How True! **double sigh**

Also, if they seem to be making a good faith effort towards trying to pay the back rent and catch up, together we will agree on a “final date” where we basically we agree that they either pay or vacate by that day, or else the bailiff will do it. This shows that you’re still trying to work with them and they’re less likely to trash your place.

On another note, Paul Youngblood makes an excellent point about giving incentives to pay on time. And Mike’s point about establishing a relationship is excellent. Another thing that helps is just being in constant contact with your tenants. I do a monthly newsletter that my tenants really enjoy and this way they are always being contacted by me, even though it’s not face to face.

It works wonders.

I also know from personal experience on the other side of the rent payments that tenants will take kindness as a sign of weakness and exploit that kindness to it’s full extent! So I can both agree and disagree with many of the above statements. It really is a case by case issue. And while being heartless and unforgiving to your tenants may be the wise economical choice, I have a hard time not showing compassion to someone whom has a good payment history and who’s character I percieve as worthy of a fair shake. But as before mentioned, have all your safeguards in your contract and be willing to discuss these with your potential tenants to insure they understand why they are there and that you fully intend to impliment them if they do not honor their promise to pay on-time and maintain your property!

I feel that a property management is always the best way to interact with tenants.

Shawn is exactly on the right track.

I think the idea of having a 3 day style agreement of notification works well too. I have a couple of friends that use this system to advantage.

When they have a good long term tenant they have found that sometimes they have been able to work out a deal to everyone’s satisfaction. It also give them a heads up about what is happening so they can start to take the appropriate action.

This has not always meant eviction. If they are able to move them to a cheaper home of their own, that works or even help them find an apartment or less expensive house somewhere else is a good solution. This way they have place to live, don’t get screwed on their credit report or a black mark on their rental history and the hit to the landlord is very small compared to eviction. A real win-win situation can be made by using the 3-day style notification agreement.

I don’t know how exactly how legal they are but I think because they are done outside of the rental agreement there isn’t a problem. No issue has ever been reported to me that was negative about these agreements. As with everything I am sure it may vary from state to state. I am talking about Florida, Texas, California and Oregon here and maybe Nevada. Haven’t touched base for awhile.

Thinking outside of the box is always a good thing and tends to solve a lot of problems in advance.

Chris B

How much money have you given away to your tenants?

I am sick and tired of this total crap I have been hearing and reading so here is the truth and only the truth, not some pie in sky crap!!!!

I quote:”You people who have all of the money need to get used to sharing some of it.” What the hell does this mean? Does this mean we should destroy our business because of some one that is too damn lazy to do the same thing we have done? Or does this mean we should stop providing well for our family because some one else wants what we have? Let me know!!

Second quote: “You have your money because you took it from tenants in the first place.” What the hell do you mean took it? Didn’t they have a decent place to stay? Weren’t there provided with a valuable service and valuable property for money exchanged? Where the hell is the “took” part of this equation?

Third quote: “Be willing to give some back.” Last time I looked the amount of charity I and others have given is not part of being a landlord. The place to have charity first is at home. Now while there may be some interpetation of this different than mine, I see that as being good to my family and friends first. Then fine organizations like your church or the Salvation Army or whom ever you please. I have empathy for those with out a home but I am not going to make my family homeless so some one can sit in a house they are not paying rent on!!!!!!

Get a clue all the Anthonys out there, things are going to be getting very dicey for awhile and if you want to be so damn free with my money then be getting rid of all of yours first. Until you show how much you have given away stop telling me and others to give ours away or to you. I know the best way to spend my money, not some idiot politician nor some stupid bleeding heart!!

I have been homeless a couple of times, and who knows maybe that will happen again, but I have always worked hard to recover and have recovered each time. I didn’t get very much help and have found you can do for yourself if you have the willingness to get off you dead ass and do something for yourself.

So everyone out there quit looking for a hand out and realise a hand up is nice but you don’t really need it if you want to get ahead.

And yes even this last year I have given away thousand of dollars in money, goods and service. So don’t be telling me or others what is good for us or what we should be doing. Be doing it yourself!!!

Chris B

Having a system in place to help people in that situation I see as a good thing but being ready to take action when things go sour is also paramount in my opinion.

One question though…would having a property management team take care of issues like this?

These are things I need to learn alot more about.

Thanks