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Powered by LifeTypeWe signed up for a new phone number for dealing with rental stuff, and bought the numbers to go on the sign today. Three hours later, we got our first call. Crazy. I haven't gotten around to getting it on Craig's List yet or anything.
The guy is deciding between a house and a studio, depending on whether he has a roommate or not. He thought the price was reasonable ($800) which is nice to hear. He (or at least his cell phone) is from Fort Meyers; I wonder if Pittsburghers are more likely to think the price is too high. We seem to get a mix of people - some people think it is too cheap, others think it is too expensive.
I need to figure out what to do about the water bill. As a tenant, I never paid water, but now as a landlord, I found out that if the tenant doesn't pay it, the creditors come after me... So, I want to at least make sure that the bills are being paid, but it seems good to not give free water, so then the tenants are less likely to use a lot, which is good from an environmental standpoint.
I need to type up a couple paragraphs and record it, so I don't have to repeat myself for each call. One of our VOIP providers (providing primary incoming calls) has decided they no longer need to respond to support requests, so I am looking for a new provider. Out of all of them that I emailed on Sunday, only one got back to me, and they seem good, though 600% more expensive than our old provider, which puts the bill at $4/month for incoming calls, but, if they are as good as they claim, it'll probably be worth the extra money.
I think that having the tenant pay for water is reasonable. I've paid it in all three places that I've rented in N. Virginia. At the two homes that I rented, I (and roommates) were responsible for contacting the water provider (the city/county) and getting an account. However, before we could get our security deposit back, we had to show that it was paid in full. We were told that an unpaid water bill will become a lien against the property (and hence the owner), rather than the account holder (as cable or electricity would).
The first place I rented here was an apartment, so the water bill was split based on occupancy and square footage. Now, it's paid out of my condo fees and so all the homeowners share the cost.
Thanks. We might have a tenant(!) - I meet with them tomorrow, and they weren't put off by having to pay the water bill, so that sounds good to me.
It turns out that it is sort of hard to get the water switched out of our name, so we'll just be billing it directly to the tenant.
Of course, that implies the tenants are going to pay their bills at all, which I'm starting to doubt...
Um, what does that mean? Your tenants are in for a free ride?!?!
Not quite - they paid extra upfront, but if they don't pay for next month, they will start eating into that reserve, and it is apparently really hard to get rid of people, so I am not looking forward to that process.
Yeeps, and I always freak out if I forget my rent and pay it on the 2nd. The concern is added to the prayer list.
Thank you for your prayers. One of the tenants called last night at 5 to see if the bank was still open (they deposit their money into an account I opened for them). She said she had all of the money, and would deposit it today.
Police were at the Carroll Street house again yesterday.
Yeah, I heard. I had posted on the other article you had written on, saying that we have asked them to leave by the end of the January.
I am sorry, I really was only watching out for your well being as I feel you were going to get burned by this woman. She also has a neighbor from across the street in your house for short frequent visits? Jennifer being local there is alot known about her.
Just a head's up for you. When Jennifer's friends next door and across the street are coherent they are giving her advice about her situation. They are telling her to take you to the magistrate because you cannot evict her for the reasons you gave. Jennifer has been telling them you went into the house while she was not at home and did not tell her first. The boyfriend was screaming on the porch on his cell phone that they signed a 3-year lease. She also said she paid first & last months rent and gave you a security deposit so she is not leaving until February. But that sounds to me exactly what you said the end of January.
I guess she can try, but she doesn't have a year lease, so it isn't really evicting, as far as I know.
I am amazed how people who own nothing always seem to know everything, if that makes sense to you?
3 police cars tonight
There is a broken window in the back of the house. The police sent 6 cars on Saturday. I feel bad for the little boy.