Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Aug 10, 2018 4:22 PM
Now what? (by NE [PA]) Aug 10, 2018 4:27 PM
Now what? (by NE [PA]) Aug 10, 2018 4:30 PM
Now what? (by #22 [MO]) Aug 10, 2018 5:07 PM
Now what? (by Vee [OH]) Aug 10, 2018 5:23 PM
Now what? (by Sisco [MO]) Aug 10, 2018 5:50 PM
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Aug 10, 2018 6:19 PM
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Aug 10, 2018 6:21 PM
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Aug 10, 2018 6:22 PM
Now what? (by NE [PA]) Aug 10, 2018 6:41 PM
Now what? (by Robert J [CA]) Aug 10, 2018 8:19 PM
Now what? (by Ken [NY]) Aug 10, 2018 8:31 PM
Now what? (by Jeff [CO]) Aug 10, 2018 9:07 PM
Now what? (by CJ [MO]) Aug 10, 2018 9:51 PM
Now what? (by plenty [MO]) Aug 11, 2018 4:42 AM
Now what? (by LindaJ [NY]) Aug 11, 2018 4:58 AM
Now what? (by myob [GA]) Aug 11, 2018 4:59 AM
Now what? (by NE [PA]) Aug 11, 2018 5:02 AM
Now what? (by S i d [MO]) Aug 11, 2018 12:51 PM
Now what? (by Tsardin [IL]) Aug 11, 2018 5:05 PM
Now what? (by Smokowna [MD]) Aug 12, 2018 5:20 AM
Now what? (by Hoosier [IN]) Aug 12, 2018 8:22 AM
Now what? (by RentsDue [MA]) Aug 12, 2018 9:29 AM
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Aug 12, 2018 1:15 PM
Now what? (by Larry [TX]) Aug 12, 2018 5:00 PM
Now what? (by Ken [NY]) Aug 12, 2018 5:45 PM
Now what? (by NC INVESTOR [NC]) Aug 12, 2018 8:44 PM
Now what? (by Nan [MI]) Aug 13, 2018 9:48 AM
Now what? (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Aug 13, 2018 11:00 AM
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 4:22 PM Message:
Signed a lease, res moves in some stuff and sees a bug. Panicked. Removed their stuff and wants their money back, threatening lawsuit before we even replied.
I plan to return their money, no biggie,
BUT...
When I’ve been nicey nice like this in the past they still burn me on Facebook and other social media. I want and need to protect my online reputation because our applicants (and yours!) ARE checking out reviews of us online. Several have told us they spotted negative comments.
Everything on the internet stays forever and deadbeats can post whatever they want.
I want them to sign some sort of release/statement agreeing to NOT post or say anything bad in exchange for us releasing them from the lease.
If they do post anything negative I can post their statement, something along the lines of
“BRAD20,000 Properties has treated us fairly and we have nothing negative to say about them.” and “In exchange for being released from the lease I agree to not post or say anything negative about BRAD20,000 Properties .”
Ideas? We ALL need something.
BRAD
--68.50.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 4:27 PM Message:
Well, one of 2 things that first come to mind for me. NO! You aren't getting your money back. We did a move in inspection and you agreed to take the unit as is and were happy when we signed the lease. We will call the exterminator tomorrow AS A COURTESY and we will let you know when they can come out.
You have the right to rectify this. Even though I'm sure you don't have an infestation. Most likely a single bug. If they aren't happy with that, they can pay the ELT.
Or....
Let em go! Give them their money back as long as they are out by Saturday night. Cut your loss. --50.32.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 4:30 PM Message:
I missed the lawsuit part. Haha. Let them go and tell them the SD accounting will be returned within the state allotted timeline. Wait the 30 days (for them to cool down) and send them a depleted SD for due rent and lack of proper notice to vacate.
I'm sure you have a bug responsibility clause in your lease right? I wouldn't worry about Facebook at all. Zombie land. --50.32.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by #22 [MO]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 5:07 PM Message:
You could have a confidentiality & non disparagement agreement for them to sign, in exchange for you letting them out. The problem is, there's many ways around it... fakebook accounts, etc.
