For whatever reason, a bunch of minor non-issues (well, mostly minor) really hit home this week.
Ms. Angela wants the repairs that were promised her finished from when she moved in.
Ms. Kathy's antics are bugging me--actually what is bugging me is that she won't talk with me. She will let Carolsue abuse her, but she won't discuss when I can expect the rent with me. I have a few solutions for this. Stay tuned.
Artie and Candy are paying late--but they add late fees. If I were to guess, I would bet Candy is no longer in the picture and Artie is going at it alone. Either way, I am getting rent. Just late.
Ms. Robin made what I considered an obscene request to have her payment date moved. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a big deal. Fortunately, she was meeting with Attorney Jon at the time, who explained to her that she couldn't live in my home for free. I don't think she fully grasped my point even when Attorney Jon, one of the nicest and diplomatic people I know, translated my "Heck no! Are you out of your %&%$!#%&^% mind!!!!" to "No ma'am."
In any case, I moved Ms. Robin's payment a few extra days, but she didn't get the three weeks she asked for. Maybe if I hadn't been in a foul mood when she called, I would have been more willing to bend. Maybe not.
Even before I knew what was going on with the Sherwoods, Marty Sunshine--who never really thinks I should travel--thought maybe it was time to go to Alabama. It is. It is actually long overdue. I adore Carolsue, Legal Eagle and Jack, but a couple of meals with friends and business acquaintances doesn't really add up to a trip five states away.
And, truth be told, a trip doesn't work into my life right now. Besides all of the regular reasons not to leave (my children and husband, Major League Baseball's spring training and a mild Arizona winter), I have aging parents who need medical attention in the month of February. I have clients who justifiably aren't real understanding when they are about to spend lots of money and their agent high-tails it out of town for a week.
If I had to break it down, I would say, I am just mad at myself for poor decisions I have made throughout the ages that have created all of these minor situations. However, I find when I let minor issues fester they turn into major issues. I am not in the mood for those either.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Sure-Fire Sherwoods
Months ago, Mrs. Sherwood called me telling me she was giving her 30 day notice and was moving out. Her husband was out of a job and had been looking for months without any hope. She personally had her hours cut back. They simply could not afford the rent. When I asked her where she would go, she said she wasn't sure. I was certain she didn't have the money to move.
Her husband's unemployment issue didn't surprise me. I have been watching the Birmingham economy pretty closely for the past couple of years. Currently, Birmingham's unemployment rate is one of the highest in the nation. I read recently that the unemployment rate there jumped 95 percent in the past 12 months. I have been told by several people how difficult times are in Birmingham. Jobs are scarce. Those working have taken pay cuts to preserve their positions. From what I am reading and seeing, I certainly believe times over there are tougher than a lot of other places.
Mrs. Sherwood has called me about three times in the years she had been living there. She is one of those dream tenants landlords look for. When I drive by, the place looks well-kept up. The gutters are clean. The rent is generally on time and even though her stove doesn't work, she doesn't want me to buy a new one. Because then her family would expect her to cook. She doesn't want that.
Her move-out date would have hit the beginning of the holiday season. The house is 40 years old, has fixtures, carpeting and paint from about the same era. We are a bit cash-strapped right now and Mrs. Sherwood moving out did not look like anything I wanted to take on. Not to mention, when she called I was battling an 8-week flu/pneumonia/fell down the stairs and re-injured my back thing going on (last autumn just sucked).
At the time, I made a deal with Mrs. Sherwood. We would take a reduction in rent for a couple of months and then go back to our regularly scheduled program in January. What I didn't tell Mrs. Sherwood is that Mr. Partner and I discussed this and we were willing to extend Mrs. Sherwood's rent reduction a bit longer if it would keep us from having a vacant home right now.
This month, I didn't hear from Mrs. Sherwood. I thought about calling her and saying, "Hey! You are going to pay an increase in rent now, right?" My concern about calling her was that if I said, "How's it going?" I might very well get a sob story about how bad things were. If I left it as-is and see what she paid me (the adjusted amount or full rent) then I would have a conversation topic.
This past week I hadn't seen Mrs. Sherwood's check yet. I started to dither to Marty Sunshine. "You don't think she skipped do you? She doesn't strike me as the type." I would ask about every five minutes. He finally urged me to call her or get on a plane and find out for myself. Finally, I called.
When I talked to her, I found out that Mr. Sherwood had just gotten a job with the County. He was hired this past week. She started nursing school. She was sure things were looking up. And she was sure they didn't want to move.
Her husband's unemployment issue didn't surprise me. I have been watching the Birmingham economy pretty closely for the past couple of years. Currently, Birmingham's unemployment rate is one of the highest in the nation. I read recently that the unemployment rate there jumped 95 percent in the past 12 months. I have been told by several people how difficult times are in Birmingham. Jobs are scarce. Those working have taken pay cuts to preserve their positions. From what I am reading and seeing, I certainly believe times over there are tougher than a lot of other places.
Mrs. Sherwood has called me about three times in the years she had been living there. She is one of those dream tenants landlords look for. When I drive by, the place looks well-kept up. The gutters are clean. The rent is generally on time and even though her stove doesn't work, she doesn't want me to buy a new one. Because then her family would expect her to cook. She doesn't want that.
Her move-out date would have hit the beginning of the holiday season. The house is 40 years old, has fixtures, carpeting and paint from about the same era. We are a bit cash-strapped right now and Mrs. Sherwood moving out did not look like anything I wanted to take on. Not to mention, when she called I was battling an 8-week flu/pneumonia/fell down the stairs and re-injured my back thing going on (last autumn just sucked).
At the time, I made a deal with Mrs. Sherwood. We would take a reduction in rent for a couple of months and then go back to our regularly scheduled program in January. What I didn't tell Mrs. Sherwood is that Mr. Partner and I discussed this and we were willing to extend Mrs. Sherwood's rent reduction a bit longer if it would keep us from having a vacant home right now.
This month, I didn't hear from Mrs. Sherwood. I thought about calling her and saying, "Hey! You are going to pay an increase in rent now, right?" My concern about calling her was that if I said, "How's it going?" I might very well get a sob story about how bad things were. If I left it as-is and see what she paid me (the adjusted amount or full rent) then I would have a conversation topic.
This past week I hadn't seen Mrs. Sherwood's check yet. I started to dither to Marty Sunshine. "You don't think she skipped do you? She doesn't strike me as the type." I would ask about every five minutes. He finally urged me to call her or get on a plane and find out for myself. Finally, I called.
When I talked to her, I found out that Mr. Sherwood had just gotten a job with the County. He was hired this past week. She started nursing school. She was sure things were looking up. And she was sure they didn't want to move.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Quote of the Day
"The minute you begin to do what you really want to do, it's really a different kind of life."
