Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 26, 2020 10:42 PM
Pick your poison! (by JR [ME]) Aug 26, 2020 10:50 PM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 26, 2020 10:56 PM
Pick your poison! (by Ken [NY]) Aug 26, 2020 11:04 PM
Pick your poison! (by JR [ME]) Aug 26, 2020 11:10 PM
Pick your poison! (by laura [MD]) Aug 26, 2020 11:16 PM
Pick your poison! (by DJ [VA]) Aug 26, 2020 11:24 PM
Pick your poison! (by Still Learning [NH]) Aug 26, 2020 11:29 PM
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Aug 26, 2020 11:39 PM
Pick your poison! (by Robert J [CA]) Aug 26, 2020 11:47 PM
Pick your poison! (by Small potatoes [NY]) Aug 26, 2020 11:53 PM
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Aug 27, 2020 12:07 AM
Pick your poison! (by LisaFL [FL]) Aug 27, 2020 12:36 AM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 27, 2020 12:57 AM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 27, 2020 1:08 AM
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Aug 27, 2020 1:14 AM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 27, 2020 1:18 AM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 27, 2020 1:37 AM
Pick your poison! (by Tonia [RI]) Aug 27, 2020 4:28 AM
Pick your poison! (by JKJ [MA]) Aug 27, 2020 6:34 AM
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Aug 27, 2020 6:37 AM
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Aug 27, 2020 6:46 AM
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Aug 27, 2020 6:46 AM
Pick your poison! (by LisaFL [FL]) Aug 27, 2020 7:09 AM
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Aug 27, 2020 7:18 AM
Pick your poison! (by WMH [NC]) Aug 27, 2020 7:22 AM
Pick your poison! (by myob [GA]) Aug 27, 2020 7:27 AM
Pick your poison! (by S i d [MO]) Aug 27, 2020 8:34 AM
Pick your poison! (by Small potatoes [NY]) Aug 27, 2020 9:26 AM
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Aug 27, 2020 9:52 AM
Pick your poison! (by Allym [NJ]) Aug 27, 2020 11:03 AM
Pick your poison! (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Aug 27, 2020 12:36 PM
Pick your poison! (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Aug 27, 2020 5:02 PM
Pick your poison! (by 6x6 [TN]) Aug 27, 2020 5:37 PM
Pick your poison! (by PG [SC]) Aug 27, 2020 6:05 PM
Pick your poison! (by Libi [NY]) Aug 28, 2020 7:07 AM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 28, 2020 10:34 AM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 28, 2020 10:38 AM
Pick your poison! (by Robin [WI]) Aug 28, 2020 10:39 AM
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Aug 28, 2020 12:21 PM
Pick your poison! (by JEN [IL]) Aug 28, 2020 12:22 PM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 28, 2020 1:11 PM
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Aug 28, 2020 2:00 PM
Pick your poison! (by 6x6 [TN]) Aug 28, 2020 2:28 PM
Pick your poison! (by GKARL [PA]) Aug 28, 2020 3:31 PM
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Aug 28, 2020 4:44 PM
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Aug 28, 2020 5:13 PM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 28, 2020 6:21 PM
Pick your poison! (by JKJ [MA]) Aug 28, 2020 7:05 PM
Pick your poison! (by 6x6 [TN]) Aug 28, 2020 7:15 PM
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Aug 28, 2020 7:47 PM
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Aug 28, 2020 7:50 PM
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Aug 28, 2020 9:15 PM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Aug 28, 2020 9:31 PM
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Aug 28, 2020 10:31 PM
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Aug 29, 2020 6:51 AM
Pick your poison! (by JKJ [MA]) Aug 29, 2020 12:22 PM
Pick your poison! (by PG [SC]) Aug 30, 2020 11:10 AM
Pick your poison! (by Dee Ann [WI]) Aug 30, 2020 8:39 PM
Pick your poison! (by Dee Ann [WI]) Aug 31, 2020 10:04 AM
Pick your poison! (by plenty [MO]) Aug 31, 2020 10:14 AM
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 10:42 PM Message:
3 top choices left out of a slew of MUCH worse applicants for 1 Br apartment. All three are friendly and personable.
So which do you think, is the *least* bad?
As far as 'race', I absolutely could care less- in fact I've rented to two previous 'black' tenants in a row in this very apartment. Just including in descriptions.
