All Forum Posts by: Orita Issartel

I just started the same process In a property we bought in December. We have 8 units (8 little houses in a large plot of land) that have been kind of abandoned by the previous owner. It had a management company in place but all they did was collect rent. We do have 3 units empty so we're starting with that. It's always hard to be a new landlord to existing tenants. Specially if the previous landlord was not there. As the leases come up we will just let them know we will not be renovating them. No one will be happy because they are paying very little rent right now. We're not going to offer to help them find a new place and we know around the area they will not find anything like it for the kind of rent they are paying now. We just hope for the best. Good luck! 

Miami is the one city in America with the highest number of real estate agents. Here, which I find it absolutely ridiculous, you don't even need to speak English to get your licence as they have tests in Spanish!!!!! There are way too many agents that have no ethics. I've had my license for over 15 years. It's very hard to work with other agents as a great number of them never answer their phone or ever get back to you. With that being said there are exceptions to the rule of course and a few successful agents. I wish you the best of luck!!

@Kristina Heimstaedt and @Kim Meredith Hampton  I forgot to specify that I had already sent 2 other emails previous to that one and that I was at the property all day yesterday and part of the day today. No one came to talk to me. 

To be very honest these are tenants that I inherited and do not want. The property was a little bit abandoned by the former owner and the management company that was in place was not doing their job. 

People were doing pretty much what they wanted there. This guy only answered to my third email because I mentioned in the email that if we did not receive rent by the 4th we would be starting an eviction process on the 5th. 

Being a landlord to inherited tenants is one of the hardest positions as a landlord I've experienced and have seen my clients experience. Specially in a property where the owner was totally absent. 

I stopped by the property after closing, with my husband who is the other part of my business, and we introduced ourselves. I made sure to send them all an email wishing them a Happy Holidays and giving them my contact so they could reach out in case of need. I feel that he had the opportunity to have reached out to me before rent was due and ASK if it was ok to pay it next week. After all I am the landlord and it's I that should take the decision. He did not even ask on his email. He simply stayed the fact. 

I already let him know that he needs to borrow money to pay the rent or be faced with an eviction. I'll put a 3 days notice on his door on the 5th. 

If I let this one go the others will do the same. 

I don't have a relationship with any of these tenants nor plan to. 

They are not the category of tenants I want for my property. 

I've been a landlord long enough to know that as Kim says they need to know you mean business. You try to be nice to people and all they do is take advantage of it. 

Thanks for your reply. 

Happy New a Year!

@Kim Meredith Hampton

Hi everyone, We just acquired 9 new doors and inherited 6 new tenants ( the other 3 are vacant for now). This is the first month we will be collecting rent. So far we have received 3 units rent. Yesterday I sent them an email reminding them that rent is due on the first, that the 3 xtra days they have for paying is just a courtesy but not to become a habit paying date. That if we did not receive the rent payment by the 4th as stated on the lease, that they will have to pay the $50 late fee + $5 per day and we will start an eviction process. Today I received an email from one of the tenants that reads: "I will have my rent payed in just in the middle of a job transfer and they hold paychecks for first week so I’m not gonna have money come in till the following week. I’m sorry for not letting you know ahead of time it’s just been hectic latley" I have not heard from the others and have a feeling I will not. I live in Miami and just got back from the property. I believe in being firm with your tenants and as I said I would start an eviction I feel I have to drive back the 4 hours to the property on the 5th and stick a 3 days notice on their door. What do you think?

When I had properties on short term rentals I hired Avalara and they got me the licenses I needed and did the monthly pay. You just have to report on their website. I thought it was worth it. 

Welcome to BP!  Wishing you lots of success in your new venture. 

Welcome!!! BP is a great place to learn and network. Hope your resolution will be fulfilled. 

Welcome and good luck! Lots to learn in this forum. 

Happy holidays to you too!

In South Florida, specifically Miami, I always ask for first month rent and 2 months security deposit for my properties and those of my clients. It's actually the norm here. Here's the thing; if the tenant decides to stop paying and we have to evict and on top of it there's damage to the property even with 2 months deposit you'll lose. 

@Al Pat I've used Cash to pay my cleaning crew for an Airbnb I use to have and it worked great.