-- Buckminster Fuller
(Thanks to Happy Camper for this pearl)
-- Buckminster Fuller
(Thanks to Happy Camper for this pearl)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Former Home Owners
Currently, I have a client who wants to rent a home. They are super-nice, considerate folks. Last year I helped them find a rental home. And, they called again this year. Some day, maybe they will buy from me. But for now, maybe they will just refer a friend or two.
Normally, in Arizona, the process of helping a renter find a home goes like this: I show the rental home, they take the application, fill it out and hand it over to the agent who listed the property and I get paid a small stipend for my time.
This is a far cry from Alabama where real estate agents don't list rental properties on MLS and they certainly aren't going to show rental properties. That is left for the likes of folks like Kirby and Carolsue. Well, technically only Kirby. He is a licensed agent and he owns a property management company. Carolsue falls into a gray category because these are my properties, therefore she can do me a favor, but Legal Eagle just shakes her head and has asked me not to give her too many details.
Though rentals don't pay much, there is very little work to do. So, in a way, dollar per hour, it is a great deal. Except in this case. I believe I would make a higher wage per hour if I were working in a manufacturing company in a third world nation. But I am not complaining. Work is work.
My clients aren't professional renters. They have owned a home. And, like most former home owners, they want to negotiate. Every. Little. Thing. I don't blame them, I really wish more tenants were this fussy. My experience is that tenants who are fussy up front are a dream once they move in.
When I think about my ideal tenant, I go back and forth with this. Professional renters don't ask for anything. They have lower standards and want the landlord to leave them alone as much as the landlord wants to be left alone. However, professional renters tend to think of the home in terms of, "The rich landlord won't care if we leave the place in shambles. After all, he is the rich landlord."
I find former home owners tend to nitpick every little thing before they move in. Could the carpets be cleaned again? They look clean, but you never know who has walked on them from the time they were cleaned last week and up until today. When was the last time the AC was serviced? Will the landlord provide a receipt to prove it? They want more, they expect more and generally they take much better care of the home--so landlords will give more. However, they wear out all semblence of goodwill by the time they move in.
Mrs. Spring comes to mind. I am told my clients (who are exceptional people--I can't stress that enough!) and their requests are wearing thin on the good nature of the landlord. I understand both sides of this. But in the long run, if both sides ever come to a meeting of the minds, I am guessing the landlord will be happy he gave in.
Normally, in Arizona, the process of helping a renter find a home goes like this: I show the rental home, they take the application, fill it out and hand it over to the agent who listed the property and I get paid a small stipend for my time.
This is a far cry from Alabama where real estate agents don't list rental properties on MLS and they certainly aren't going to show rental properties. That is left for the likes of folks like Kirby and Carolsue. Well, technically only Kirby. He is a licensed agent and he owns a property management company. Carolsue falls into a gray category because these are my properties, therefore she can do me a favor, but Legal Eagle just shakes her head and has asked me not to give her too many details.
Though rentals don't pay much, there is very little work to do. So, in a way, dollar per hour, it is a great deal. Except in this case. I believe I would make a higher wage per hour if I were working in a manufacturing company in a third world nation. But I am not complaining. Work is work.
My clients aren't professional renters. They have owned a home. And, like most former home owners, they want to negotiate. Every. Little. Thing. I don't blame them, I really wish more tenants were this fussy. My experience is that tenants who are fussy up front are a dream once they move in.
When I think about my ideal tenant, I go back and forth with this. Professional renters don't ask for anything. They have lower standards and want the landlord to leave them alone as much as the landlord wants to be left alone. However, professional renters tend to think of the home in terms of, "The rich landlord won't care if we leave the place in shambles. After all, he is the rich landlord."
I find former home owners tend to nitpick every little thing before they move in. Could the carpets be cleaned again? They look clean, but you never know who has walked on them from the time they were cleaned last week and up until today. When was the last time the AC was serviced? Will the landlord provide a receipt to prove it? They want more, they expect more and generally they take much better care of the home--so landlords will give more. However, they wear out all semblence of goodwill by the time they move in.
Mrs. Spring comes to mind. I am told my clients (who are exceptional people--I can't stress that enough!) and their requests are wearing thin on the good nature of the landlord. I understand both sides of this. But in the long run, if both sides ever come to a meeting of the minds, I am guessing the landlord will be happy he gave in.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Now If I Could Predict Winning Lottery Numbers...
I swear. This is the last word on this particular topic...
I got the following e-mail from Mr. 114 on Sunday:
I got the following e-mail from Mr. 114 on Sunday:
I looked at the leak today and all I could find out is that there just can't be a leak. No wood above the wet spot on the floor was wet. Plus, it rained like crazy here today and no sign of leaks. I told her to keep an eye on it and let me know if it comes back. I honestly think that one of her kids spilt something in there.
The water spot was many feet away from the window. It was not near any roof joint. Several feet away from the roof peak. I looked and looked without being able to come up with anything other then a simple spill.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Accidental Landlord
The housing slump has created a new breed of investors. There are many new landlords who couldn't sell their homes and needed/wanted to move. Because they they couldn't sell and instead of ruining their credit, they rented out their old home. Hence, the accidental landlord was born. There seems to be a mindset of accidental landlords I have met. They think, "This isn't too bad. After all, I am a few miles away. I can fix/mow/inspect whenever necessary."
One of the biggest mistakes accidental landlords seem to make is when they take on managing their home as a hobby. Sadly, they learn the hard way, nobody, I tell you, nobody, is going to love their former home as much as the accidental landlord does.
Tenants aren't going to prune the trees the way you did. Tenants might not wipe down the wall smudges as diligently as you did. The tenant's dog may not be as well behaved as the hamster you had. Essentially your tenants won't treat your cherished home like their own. They treat it like a temporary domicile. When the tenants move out, the landlord is appalled at the footprints on the ceiling. Who lives this way? They ask.
There are other issues directly related to this too. Accidental landlords like to check on their homes. Often. So, if something isn't quite right, they mention it. And though they may not mean to cause ill-will, the tenant doesn't take kindly to anyone nosing into their lives. I am not equating minor transgressions to significant damage. But the accidentally landlord doesn't really see much of a difference between a torn window screen and a hole in the roof.
Accidental landlords aren't very familiar with landlord-tenant laws either. I find that a great majority of professional tenants are. Tenants know in Arizona a landlord has to give a 48 hour written notice before entering the premises. When an accidental landlord just drops by to bring over air filters, the tenant may not be terribly friendly. They weren't expecting company. Even if the company is bringing something useful under the guise of checking out the place. The accidental landlords might get fussy because the tenants didn't invite them in. And, the tenant isn't under any obligation. Even if the accidental landlord is standing there looking like they have a bladder ready to burst.
I am finding right now, Accidental landlords have the best of intentions but the execution leaves something to be desired. Through their inexperience they tend to drive away decent tenants (AL: "Hey tenant, I see you let the rosebush die... I planted that for my wife on our fourth anniversary" T: "You have been married 35 years! It was dead when I moved in."). All the tenants want to do is be left alone to live their lives. All the accidental landlord wants is the tenant to babysit the home long enough for the market to pick up.