In fact I feel the Meijers guy is the worst, but can't decide.
Bear in mind these are all FAR better than anyone else who has applied.
CAST YOUR VOTE:
#1
24 year old black guy (I would say, "kid") who dresses like a hoodie.... but has had a decent assembly line job for over a year, and makes more than enough for the place. Wants his own place because breaking up with girlfriend, and job is a 30 mile commute each way.
Has a 3 year rental history. Tons of minor traffic citations and one obscure act of forgery, as well as one shoplifting, 6 years ago.
Single, no pets. Has first month's rent and security deposit now.
#2
45 year old black man who has had same job for 7 years (janitor), claims to pay all his bills; but has no checking account. Claims to have lived with his parents all his life, finally as a 'caretaker' but finally wants his own place.
But his license, which is a State ID, not a driver's license- has the address of a house not on his application, which is owned by a myserious entity, "Tri Meng Inc".
Tri Meng Inc appears to own a number of buildings in town, but their phone number is out of order. So no way to tell what he's hiding, if anything.
Tons of minor traffic fines and tickets, and at least one license suspension- but just 1 person, no pets. Has first month's rent and security deposit now.
#3
46 year old Caucasian guy who has had a job at Meijers supermarket, 1 year. 1 person, no pets, and has first month's rent and security deposit now.
BUT- he's a self admitted redeemed convict. Good driving record and licence. However, he's lived in several states and offers no previous housing record at all. Says he's lived "month to month here and there". His rap sheet includes a 7 year prison sentence for 2nd degree battery, person unknown, which he tried to hide- and 'Endangering the Welfare of a Child', which he confessed upfront. To be honest, he looks hardened.
Though he's nice enough, I envision a situation having to tell this guy to pay or vacate.....
????
You're not allowed to say, "dump them all".
Compared to everyone else so far, these are the superstars!
Including a family running from bedbugs.... people wanting an apartment but not having money. Armies of destructive pets.... and a woman with Social Anxiety disorder so bad, she couldn't even show up to fill out an app, lol
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by JR [ME]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 10:50 PM Message:
Your obsession with race will be your downfall. You claimed to not be concerned with race but then used racial descriptions several times. You need to get with the program and I am no SJW. Just the casual way you mention their race upfront that you say you don’t care about will get you crucified by your local fair housing authority when you reject # 1 or #2.
All three choices are risky. The fact that you would even consider #2 or #3, makes me predict this will end badly for you no matter whom you pick.
--98.13.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 10:56 PM Message:
Oh brother (rolling eyes). yes, for me to even mention someone's skin color makes me obsessed.
Who cares???? Just trying to make the story more interesting.
As far as risky, you'll find a lot of people are this bad if you look hard enough. They've all got skeletons.
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:04 PM Message:
The guy at Meijers no way,no landlord references,who did he assault,a previous landlord?
The janitor is also no way since he didnt give you an accurate address,he says he lived with parents but state ID shows a different address,he is lying to you about living with his parents.
The 24 year old is the best bet but the forgery and shoplifting make him undesirable also.I assume the 3 year rental history has checked out ok,if that checks out then he is your only chance of a decent tenant of the 3.I dont check credit or criminal history since my places are in rough neighborhoods so i wouldnt have found that anyway so i would take him. --104.229.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by JR [ME]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:10 PM Message:
Triplexes, I’m actually trying to help you. I won’t rat you out, and I’m sure you mean well, but in case you haven’t heard, a large # of Americans are hypersensitive about race right now. You gain nothing by adding race to their descriptions. The first time a hypersensitive minority prospect overhears your discussing race, you will be hearing from your local fair housing or human rights council. Even if you win with them, you lose. Just stop. --98.13.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by laura [MD]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:16 PM Message:
After reading some of your posts, i think you are a lawsuit(s) waiting to happen. First you were "harassing" a tenant during time when laws were pasted specifically addressing tenant harassment, now you lead with race in describing potential tenants tenant. I predict there are several lawsuits (which you will lose) in your future. I also predict you will ignore my warning and be mad. You are not landlord material. --108.56.xxx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:24 PM Message:
OMG! My advice is: You won't allow me to say it. LOL
If these are the best the place attracts, either you are advertising it wrong, or it is in a class D neighborhood & you should sell fore your safety. --70.160.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Still Learning [NH]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:29 PM Message:
#1 if references check out BUT the first problem is in your title. Pick your poison. If they are all poison the answer is keep looking. Also, race does not make a story more interesting. --73.17.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:39 PM Message:
Never, ever, mention race in your description. It WILL come back to bite you. Somewhere you will slip up. (Although if you choose #1 over #3 it could boost a case for non discrimination, maybe).