I've seen a big shot prop mgr in our town personally respond to every bad review. They're direct "Mrs. Jones, I'm sorry, but we were forced to evict you when you didn't pay. We also show that the three times you called for repairs, they were completed within 48 hours, which isn't consistent of your remark that we never fixed anything." Things like that. I think it dulls the impact of bad reviews in the eyes of sane people anyways!
Good luck! --173.24.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 5:23 PM Message:
I would fix the bug problem but if they don't like that (that is what anybody would do) then the refund is hinged on the release. The rebuttal is they brought in something with a bug and it hopped out while they were looking. --76.188.xxx.xx |
Now what? (by Sisco [MO]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 5:50 PM Message:
I am of the same opinion as #22. Nordstrom gets bad reviews and if warranted replies telling what they did to make it right. Ultimately, it reassures those reading reviews.
The release doesn’t sound useful in this case as they are way over reacting. --72.172.xxx.xx |
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 6:19 PM Message:
They are young, iGeneration. They LIVE on their phones and social media. Their WORLD is about reading and writing reviews, Yelp, FB, and being a SJW - Social Justice Warrior doing their part for justice against (responsibility).
I hear ya but replying does not work. I’ve tried that. Cannot win the internet. Other people gang up on the LL and it grows.
Google the name and the negative review pops up, not the reply. Yelp has been accused of deleting posts.
I need one of those agreements like when people get a big settlement but cannot mention it or they have to pay back the money.
BRAD --68.50.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 6:21 PM Message:
btw We offered other homes but Wifey wisely decided we no longer want them around.
So we need a way to screen crazy and now a way to screen entitlement.
BRAD --68.50.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 6:22 PM Message:
btw We offered other homes but Wifey wisely decided we no longer want them around.
So we need a way to screen crazy and now a way to screen entitlement.
BRAD --68.50.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 6:41 PM Message:
Hop onto ther Facebook and read their past posts going back as far as you can. See if there is anything you can identify in there that may be useful in the future. --50.32.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 8:19 PM Message:
I had a women, professional, rent a house from me. She was going to surprise her boyfriend, they were planning on moving in together and then get married. This was on a Thursday. On Friday after work she took her boyfriend to the house and he had a confession. He was still married and wasn't slitting up or getting divorced!
On Saturday the my new tenants called me and left a message. She had broken up with her boyfriend, left the keys on the kitchen counter and wanted all of her money back soon. If not, her father is an attorney and will take appropriate action.
I called her back and told her that she needed to give me 30 days written notice. I will try to rent the house out and give her back a partial refund, I can't charge two people rent for the same property at the same time. I also told her that I cancelled my add and appointments for this weekend, since the house was rented. I will try to contact the other applicants and run a new add. That at minimum she's out the cost of the add and a week or two until someone comes up with funds and sings a lease.
The women screamed at me and had her dad call up. He was much nastier. I told him that since he's not a real estate attorney, that all of his threats, scams, and bad attitude is not appreciated. Since his law firm does have a real estate department, I told the father to consult with them and have her daughter get back to me.
Hours later the daughter called, my tenant, and thanked me for trying to limit her damages and get someone else into the property. I was able to find someone and my tenant was only out 8 days worth of the rent. I sent her back the balance of the rent plus her full deposit.
No one will bully me when I'm in the right and they are flakes. --47.156.xx.xx |
Now what? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 8:31 PM Message:
I wouldn't give her anything back and I could care less about anywhere they post anything about me.I rented to a girl who then took mom to see the apartment and it wasn't good enough for her little princess,she thought she should get her money back but got nothing,she sued me and I got her to admit 3 times that she had received the keys but never moved in,i won and she got nothing back. --72.231.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 9:07 PM Message:
Brad, you're being played. You both signed a legally-binding contract. I would hold them to it. --98.245.xx.xx |
Now what? (by CJ [MO]) Posted on: Aug 10, 2018 9:51 PM Message:
We have a tenant and a prospects not happy and write bad view on BBB website.