One of the biggest mistakes accidental landlords seem to make is when they take on managing their home as a hobby. Sadly, they learn the hard way, nobody, I tell you, nobody, is going to love their former home as much as the accidental landlord does.
Tenants aren't going to prune the trees the way you did. Tenants might not wipe down the wall smudges as diligently as you did. The tenant's dog may not be as well behaved as the hamster you had. Essentially your tenants won't treat your cherished home like their own. They treat it like a temporary domicile. When the tenants move out, the landlord is appalled at the footprints on the ceiling. Who lives this way? They ask.
There are other issues directly related to this too. Accidental landlords like to check on their homes. Often. So, if something isn't quite right, they mention it. And though they may not mean to cause ill-will, the tenant doesn't take kindly to anyone nosing into their lives. I am not equating minor transgressions to significant damage. But the accidentally landlord doesn't really see much of a difference between a torn window screen and a hole in the roof.
Accidental landlords aren't very familiar with landlord-tenant laws either. I find that a great majority of professional tenants are. Tenants know in Arizona a landlord has to give a 48 hour written notice before entering the premises. When an accidental landlord just drops by to bring over air filters, the tenant may not be terribly friendly. They weren't expecting company. Even if the company is bringing something useful under the guise of checking out the place. The accidental landlords might get fussy because the tenants didn't invite them in. And, the tenant isn't under any obligation. Even if the accidental landlord is standing there looking like they have a bladder ready to burst.
I am finding right now, Accidental landlords have the best of intentions but the execution leaves something to be desired. Through their inexperience they tend to drive away decent tenants (AL: "Hey tenant, I see you let the rosebush die... I planted that for my wife on our fourth anniversary" T: "You have been married 35 years! It was dead when I moved in."). All the tenants want to do is be left alone to live their lives. All the accidental landlord wants is the tenant to babysit the home long enough for the market to pick up.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Random Bama
As of Friday, Mr. 114 has not met up with Ms. Shirley, his next door neighbor, to take care of the mysterious leak in the bonus area/attic space. One would think if there really is a roof leak, one might want it taken care of as soon as possible. But, Ms. Shirley isn't answering her phone or her door when Mr. 114 calls.
I know Ms. Shirley is alive. She sent me an e-mail Saturday about something and never once mentioned the water leak. Yea... I am thinking open window.
_______________________________________________________
Legal Eagle tells me she doesn't have a chart like Facebook Debbie's. But, she said she would like one.
I know Ms. Shirley is alive. She sent me an e-mail Saturday about something and never once mentioned the water leak. Yea... I am thinking open window.
_______________________________________________________
Legal Eagle tells me she doesn't have a chart like Facebook Debbie's. But, she said she would like one.
Oh, The Irony
So, Ms. Kathy blew us off. Shall I wait for all of you to come to your collective senses after you have gasped in horror? I didn't think so.
Carolsue called her last week and left a message. And, then another one. And another one. Finally I texted her, leaving a perky little note, just telling her I needed to budget and to let me know when I could expect the rent. I didn't tell her I was budgeting Red to post a happy notice on her door, but she would have figured that out sooner or later.
At that point, I did tell Carolsue not to call any more. I didn't want there to be an issue about harassment. Carolsue did use her awesome paralegal talents to find out what my options were. I could wait and have her served (my favorite) or just assume she had abandoned the property on the 29th and go over and take possession. Of course, this meant she would have to have moved out. But, I figured she didn't.
I also started looking at flights to Birmingham. Because if she did take off in the middle of the night, I wanted to get there as soon as possible and secure the house.
Finally, Ms. Kathy called Carolsue saying she had been sick with pneumonia. Carolsue didn't even fake sympathy noises, but got the basics of when money would be coming.
When I heard, I started composing a note to Ms. Kathy just telling her something along the lines of "Golly gee, if you would just send me an e-mail or text, it would keep the lines of communication open. And, that would promote trust and credibility."
I got to "Ms. Kathy," when I decided to just call it quits. I think it is safe to say all trust and credibility are already out the window.
Carolsue called her last week and left a message. And, then another one. And another one. Finally I texted her, leaving a perky little note, just telling her I needed to budget and to let me know when I could expect the rent. I didn't tell her I was budgeting Red to post a happy notice on her door, but she would have figured that out sooner or later.
At that point, I did tell Carolsue not to call any more. I didn't want there to be an issue about harassment. Carolsue did use her awesome paralegal talents to find out what my options were. I could wait and have her served (my favorite) or just assume she had abandoned the property on the 29th and go over and take possession. Of course, this meant she would have to have moved out. But, I figured she didn't.
I also started looking at flights to Birmingham. Because if she did take off in the middle of the night, I wanted to get there as soon as possible and secure the house.
Finally, Ms. Kathy called Carolsue saying she had been sick with pneumonia. Carolsue didn't even fake sympathy noises, but got the basics of when money would be coming.
When I heard, I started composing a note to Ms. Kathy just telling her something along the lines of "Golly gee, if you would just send me an e-mail or text, it would keep the lines of communication open. And, that would promote trust and credibility."
I got to "Ms. Kathy," when I decided to just call it quits. I think it is safe to say all trust and credibility are already out the window.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
I Wonder if Legal Eagle has a Chart
Might you remember Facebook Debbie?
For those of you new to Sage Business Central, Facebook Debbie had a leak in the master bathroom, causing a certain degree of unsettling sewage to back into the bathroom and then the bedroom. The landlord took his sweet time in getting it fixed--a whole two hours.
Facebook Debbie and her family were inconvenienced beyond belief. I know this because she had several postings in a 36 hour timeframe talking about how annoying the entire ordeal happened to be. I would like to point out if this was their own home they still would have been inconvenienced beyond belief, but they would have had no one to whine about. Anyway, after three days of working to get this restored, the landlord let Facebook Debbie out of her lease. He probably waved good-bye and quickly replaced the locks before she could change her mind. But, I digress...
Facebook Debbie in turn, has bashed the guy every chance she has gotten and is now suing him for I don't know what. She got her deposit back. She mentioned at the time there was no damage done to her personal belongings. If there was damage, I hope she had renter's insurance. It is an unfortunate situation for all parties involved.
I read on Tuesday that Facebook Debbie finally got a court date! She is now going to be able to tell her side of the story about her "money grubbing" (her words) landlord to a judge. And, she was quick to tell us she ran her astrological charts so that she would be fully prepared. She said, "The Moon will be in Gemini that day so I should expect to be very nervous.. prepare for that too. Work on being as calm as possible. 5 planets moving through that area of my chart on that day."
