Ghost Stories (by Lana [IN]) Mar 11, 2019 11:40 AM
Ghost Stories (by S i d [MO]) Mar 11, 2019 11:52 AM
Ghost Stories (by Lana [IN]) Mar 11, 2019 12:04 PM
Ghost Stories (by Moshe [CA]) Mar 11, 2019 12:07 PM
Ghost Stories (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Mar 11, 2019 1:23 PM
Ghost Stories (by WMH [NC]) Mar 11, 2019 2:21 PM
Ghost Stories (by RB [MI]) Mar 11, 2019 2:55 PM
Ghost Stories (by LindaJ [NY]) Mar 11, 2019 4:41 PM
Ghost Stories (by Mike [TX]) Mar 11, 2019 7:35 PM
Ghost Stories (by Still Learning [NH]) Mar 11, 2019 7:36 PM
Ghost Stories (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Mar 11, 2019 10:06 PM
Ghost Stories (by JB [OR]) Mar 11, 2019 11:30 PM
Ghost Stories (by Steve [TN]) Mar 12, 2019 5:00 AM
Ghost Stories (by 6x6 [TN]) Mar 12, 2019 2:15 PM
Ghost Stories (by AllyM [NJ]) Mar 13, 2019 4:46 PM
Ghost Stories (by Lana [IN]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 11:40 AM Message:
I have a college student who gave notice for March 23. I have had 2 showings of his place and they have both gone badly.
The first showing I texted him 48 hours ahead. We have communicated by text through tenancy and that text was at the end of a conversation.. My handyman did the showing. No one answered the door when he knocked so he let himself and the prospect in. A strange man was on couch near door but did not answer it. Tenant came out of bedroom and said he knew nothing about a showing. He had bedroom door shut and when he was asked if it was OK to look in bedroom. He said sure it's full of junk though. I never go in because it's haunted. Then he proceeded to tell prospect of things flying across room, an air conditioner being pulled out of the window, horrible noises,and said he only slept on the couch and had never used bedroom to sleep in after first month.
OK. So I scheduled three showings today at same time and he was sent written and text messages on Friday. Today we knocked and there was no answer so I went in yelling Landlord. We got to the closed bedroom door and knocked with no answer then opened door and tenant was sound asleep in haunted room. The bathroom door was closed too, so I knocked and got no answer and when I tried to open it it was locked.
Another not so good showing. Tenant is being passive aggressive and is not going to cooperate. In Lease and Move out letter I make it clear they need to cooperate with showings. I try to group showings and make them only once per week to minimize disruption of tenant's life. This is in letter too. I also have a Clause where I take $10 off deposit for each instance of failure to cooperate with a showing, but I have never used it. I feel like charging him for today.
How do you deal with poor cooperation?
--216.23.xxx.xx |
Ghost Stories (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 11:52 AM Message:
One thing I'm pretty sure you CAN'T do is make up rules like charging him $10 off the deposit. If you had written it into your lease like I do with mine and he signed agreeing to it, that's another story....
Any scheduled appointment or failure to grant access results in a $40 fee or service call charge, whichever is greater. This applies to showings, maintenance, etc.
You might try the "carrot" approach: offer him $100 if you get the a new lease signed for the place before he moved out. In exchange, he has to say good things, be cooperative with a showing schedule, and keep the place reasonably clean. Offer $50 even if you don't get someone in, but as long as he follows the above rules.
I've also found it helps to establish one weekday and one weekend day for occupied tours. I let the tenant pick: then it is understood those times are golden for us to tour the place. I still give them an hour or so "heads up" when we're heading over.
For this guy, you may just have to wait until he's out. Meanwhile, fix your lease.
--173.20.xxx.xxx |
Ghost Stories (by Lana [IN]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 12:04 PM Message:
Clause is in his signed Lease. --216.23.xxx.xx |
Ghost Stories (by Moshe [CA]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 12:07 PM Message:
You should review the proper protocol for showing an apartment.
