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. 

Depending on the state, using the seller's agent might be your soft spot.

There is a $35.00 Non refundable background check that the applicant needs to pay to smartmove.Look at the ID of the person when they get to the property,.......and make sure it matches the person.....A quick tip on showing......and setting rental prices.......Do a "soft advertisement on Craigslist with all the info.....but without the actual address.....just the name of the street.....see if you get lots of responses quickly.......if you do......that means you need to take the ad down for a couple days and then re advertise it at a higher price..............I advertise on CL and when the phone rings.....Do NOT ANSWER.............let people leave voicemail .....you want to see if when they leave a message they sound like someone that you may feel comfortable talking with on a daily basis......And DO NOT DO OPEN HOUSES..............What you need to do is when the first person you talk to that you get a good vibe with expresses an interest in seeing the house......you tell them I'm showing it Saturday at 10am and Sunday at 3pm...........then be quiet.....they will pick a time.......and you repeat that process with everyone that calls and make sure it at or around the same time slot as everyone else.....Don't tell them other people will be there also......When they do show up and they see other people there also.....it creates more of a demand for the room :-)   Also...pick a time that is withinn 24 hours of talkin with the person....if you talk with them Monday afternoon....tell them you are showing it tonight at 7 and tommorow at 6.        

There is a skinny wall at the end of the one hallway that has a hole and seems to be "soft" (you can push it in with little resistance).

With galvanized and CPVC once you start fixing it, you may create more leaks elsewhere in the system.Once you get past 50 years with galvanized (maybe in PDX a little more since we've got soft water), you're on borrowed time.

@David Shiling I’m realtor in northeast of Ct, Just joined the Bigger pocket not long ago, we use website / App called soft screen, the potential tenants pay for the application ( I think 50$), and you will get full reports , check it out, good luck!!

You can toy with the lease length too.In some of my properties we're going forward with soft increases because our tenant base has shown an ability to absorb it.

They were old-school depression babies and did most of their own maintenance even though they were in their 70's and 80's.They were soft-hearted with tenants and the tenants learned to go around me when they thought I'd say no (like little kids) and waylay the brothers in the parking lot when they'd show up on a Saturday morning, to get the "owner" to agree to something instead of asking me first. 

With Covid-19 the market is very soft, there is no telling when he is going to find another buyer.

Your best best is to do a soft probe on both fronts.