Sadly, she didn't say anything about whether the planets being wherever they might be would help her win the case. Let's hope she can give the judge some evidence that might be a bit more substantial.
For those of you new to Sage Business Central, Facebook Debbie had a leak in the master bathroom, causing a certain degree of unsettling sewage to back into the bathroom and then the bedroom. The landlord took his sweet time in getting it fixed--a whole two hours.
Facebook Debbie and her family were inconvenienced beyond belief. I know this because she had several postings in a 36 hour timeframe talking about how annoying the entire ordeal happened to be. I would like to point out if this was their own home they still would have been inconvenienced beyond belief, but they would have had no one to whine about. Anyway, after three days of working to get this restored, the landlord let Facebook Debbie out of her lease. He probably waved good-bye and quickly replaced the locks before she could change her mind. But, I digress...
Facebook Debbie in turn, has bashed the guy every chance she has gotten and is now suing him for I don't know what. She got her deposit back. She mentioned at the time there was no damage done to her personal belongings. If there was damage, I hope she had renter's insurance. It is an unfortunate situation for all parties involved.
I read on Tuesday that Facebook Debbie finally got a court date! She is now going to be able to tell her side of the story about her "money grubbing" (her words) landlord to a judge. And, she was quick to tell us she ran her astrological charts so that she would be fully prepared. She said, "The Moon will be in Gemini that day so I should expect to be very nervous.. prepare for that too. Work on being as calm as possible. 5 planets moving through that area of my chart on that day."
Sadly, she didn't say anything about whether the planets being wherever they might be would help her win the case. Let's hope she can give the judge some evidence that might be a bit more substantial.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Investor Newbies
I am working with this charming couple who want to buy a home as an investment property. They want to take advantage of the great housing prices. And, they want to increase their investment portfolio. They heard real estate was a great way to do this.
The wife, Carrie, has some interesting ideas about her future rental home. But before she shared them with me, she asked if I had any experience in buying rental property. "Yes. Yes I do." I replied.
Before I could elaborate with a smidgen of knowledge I happen to have on this topic, I found--and this really wasn't a shock--that any experience I might have in purchasing a rental property was completely unwanted. (And, I should clarify this. I am not being arrogant. She asked my opinion. It is what I do for a living.)
Additionally, before I could provide her any opinion I became aware that whatever my experiences happen to be, she was pretty sure they are completely unrelated to: 1) what she wanted to buy and 2) who she wanted to rent from her.
Carrie doesn't want a sale that will be a "hassle." So, please! Absolutely no short sales or bank owned properties.
I know there are few of you right now who are laughing hysterically at that one, so I will pause here while you compose yourself. Take your time... There... all better?
For those of you who are completely out of the loop on that line of humor, in the Phoenix metro area, pretty much everything for sale is a bank owned property or a short sale.
Carrie doesn't want anything that needs any work. She wants major upgrades, like granite counters and cherry wood cabinets, because she doesn't want to "invest" in these extras later. She doesn't even want to change the paint colors, so we will need to add into any contract we write that the willing seller will paint the home the color to match Carrie's specifications.
There are many other things Carrie wants that I know through the school of experience she is about to learn aren't going to happen. Some of them are related to buying an investment home. I am curious how it will go when she screens renters.
A loan officer friend once said he refuses to help first time investors. In his words, they have usually read half a chapter of the latest make-money-in-real-estate book and decided purchasing a rental property is a breeze. His opinion is to let these first-time investors cut their teeth with some one else who may give them brilliant advice, but they won't listen. And, next time they are ready to buy, he will snatch them up. I have always seen the wisdom of his decision. Even if I did agree to represent this couple.
The biggest issue I see with Carrie is that she is still in the dreamy fantasy stage of investing. I will help her pick a home that I think will suite them for their purposes. However, I will do this through providing her facts and statistics, not personal experiences. It isn't time. She isn't ready.
The wife, Carrie, has some interesting ideas about her future rental home. But before she shared them with me, she asked if I had any experience in buying rental property. "Yes. Yes I do." I replied.
Before I could elaborate with a smidgen of knowledge I happen to have on this topic, I found--and this really wasn't a shock--that any experience I might have in purchasing a rental property was completely unwanted. (And, I should clarify this. I am not being arrogant. She asked my opinion. It is what I do for a living.)
Additionally, before I could provide her any opinion I became aware that whatever my experiences happen to be, she was pretty sure they are completely unrelated to: 1) what she wanted to buy and 2) who she wanted to rent from her.
Carrie doesn't want a sale that will be a "hassle." So, please! Absolutely no short sales or bank owned properties.
I know there are few of you right now who are laughing hysterically at that one, so I will pause here while you compose yourself. Take your time... There... all better?
For those of you who are completely out of the loop on that line of humor, in the Phoenix metro area, pretty much everything for sale is a bank owned property or a short sale.
Carrie doesn't want anything that needs any work. She wants major upgrades, like granite counters and cherry wood cabinets, because she doesn't want to "invest" in these extras later. She doesn't even want to change the paint colors, so we will need to add into any contract we write that the willing seller will paint the home the color to match Carrie's specifications.
There are many other things Carrie wants that I know through the school of experience she is about to learn aren't going to happen. Some of them are related to buying an investment home. I am curious how it will go when she screens renters.
A loan officer friend once said he refuses to help first time investors. In his words, they have usually read half a chapter of the latest make-money-in-real-estate book and decided purchasing a rental property is a breeze. His opinion is to let these first-time investors cut their teeth with some one else who may give them brilliant advice, but they won't listen. And, next time they are ready to buy, he will snatch them up. I have always seen the wisdom of his decision. Even if I did agree to represent this couple.
The biggest issue I see with Carrie is that she is still in the dreamy fantasy stage of investing. I will help her pick a home that I think will suite them for their purposes. However, I will do this through providing her facts and statistics, not personal experiences. It isn't time. She isn't ready.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
I am Just Going Out On a Limb Here
Ms. Shirley e-mailed me. There was a bit of water on the floor in the bonus/attic room over the garage. She didn't indicate how the water got there. She did say she just noticed it because she rarely goes in that room. And, what was I going to do about it?
What I did about it was call Mr. 114--her next door neighbor.
Mr. 114 and I talked about the water. I am hesitant to say it is a roof leak--though that makes the most amount of sense. First, the roof is 10 years old. There aren't any pesky vents or chimneys over this patch of roof to get in the way. Mr. 114 wasn't convinced it was the roof either. The other option, a water leak didn't sound right either. There aren't any pipes going through that part of the garage ceiling that might break.
I told Mr. 114 it didn't smell right. I could be wrong, but I am guessing someone left the bonus/attic window open.
What I did about it was call Mr. 114--her next door neighbor.
Mr. 114 and I talked about the water. I am hesitant to say it is a roof leak--though that makes the most amount of sense. First, the roof is 10 years old. There aren't any pesky vents or chimneys over this patch of roof to get in the way. Mr. 114 wasn't convinced it was the roof either. The other option, a water leak didn't sound right either. There aren't any pipes going through that part of the garage ceiling that might break.
