My newest roomer. Very detail-oriented. At move-in, she pointed out deficiencies in the place - a couple of them actual things I'm willing to address but hadn't really noticed (wide gap by the door latch that made it easy to jimmy open, loose spout in tub). Also others that I don't care to address, (like paint/seal wood railing to not get splinters, need a plug in the tub). She also read every single word in the rental agreement & asked for clarification. Made she sure she understood every single detail & challenged some things.

At one point I started to tell her maybe it's not the place for her, but decided to continue.

She texted today saying she needs receipts for her move-in funds. I reminded her they are acknowledged in the agreement and she has a copy. No - she wants separate receipts. I say that's not SOP to make receipts for everything - keep money order stubs.

Anyway, the point I want to make is: after thinking about her different requests (demands?) I wanted to call her a PITA,

But then thinking about it, she may be reacting to previous experiences that have not gone very well and she has learned to keep good records of everything - pretty much the same as I want to do to protect myself. Some of the things she pointed out were actually legitimate, at least somewhat - and showed me a couple areas I might tighten up a little.

Kind of a follow-up to another recent post on perspective. I realize that when I am challenged by someone like this, I tend to ask myself (when I have my wits about me and am not just reacting too quickly) things like "how important is it?", "What is the harm/benefit?", "Do I not like this request just because of my ego / power trip, or because it is good or bad for business?"

I think that it's important for me (all of us?) to remember that I don't know everything (why I keep coming back here), and that even tenants can have good ideas too, and can teach us things. It's important to have proper humility to admit a mistake or short-coming & make it right. I believe we gain a lot more respect that way, (not necessarily from the tenant, but in general) than always insisting I am right on everything.

Now don't get me wrong - I'm not saying to let a tenant or anyone walk all over me. I must maintain control/professionalism & good business sense. In the example above, I realized there would be no harm in her having receipts for every time she pays me money. I just don't want to go out of my way to do something extra for her. She says she has a receipt book, so I agreed if she wants to attach a receipt to her rent she puts in the box every week, I will sign it (& slip it under her door). If it's really that important to her, well, OK - no harm, and no real effort on my part. Maybe even make a little good will?

I had a tenant that was like this. I'd take her again. Was sad to see her move out of state . (But got another tenant fairly similar.)

It just took a little bit to figure out the kinks, and then it was great!

You still never know. But some times it is because they dealt with a slumlord before and just their experience.

Or course still more bad tenants then the few LL.

But one of my better tenants. Single mom. Works a lot. Been late twice in 10 years.

For years she wanted a receipt for her rent. Rent was mailed in by money order. So she even had a money order receipt.

But not something I ever had a request for. And thought she was going to be a pain in the neck.

So I had her send in a self addressed stamped envelop. I would post her money order and scribble a simple receipt and send it back to her. This went on for 9 years.

Yes, Linda - exactly. One may not purposely be trying to be difficult. Just coming from a different perspective

She's precise. That would be OK with me.

I don't see any unreasonable demands so far. I would have written down every flaw for her, copy for her, copy for me, to use at move out time. Then I would have fixed the door and checked the rest of the units to make sure they were adequately secure-able. That can be a liability issue.

I can write receipts if the tenant really needs them.

It's the tenants that keep complaining about things I can't fix and the tenants who complain about things that aren't broken that I won't keep.

DJ,

Good thoughts!

I see a lot of LLs letting their pride get in the way of making money.

Much of this falls under WANNA BE RIGHT OR RICH?

Right: I don't have to make those repairs. AS IS Baby!

Rich: a 10 minute repair will make my resident happy and maybe stay longer and give referrals. Plus my investment will be in better condition - repair it now or repair it later, same diff.

LLs tend to be self centered and forget we are in the SERVICE industry. We serve folks with a good clean home and they pay us money for that.

And we have competition.

The first time I heard Jeffrey speak he taught the number one reason people leave is lack of repairs.

I'm OK with picky people. Good renters are discerning and ask questions / read the entire lease.

Our company process is to take care of ALL details at turnover and jump on anything we missed which the new res points out at move in. We clean to HOTEL CLEAN. ever had just one hair in the sink when you check into yoru hotle room?)

Homes without little bugityboo "we'll get it later" repairs are MUCH easier to rent and to manage during resdidency.

Not a matter of pride if you're already rich and value your time. Maybe not a matter of pride at all, just a difference of opinion.

I wouldn't give receipts. Not necessary. If she wants a receipt she should get a checking account. Then again when your target market are people with various issues they're going to be high maintenance period.

So I don't see this tenant at a PITA --simply expected in a situation like this.

No major concerns so far. How was the tone of voice/body language: requesting or demanding?

Like you, I tend to get riled up when all of sudden things start piling on. A useful strategy I found is when they start naming off a bunch of stuff is I make a list, tell them I will take it to the management committee, and will get back with them in 24 hours.

I have just rented a house to an engineer who will be working out at our Plant Vogtle. I had to chuckle while I was showing him the place because he had to make sure every blind in the house was straight.

Why? I live with a roof and truss design engineer. His towel in the bathroom has to hang a certain way with edges exactly matching.

I'm happy to rent to this guy since his salary will be over $100,000.

So we complain when a tenant hasn't read the lease and doesn't know what they've agreed to.

And now, they may be a pita tenant because she reads the whole thing and asks for clarification? I'd love for my tenants to read the lease and ask questions. I go through the main points with them at lease signing. This helps us both understand the agreement.

I read everything of importance that I sign. Title company tells me every page is routine verbiage. Well, I'm going to read (or at least skim over) what I'm signing. Cell phone contracts, car purchase, insurance papers, etc. I at least do a quick read over to make sure there isn't anything of concern and to make sure the numbers look right. All the while the salesman is telling me it's a "standard contract".