My first year with my 3 unit in Newark cost me close to 10k in evictions, vacancies, and damages.

Mini blinds get broken or damaged almost every year.

@Katharine Chartrand Since I am viewing with my phone the check photo is a bit blurry, but you might just be exposing enough info there for a thief to compromise your account without stealing a physical check from you.

I'd be happy if they didn't damage the property.

It doesn't sound like he damaged the property, so consider yourself lucky.

The best looking home has paint peeling off the building and damaged windows.

Slightly damaged tenants CAN be the best tenants because their options are fewer and some are grateful that you can look past the corporate extortion by credit reporting agencies.

It's very possible, once you have the right team in place....it doesn't really matter where you are physically located...

Instead I have to physically pick up this triplicate carbon copy thing down at the courthouse.

I'd consider that a relatively cheap lesson to learn, pay the tenant what's in the lease less any damages and chalk it up as something to know better for next time.