#1 is best, but still not stellar. A month to month lease might be best allowing for you to get him out more easily.
--71.161.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:47 PM Message:
Two of my best tenants in 2 different apartment complexes are of color, nice, hard working, honest and pay their rent always on time. I love to interact with them because they treat me like a person and not the landlord. Of course I'm in Los Angeles, a melting pot, where I always try to integrate my rentals.
The applicants you describe would not meet with my written requirements. But since L.A. City is run by "dummies", I am required to put aside minor offences and rent to them anyways. So I run a full background check and always find most to be a bad financial risk.
To name of few of my colored tenants that are good as gold, one is a teacher at L.A. City College. Another a dancer who's been on Broadway. Another a Building Supervisor with the City of Burbank. And the list goes on. Race, color or gender doesn't play a part is land lording. --47.155.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:53 PM Message:
I disagree that race does not matter in this post. Tplexr mentions the driving record of one black applicant. If you have paid attention to race sensetivity recently black males are disproportionately pulled over by police, therefore dwb is a real thing. So I would discount his driving record. And he was 18 when he shoplifted. Of the 3, #1 is the best of the bunch. --24.194.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 12:07 AM Message:
What did the in-home visit show? ( I would NOT have given three a showing, nor an application, btw.) I pick up the applications during the in home visit....so, I would have seen those places.... --70.92.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 12:36 AM Message:
#1 is the only one I would consider. --216.186.xxx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 12:57 AM Message:
>>>After reading some of your posts, i think you are a lawsuit(s) waiting to happen. First you were "harassing" a tenant during time when laws were pasted specifically addressing tenant harassment, now you lead with race in describing potential tenants tenant. I predict there are several lawsuits (which you will lose) in your future. I also predict you will ignore my warning and be mad. You are not landlord material. --108.56.xxx.xx>>>
@LauraMD, after reading your post, I think you're a rude obnoxious woman- and no help at all. Go figure!
Like my dad says: "Opinions are like a.... everybody has one"
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 1:08 AM Message:
>>>I disagree that race does not matter in this post. Tplexr mentions the driving record of one black applicant. If you have paid attention to race sensetivity recently black males are disproportionately pulled over by police, therefore dwb is a real thing. So I would discount his driving record. And he was 18 when he shoplifted. Of the 3, #1 is the best of the bunch. >>>
@SmallPotatoes, keep searching if you're trying to pin racism on me. By the way for all you know, the 'black' applicant could have been the 'white' one.
Maybe I switched them, to show you up? hah!
There's one thing you learn really fast as a landlord though or at least I did- and that is you just don't give a bling what tenants look like, as far as choosing renters. You care about how they'll act. Ignore that at your own peril.
Its hard enough to find ones that pay reliably and don't trash the place.
But no, I think I agree with you- he looks like the best out of the 3. I don't care about the one shoplifting charge at 17, or either of the applicants that have slews of minor traffic violations.
I am concerned about his age though. At 24, people don't tend to be committed to anything or stay long anywhere. What happens when he makes up with his girlfriend, and they want together again? Will he bolt? That's my thought.
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 1:14 AM Message:
Part of the trouble with the prospects is the type of building you are offering. Pretty close to a rooming house. So, your applicants are probably going to be rougher around the edges. More than likely none of your applicants would have applied for my places, as mine are whole houses, in good shape, though still fairly small.
Mentioning race doesn’t make the story more interesting. That you were surprised ( or perhaps I should say, that you noted,) that the xxx person was the one had the violent record says you’ve a lot to learn. But, you are perhaps becoming aware. Next, learn to drop race, ethnicity, out of your words, when it comes to landlording.