I told Mr. 114 it didn't smell right. I could be wrong, but I am guessing someone left the bonus/attic window open.
Monday, January 18, 2010
I Am Such A Total Bad-Ass
So, for reasons way too complicated to go into in this little corner of cyberspace, Carolsue asked me to check her e-mail (and for the record, this is not the first person in Alabama to ask this favor). In there was a quick note from Mrs. Spring to Carolsue. She needed Carolsue to call her.
I responded, telling Mrs. Spring I was helping Carolsue out. And, if there was a problem with the home, please contact me directly. Otherwise, here was Carolsue's new phone number.
Mrs. Spring wrote CAROLSUE back, addressing me personally and said thank you and that she would be contacting Carolsue in the next day or so.
When I talked to Carolsue, I told her to expect a call.
Please fast-forward two days later. Carolsue called me. Mrs. Spring was having a slight electrical issue. And would Carolsue please find out what I would be willing to do about it.
Carolsue asked, "Why didn't you just tell the landlord about it directly."
Apparently, Mrs. Spring's response was, "Well, you know."
I don't know. I told Carolsue that when she relayed this to me. So, Carolsue explained, Mrs. Spring is afraid of me.
"No she isn't!" I insisted. "She tried to friend me on Facebook."
"Yea, that was the nail in the coffin."
Of course, I thought we had cleared up that awkward moment weeks ago, when I told Mrs. Spring it wasn't personal and it was just a rule I kept for all tenants and I certainly didn't mean any ill-will by the whole thing. But apparently, Mrs. Spring--a grown woman practically old enough to be my mother--is afraid to actually e-mail me and say, "there is a problem with an electrical outlet."
Of course, I am happy to fix her electrical issue. And I am sure my electrician will be delighted as well. After all, he hasn't bought his wife a 24-carat Valentine's present yet. I would send Mrs. Spring an e-mail telling her so, but maybe I should send it from Carolsue's account. It might sound better.
I responded, telling Mrs. Spring I was helping Carolsue out. And, if there was a problem with the home, please contact me directly. Otherwise, here was Carolsue's new phone number.
Mrs. Spring wrote CAROLSUE back, addressing me personally and said thank you and that she would be contacting Carolsue in the next day or so.
When I talked to Carolsue, I told her to expect a call.
Please fast-forward two days later. Carolsue called me. Mrs. Spring was having a slight electrical issue. And would Carolsue please find out what I would be willing to do about it.
Carolsue asked, "Why didn't you just tell the landlord about it directly."
Apparently, Mrs. Spring's response was, "Well, you know."
I don't know. I told Carolsue that when she relayed this to me. So, Carolsue explained, Mrs. Spring is afraid of me.
"No she isn't!" I insisted. "She tried to friend me on Facebook."
"Yea, that was the nail in the coffin."
Of course, I thought we had cleared up that awkward moment weeks ago, when I told Mrs. Spring it wasn't personal and it was just a rule I kept for all tenants and I certainly didn't mean any ill-will by the whole thing. But apparently, Mrs. Spring--a grown woman practically old enough to be my mother--is afraid to actually e-mail me and say, "there is a problem with an electrical outlet."
Of course, I am happy to fix her electrical issue. And I am sure my electrician will be delighted as well. After all, he hasn't bought his wife a 24-carat Valentine's present yet. I would send Mrs. Spring an e-mail telling her so, but maybe I should send it from Carolsue's account. It might sound better.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Maybe It Is Really My Inner Pathetic Nerd
Growing up, didn't everyone have the grown-up they revered in awe? This was the person who you looked to as a bastion of cool/sophistication/normalcy. You wanted to make sure this person didn't think of you as the awkward one, wanting to fit in.
Though I am in my 40s, Attorney Jon has taken this role since I started my accidental business. I realize how pathetic this sounds. And I am ok with that.
I am honored he takes my calls, handles my business and passes his valuable connections my way when necessary (hence, I have Legal Eagle, Jack and Matt the banker, briefly turned handyman). Unless Jack sets something up, I don't socialize with Attorney Jon when I am in Birmingham. Though I wouldn't think twice of calling Legal Eagle and inviting her to lunch, I wouldn't dare call upon Attorney Jon in his office unless I was bearing gifts or business for him.
Lately I have needed Attorney Jon and find myself going to great lengths to make sure I am handling the situations appropriately. I needed him to file something in Shelby County for me. I told him I wanted to make sure he was being reimbursed for his time too--because he rarely charges me for what he does. When Attorney Jon didn't respond right away to what his fee would happen to be, I consulted Carolsue. She told me it would be highly appropriate to send him a gift certificate so he could take his wife to dinner. I think somewhere Emily Post covered this but at that particular moment, I was at a loss. Attorney Jon did get back to me and tell me I could pay a nominal fee. I am certainly not complaining. Legal Eagle's idea of a "nominal fee" tends to have lots more zeros on the end.
Right now he is working on another matter for me. The other day he returned my voicemail. I noticed I was careful to wish him a Happy New Year and congratulate him on Alabama's win last week. Apparently I hit all the right buttons. Though I would do the same with anyone over there, for some reason I was more aware of this particular moment of etiquette.
Of course, intellectually, I know this is very silly. I am a mildly competent businesswoman who has assembled a top-notch team of professionals to help me. Attorney Jon is a highly-competent attorney and I am blessed to have him. I am the first to tell you I want this guy touching every aspect of what I do because my accidental business functions much better because he does. But I still don't want him thinking of me as the awkward Yankee hick trying to do business in the South. Even though I am pretty sure that I what I have been conveying all along.
Though I am in my 40s, Attorney Jon has taken this role since I started my accidental business. I realize how pathetic this sounds. And I am ok with that.
I am honored he takes my calls, handles my business and passes his valuable connections my way when necessary (hence, I have Legal Eagle, Jack and Matt the banker, briefly turned handyman). Unless Jack sets something up, I don't socialize with Attorney Jon when I am in Birmingham. Though I wouldn't think twice of calling Legal Eagle and inviting her to lunch, I wouldn't dare call upon Attorney Jon in his office unless I was bearing gifts or business for him.
Lately I have needed Attorney Jon and find myself going to great lengths to make sure I am handling the situations appropriately. I needed him to file something in Shelby County for me. I told him I wanted to make sure he was being reimbursed for his time too--because he rarely charges me for what he does. When Attorney Jon didn't respond right away to what his fee would happen to be, I consulted Carolsue. She told me it would be highly appropriate to send him a gift certificate so he could take his wife to dinner. I think somewhere Emily Post covered this but at that particular moment, I was at a loss. Attorney Jon did get back to me and tell me I could pay a nominal fee. I am certainly not complaining. Legal Eagle's idea of a "nominal fee" tends to have lots more zeros on the end.
