All Forum Posts by: Naoko Potts

@Joe 

@Joe Martella Thank you. I say it took me less than 5 minutes. I wasn't sure if I could figure it out but hated the idea of hiring plumber without investigating the situation. I would feel really stupid if I just hired a handyman or plumber and they would tell me took them 30 seconds to fix and $100 bill. I even asked the tenant if he used the plunger and told me yes. Apparently he did not know how to use it. I asked my husband if he was coming and he kept insisting he didn't know how to work plumbing and why not hire plumber so I went there myself. 

No, it did not stop me from getting my next deal for sure. I am actively looking and focusing on marketing so people would know I might be their solution to their problem!

Everyone has their opinion and each advice helped me and get some ideas for this time and possibly for future and every suggestion is appreciated!

Good news, everyone!

I made a trip to the rental house this morning and gave a plunger a try. It took me about 10 push but it is now draining. I asked the tenant yesterday if he tried plunger and he told me yes but I had to give a try myself. Thanks for your encouragement! 
I left him my plunger and I showed him how to do it for future.

Thank you everyone for your valuable input. 

Because I am not familiar with plumbing work, I am leaning toward hiring handyman or plumber to fix it. I am afraid if I tried, I would make things worse like @Joseph Romano mentioned. It is a great idea to watch and learn how plumber fix stuff like that, @Mary M.

Would the kitchen pipe clogging be a tenant's responsibility?

In what situation the landlord would be responsible for the drain clog such as this?

The sink doesn’t have a garbage dispenser.

My tenant texted me to let me know that he is experiencing kitchen sink being clogged.

I’m not familiar with the pluming work but I would like to give a try. He lives there 6 months and he told Drano didn’t work.

Did you have any suggestions how to prepare myself for this?

My husband is totally not helpful at all.

@Ryan Watts

I used A Pro inspection service and I thought they did a good job

http://www.apro-mo.com/

Thank you all for your advice. I re-read his message and he was saying his bank account is frozen due to fraudulent actions. I am not sure whether he is BS but he has been paying his rent on time and he notified me about his bank situation well in advance, I would like to give him a benefit of doubt. Though if it was me, I would open checking account with other bank or let the current bank unfroze my account so I am with you, I feel bit suspicious. 

Thank you for giving me an idea to have him direct deposit the rent to my account. I contacted my bank how he direct deposit the rent to my bank. But I will make sure to ask him to resume the online payment once he is able to re-open/unfrozen his bank account. 

My tenant just informed me that his bank account was hacked and he had to shut it down. He has been paying his rent through apartments.com but since they charge high fee for the credit card transaction, he is asking me if he could mail me a money order. I am looking into another payment option such as PayNearMe. Do I have to have a property management software to use PayNearMe service? 

I hear horror stories about have tenants mail in their rents but do you think it is alright to have him mail his mail order to me? Thank you!

Thank you all for the suggestions. Appreciate it. 

Hello fellow BP!

I’m a new landlord and I have a single home property with a tenant. The tenant is a nice guy but he is asking if I would purchase a window film and he would install it for me. The window is pretty good size and facing east. I asked the tenant reasons why he wanted it and not so much of light but heat from the sun.

I had installed blinds on every window before he moved in.

But I hear uninstall it is rather pain. Does anyone have any suggestions about window film? Probably curtains are better? I want to be a good landlord and provide a good place to live but how much a landlord supposed to supply for the tenant? If I go with curtain, should I buy one for him?

Thanks for your help in advance!