Have a written screening criteria, with a date on it. Most often, the written criteria does NOT have to be given to the prospects, though some place DO require landlords to provide tenants a copy. Make notes of when the application was received, process them in the order they were received. When you get to an applicant that meets the criteria, offer them the place. Processing in the order received can help prevent discrimination issues, and having good notes on what made the previous applicants not get an offer should help too. Good notes, such as “ flicked cigarette butts out of car as prospect pulled up. Dumped ashtray filled with butts on lawn.”g Or, income is xxx per month, needs to be xyz per month to qualify. Whatever YOUR criteria are needs to be documented in your records. I don’t write on the actual application, I make notes in a theme book, two facing pages per prospect.
That you have three different applicants, all at the same place in the process with various dings on their applications leaves you second guessing yourself, and other second guessing your screening methods. Write the criteria down, screen in the order received, document well to help keep you out of hot water. --70.92.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 1:18 AM Message:
Pick your poison! (by Still Learning [NH]) Posted on: Aug 26, 2020 11:29 PM
Message:
>>> #1 if references check out BUT the first problem is in your title. Pick your poison. If they are all poison the answer is keep looking. Also, race does not make a story more interesting. >>>
True enough. But at some point you'll find you are forced to take the best of what you've got available.
An apartment that sits empty a year every vacancy losing money while you wait for the perfect tenant to come along, is going to sink you faster than anything.
Anyways.... I wrote a whole paragraph describing each person and how many people picked out just two words?
I think there is a hypersensitivity out there to 'race'.
In fact I don't believe there are races, there's only one. The human race. All these 'colors' are made up bologna
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 1:37 AM Message:
>>>>>That you were surprised ( or perhaps I should say, that you noted,) that the xxx person was the one had the violent record says you’ve a lot to learn>>>>
@Busy [WI] thanks for decent advice, but the part about me being 'surprised' that any one person had a violent record over another based on how they looked was completely your own imagination.
I was here in myself as it were the whole time, and it just didn't happen.
There was one thing however that unsettled me a bit- the 'hardened' look about the x-convict, if I may be allowed to call him that. I noticed that before I brought up his record. It didn't bode well. THAT was my imagination, lol
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Tonia [RI]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 4:28 AM Message:
I agree with picks for app #1, but yes race should not be a factor in your decision making
Good luck! --99.203.xxx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 6:34 AM Message:
Triplexer you give me a headache, deny them all, get a decent tenant in there, and start accepting the positive criticism you receive on here instead of getting offended and argumentative. People aren’t telling you this just to attack you, they are genuinely trying to help you! I’m sure you will just reply to this with some snide remark, but whatever, maybe 1 day you’ll figure it out. --73.17.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 6:37 AM Message:
You left out the credit report results, which are 10X important than someone's driving record. --72.188.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 6:46 AM Message:
@Robert J
I think mean well with your post, but "colored tenants?" Seriously? --72.188.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 6:46 AM Message:
@Robert J
I think mean well with your post, but "colored tenants?" Seriously? --72.188.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 7:09 AM Message:
J,
Robert’s term may be out of date but seriously how is it any different than person of color. When you are looking to be offended, you will find it. --216.186.xxx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 7:18 AM Message:
True Lisa...its just that "colored" was already out of date decades ago, at least where I grew up, and considered a slur back then. Maybe it is different in other parts of the country...who knows.
In any case I think Robert meant well with what he was trying to say. --72.188.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 7:22 AM Message:
#2 and #3, definitely not. #3 has a violent criminal history. 7 years? That's a LONG LONG sentence for battery, which was probably pled down from an even worse crime. #2 is very suspect.
#1, sure. He won't stay forever, but who does? He's trainable, though, being young, and could end up being a decent tenant for a while.
But you are simply wrong Triplexer if you think using skin color as a part of a description of a potential TENANT is just part of the story or makes the story more interesting. It doesn't. To say, "Race means nothing to me, I've rented to black people before" sounds like the person who says, "I'm not racist, I have a black friend."
You can be rude and hit out at some of us, but the collective mind agrees on this one. --50.82.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 7:27 AM Message:
GREEN is the only color in LL'ing. I don't rent to black,white,red,orange,yellow or blue--- only green.
#1 if I need to be pushed into a decision-- but----- but with a 1600 to 2400.00 deposit.
The larger deposit is needed to cover rent while he's doing time. Many would squawk at the bigger deposit but we say-- we use the Cris Columbus method of renting. We do as Chris did in 1492. He took a chance and so are we taking you as a tenant. We'll stick our neck out but you'll stick your's out with us by giving a larger deposit. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 8:34 AM Message:
Take #1 with the max deposit allowed by law, and preferably a co-signer if you can get one.