I added somthing about not to damage online reputation in lease agreement. It is very hard to enforce.
I am thinking about to put their full name and phone number in the reply to the view if it happens again so other landlord know by search their name or phone number. That is not illegal, right? --97.91.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2018 4:42 AM Message:
What does the lease say? Are you following the lease that you signed? And most likely wrote? No lunch for you until you do! --99.203.xx.xx |
Now what? (by LindaJ [NY]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2018 4:58 AM Message:
What kind of "bug"? A cockroach, yea, I can see panicking and leaving because that means there are others around and they are indicative of other problems. A fly? A stink bug or box elder bug? those are a fact of life and are not harmful. They do occur. A hundred of them clustered on the wall could change things.
Either way it is best you let them out of lease. I like the wording you have about releasing them if they agree to not post. However, if they do post and it is out there forever, how are you going to enforce after they break that agreement. --108.44.xx.xxx |
Now what? (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2018 4:59 AM Message:
Very small world. After reading these posts is it a wonder tenants have no money? We had a few over 35 years who move in and move out the next day-- one or two never even moved in just left keys.
We have a pre move in form-- shows the house is taken off the market and is signed when the deposit is in hand- it explains that if you change your mind any funds tendered are forfeited. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2018 5:02 AM Message:
That's right MYOB, they're flighty. Just like my tenants who moved in for a weekend about 2 weeks ago. Leaving cost them $1,000. --50.32.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2018 12:51 PM Message:
I would have kept their money and called the exterminator. We offer a bug free guarantee that if the tenant notices any infestations within the first 30 days of the tenancy, we provide one treatment at our expense. Bed bugs specifically excluded.
Bugs are part of life. So are bad online reviews. If someone posts one, usually the best thing is a 1-3 sentence reply thanking them for bringing the concern to your attention and encouraging them to contact your office for a resolution. Then their nutty rants come across as what they are: overblown and unhinged whining. Anyone who takes those kinds of reviews seriously I would not want renting from me anyway. --172.56.xx.xx |
Now what? (by Tsardin [IL]) Posted on: Aug 11, 2018 5:05 PM Message:
Tenant signs lease, does preinspection with LL/PM, signs lease, at lease signing submits SD and first months rent. Moves out week one, has bugs, or just does want unit. I believe tenant on lease is required to give 30-60 days notice to vacate prior to lease expiration date.
If there are bugs exterminate. Question to ponder here, At the preinspection was there a problem with, ants, roaches, etc.
Tenant moves out breaking lease I don't believe they are due rent return. Security deposit back within 30 days.
LL can't control Facebook rhetoric so I would try to offer the best product possible and not worry about social media you have no control over it. Do a LL verification with current and prior LL you will learn something about tenant character.
Good luck on this --172.56.xx.xxx |
Now what? (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2018 5:20 AM Message:
Over recent years I've had some people who I wanted to just leave right away. Sean's Happy Clause as it was called. In my case the first few people who come to mind stayed on, their concerns and issues were not really troublesome for me. The change is with me. I just don't have as much time for stupid as I used to. That said, I'm with Brad on getting rid of this person.
As for reviews,. Asking a person to not put in a bad review seems like that would get out. So it is a conundrum. (see you thought I could not spell). "and to top it off, they asked us not to give a bad review". I'm tossing this in for you to tweak.
We see Teni's view as taking priority over ours, thereby we agree to terminate the lease for their sole benefit. We consider this a concession and ask that the tenant give credit where due, and specifically not attempt to damage our business by posting poor reviews. It would be our pleasure to once again have the tenant back for a future lease term.
Footnote. I filed with the BBB one time on a business which would not pay me. Seemed like a good idea and it got my hopes up. The business simply ignored the BBB. I then turned to the BBB and said "What?" followed by " oh brother". The BBB closed the case, however because the business didn't respond, you can still search for my complaint. Because the case was closed my name is omitted and the complaint is still up on the Internet. Ironically, this leaves the business looking like the bad guy.
