All Forum Posts by: Angie B.

Turning over a property where a tenant smoked inside the last few months (once she decided she was going to move out). After taking out carpet, scrubbing the nicotine off of the bathroom ceiling and walls, and painting it with BIN primer, I have done a lot of thinking. I do NOT want to rent to any more smokers. Period.

Our lease states that if anyone smokes inside the property that they will forfeit their security deposit and pay for any resulting damages.

Our application used to simply ask- Do you smoke Y/N? Our tenant lied. So now our application says Do you smoke Y/N? If yes, Indoors or Outdoors? - I'm hoping that will help people be more honest.

I have advertised it as a non-smoking property. My husband used to do the showings, but now I will- I have a better nose for sniffing it out. In the screening process, I plan to ask nonchalantly, oh I forgot, do you smoke indoors or outdoors? (like it is assumed that they smoke, so maybe they will be honest)

Any other ideas? I thought about always "forgetting" some non-essential paperwork and running out to their car to hand it to them, maybe try to lean in the window to see what I can see or smell.

I have Googled and researched prospective tenants on Facebook before, but I wanted to share how you can use Twitter as well.

Not everyone will use their actual names on twitter, but if they have emailed you, at least in a Google account, and you have Twitter search your Gmail contacts for suggestions of who to follow, you should see anyone you've corresponded with and their twitter account. Without following, you can simply click on their username and view their profile. I just recently created a business Twitter account (to let prospective tenants know when it will be ready to view) and I have scanned a few profiles of some of the people interested in renting from us. It is very interesting so far!

Tim W.- I plan to advertise it as you did, "European style wood floors"- love it! Maybe if enough of us do it, it will catch on.

Thanks for the advice! I think we will stick with the brown we chose in the Valspar latex based floor and porch paint, and put on some kind of clear coat to help protect it.

So we just moved our first tenant out of our first rental. (We have three rentals now.) After removing all of the carpet and pad due to odor and stains from smoking and cat pee- I refuse to put carpets back in. I discovered hardwoods underneath, but a larger corner of the living room (where you first step into the house) is covered in floor leveler, which was needed at some point in the past where the floor had sunk. There is also a lot of paint on the floors, and the hallway has a lot of glue on it from old peel and stick tiles. I have decided to sand and paint all the hardwood, including where the floor leveler is (I will put a rug by the front door anyway to wipe feet on). So here are my questions for those of you who have painted the flooring of your rentals before.

QUESTION 1: OIL BASED or LATEX BASED? We already bought some latex based Valspar porch and floor paint (satin finish), but it won't be as shiny as if we go with oil based (glossy), and I'm not sure how it will hold up. However, from what I've read the oil based paint takes so long to cure- I don't want to wait too long to get this rented.

QUESTION 2: Best color? We tried Valspar's Fired Earth, which is a nice dark dark brown. (Inspired by this post: http://www.todayshomeowner.com/painting-wood-floors/ )

Not sure if it would show dirt from shoes more easily though.

QUESTION 3: What do you tell your tenants to use to clean it? Just a normal wood floor cleaner?

George, we have also been more selective about the properties we buy, so as to attract better tenants, and (hopefully) have fewer headaches.

Why have you moved away from Kwikset Smart Key Locks? We were just going to try this on our next lock change- so I am very interested to know what issues you had with them.

James, this is exactly what my husband I were discussing last night. I think we're going to try using the tile that looks like hardwood the next time we have to take out carpet.

Great topic- I am fairly new to all of this and had been working from memory each time. I am just now finally creating my checklists. I know everyone's will vary somewhat, but I would love to see more. Perhaps on processing applications? moving someone out?

Those of you who have been landlords for years, what have been some of your game changers so to speak? craigslist? kwikset smart key locks? online tenant screening?

We usually spray ceilings and trim, and then roll the walls. But if you want to spray all three, I agree with the order you chose.