It's hard to be strict but it's MUCH harder to deal with the hassle you'll create when being too soft! 

Tenants will rant and rave about rents being increased or having to pay more money for anything, or about any changes that might require more work on their behalf (no more garbage chute that was always getting clogged up, meaning they had to take it down to the dumpsters going forward), etc.But, what I quickly learned is that if you start searching Craigslist or other websites for a similar apartment, and you raise their rents so that they are just enough below market so that it's cheaper to stay where they are in your building - they may bluster and beat their chests - but they'll stay put.So don't be too soft. 

I took on a building that was owned by a disabled vet who was soft on one of the tenants who was also  a disabled Vet.  

s advise back then).Impact driver.Drill.1 Hammer (there are instances where i wish i had smaller / bigger hammer, but come on.... one does the trick).Measuring tape.Crow bar.A few putty knives.Lots of gardening tools (2 rakes - hard and soft, hoe, loppers, 2 shovels etc)A good level tool.Lots of razors (man, razors have many more applications than just shaving my dumb face haha)Here is the way i looked at it:I am not in a business of working on other people's properties, so i wont need everything under the sun (or home depot's roof).

Which is are soft psychological type traits which dont naturally come out in the application process unless I have a facebook account or something to eyeball.  

Society is to soft.

@Matthew Ware Your sober and complete assessment doesn't sound like you're just starting out - you've got an excellent grasp on the hard and soft issues involved.  

Yeah, he got a couple warnings to keep his drama out of the building, then he got his 30 day notice.Funny, because he was soft-spoken and really big - like 6'3" and maybe 250lbs, and both girlfriends were little teeny short things - but hellcats!  

Sue Kelly keep it professional and don't come across as a soft touch.

My question is, in her text she said she will have 1/2 of the rent the 1st, then "should" have the second half with the late fee two weeks later, so she gets she'll be paying extra.I don't want to be soft and encourage this type of habit to form, but I don't want to be a jerk and evict her right off the bat either, especially if she warned me a week in advance.Would you serve a 5 day notice on the 6th when the grace period ends?