Right now he is working on another matter for me. The other day he returned my voicemail. I noticed I was careful to wish him a Happy New Year and congratulate him on Alabama's win last week. Apparently I hit all the right buttons. Though I would do the same with anyone over there, for some reason I was more aware of this particular moment of etiquette.
Of course, intellectually, I know this is very silly. I am a mildly competent businesswoman who has assembled a top-notch team of professionals to help me. Attorney Jon is a highly-competent attorney and I am blessed to have him. I am the first to tell you I want this guy touching every aspect of what I do because my accidental business functions much better because he does. But I still don't want him thinking of me as the awkward Yankee hick trying to do business in the South. Even though I am pretty sure that I what I have been conveying all along.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sweat Equity
Jack sends me listings so I can see what home prices are doing in the Birmingham market. Today I got this one. It is listed at $149,000. I was curious. This is a pretty high price for the area he sent me (this particular neighborhood tends to run between $90,000 to $120,000 range). Just what can you get fro $149,000 I thought. So, I opened the listing and saw this picture.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Marital Bliss
A few weeks ago I ran across this guy who wanted to rent out his home. He was debating if he needed a property management company or not. What did I think?
My experience with landlords dabbling with first rental properties is they have a lot to digest. And, many of the decisions they make are probably more related to marital harmony than strong business acumen. My first real estate clients, Kevin and Kelly, were this cute married couple who were buying their first home together. Kevin had a home and was going to rent it out when they moved into their new home.
Kevin rented out the first home and managed it by himself. If her own sink backed up, Kelly would dump in the Liquid Plumbo. However, if the tenant called because the sink was backed up, Kelly considered it a major issue that caused great anguish. If the rent was a day late, Kelly was anxious. If the tenant went on vacation, Kelly was stressed someone might break in and trash the place while the tenant was gone. As Kevin explained to me at the time, "There is no winning this."
Through inheritance, Kevin and Kelly managed to acquire another rental property. This time Kevin got a property management company. Because Kevin didn't see a check on the first of the month (generally the management company sent it around the 15th) and because he didn't know the tenants by sight, Kevin was stressed. When the sink backed up it became a major deal for Kevin. Could the management company have used Liquid Plumbo instead of calling out a licensed professional? Was the property management company making the decisions in their best interests?
They still have the inherited property. Kelly is happy and stress free. Kevin would rather have a happy and stress free wife than manage it himself and feels the trade off is worth it.
My experience with landlords dabbling with first rental properties is they have a lot to digest. And, many of the decisions they make are probably more related to marital harmony than strong business acumen. My first real estate clients, Kevin and Kelly, were this cute married couple who were buying their first home together. Kevin had a home and was going to rent it out when they moved into their new home.
Kevin rented out the first home and managed it by himself. If her own sink backed up, Kelly would dump in the Liquid Plumbo. However, if the tenant called because the sink was backed up, Kelly considered it a major issue that caused great anguish. If the rent was a day late, Kelly was anxious. If the tenant went on vacation, Kelly was stressed someone might break in and trash the place while the tenant was gone. As Kevin explained to me at the time, "There is no winning this."
Through inheritance, Kevin and Kelly managed to acquire another rental property. This time Kevin got a property management company. Because Kevin didn't see a check on the first of the month (generally the management company sent it around the 15th) and because he didn't know the tenants by sight, Kevin was stressed. When the sink backed up it became a major deal for Kevin. Could the management company have used Liquid Plumbo instead of calling out a licensed professional? Was the property management company making the decisions in their best interests?
They still have the inherited property. Kelly is happy and stress free. Kevin would rather have a happy and stress free wife than manage it himself and feels the trade off is worth it.
Monday, January 11, 2010
A Happy Ending
I caught up with my friend Trish the other day. I was curious as to whatever came of her perfect tenants.
Real quickly, Trish had tenants who moved in last spring. The Perfects were complaining because there were air conditioning issues. The issues caused consistent $600 a month electric bills. The wife a stay-at-home mom was not willing to meet the air conditioning repair person so the husband (who is self-employed) was taking time off work to do this. The house down the street was renting for $500 a month less. The Perfects wanted to be reimbursed for their electric bills, the time he took off work and they wanted a permanent $500 a month rent reduction. All the while, other landlords were calling Trish for a rental reference, giving me (Trish needed more convincing), the impression the Perfects were moving. Besides that, the Perfects were two weeks late on the rent and they announced to Trish that she should use the security deposit for that month's rent.
What bothered me the most was the tenants were bullying Trish into making decisions. Trish, wanting to accommodate the tenants, was doing her level best to resolve these issues. When Trish told me the story last August, I predicted the Perfects were looking for excuses to break the lease and were moving out.
At the time this was going on, Trish decided to meet with the Perfects and work things out. They agreed to a temporary reduction in rent until the "air conditioning issues" were resolved. They also agreed to fix a few minor things they didn't know were broken. In exchange, the Perfects gave them the missing rent money (now with the reduction).
At the end of the month, the Perfects moved out without saying good bye.
Trish then found out the Perfects were keeping their air conditioner at 70 degrees. Which sounds just wonderful for an Arizona winter. But, generally to avoid $600 electric bills, we Zonies keep our thermostats set for 80 degrees in the summer. When the Perfects moved out, Trish called an HVAC service. Nope, nothing was wrong.
At the time, Trish was making decisions based on not wanting to to deal with the frustration of deadbeat tenants and a vacant home. None of us do, of course. And I am a proponent of picking my battles just like the next guy. But as I pointed out when we were talking the other day, she WAS dealing with these frustrations. The writing was on the wall. It didn't take a crystal ball on this one. It just wasn't my drama so I could see the big picture.
I personally think Trish was lucky to get the last rent payment when she did--even if it was a reduction. And the place was in reasonable condition when they left. Trish had the house vacant for 10 days when they found a tenant. And, from what I understand, there have been no complaints so far.
Real quickly, Trish had tenants who moved in last spring. The Perfects were complaining because there were air conditioning issues. The issues caused consistent $600 a month electric bills. The wife a stay-at-home mom was not willing to meet the air conditioning repair person so the husband (who is self-employed) was taking time off work to do this. The house down the street was renting for $500 a month less. The Perfects wanted to be reimbursed for their electric bills, the time he took off work and they wanted a permanent $500 a month rent reduction. All the while, other landlords were calling Trish for a rental reference, giving me (Trish needed more convincing), the impression the Perfects were moving. Besides that, the Perfects were two weeks late on the rent and they announced to Trish that she should use the security deposit for that month's rent.
What bothered me the most was the tenants were bullying Trish into making decisions. Trish, wanting to accommodate the tenants, was doing her level best to resolve these issues. When Trish told me the story last August, I predicted the Perfects were looking for excuses to break the lease and were moving out.