I would consider upgrading to a class of rental that caters to a better clientele. The low end has been the cash-cow land lord's feeding trough for quite a while, but that is getting riskier with things like eviction moratoriums. You need tenants who have something to lose if they decide to stop paying. --107.216.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 9:26 AM Message:
Triplexer I was only giving you my straight analysis of what you wrote. Not trying to call you out. We all screen prospects differently. Most rely on credit score. Sounds like your prospects don't tread water that high. That said if you actually were to dq for the driving record and shop lifting that's a fair housing violation because it's not violent crime. --99.203.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 9:52 AM Message:
Write the description of tenants/ applicants/ prospects in terms that do not violate fair housing laws. Period. --70.92.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Allym [NJ]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 11:03 AM Message:
KEEP LOOKING! NONE OF THE ABOVE. --71.104.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 12:36 PM Message:
If that is the very best tenants available, I would sell and move to a better area.
I never accept applicants who hide where they lived before. That's a guaranteed bad landlord reference and probably an eviction on top of it.
Good tenants are eager to provide their landlord references. --98.146.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 5:02 PM Message:
#1 but the forgery and shoplifting bother me. I'd want more details. I'd also want to know why he would want a 30-mile commute? That alone may make him a short-term renter. --108.69.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 5:37 PM Message:
Pick your poison! (by PG [SC]) Posted on: Aug 27, 2020 6:05 PM Message:
Triplexer - You do understand the internet has no anonymity. you may think it does - please consider using prospect 1,2,3
I would not pick any of the group - as 6x6 said Next --184.20.xxx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by Libi [NY]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 7:07 AM Message:
I will pick #1.
His commute is to long for my taste, but is it any cheaper/better place available along the way?
Did he grow in your area and don’t want to move from his friends? --74.90.xx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 10:34 AM Message:
Thanks everyone for your opinions.
#1 turned out to have a 2 year rental history, which is the best I've come across in years.
Provided his employer checks out, he's moving in.
I've had several horrible candidates since... including a woman who was jailed for assault with a deadly weapon, has no rental history, no car, is suing the EPA and claims her previous landlord poisoned her. NEXT, lol
I found out #3 is a death trap, and here's why:
The middle aged janitor guy has had a job for 7 years, and still technically has it- but he's currently on "leave" because his company does State cleaning contracts- which are suspended due to COVID.
So right now, he's taking unemployment.
It may be 5 years before the State comes around and renews the contracts.
Meanwhile, this guy is going to move in, make 2 months rent payments, run out of unemployment. And then our dear governor and Kamala Harris will say: "You can't kick him out of his Home."
And so... I'll be forced to house him for nothing from that point onward.
He probably already knows that. Ugh.
Let him remain with his parents as he claims. Relax righteous rental defenders, he's not suffering under mom & dad's pampered care....
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 10:38 AM Message:
Correction: He had a 2 year rental history at one place, and made all his payments on time and no late fees.
Sorry for the confusion. I'll be happy if I can get one complete lease year out of anyone before they bolt in these times. --75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Robin [WI]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 10:39 AM Message:
I'd be willing to take a chance on #1. You want someone who pays rent. The fact that they've lived at the same place for 3 years suggests that he was a decent tenant. My #1 positive screening factor is stability. If they've been at the same job or lived in the same place for several years, that's an excellent sign.
The shoplifting was long enough ago that I wouldn't worry about it--teenagers do dumb things. And 18 is still dumb.
I would definitely try for a larger security deposit. That way if he gets back with the girlfriend you can get the early termination fee.
--104.230.xxx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 12:21 PM Message:
Glad to hear it. I’ll be posting a vacancy later this year. Makes me nervous, all this turmoil. Good luck to you and the new tenant. --70.92.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by JEN [IL]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 12:22 PM Message:
By any chance are you renting from Chicago? --192.82.x.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 1:11 PM Message:
Update on this situation. Sadly, Tenant #1's employment still can't be confirmed after 3 days of calling.
His recent check stubs he provided with his app have his name and the company, but his employer when called directly insists he was laid off in January. On the stubs he provided, the employee number is incorrect. They look like they were run off a printer.
I told about the January layoff and he claims he is now working for a subcontractor, but the person who answered that number just said "Yeah, he's working for me" and sounded like a friend.
