All Forum Posts by: Susan Grinde

Thanks for your insights. I like giving options for my tenant to choose from. Great idea!!

I have a pet-friendly home that currently has a tenant that has been residing in it for a month and a half (she does not have any pets) and is complaining that her allergies and asthma are being affected. Because of this, she wants to break her one-year lease.

A little background... The previous tenants had a dog and a cat in the house, but upon their vacating the premises, the home was thoroughly cleaned by myself and then a cleaning service, most walls were repainted, wood floors were re-sealed with polyurethane, vents were vacuumed and furnace filter was changed. Nothing was noted on the move-in report or even communicated to me about there being a problem.

I will always work with tenants that need to break their leases as long as I am able to verify they are being honest with me as to why they need to leave early. It is difficult for me, however, to understand her claims that her health is being adversely affected by living in a home that I know was clean and ready for a new tenant and I never was informed otherwise.

I don't want to keep her as a tenant if she proves to be a difficult tenant. I will allow her to break the lease, but is there something I should do to keep her accountable to the lease until I find a new tenant?

My mom has inherited a property in a wonderful Denver location. As many of BP members know, that market has been crazy. The home was left to her by her partner of 44 years because he wanted to make sure she was taken care of. She does not think her situation is conducive to keeping it as a rental since she is 86 years old and has many health issues. On top of that, she is living with me in Washington State because she can no longer live alone in Florida. I would love for her to keep it and use it for a rental as I believe she could cash flow about $1,000/month, but she wants nothing to do with it. So, I am not sure what to do to help her but to turn to the BP members for some insights. We are not familiar with the Denver market enough to know if she should sell "as-is". Many homes in the area just get scraped and $1+million homes are built in their places, thus "as-is" looks pretty good. Or put some money into it to update it to sell it. The ROI could be pretty good as it could go from a 2bd/1ba to 3+bd/2ba with some work. Maybe some of the BP community that work in the Denver market (realtors, contractors, flippers, etc.) have some thoughts that would help her with her decision.

I believe SERVE WENATCHEE has some homes that are part of their Homes of Hope program. The program offers homes to those that are trying to get back on their feet. Try picking their brain about what to do in regards to setting up a home to help the homeless. There is a large need. Blessings to you for wanting to help those that have hit a hard patch in their lives.

@Christina J. Thanks, Christina! Makes a lot of sense. 

@Nathan Gesner Good advice. Nathan! I am finding there are other things in my lease that I need to make very clear. 

I live in an area that has been difficult to find properties to renovate to rent, so I have done renovations on a couple single family homes out of state where the numbers work much better. I have done the renovations myself (with my #1 workers, hubby and son), but we are slow. I am ready to buy more properties, but I don't want to do the work anymore. How does anyone find a team of workers that are dependable and trustworthy, especially since I would not be available to watch over the job?

@Nathan Gesner Quite the motherlode!! My husband is so jealous!

@Sylvia B. I will need to go take a second look at the dime. Won't be able to get to it until Jan as I don't live in Butte and that is where the dime and other goodies are. Will let you know if I find a "D" on it!

Thanks @Mitch Messer! Great advice. I like how you have that in your lease. I may adopt some of that once I check with WA Landlord laws

Thanks @Jennifer T.! I like to hear other landlord experiences and how they handle them. Much appreciated!