contract is an actual lease so I have made phone calls and I am trying to get a head of the lease if it is something we should get out of. Any advise you'd like to add? All responses would be appreciated in advance!

Hey there BP! House hackers, do you inform your tenants that you are the landlord or do you act like just another tenant that lives in the same mutlifamily? My question is mainly for those hackers in small mutlifamilies. I am currently rehabbing our duplex and it will ready to put on the market after the weekend. I can have the PM company I work for do the showings, rent collection, etc. So I could hide the fact that I own the building easily but wouldn't there be a benefit to just being open and honest about my interest? Pros, cons, opinions, benefits?

Thank you all for your responses in advance!

I was just in Home Depo earlier today (7/17/17) and they are doing free installs in my town.

Hey @Dylan B. I just uploaded a check list on the file place. Doesn't have charges but does have check list items to have tenants do upon moving out. Hope it helps!

Move Out Checklist

@Tereal Wilsonn! I was just in the same boat as you a month ago. We live in the lower unit of our duplex and had to evict the tenant upstairs. I had charged her late fees once before, she was behind $100 paying May's rent and then still hadn't paid any of June's rent (we allow a 5 day grace period). So we filled June 6th. She was going to stay until the Sheriff had to remove her if I hadn't continued to communicate with her (a full three wks from the day she got the paper work). She stated she read the eviction paperwork wrong.

Anyways, since I live below I just continue to communicate with her that I needed the keys tonight, tonight and tonight. Each night there was another reason why she wasn't out yet. 2 days before the Sheriff was finally about to remove her she finally dropped the keys off in my mail box.

The next day when my husband and I went upstairs I was wasn't surprised to find an attic full of her belongings...including a lot of family photos. She also put items in my garage to and put a lock on my garage door. 

We have state laws on "trashing out" tenant's apartments but since she gave me the keys she gave up possession.  Still even then I tried to work with her so that she could come and collect her belongings. In the end a week later we have to toss, sale and donate all that was left behind. I did keep all the family photos and gave those back to her once she took the lock off my garage door. 

Interesting side note is we have found over $5 in change around the house and in the carpet. Clearly she has no respect for money. 

Now vacant we are painting and repairing the upstairs. Its taking longer to flip than I thought but I will have more peace of mind with the next tenant because I know we will do our due diligence to vet a good tenant.

Good luck! Reach out if you need any help!