All Forum Posts by: Chris Volkers

If you're coming to Warsaw, I don't have much of an excuse not to come!

Looking forward to meeting you guys.

OK, so it didn't workout, but if it had, how could it be totally legal and you be powerless?

My lease states that adults who are not on the lease cannot live in the apartment. If they are not on the lease, I can order them off my property! I've done it, more than once- usually a single woman on a lease and she has a boyfriend who has drugs, threatens violence, or doesn't get along with the neighbors... I tell him that he's not welcome on my property and if he ever comes back I'll call the Police. Usually the single woman moves out within a week.

I often accompany a rent increase with installing something that the tenant will appreciate and that will also increase my property value- a ceiling fan, a garbage disposal, new screen door, etc. It can help keep their attitude good.

We charge a security deposit equal to one month's rent and the pro-rated amount for the remainder of the month to move in. If they come in after the 23rd or so, I expect them to pay the pro-rated amount and the next month at move-in. The 2nd month proration is interesting, but it seems like more details to keep track of. I want to get them in and be on the normal track by the 1st of the next month. It costs so much to move, I think the security deposit and rent for the remainder of the month is plenty. I want them to be able to buy a new shower curtain or other decorations to make it "homey" for them.

I don't believe you can require that they are a non-smoker. You can prohibit smoking on your property. (If you figure out how to enforce that, let me know.)

^ It's also worth noting that this is ALL kids who were tested for any reason, NOT a random sampling. So it appears that 295 of the 50,192 who were already thought to be at risk had elevated lead levels. It also appears that they count children who were tested and confirmed the previous year, so the 295 are not all new cases.

It would be silly to not have a LBP disclosure as part of the lease on any pre-1978 property.

Maybe if you have a property manager, most things could wait. I used to have a boiler that would occasionally quit. I once had a water heater go nuts and the pressure relief valve spewed nearly boiling hot water everywhere, flooding the apt. Oh, and my office building had a minor fire and the firemen came and broke out EVERY window.... All of which I was glad to hear about right away.

Not long ago I got a call at about 11:45 PM on a weeknight. Being a landlord, I always answer the phone:

Me: (groggily) Hello?

Caller: Hi, I was calling about the apartment for rent, is it still available?

Me: Yes... 

Caller: Can you tell me more about it? When can I see it?

Me: (thinking maybe she didn't realize about different time zones) Are you calling from out West?

Caller: No, I'm right here in town.

Me: I don't normally take calls this late.

Caller: Oh.... Should I call back tomorrow morning?

Me: No thanks. Goodnight

If she calls at all hours before she even sees the place, I suspect she's the kind of tenant that calls at 3AM when she sees a spider.

Derreck, do you really believe that (according to your numbers) nearly 5% of the children in Indiana suffer from lead poisoning? 

That is about as outrageous as heating a wall up to 1100 degrees to strip wallpaper. 

If you think government agencies are credible then you and I are not going to find any middle ground here. We've both tried to be helpful to Karen by sharing our views. I apologize if you feel I have made light of your livelihood or personally insulted you. I don't wish to hijack Karen's thread any further. I wish you the best.

I'm going to try this in an apt that has linoleum glued to concrete slab. Any reason to remove the existing linoleum first?

(Please say no)

I bought a duplex at a yard sale. The owner was selling junk in the front yard and had a piece of cardboard that said "Building for sale". My handyman said I should go check it out. Got it for $20,000 + back taxes ($7300). We've put about $3000 in it and are renting it for $1200.