Just rented a space to two kids, nice ones, work for a local pizza place and are busy busy busy these days. They manage two locations. Signed the lease yesterday, took a holding fee as it won't be available until March 1st...but darn it!

Just today I had two great prospects come look at another place: it's a loft-style garage apartment, 2 people max.

First: Coast Guard. They are a target market for me, along with teachers and nurses. She's single. She wants it. It's the perfect place for a single, really.

Second: COAST GUARD married to a TEACHER. 2 dogs, which is fine. Place is small, but they did like it (it's really nice) but I'm worried they are taking it only because there is nothing else out there. They have an appointment on Monday to see another of our places that would suit them perfectly but:

I've already got a good, sight unseen application on it from a physician's assistant that I have already met and she is great, too. Mature woman (50) going through a divorce. She is looking tomorrow and if she likes it (she will) that will be gone.

The less people in a place the better for me. Out of 10 units, only 2 of them have more than one person in them.

So my vote without meeting anyone, single person in the first unit as you say is perfect for one.

You will know better once you meet the 50 year old getting divorced, from her demeanor, etc. If really great, I would take the "just one". In my neck of the woods I find teachers need alot of space for books, etc. and have tended to be cluttery. That coupled with 2 dogs...but that's me.

Let us know who you choose. Glad you have a selection!

Dee Ann, you are RIGHT about the fewer people per unit the better.

So I offered the loft to the single person and she grabbed it. Has already signed the lease and is working on transferring the deposit.

I have already met the single divorced woman, she was great, I was hoping she would take the one the Pizza Kids too, but she didn't. She wants the canal front cottage as she is a Kayaker. She has done application, paid for background check and just wants an eyes-on look before committing. SO that's tomorrow.

The CG/teacher couple are desperate. I told them they could come look tomorrow too, just in case she doesn't want it. But she will.

So I actually sent out an email to ALL my residents, saying if anyone is thinking of moving, tell me NOW, don't try to spare my feelings! I have people who need places!

Wow. Got a response from an excellent tenant who works from home. She is so lonely and missing her family that she would take me up on my offer to let her out of lease if I could get it re-rented!! And she is in a GREAT space for the tenants I want to snag.

Hopefully you will be showing the cottage to the single person first...she will surely take it.

Good call sending out a letter in case any tenants are considering leaving. Even if the couple have to wait 2 weeks to a month. Through the years I've had plenty tenants wait for my units that long.

We have kept our unit downstairs empty for a few years for more peace of mind. This year we had a tenant who needed a place sooner than it was available. So we put her downstairs for the 2 weeks for $500 and kept the right to enter as my office is downstairs. We may do that again if we have an overlap if it means being able to snare a tenant.

So let us know what happens tomorrow and if others are moving that you can place the couple w/dogs.

Sounds like you are doing really well, renting your vacant units. WMH.

My luck is not as great or not good at all.

One bedroom upper unit is still vacant. Tenant lost his job and kept getting farther behind in other bills. He paid Nov rent on time and then said he would have to move because their is no way he could pay December rent. Left in mid November, even though he still had the entire month's rent paid.

I gave him credit for leaving early so I could show easier and only charged him for 1/2 December rent out of the security and needed to only have to charge him for carpet cleaning.

I have shown the unit once and she was not interested. Rent is great at $500 which includes heat, electricity, water, sewer and garbage pickup.

I got a call today from someone who is interested. Got her name, email address and birth date and did a public search online on the Wisconsin free court system access.

NOPE. No way. TWO evictions last year and one of the plaintiffs had to file twice as they couldn't get service the first time. She owed the landlords in 2020 over $9,000 between the two. Then a 3rd eviction in 2018. It looks like plaintiff got their eviction but did not file for money damages, apparently. Must have been a newbie landlord. Those two landlords must not have did a background check as to not have seen the 2018 eviction or they just ignored it.

W,

Congrats!

Time to raise the rent when demand is high.

If no one complains about the price it is too low.

We are screening for ESSENTIAL jobs and MULTIPLE jobs. Coast Guard sounds secure. General employment is risky on my list.

Single means fewer paychecks coming in. (and fewer govt stimulus checks!)

2 dogs is an extra $70 per month income so they move up on my list.