Reason vs Results

Listened to a powerful youtube message by Les Brown. In this message he speaks about Reason vs. Results. Commitments. Keeping your word.

I reflected back on last Friday’s Land lording challenge with a tenant with excuses and reasons as to why this new move in resident’s rent would be late on rent. Also agreed to allow her to pay on the 15th instead of the first as long as late fee was paid and she understood that the 1st of Aug would be quickly coming and her share of rent would be due again. She is a HUD Section 8 resident and pays just over half of her rent.

On the 15th sure enough, the rent was deposited but not the late fee. Scrolling back thru our text message I read that she wrote to me that she would be paying the rent plus late fee by 15th. I reached out to her and received only reasons why the late fee was not paid.

At this point I printed out a PAY or QUIT notice and noted the lease agreement where posting this notification is a $50 fee. So now she owns the late fee ($75) and the Notification posting fee of $50 or $125.00.

Driving to the house to post the notice, I had many thoughts – The lease is an Agreement. Excuses and Reasons do not prove results, they lie. Reviewing each reason and excuse she gave. And I decided -- Yes, I must post this notice. This is a new move in resident who was late the first month and paid the late fee and is now late on the 2nd month rent - with excuses. Must get her trained that I am not lending any more time or money to help her, she is an adult. Another thought was Housing financially screens each case by case and they qualified her for the amount need for her share, it should not affect her budget as they carefully analyze each person’s financial situation. She is not managing her money right.

After posting the notification, on bright green paper, along with the lease clauses, and a copy of the Child Credit act that is to deposit money in accounts on the July 15 and a list of charities that help people pay rent, I also took a picture of the posting. Then, texted her the picture and a message “Posted papers on your door” and started to drive home. Which my phone started to received many text and phone calls from her. I promised myself I would not answer or look at the messages until I was at my desk and in the right mind set.

This was late in the afternoon. I waited until I arrived home and with my “land lording hat” on and at my desk, read her ranting text messages. The last message read “Thank you, no problem.” Checking my bank account, I find the $125 was deposited!!!!!

Just a reminder that REASONS do not equal RESULTS and an AGREEMENT is for me too! Our agreement is a commitment. I agreed to post notice and charge a $50 fee to do so if the rent isn’t paid as agreed upon. The next rent due date is Aug 1st with a late fee of $75 due on the 2nd. Wonder if we have a new understanding? Results don’t lie – I got paid! In the past, I may have delayed action and not followed the agreement – the written lease.

The Les Brown Powerful – The Greatest Advice Ever told - Motivational Video 2021 on Youtube, incase you want to take a listen.