I need to find a good tenant. One that was recommended has proved to be a problem festering.

How do I reach the more affluent market of people from PR or any of the flooded states that would like to relocate to much much safer NJ.

What am I likely to find as income and what problems have you experienced already from this group?

To be blunt about it Ally, moving extra relatives in without permission. Language barrier in some cases.

May be issues getting rental references if they are coming straight from the island. The two groups I've rented to already had rental history in the states so that didn't come up.

Ally I don't have to look for them, they find me! I'm in central Florida and they've been moving here for decades.

I don't market to a particular group, I just put up ads on CL.

With MUCH experience from the low-income levels of Hispanic society in TX, they DO move in many relatives and friends of friends. And the over-use of the plumbing system in my 2 sm SFHs (both toilet and laundry) required repeated costly plumbing repairs. Also many junky cars parked in driveway, the street, and even on the lawn at times.

OK then. Our town is tough on too many people in a house. Here's my ad that just went up on Craigslist.

Too wordy, too much info. They don't need to know about the tenant upstairs. They don't need to know about the shared duct work, or that you live nearby to start with. Just the info on that unit. And short bullets. No one reads all that.

example 2 Bedroom with heat included. Tiled kitchen and dining, great light with a bay window. Partial fenced yard. Dogs under 20 lbs allowed, no cats. Shared washer and dryer in the basement. Parking for 1 car in driveway. Suitable for one or 2 people.

I don't know about other flooded states, but I don't think Texans in general would be relocating en masse to the Northeast.

We're very happy that we don't pay state income tax. (Which is another 6.3% for income between $75-$500k.) We're very happy with our low cost of living. (You need to earn about $90k in NJ to keep up a $60k lifestyle in Dallas.) And we turn into pitiful, cranky children the moment the thermometer gets under 45*. (That's also probably why Texans have no clue how to drive on ice... ;P

On top of no state income tax, Puerto Ricans don't pay federal personal income tax, either. Rent in San Juan is half of what rent in Newark goes for. And their Januaries are in the 80's, whereas Newark's average high in January is 39*...

Got an email already. Young engineer from local Dept of transportation. It's just him an he wants to be closer to his job. He's driving about 45 minutes now. He makes three times the rent.

Here's the kicker. He's allergic to dogs and there is one upstairs. Also he has the same first name as the cigarette smuggler I just turned down. Coincidences happen so often. He's going to love it. Its a super looking apt and then add the fireplace, gazebo, yard, garage.

I would not try to attract someone to flee PR. Lots of them have and they need housing. I understand about the taxes here in NJ. They are trying to expand our local airport. They are taking a friend's home plus others, a restaurant and an entire small street.

Why would a dog upstairs bother him? Is his unit so leaky that allergens will leak downward? Need to put a POWERFUL fan blowing OUT in a window,.make sure any furnace or fuel hotwater heater is turned off,..find those leaks,..I would use Daps clear Alex plus,..looks terrible (milky white ) but after a day or two drys pretty clear.Check for any penetrations ,cracks etc that might occur between units,..

Greatly helps with cooking odors too.

You can do it even better (stronger suction ) by duct taping plastic over the fan and window,..then cut a hole a bit smaller than the fan shroud,...(to prevent blowback)

If it applies,..stuff fiberglass insulation in the chimney furnce vent ahead if the bario damper to stop air from coming back down same with hw heater,..Just MAKE sure you remove both before you turn them on. Duct tape on the switches,..with a note to remve them

BTW,..often you will sustantially reduce heating blls by finding air infiltration from outside too,

youtube blower doors,..this is a ersatz hack of the same.

don't say "large" bedroom ... say 12 x 20 bedroom. I watch HGTV and in CA they ooh and aah about how large bedrooms are and they've half the size of my room.

don't say "pretty" bathroom ... the photo will show that. everyone expects a bathroom. If it has been revamped at this turn over, say so ... otherwise, say nothing about it.

I think shared garage and basement are a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps block off the basement except for a limited area near the washer and dryer...maybe add a chair and old kitchen table in that spot or a small shelf for "at your risk" storage of soap & softener.

DON'T MENTION THE OTHER TENANT'S MEDICAL ISSUES ... THIS IS CERTAINLY A VIOLATION OF WHO KNOWS WHAT !!!!!!!!

I can't read any more as this says WAY too much ... translating to me of a landlord who is involved too much in the tenant's business.

Agree...ad is too long...some people will tune out when they see a large block of text like that.

It got you someone who claims to be an engineer. I think you have been in this business long enough to know until you have proof it isn't true.

But with your luck the applicant will turn out to be a terrorist, or something.

I do have to agree with the others. The add is too long. Keep it short and sweet.

Ally, your ad need works. Have revised it for you:

Heat is included. Electric and gas paid by tenants

Upstairs is a one bedroom apartment. 1st floor of this two unit house has two bedrooms.

New installed carpet

Kitchen and dining area recently retiled.

Newer cabinets. Living room comes complete with non-working fireplace

Big bay windows with professionally installed blinds.

A small dog is welcome, 20 lbs or under.

Enjoy biking and jogging in this neighborhood and dog walking. Garage is a available for one compact car.

Experienced local landlord maintains property

Washer and dryer available for tenant use. Apartment comes with use of back yard with a gazebo/screen house and some basement storage. Background and Credit check required, written verification of minimum 3 x the rent.

Nope Barbara. You forgot about my "radar". He's a young engineer and I don't believe their are any Italian terrorists. At worst he may be allergic to everything and a PITA for that reason. That's my concern right now.