All Forum Posts by: Rose Stuart

Hi everyone,

I’m doing a down-to-the-studs bathroom remodel. Do you have any favorite designs that would appeal to the widest possible group of potential tenants? It’s a 1940s brick exterior house with lots of wood floors. I’m having so much trouble picking tile! 

Thank you, everyone! Such great ideas and support.

We have two duplexes, self-manage. We just bought a third property to live in. Rents have been going up and up and up. (Supply is also going up, but not fast enough to stop the rate of rental increase.) Our longest-term tenants have been riding the wave and sticking it out with us...rent started at $625/mo in '09 and last year they signed at $900/mo. Our philosophy has always been to closely track market values for rents, let the chips fall where they may. But we are looking at another possible lease renewal with them...market research says we should be shooting for $950-$1000/ month, but we are still unpacking from our own personal move two weeks ago. I can't find basic household stuff. We've been burning the candle at both ends to get the unit we just moved out of ready to lease, and if I lose these awesome tenants because of a rental increase at this particular moment in time, it will be the last straw that sends me over the edge. There is still so much work we need to do to get our own place in good working order. I think I know what I need to do...suck up the potential lost rent and re-assess next year. But what do I tell myself in the meantime about missing out on the potential lost income?

Love these. One wanted us to install a outside light for when she got home from her 1 am drumming gigs. Another wore a t shirt "Snitches get stitches"

In my 8 years of landlording, I have relied heavily on background and credit checks. But now I have a vacancy and an applicant who is a foreign student at a local college. He does not have a social security number, but said if the lack of credit history concerned me, he could pay THE ENTIRE YEAR AND SECURITY DEPOSIT UP FRONT. What would you do? I am nervous. Do I ask to see proof of his enrollment? Would you rent to this person, or only people you can run the full checks on? Obviously I would get the funds in certified form, but is that enough of a safeguard? My family and I live downstairs. What if he is trying to hide a criminal background? What would you do?

I had a friend a few weeks ago describe a large portion of Troy (esp the Lansingburgh area) as "scary as f****" For a while, postal workers were demanding (and getting) police escorts. Between the crime and high taxes, you couldn't give me a building over there... That's just me. :) Good luck, whatever you decide.

Thanks, Stan! I devoured the podcast for months while working on our second duplex. I love how supportive and helpful the community here is too. Are you on the warmer end of CA? If so, I'm jealous. Snow on the ground here. :)

I own and manage two duplexes in the suburbs of Albany, NY. I've been a landlord for seven years, and am excited to learn more and get support and advice from other folks on this crazy and rewarding ride.

I'm wondering if we should be more specific about our rental criteria in writing our ads. We started advertising our apartment a week ago, and have received about ten rental applications so far. One flat out lied, one (really qualified) withdrew. Her first choice housing option opened up. Another withdrew after reading the lease...but not caring enough to discuss the specific points. And then a bunch with either bad credit (504), borderline credit (590&602), or applications too awful to even run credit checks on. We have a track record of finding great tenants with scores in the 700s, and think we are priced right. I'm just sort of feeling like I'm spending too much time/mental energy dealing with folks who don't stand a chance. Should I tell people "we are looking for qualified applicants with solid credit and at least X in income"? What do you say in your ads so that people self-select out? But! Not so many that we don't get any applicants. After all, if the 590&602 couple are the best prospect for another week or so, we might take them. 

Had an open house today. A prospective tenant wore a hoodie that said "snitches get stitches." #whatnottowear