All Forum Posts by: William W.

So if you have a gravel parking lot you’re exempt from the tax?

@Jonathan Taylor Smith makes a good point about length of employment. It may be a good idea to require at least one year of employment with their current employer. At least that would show they have some amount of self responsibility.

And definitely make it a point to get rid of all carpeting.

I allow pets, but I limit it to one pet under 25lbs. I do not allow outside dog kennels or allow any dog to be tethered outdoors. Too many people think it’s okay to chain a dog to a tree and leave it outside in the cold and rain, but I don’t go for that.

I’m in an unusual situation in that I’m a landlord, but I also work for my town’s animal control. I let new tenants know right off the bat what the town’s leash laws are, and if I see any violations I won’t treat them any differently than anyone else. I also require my tenant’s pets to have current vaccination records and the required city dog license. 

You need to find out how tax certificates work in your state. It may make more sense for you to go to the courthouse and bid on the certificate, then the landlord will have to pay YOU back if he/she wants to keep the property.

About the only thing you can do from far away is to call the local building inspector and explain your situation, so maybe they can stop by and check on the work while it’s being done.

In my area, nearly everyone uses a heat pump these days, BUT, they are only efficient down to about 25 degrees, after that the backup electric heat strips will come on and use a lot more power. I suspect most heat pumps farther north probably use gas for the backup heat.

About the only thing I do while the tenant is living there is to pressure wash the exterior once a year. Honestly I do that more for me than for the tenant.

@Kyle J.

Thanks. This is my first time using Cozy rent collect, and my new tenants were very open to it (unlike most I’ve dealt with).

@Michael Doherty

Of course they want their grass cut, but many tenants also value their privacy. For some tenants it could make them feel uneasy if they feel their landlord is using grass mowing as an excuse to check up on them (even if that’s not your intent). 

Of course for multi family units this may not be true, but I only own SFH's.