Ok, I see responses from others on not telling potential tenants or even "lookie looks" that you are the owner, but when asked point blank, what do you say? Yes, I know being the owner -you are the manager, but I do get asked if I own it. How can I honestly get around that??

Thanks

I tell them I'm the property manager however I also have the ability to make decisions on repairs and changes.

I've also responded " I wish"

CJ, you tell them "No, you speak to me." Then pass on them. Chances are they are looking to scam or find a weak spot or something else.

The screening process, once you have it established for yourself, should flow smoothly from the initial point of contact all the way to the lease signing. If you're finding roadblocks along the way, you need to pass on a prospective tenant asap, unless those roadblocks are very easily overcome.

" How can I honestly get around that?? "

What an absurd question !!

You want to tell a lie, but when asked for the truth, you want to know how to HONESTLY bypass the honest answer.

Whats wrong with being sincere ans telling the truth? The only reason that I can see, is to avoid taking deserved responsibility.

I'm with Moshe (and Ken above). If they ask, I tell the truth. I don't have this big need to hide like many people here.

- John...

Posing as the manager is by no means a new concept. It has helped me many times by not having to be put on the spot for an answer. Be it a question I don't want to tell them no to on the spot and possibly cause a problem or it may possibly be a question that I don't really know the answer to and want to run it past other landlords here locally, an attorney, or this forum.

I'm the manager for ABC Properties. I answer to the investor's group. I have bosses, just like you. The owners hire me to handle this stuff for them. And my boss can be a real %$^^&%$$.

All true.

Moshe,

Another reason may just be it's not really their business. Some people like to keep their assets ownership info private. Nothing wrong with that.

I wouldn't lie because ownership is public information. I might answer the question with a question such as, "Why do you ask?" .

I have found that some tenants rightfully want to know as much as they can because of scams, hearing from a friend or personal experience that the owner was in foreclosure and they end up suffering the consequences. Thus it's typically an innocent question.

I've told people honestly that I bought my first house in 1996 and I still have it. I buy houses, I don't sell them. Some people find that reassuring.

My first multifamily tenants knew I was the owner. Every time i came to that property people came out of the woodwork to complain about something. Usually it was about another tenant. OR they wanted to chat to be my best friend, so they would surely be on top of the pecking order. I had some tenants warn other tenants because they said I was their personal friend. (I gave them no reason to think that) I grew to hate that property!

My other properties after that,.. I was the manager,..which IS ALSO TRUE. Also as said before for many years it WAS owned by the bank. (try not paying even the last installment and see who owns your property).. Also the same for property taxes,..I'm not sure I really own anything because as soon as I stop paying those taxes its not mine.We are really all caretakers for a while... yes I'm a manager I don't care who's name is on the deed.

So sure, someone might look up the "owner" (some of mine are on LLC's) but even if they do,..I tell them yes I am on the deed,..but I have to answer to my partners, the real owners (that is people that I am obligated to, such as wife and workers.)

" I wouldn't lie because ownership is public information. "

I wouldn't lie because I am an honest person.

Additionally, since I really am the owner, I have no reason to pretend to be anything else. I can honestly and professionally handle any situation that could result from being the owner, presenting myself as the owner and acting as the owner.

I can't lie well, if people push I tell them our company owns the house and I am a managing member.

Mostly people here are trying to avoid the larger PMs - to avoid the "hey my septic is backing up!" and having the PM say, "Wait I need to contact Owner who is in the Bahamas right now. I can't authorize a repair..."

If a septic is backed, water leaking all over the floor or a garage door fell on the car inside, I make repairs right now, but I am not going to have people waiting for me to come home and beg for a new bathroom vanity cause they ran water all over it and it is falling apart.

Dee,

" I can't lie well," But "ABC LL owns it. I'm their agent" seems to do it pretty well.

Moshe is right...when the tenant ask who owns the property don't tell them its the ABC Corp......instead present them and organizational showing what roles each of the employees fulfill. While you are at give them your annual financial summary that you provide to the bank too.

Lord knows it would be dishonest to say who the owner is when ABC is listed on the deed. So why is it dishonest to say you are with the company.

There's no way my tenants or prospects would see my articles of incorporation or operating agreement of my llc's, nor would they see my financial statements, nor would they see my tax returns. I will also not show them my deeds.

I haven't been asked for that stuff and will simply pass on such a nosy inquisition.

It's called "need to know".

I am the manager and the owner and the person making decisions and sometimes the guy fixing stuff and sometimes the guy hiring people. I'm also the guy buying and selling.

This is how I run my business. I don't get cozy with tenants, prospects, neighbors, inspectors or local politicians. Because I do not care.

It works for me this way and by the sounds of it, it works that way for many others.

I am not a liar by not divulging any or all information. Again, it's simply need to know.

Put me in the column of owners that acknowledge ownership. My tenants know I am the owner and as such will take care of any problems as fast as possible.

I'm afraid it would be somewhat embarrassing if people knew I owned certain rentals.

I am very much like them, an equal on most counts, however I own more than my share and I think it would not go over well if everyone knew.

There was one street where people rumored that I was attempting to buy one of the homes. The whole block turned against me - and this was just a rumor with no truth.

We are dealing with people, and people can be very catty.

JR, I agree regarding people demanding to speak to the owner.

But in today's world with all the scammers out there, horror stories about people renting houses they don't own, or renting out houses pending foreclosure it's not uncommon for a potential applicant to be concerned or want to verify ownership.

Others have mentioned this already...

Several times I've been asked THE question. When I tell them I am PM for ABC Properties, some of them end the conversation right there and never apply. It is OBVIOUS they are looking for a mom/pop operation they can scam.

Dee,

"Are you the owner?"

"I'm the manager how can I help you?"

"I'm the manager did you get an application yet?"

"I'm the manager are you thinking of moving soon?" (turn the conversation right back to them. No awkward dead space to fill with personal confessions.)

Or for the timid:

"I manage the property how can I help you?"

My real answer to anyone struggling with this: grow a backbone.

1. It's none of their beeswax.

2. Post after post, small writer to big shot trainers ALL say it is to YOUR ADVANTAGE to present yourself as the MANAGER. You will get more cooperation than the owner.

Ladies should be VERY good at this. To me it's the same as asking a woman "How old are you?" "What is your dress size?" "It that your real hair color?" "How much money do you make?"

SOMEBODY has to be the manager, SOMEBODY has to be maintenance person, SOMEBODY has to be the bookkeeper..today, for that prospect in front of you, you are MANAGING.

And be aware...professional deadbeats are looking for Mom&Pop OWNERS to scam.

Run this like a business, not a sewing circle.

BRAD

Besides the reasons listed. I find among my fellow LL's there are two types of people. Ones that like to keep their heads down and not to involve themselves with tenants and their drama.

Then there are the LL's that puff out there chests and have their thumbs behind their suspenders and in effect want everyone to know that they "own" this and that. My sister was like that and found that it backfired her in a number of ways. She no longer owns much RE because of it.

I've not had any problems with anyone that needs maintenance to call the office and leave a message. It also helps that I have office help.

I love the statements about other things that are also no ones business."How old are you?" "What is your dress size?" "It that your real hair color?" "How much money do you make?"

Carl: I see a LOT more groups than just those two. My tenants may know that I am the owner, but I certainly don't get involved in their drama and I'm certainly not one of those guys with the thumbs in the suspenders acting like Big Tex that owns the state.

I hope you don't really see LLs that way that happen to tell the truth when someone asks if they are the owner...

- John...