BTW, when I called the applicant at 10am today, it sounded like he was just waking up (??!) Strange if he was supposed to be working in another town.
Anyway.... he has a lot of traffic fines but two counts of criminal forgery on his record from last year. I noticed those as curious but didn't know what to do with them.
As I've been trying three days to verify employment, he strangely asked me for his check stubs back.
Did he forge them, and now he's getting nervous about it?
It looks like it :(
IDK.... good lord
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 2:00 PM Message:
I’d photo copy them before giving back. Those go in the ‘pending’ file.... --70.92.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 2:28 PM Message:
I think you just dodged a Bullitt. --73.120.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by GKARL [PA]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 3:31 PM Message:
If I have to work too much to confirm anything about a tenant, they're denied. Employment can be confirmed very quickly and most folks are able nowadays to pull up the paystubs on their phone, take a screenshot and send. Few actually get paper stubs anymore, so that's suspect right there. Did you say that he got convicted of forgery? Looks like he's continuing in that vein. --209.122.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 4:44 PM Message:
MrLandlord just shared an article about how to spot a fake pay stub on Facebook. Jeffery ha been posting some interesting articles there. --71.161.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 5:13 PM Message:
Tri-pledger,
I suggest you give consideration to MTM tenancies. That’s all I have done. I do NOT put it in the ad. I just mention it sometime in the application process, telling the applicants, “ I think it keeps us both on our toes. Landlords can get complacent about repairs, thinking, I’ve got them locked in a lease, so it gives me incentive to keep things up. And, tenant of course, knows if they don’t perform, landlord can give notice.” I also say, I DO want long term tenants, but, I don’t want tenants to feel trapped in a lease, if the house isn’t right for them.”
So far, so good. Of course, I don’t know Illinois law, so you’d need to look into the particulars. A tenant ( a good tenant) once commented that her friend was wishing more landlords would do MTM. Her friend wasn’t completely happy way she was, so might move at lease end, but not sure if she would find better. And then she’d probably just be in another lease. By having the MTM arrangement, my tenants don’t feel that pressure as lease end approaches to scramble and look for better. They might mention a few things, they might be thinking, oh, I wish this were better. But, they don’t have that lease deadline approaching. And, we all know how we like to put things off if there is no deadline... they might move in a couple of months when they find a better place may just turn into a couple of years.( doesn’t hurt that I DO respond rapidly with repairs, and DO keep the places up. My tenants know what they’ve got....)
Even a six months lease might be something to consider., then go MTM.
Just a thought ( as if you don’t have enough to think about right now during your tenant screening!) --70.92.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 6:21 PM Message:
This guy had a decent job and a good rental history- or at least as good as you can find.
But he clearly got laid off at the beginning of the year. Then he apparently got copies of someone else's paycheck stubs- a co-worker friend, I think, and doctored the name.
They were photocopies. It may have been as simple a job as just pasting a cutout of his name and address over the original and then running it through the copier.
But the employee # didn't match- so I know the originals weren't his.
He's going from apt to apt until he finds someone who won't notice, and let him in. He's probably still pulling unemployment from January.
Unfortunately, whoever takes him in will then be forced to house him for free once that cash runs out. Forever, and ever... and Ever.
God bless the Moratoriums... (rolling eyes)
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 7:05 PM Message:
You keep saying things like, prospect has good rental history, well, as good as you can find, these applicants aren’t great, but they are far better than the others, or something to that effect. You have it in your head that everyone that fills out an application is going to have something come up in screening that DQ’s them, so you settle for the best of the worst. Now granted I don’t know your rental market, or your property, for whatever reason your triplex may attract only very low quality prospects, but based on what you have said in the past about the building and how you handle upkeep and repairs I find that very unlikely. I honestly think you need to develop a screening criteria, put it in writing, and then STICK TO IT. You are not doing yourself any favors with this mindset that you’ll just pick the “least bad” out of the first wave of applicants! There have been times where it took me 3 or 4 months to fill a vacancy. An empty unit is better than a 1 with a tenant not paying rent, leaving you to pay the utilities, and damaging the unit! That’s my 2 cents anyway. --70.20.xx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 7:15 PM Message:
Nellie, how can I find that on FB?
I still don't know how to navigate FB.