At the time this was going on, Trish decided to meet with the Perfects and work things out. They agreed to a temporary reduction in rent until the "air conditioning issues" were resolved. They also agreed to fix a few minor things they didn't know were broken. In exchange, the Perfects gave them the missing rent money (now with the reduction).
At the end of the month, the Perfects moved out without saying good bye.
Trish then found out the Perfects were keeping their air conditioner at 70 degrees. Which sounds just wonderful for an Arizona winter. But, generally to avoid $600 electric bills, we Zonies keep our thermostats set for 80 degrees in the summer. When the Perfects moved out, Trish called an HVAC service. Nope, nothing was wrong.
At the time, Trish was making decisions based on not wanting to to deal with the frustration of deadbeat tenants and a vacant home. None of us do, of course. And I am a proponent of picking my battles just like the next guy. But as I pointed out when we were talking the other day, she WAS dealing with these frustrations. The writing was on the wall. It didn't take a crystal ball on this one. It just wasn't my drama so I could see the big picture.
I personally think Trish was lucky to get the last rent payment when she did--even if it was a reduction. And the place was in reasonable condition when they left. Trish had the house vacant for 10 days when they found a tenant. And, from what I understand, there have been no complaints so far.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Discerning Doesn't Mean Discrimination
In order to keep my license active, I recently suffered through a Fair Housing class I could have taught in a coma. The teacher, a civil rights attorney, affirmed his belief that every landlord is a bigot only interested in renting to trust fund babies. He also said that only 17 percent of Fair Housing lawsuits go to trial and usually the landlords unjustly win.
It really is too bad. I like my renewal classes. Usually. I especially like them if there is a healthy discourse involved with all of us exchanging ideas. This sadly wasn't the forum to do so. In this case, my goal was to do my time, get my certificate, so I could go out in the world until I had to do the entire ordeal over next time my license came up for renewal.
In my experience, landlords are only interested in one thing: finding a decent tenant to babysit their asset for a while. A long while.
But that brings up a few points. As a basic primer for those who don't know or might care: landlords who own more than three properties and/or landlords who are licensed real estate agents need to pay attention to the protected classes. They aren't allowed to discriminate by color, race, nationality, disability, familial status, gender or religion. That said, if I decide I don't want to rent to lawyers, I don't have to. As long as I am consistent.
There are a few areas I am consistent about. I don't rent to people who lie on the application. I don't rent to people who are rude to me or anyone showing my homes. I don't rent to trouble makers (in this case, let's think of the Springs as high maintenance. True "trouble makers" are a whole 'nuther classification). I don't rent to people who are in the United States illegally (and hence, unable get a job--and pay the rent). By the way, it isn't discrimination if I don't want to fence a yard.
In the past several years, I have been threatened to be sued by several callers. Generally these callers want something outrageous (would you mind if I bred wallabies in your home?) or they are so inconsiderate in just a simple call that I know they will be trouble. It used to slightly bother me. Now I just offer them Legal Eagle's number. And, nobody has ever wanted it.
For the record, I don't ask my tenants what color their skin happens to be. Because I own rentals in the Bible Belt, I generally get an idea of my tenant's religious preference--but I don't ask. Nor do I consider it my business.
My business is finding quality people for quality homes.
And as a separate note, I heard from Jack Thursday morning just to let me know Alabama was going to "mess with Texas." Which they successfully did. Alabama won the big game: 37 to 21. Way to go Crimson Tide.
It really is too bad. I like my renewal classes. Usually. I especially like them if there is a healthy discourse involved with all of us exchanging ideas. This sadly wasn't the forum to do so. In this case, my goal was to do my time, get my certificate, so I could go out in the world until I had to do the entire ordeal over next time my license came up for renewal.
In my experience, landlords are only interested in one thing: finding a decent tenant to babysit their asset for a while. A long while.
But that brings up a few points. As a basic primer for those who don't know or might care: landlords who own more than three properties and/or landlords who are licensed real estate agents need to pay attention to the protected classes. They aren't allowed to discriminate by color, race, nationality, disability, familial status, gender or religion. That said, if I decide I don't want to rent to lawyers, I don't have to. As long as I am consistent.
There are a few areas I am consistent about. I don't rent to people who lie on the application. I don't rent to people who are rude to me or anyone showing my homes. I don't rent to trouble makers (in this case, let's think of the Springs as high maintenance. True "trouble makers" are a whole 'nuther classification). I don't rent to people who are in the United States illegally (and hence, unable get a job--and pay the rent). By the way, it isn't discrimination if I don't want to fence a yard.
In the past several years, I have been threatened to be sued by several callers. Generally these callers want something outrageous (would you mind if I bred wallabies in your home?) or they are so inconsiderate in just a simple call that I know they will be trouble. It used to slightly bother me. Now I just offer them Legal Eagle's number. And, nobody has ever wanted it.
For the record, I don't ask my tenants what color their skin happens to be. Because I own rentals in the Bible Belt, I generally get an idea of my tenant's religious preference--but I don't ask. Nor do I consider it my business.
My business is finding quality people for quality homes.
And as a separate note, I heard from Jack Thursday morning just to let me know Alabama was going to "mess with Texas." Which they successfully did. Alabama won the big game: 37 to 21. Way to go Crimson Tide.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
How Cold Is It?
As some of you who don't live in Phoenix might be aware, it is a bit chilly right now. In fact, this cold spell has even hit as far South as Florida.
One of my tenants was telling me the other day that it was so cold that she went to check on her laundry in the washing machine (located in a store room off the house). It turns out the clothes had frozen in the machine because she hadn't transferred them to the dryer in time.
I won't brag about our current weather, because everything from May to October here is miserable. Stay warm friends.
On a completely unrelated note, today is the BCS College Football game. If I am not mistaken, I believe it is the "big" game. I do know that number 1 ranked Alabama and number 2 ranked Texas are playing. So, please join with me in my obligatory:
ROLL TIDE!
One of my tenants was telling me the other day that it was so cold that she went to check on her laundry in the washing machine (located in a store room off the house). It turns out the clothes had frozen in the machine because she hadn't transferred them to the dryer in time.
I won't brag about our current weather, because everything from May to October here is miserable. Stay warm friends.
On a completely unrelated note, today is the BCS College Football game. If I am not mistaken, I believe it is the "big" game. I do know that number 1 ranked Alabama and number 2 ranked Texas are playing. So, please join with me in my obligatory:
ROLL TIDE!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
It Must Be January
The 2009 filing is complete, more or less. I seem to be missing a few things that are probably located on Bliz's desk in the Midwest. Hopefully the snow is deep enough to stop the postman from delivering them to me. Because, I am in no hurry to file again. Ever.
The next step in my tax adventure is getting things ready for Diamond Jim. It isn't enough to give him financial statements. He wants me to explain a few things. Like a bankruptcy by a tenant. Like a couple of air conditioners we ended up buying. He will want me to field Mr. Partner's calls too. Which I will dutifully pass on to Marty Sunshine.
