The grass wasn't cut to his specs - it was now normal size 3 1/2 inch in length!

In the future, make sure language in the lease addresses this.You want to avoid having a tenant work on your property for a few reasons: The work may be done poorly and you'll have to redo it; the tenant may become injured doing the work and bring a lawsuit against you; it muddies the waters of your  existing relationship.The most I allow my tenants to do is change out the smoke detector batteries if needed- even that is in the lease.Good luck!

We just checked smoke detectors, changed the batteries, checked carbon monoxide detectors, checked for plumbing leaks, checked for running toilets, leaking a/c unit, and asked if they had anything they needed fixed.  

Here are details: Specs: Duplex built in 1976, each unit with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathroomPurchase price / financing: $199,000 with 20% downRented: Both units are rented at $950/unit/month = $1900/monthP&I:  $770 Insurance: $75Property taxes: $199Maintenance, repairs, reserves: 15% of total rent = $285Utilities: $0Property Management: $0 I will do it myself Vacancy: 10% of total rent = $190Cash flow: 1900-770-75-199-285-190= $381Tenants are section 8 with roughly 60-40 split between housing authority and tenant (40%)There are couple of minor issues with the property which would need about $2000 of work but not currently required.  

Again, a properly spec'd toilet that is an anti-clog model for $300 versus a $59.00 glacier bay from home depot solves the problem, the extra bathroom isn't the problem it's the landlord who's spec sheet is based on low priced products instead of the right products for the job.Now if your property is on a septic system I can see the issue with a disposal, not so because of the food waste issue going into the septic but because of the extra water flow of using one.For you new tile Nick I hope you are spending a little bit more for one of the new commercial grade grouts that require no sealing, and never change color, more money up front but you'll recoup it in the very first tenant turn over.

What kind of language and fees would you include in a lease regarding pets? I did not intend to allow pets. However, one applicant has a black lab, which I have also owned and had good luck with, and she seems like a ...

my first unit was a condo, it's been profitable and pretty easy to deal with.....and....I would never buy another nor would I recommend it.the HOA fee alone sucks. it builds no equity and you have little control over changes in price. and it cuts into cash flowthe hoa can put on special assessments (although I have never had one)the hoa can simply be a pain in the *** if someone living there is out of spec or they have restrictions that make renting trickiercondos generally don't appreciate (in my experience) like SFH because they have to appreciate as a whole, which is harder. not the worst possible investment, but since I have owned mine I have seen no benefit over my SFH and I have less control over it

In fact, that's what we're putting in the San Clemente Spec house we are building. 

Then, schedule an inspection in a month or so saying you need to check the smoke detector batteries and check for plumbing leaks. 

Make sure the smoke detectors meet requirements - some have to be replaced if a certain age, make sure the batteries are new.