1. Tenant is entitled to appropriate notice in exchange for landlord's right to enter. Make sure that he is notified properly, according to the law. Sometimes that means personal service, sometime nail & mail. Check carefully your state law.
2. Once tenant has been properly served, YOU (not your handyman) have a right to enter to show the premises. Be bold and professional and go ahead and show the apartment, junk and all. Apologize to the showee before getting to the apartment door that the tenant is not a good housekeeper, that he is not so cooperative, and that he has a story about the bedroom being haunted. You can even suggest to the showee why the tenant might say that.
3. A good lease would contain a clause where the tenant agrees to handle all affairs relating to the rental of the apartment in good faith and fair dealing, and that violation of that clause constitutes a breach of the lease like any other breach of the lease.
4. Next time, consider any applicant against the standard that you observe from this tenant, and choose accordingly.
5. In the end, you may have to wait until this tenant is gone to show the apartment. Next time, use your experience to choose a better tenant.
--47.139.xx.xxx |
Ghost Stories (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 1:23 PM Message:
Sounds like it's time for a tenant exorcism.
"It's the power or Lana. The power of Lana compels you." --108.69.xxx.xxx |
Ghost Stories (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 2:21 PM Message:
In NC we can designate an agent to do things like show places, etc. --50.82.xxx.xx |
Ghost Stories (by RB [MI]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 2:55 PM Message:
Thanks for reminding me
why I don't do showings,
until vacant / available and in tip top shape,
to screened / qualified and ready to move in prospects. --184.53.x.x |
Ghost Stories (by LindaJ [NY]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 4:41 PM Message:
I am with RB on this, show when vacant and ready. Yes, I might lose a month, but for the most part my tenants are M2M and stay a years so I use that vacant time to do some inspections, repairs and upgrades. It is just a lot less stress for me. --108.4.xxx.xx |
Ghost Stories (by Mike [TX]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 7:35 PM Message:
You cannot tell him how to act in his own house. If he wants to nap then so be it. Why don’t you have some courtesy for your tenant and not show it till he is out and it’s ready to show. It makes you look like your either desperate for a new tenant or just plain greedy showing while it’s occupied. I would probably do the same thing he is doing.... just giving you back a dose of your own greed and rudeness. --73.166.xxx.xxx |
Ghost Stories (by Still Learning [NH]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 7:36 PM Message:
Assuming tenant is making this up and it’s not haunted. If it is haunted, perhaps messages are not getting to tenant. We were just at a local inn that has ghosts and they mess with cameras and cell phones. --24.61.xxx.xx |
Ghost Stories (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 10:06 PM Message:
Lana,
Me? I wait until they are gone. Even for your own safety with strangers sleeping or not answering the knock.
Does this guy have a reason to mess with your propsects? Bad joke?
Where is AllyM when we need her!?
BRAD --73.102.xxx.xxx |
Ghost Stories (by JB [OR]) Posted on: Mar 11, 2019 11:30 PM Message:
Don't sweat the "Don't show it until it's empty" folks here. It is your choice. You have that option with 24 hours notice. If they don't like that then that's too bad.
Now, what you probably want to do is to warn prospects that current tenant is acting a bit irrationally and not being very cooperative with showings, etc. Just say things that won't be considered gossip or vengeful and hope that your next prospect sees past your this imbecile and actually considers the unit itself. --24.20.xxx.xxx |
Ghost Stories (by Steve [TN]) Posted on: Mar 12, 2019 5:00 AM Message:
Where I live, if word got out that one of my places is haunted, I could charge higher rent. Seriously. --68.156.xx.xx |
Ghost Stories (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Mar 12, 2019 2:15 PM Message:
I wait until the house is empty and ready to rent, that way I have less problems and I am not very experienced yet.
Brad, I was wondering the same thing. Where is AllyM?
Steve, funny. What area are you in? --73.120.xx.xxx |
Ghost Stories (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Mar 13, 2019 4:46 PM Message:
I never show a unit until the tenant is out and it is almost ready to rent and looking good. Anything else has been a waste of time. I have actual ghost stories. --173.61.xxx.xx |
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