Let the whining--and for that matter, the wining--begin!
Here are picture from my super-clean office--by the time you read this, I don't guarantee the desk will be this tidy.
The sign Bliz gave me a few years ago: It says, "Each day brings me one step closer to being that crazy lady I always dreamed of who eats ice-cream for breakfast and laughs hysterically at her own jokes. Oh, wait, I'm already her."
And the white board has a picture of former Diamondback pitcher, Micah Owings.
The next step in my tax adventure is getting things ready for Diamond Jim. It isn't enough to give him financial statements. He wants me to explain a few things. Like a bankruptcy by a tenant. Like a couple of air conditioners we ended up buying. He will want me to field Mr. Partner's calls too. Which I will dutifully pass on to Marty Sunshine.
Let the whining--and for that matter, the wining--begin!
Here are picture from my super-clean office--by the time you read this, I don't guarantee the desk will be this tidy.
The sign Bliz gave me a few years ago: It says, "Each day brings me one step closer to being that crazy lady I always dreamed of who eats ice-cream for breakfast and laughs hysterically at her own jokes. Oh, wait, I'm already her."
And the white board has a picture of former Diamondback pitcher, Micah Owings.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Round Trip is 63.18 Miles
The totally meticulous Mr. 114 apparently has been looking out for my best interests. The other day I forwarded him an e-mail with a home in his subdivision that is being foreclosed upon. After looking at the sales price and after the nitroglycerin had metabolized into his system, he wrote me back.
Our conversation took an interesting turn when he told me he had been driving by Artie and Candy's home on a regular basis. I just checked, it is 31.59 miles from his house to theirs. One way. Mr. 114 assures me he is in the general area a few times a month, and apparently their home isn't too far out of his way when he is in this particular town for him to turn off the main road and travel a extra few blocks. I am totally flattered.
Mr. 114 tells me the grass looks "decent," which is a glowing compliment from him. He said the house is kept up as well. There is no dog in the back yard chained to the shed--a bone of contention between me and the tenants, as I wouldn't let them bring their rottweiler, and yea, all pun intended.
Mr. 114 did tell me about a bit of maintenance that needs to be done over there, and it is in my best interests to take care of it while it is still in the little bit stage. I appreciate his enterprising nature. And I will give him the work.
Our conversation took an interesting turn when he told me he had been driving by Artie and Candy's home on a regular basis. I just checked, it is 31.59 miles from his house to theirs. One way. Mr. 114 assures me he is in the general area a few times a month, and apparently their home isn't too far out of his way when he is in this particular town for him to turn off the main road and travel a extra few blocks. I am totally flattered.
Mr. 114 tells me the grass looks "decent," which is a glowing compliment from him. He said the house is kept up as well. There is no dog in the back yard chained to the shed--a bone of contention between me and the tenants, as I wouldn't let them bring their rottweiler, and yea, all pun intended.
Mr. 114 did tell me about a bit of maintenance that needs to be done over there, and it is in my best interests to take care of it while it is still in the little bit stage. I appreciate his enterprising nature. And I will give him the work.
Monday, January 04, 2010
My Money's Worth
Might you remember Ms. Betty? For those of you new to Sage Business Central, you can pretty much hit any random blog in 2009 and probably the post will be about her. If you aren't that ambitious, think of this: take Hollywood's idea of an unsophisticated Southern woman, make a caricature of that, magnify the caricature, then subtract several IQ points, you have Ms. Betty.
By far, she was the most annoying tenant I had last year. She wrote me at least once a week asking for some inane solution to whatever her latest dilemma happened to be. She has a sense of entitlement and felt strongly that paying the rent was less important than paying the electric bill--both of which she didn't feel she needed to pay regularly.
In mid-August, she sent me half of the rent. I agreed to hold it with the promise from her that the remainder would be coming in two weeks. Three weeks later she was "shocked" I hadn't received the rent money, but made no effort to hunt down the errant check. I know if I am out that much money I would at least stop payment on my check--that is, if I wrote the check. And nobody actually believed she did. She also told me the first check was never any good to begin with (which didn't surprise me either).
In the end, I asked her to leave, which was a great relief to me. She left behind a hole where the six-month old dishwasher used to live and a lot of personal belongings under the crawlspace of the home, including a computer that had a file titled, "What's wrong with the landlord." But, she left, out of my life. More or less.
But, I held on to that original check. Every so often I would go to her bank and see if the check was good, knowing full well what the outcome would be. One time the teller strongly hinted that if I had gotten there a day earlier I could have cashed the check. So, money was flowing in and out of the account.
Finally, I just went ahead and cashed the check anyway. Three days after I went to the bank, I wrote her this e-mail, "I cashed your check. If it bounces I will go after you legally." It is a class B felony in Alabama to write a hot check.
Ms. Betty wrote back, "What check?"
I haven't replied yet. I am assuming she has figured out "What check?" by now. If not, her bank will let her know. Or, the sheriff will.
Marty Sunshine swearts he loves me despite what he calls a disturbing aspect of my personality. I say it isn't revenge, I am just cashing a check owed to me by a deadbeat.
By far, she was the most annoying tenant I had last year. She wrote me at least once a week asking for some inane solution to whatever her latest dilemma happened to be. She has a sense of entitlement and felt strongly that paying the rent was less important than paying the electric bill--both of which she didn't feel she needed to pay regularly.
In mid-August, she sent me half of the rent. I agreed to hold it with the promise from her that the remainder would be coming in two weeks. Three weeks later she was "shocked" I hadn't received the rent money, but made no effort to hunt down the errant check. I know if I am out that much money I would at least stop payment on my check--that is, if I wrote the check. And nobody actually believed she did. She also told me the first check was never any good to begin with (which didn't surprise me either).
In the end, I asked her to leave, which was a great relief to me. She left behind a hole where the six-month old dishwasher used to live and a lot of personal belongings under the crawlspace of the home, including a computer that had a file titled, "What's wrong with the landlord." But, she left, out of my life. More or less.
But, I held on to that original check. Every so often I would go to her bank and see if the check was good, knowing full well what the outcome would be. One time the teller strongly hinted that if I had gotten there a day earlier I could have cashed the check. So, money was flowing in and out of the account.
Finally, I just went ahead and cashed the check anyway. Three days after I went to the bank, I wrote her this e-mail, "I cashed your check. If it bounces I will go after you legally." It is a class B felony in Alabama to write a hot check.
Ms. Betty wrote back, "What check?"
I haven't replied yet. I am assuming she has figured out "What check?" by now. If not, her bank will let her know. Or, the sheriff will.
Marty Sunshine swearts he loves me despite what he calls a disturbing aspect of my personality. I say it isn't revenge, I am just cashing a check owed to me by a deadbeat.
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