All Forum Posts by: Arnie Guida

As we landlords know, not allowing kids is illegal. I drove past a 4plex today and the "For Rent" sign only had an email address on it, saying to use it to request an application. Having just gone through a vacancy in my 4plex, the phone calls can get tiring. There's always the open house approach to eliminate phone calls...

Seeing this sign, I couldn't help but think that the REAL motivation was not to eliminate phone calls, but to pick and choose a tenant while removing the fear of getting in trouble for...discrimination, no kids, what have you...

Maybe I'm just cynical...

Everything else being equal, floor plan, amenities, condition, etc, do you charge the same rent for your uppers and lowers, or more for one or the other? I've found most tenants seem to prefer a lower, so shouldn't the rent be just a tad more, say, $10 or something small like that?

I've always charged the same myself, but am curious how others do it.

Arnie

I'm sorry, I don't see the logic.

It ok to stiff somebody, company, clinic, car repair, what have you...

Just don't stiff a landlord.

Lunacy.

So owing a landlord a landlord $500 is a dead stop, but someone else 2k is ok?

Makes no sense.

What about the recency of the judgement?

My new apartment building has a Paragon mechanical timer for the hallway lights. The guts were ripped out, so I found a new one and installed it. The conduit to the timer has 4 wires coming out of it. 2 whites, a black and a green. When I first found this deal, the two whites were twisted together and the lights were always on. The black and green were not connected to anything. There is a light switch below the timer, manual override? The light switch has black to the top, green to the bottom.

The clock runs when one white goes to the T terminal and the other white goes the M terminal.

Using a continuity tester, when the timer switch is on, terminals T and 4 have continuity.

Can I handle this myself or should I call someone?

By the by, I know there are cheaper ways to automate hallway lighting, but I bought the new timer already, and besides, my curiosity is piqued. I'd like to see it work now, it's a challenge!

Thank you,

Arnie

Do you treat unsatisfied judgements like most landlords treat evictions (none, ever), or are there conditions, ie, how long ago, amount, etc... where you'd accept an applicant with one... or more

How about mortgage foreclosures?

Thank you,

Arnie

My days of cleaning gutters on a two story building are long behind me. So I call around to have it done. A guy comes out, looks it over, paces off the building and says, "I'll send you a bid."

I'm serious.

Jesus...

Congratulations Dawn.

Thanks for continually providing the inspiration for me to improve my way of doing business.

I finally got my basement cleared up and the tenants are cooperating wonderfully, There is nothing outside of the storage lockers. I sent a notice to all of them that anything  in the basement or stairways may be thrown away without notice. Things have been great. No clutter at all.

Now for my new 4plex? 

Oh

My

God!!!!!!

When I first looked at the building, even the realtor was embarrassed... The clutter is off the charts, not quite a candidate for the television series "Hoarders", but really bad. Broken appliances, boxes, clothes... just shtuff that's never going to be used. I've spoken with all of them about it, and their attitude is they see no problem! They've all lived there for years, it's their house, this is the way it's always been! 

Ay yi yi...this is going to be an uphill struggle. I've been trying to lead by example. I personally trimmed the bushes, cut the grass several times and edged the lawn... a friend asked me why I don't hire that out. I WANT them to see ME doing it, to show I care and mean what I say about keeping a clean looking building.

I'm going to start with the appliances in the basement...one step at a time. I'm going to send out a letter asking them to remove them, and if they don't, I'll be happy to do it for them, no charge.

I've told all of them personally that my goal is to give them a clean, safe building that they will be proud to call their home. When they have guests over, I want them to say, "Hey, nice place."

It's going to take a little time, but this building will be as clear of clutter as my other building. Then I want white walls and a grey floor in the basement. 

This place WILL stand tall, I guarantee it.