As landlords we often come across deals for our rentals. If we don't need that service and or part, it holds little interest. But when we need an immediate replacement of a needed item, a sale or discount can play an important roll to our bottom line.
Case in point, a small time landlord needed a new garage door with a battery back-up opener. Power is often lost during any weather issue and their tenant can not manually open their "super heavy" garage door even using a "Quick Release" key. The door is too heavy, a pivot type with a newer garage door face attached over an already heavy wooden door. The tenant is a tall skinny women who works out at the gym 3 days a week and can easily carry a 100 pound box up steps into the rental.
So the landlord couple asked for my advice. I told them to go with a sectional insulated double sided metal door with a double track system for low over head clearance -- so any new tenant can park an SUV inside the garage. And to get a quite 1-1/4 HP battery opener with all of the bells and whistles.
So I got a message they they hired a company to keep their existing door, but just install heaver springs and a battery back up opener. Price $1,900.
So on my to-do list, I gave this couple a call back to report on their decision to spend $1900, without replacing their current door.
I did not mentions that last month while visiting the rental the owner wife pushed the inside garage door button to close the door, and the garage door came down on the owner's head, needing 3 staples and some of her hair removed for treatment.
So I called the owners and the wife answered. She was pissed off at me for challenging their $1,900 estimate. I explained I was not commenting on their decision to go forward with only replacing their opener, BUT I HAD SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. She commented that what good would information be, since who would do the work! I explained that I'm not calling to get additional work, but I have some information that could save them $1,500. And who was the contractor that jacked up their home, added a Third Story and made underground parking for their car collection? Me!
So I have learned my lesson time after time, if they don't want my professional advice, then by all means, keep it to myself.
So I emailed to them the exact model of Battery Back up Opener, with extra goodies included, from HomeDepot one sale for $189. Plus for $138, HomeDepot will have their licensed contractors install it. A total of around $350, not the $1,900 they were going to spend.
--47.155.xx.x