If someone spoke ill of my rental business I think I would respond. Sorry so long, but I believe this is key. If you booted someone for not paying rent...they would complain that the windows were loose and the ceiling was falling. But if this person gets their deposit back, they probably will not post anything. All they care about is themselves. --96.241.xxx.xx |
Now what? (by Hoosier [IN]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2018 8:22 AM Message:
It seems to me they were looking for an excuse and won't be good tenants if you let them stay...so I vote for the "let them go" path.
I'm wondering though if you can put a clause in the lease (which they would have already signed) stating:
"Any agreement by landlord to release tenant from lease caused by a dispute will require signing of a waiver agreeing not to defame landlord in public or on social media sites."
Also, I would do a "post mortem" and ask yourself..."what question(s) could we have asked during the application process to have caught this attitude before approving them?"
I know sometimes it's a fluke and you can't catch every issue...but at least having that introspective view may give you some ideas. For example, in the "bug addendum", do you have a clause that says some bugs are nuisance pests and cannot be guaranteed to be fully eliminated" such as ants or mole crickets? If you had discussed this with them and they said something like "Oh my gosh, how could anyone think even a single bug is acceptable?", then perhaps you forego signing the lease.
Good luck --99.92.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by RentsDue [MA]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2018 9:29 AM Message:
I would remove the "review" option on the website. Just like the BBB membership. If you don't have a membership you automatically show an A plus rating because nobody can give you a bad review. Or.... You can pay them to open yourself up to being downgraded by this " all about me" generation. At least conveniently have that page "under construction" for a little while until she finds someone else to offend her. --71.10.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2018 1:15 PM Message:
Right or rich. I chose FREEDOM!!! From a possibly volitile situation and someone spreading bad info about us.
Refunded all their money and they happily signed a Non-Disparagmemt and Confidentiality statement with a $1000 penalty if they break this agreement.
We live in a new world. OUR prospects ARE checking online. They tell me and some ask about the online reviews they have read about us online. Marketers, restaraunts, hotels, apartment complexes, Amazon know this - businesses now live or die by reviews. It’s the way Millenials and iGen shop now. They are 40% of the tental market.
These kids were 24 & 23, iGen.
And I’ve played the BBB game. They are a scam. If you pay $460 they give you an A rating no matter what. If you don’t pay they give you an F. Tjat’s exactly what BBB told me. (Wolfgang Puck has an F because he refuses to pay. Google it.)
BRAD
When someone calls about my business they say “All we have are complaints” (a purposeful twist of words and meaning) because some evictees complain and I am not paying their extortion fees. I have replied with facts to each complaint but they don’t care. --68.50.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by Larry [TX]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2018 5:00 PM Message:
They will probably still post a bad review. You don't think they will use their real info do you? And you will never be able to prove it's them. You wasted a lot of time and effort for nothing I believe. --73.166.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2018 5:45 PM Message:
Brad,what happened to following the lease? --72.231.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by NC INVESTOR [NC]) Posted on: Aug 12, 2018 8:44 PM Message:
I don't know about your state laws but the NDA would not work in NC. We can include the clause it just isn't enforceable. We tried it with one tenant for different circumstances and when they violated the terms I wanted to sue but my attorney said we had close to a zero chance of winning the case. And even if we somehow won I would have spent a ton of money on legal fees and no chance of collecting damages since we don't have garnishment in NC. --98.121.xxx.xxx |
Now what? (by Nan [MI]) Posted on: Aug 13, 2018 9:48 AM Message:
What Larry (TX) said. Most reviews are anonymous. --152.131.x.xxx |
Now what? (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Aug 13, 2018 11:00 AM Message:
I like the cooldown period mentioned earlier. If you make them wait the full amount before getting their money back, they won't bad mouth you until the money is at hand if they're smart. Then after enough time has passed, they'll remember getting the money back and maybe will not write bad reviews. But I would remove the comments sections of my page wherever possible. I would also setup a google alert on my name or address to be notified of anything mentioning my address or name appearing on internet.
Respond professionally. You will make yourself look bad if you respond in kind. Always be courteous. Readers will believe the tenant if you give them a reason to. It's just part of the game. --108.69.xxx.xxx |
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