All Forum Posts by: Eric Blackford

I recommend allowing dogs under 25 pounds and over 3 years old. And no cats at all.

Wow, I love how this conversation is going. Please let me say that PM's are not inherently dishonest. There is a portion of the industry that works to the side of pushing tenants out so that they can collect more rental fees. But there are just as many of not more who don't. Referral is your best tool for getting to an honest PM.

My company charges a fee simply for taking over management of a property/tenant. And, if the landlord placed the tenant, then there is a fee every time a new tenant is placed. Also, if the tenant is placed by the landlord, my company doesn't assist in any eviction without charging for every bit of work done. If my company places the tenant, then I'm on the hook to assist through the entire process of any eviction, and that's by contract. If the landlord wants to place tenants every time there's a vacancy, my recommendation is that he not employ my company, period. I get top tier absolutely the best tenants possible. My screening is second to none and I do not place a tenant without in depth discussion with the landlord prior to accepting a tenant.

I know that investors are generally skeptical by nature. They should be as they are putting their hard earned dollars on the line but, there are PM's out there who are worth every penny that they charge. As I said, referral is your best tool to find a good one.

I personally think that concrete is a better surface. It'll last longer and hold up / look better over time. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the concrete strips and, yes, I'd be impressed if a municipality allowed you to put it in. Now, that being said, I know that where I live, concrete flatwork does not require a municipal permit. I literally doubled the size of my concrete driveway without any permit.

Jon, I've always had issues getting people to sign estoppel letters. In this case, what would be your presentation/argument to a tenant to sign the document? The tenant certainly has no real incentive to sign. It seems that a tenant would realize that there is a real estate transaction happening and would probably go to that bad place of "There's nothing good for me in cooperating here". Just curious.

I assume you've never had a malady that creates a need for something to boost your appetite or take away nausea. Some cancer patients have only medical marijuana to lean on to answer those two symptoms of their disease. Sorry you think it's ridiculous.

If you're banning marijuana because of the smoking aspect of it, then a simple "No smoking of any substance" should be sufficient. If they have a medical need, then so be it, though I would think that you could put it in your lease that they must smoke it outside. If you're banning it because you feel it's an illicit drug, then you'll also need to ban alcohol of any kind as well. Both are, by definition, legal now.

1) No
2) No
3) No

Sounds like he's working you.

Advice moving forward? Ride it out and don't make the same mistakes again. Or, 3 day notice them and evict. And maybe consider improving your people skills.

Never been sued but have had threats.

Always rekey.