I found the Mr.LL page and things seem to be in order from most recent and then scroll down to earlier dates. I have scrolled down for a bit but don't see it. Is there an easier way to find it? --73.120.xx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 7:47 PM Message:
On FB put MrLandlord in the search window at the top. Just click on the top one that comes up. For some reason it likes to bring several of the same thing. To keep getting the posts find the follow button on the page. Jeffery has been posting 2 or 3 articles a day. --71.161.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 7:50 PM Message:
Triplexer - or maybe I read it here. I see now there is a thread “fake pay stubs”. --71.161.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 9:15 PM Message:
I agree with what JKJ said. Something is not not right here -- bad neighborhood, poor quality units, or just the general way you are handling things.
You stated in the other thread that you were going to be in financial hardship because that other tenant didn't pay and trashed the unit. It makes me think you don't have enough cash reserves to go through a vacancy and you are jumping to rent to one of the first people who comes along because you need to make the mortgage payment. --72.188.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Triplexer [IL]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 9:31 PM Message:
>>> I agree with what JKJ said. Something is not not right here -- bad neighborhood, poor quality units, or just the general way you are handling things.>>>
Is it possible to answer threads and discuss issues without being judgemental and derogatory?
Funny how I can do that all the time easily, and some people seem incapable of it.
All I can say is, "Thank God I don't live with you", LOL
--75.35.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by Nellie [ME]) Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 10:31 PM Message:
Maybe if we saw some pictures of the property we could see if we feel there are things that would improve your tenant selection. Tell what to google and we’ll take a peek. A female eye might see things you don’t. And what does the outside look like? --71.161.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by J [FL]) Posted on: Aug 29, 2020 6:51 AM Message:
"Is it possible to answer threads and discuss issues without being judgemental and derogatory?"
I was not derogatory, it was a statement of fact.
The people you are getting are not good. You were ready to go with someone who had a forgery conviction, and then he produced forged paystubs. Good for you on catching that. But time to fix what's wrong and find some better applicants?
--72.188.xxx.xxx |
Pick your poison! (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Aug 29, 2020 12:22 PM Message:
Triplexer, what is it with you? Any advice you receive, you basically copy & paste it, then post some sort of statement following that shows your contemptibly for it! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I’m not just being judgmental or argumentative, I don’t think anyone on here is. You continuously fail to see that you are being offered advice to HELP YOU. You will never improve your situation if you continue to do the same thing over and over, but just hope the new tenant MIGHT work out. It’s not until you get out of your head the thought that “any tenant is better than no tenant”, and develop a rental criteria list and stick to it, that your tenant issues will stop. Sure, occasionally a bad tenant may slip in, or a good tenant will go sideways, but that’s the exception. Your strategy of “picking the best of the worst” is going to cost you, not every time, but EVERY TIME you put a tenant in your unit using that thought process you have increased the chances of things going bad, or BEING BAD from the start. The whole point of screening is to lower the risk to the LL. As J said, based on the financial hardship you just went through and your unit being trashed I would think this would be important to you!!! --70.20.xx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by PG [SC]) Posted on: Aug 30, 2020 11:10 AM Message:
Triplexer - I don't mean to pile on, but JKJ is correct - best of the worst - what a terrible thought when your screening -
move on to the next group - getting in a hurry to rent will only lead to selecting a bad renter - and we all know how that turns out.
I used to work in the Nuclear industry - we had a process - carefully develop the plan - work the plan - if the plan don't work change the plan - same way with screening.
The last unit I filled took me 3 months normally it takes only 2 to 3 weeks for that unit - I worked my screening plan - I waited, got a good tenant - last 13 months no problems with the tenant. --184.20.xxx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by Dee Ann [WI]) Posted on: Aug 30, 2020 8:39 PM Message:
All are risky, but if I had to choose it would be #1. --75.11.xx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by Dee Ann [WI]) Posted on: Aug 31, 2020 10:04 AM Message:
I need to reverse my decision after reading your update, which I read this a.m. I leave my units open until one that fits my criteria comes along. Credit reports and scores are my go to tool, along with court reports. I have dodged many a bullet by getting applicants comfortable with me. Then ask some simple questions and letting them talk as long as they want...actively listening and interested. Sooner or later they bury themselves by slipping up.
--75.11.xx.xx |
Pick your poison! (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Aug 31, 2020 10:14 AM Message:
#2... everyone has to live somewhere! --99.203.xx.xxx |
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