We 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.

Posted by Jon Daley on September 30, 2008, 5:57 pm | Read 11181 times
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I saw the window. The police aren't able to tell me what is going on - whenever I call they say I need to call back at a different time. Do you know what time they were there?

Less than a month left...

Posted by jondaley on January 6, 2009, 2:32 am

Saturday afternoon, from the sound of it they are there for domestic disputes. They have been moving things out for awhile now. She blames him for the move, he blames her. She lives there, the boyfriend, the little boy, and some girl. On Saturday, she must of thrown her diamond (?) ring because after they resolved whatever the issue was this time, they were combing the street and yards for the ring. I am sincere in wishing you the best with your property. You can't pick the perfect tenant but you can at least have renter's that respect your property.

Posted by Carroll St. resident on January 6, 2009, 8:11 pm

Talked to Jen today, and they are all set for moving out on the 3rd. It was a very pleasant conversation.

She said the only thing that is wrong with the property is the window, and that they know someone who is going to fix it. Maybe they actually will get some of their security deposit back - I was counting on all of it being blown.

And she said she's coming back on the 4th to vacuum and stuff, which I also didn't expect. This whole thing has been interesting - sometimes they seem like wonderful people, and seems like things should have really worked out well for them here, and then other times, they seem like the worst possible tenants, and I have to call and talk to the magistrate about eviction, etc.

But, hopefully, I'll avoid any more conversations with the magistrate...

Then we'll be able to think about what to do next with the property.

I talked to a neighbor the other day, and they were perhaps more concerned if I sell it versus renting, which I thought was interesting - that, as long as we own it, we'll look after it, and try to get good tenants, etc., but if someone else buys it, they won't care about the neighborhood, etc. and so who knows who will come in. They are grateful that these tenants are leaving, but are hopeful that we'd be able to find someone else.

Heather said that she had assumed we would be selling to a family "just like us", but that you can't pick your buyers - even less than you can pick your tenants.

The distance is a little hard, but I think with good tenants, I would like to continue to rent, so maybe we'll put up the sign again, and see how it goes.

Posted by Jon Daley on January 31, 2009, 12:26 pm

Heather, Jon, & family. We are sorry your tenant did not work out. Actually in the long run, you got lucky getting them out as soon as you did. I was really just looking out for your property, not causing trouble. I would not of bothered you if I had known you had someone watching it for you. We were just talking the other day about when Heather brought dinner for us when Patrick was born. Leeann is having her third boy in 5 weeks. Matthew Robert will be his name. I wish you the best with your next renter. I also have to watch the house across from me while she stays with her daughter who is ill. Since I have lived on this street my whole life it's just natural to look out for the neighbors. Take care.

Posted by Carroll Street on February 3, 2009, 1:18 am

Thank you. (and thank you for letting me know who you are, as that was puzzling).

Posted by jondaley on February 3, 2009, 8:42 am

I should of told you right away, but your tenant is on the shady side, and I did not want her to know it was me. It was amusing watching her, the across the street neighbor, and the next door neighbor point fingers. I do have one question for you, if you don't mind. When you lived here did you have wireless internet? If you did was it locked? Thanks Pat

Posted by Carroll Street on February 3, 2009, 8:47 pm

We did have internet, and it wasn't locked originally (and intentionally), and a couple of neighbors used it, which was fine.

One of the neighbors got a virus, and their machine starting contacting all sorts of Chinese websites doing who knows what, and so I locked it down.

The next day, I saw Sandra out in the street trying to get wireless, so I went out to see if it was her, and we installed some virus protection on her machine, but it wasn't her that was having the trouble, and I let her machine back in. I don't know who else used it, to let them know. I wanted to get a system where it would ask for an email address and then give you access, so then I would know who it was, and could contact them if necessary, but I never got around to it.

Posted by jondaley on February 3, 2009, 10:06 pm

Jon: Thanks, I won the bet. Sandra has been quite upset since she can't find access to other wireless. She has asked us and her mom to get it so she can use it. We are getting it but it will be locked. Thanks again. Pat

Posted by Carroll Street on February 3, 2009, 10:15 pm

Jon: I am looking into buying a laptop with the following: webcam, wireless, and dvd. I was looking at a Dell Inspiron. Can you give me any suggestions? Thanks Pat

Posted by Carroll Street on February 6, 2009, 12:31 am

I just bought this laptop for a friend.

We upgraded to the recommended core duo processor and to Windows XP. The total ended up being $728 plus tax, with free shipping.

XP cost $100, and the processor cost $150.

Posted by jondaley on February 6, 2009, 8:51 am
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