Tenant
Just as I had thought, it was the 3rd of the month and no rent check was in my hand. I called the tenant up and he said (like he ALWAYS does) that he was JUST getting ready to call me. He said he and his GF were in south Austin looking at houses, and would be back in their rental in the late afternoon or early evening and he could give me the rent check then. He said they'd be out again, but he'd leave the check under the mat. I told him to call me the INSTANT he was back home, and I'd go over.
He also said he wouldn't be buying my home after the lease term was over. He and his GF really liked the place, but it was just too expensive for their budget. (I was thinking, the rent he's NOW paying would be the same, if not more, than the mortgage, taxes, and insurance he'd be paying each month.) He also said that since I was so accomodating on him being late in the past, that he'd go ahead and let me put the "for sale/lease" sign in the yard the beginning of April. (My lease agreement says I can do it 30 days prior to the end of the lease term, which would be May 1st, so this would give me another month.)
I told my wife that since we are having a hard time getting rent checks from this person each month, that maybe we should tell him that if he finds a house sooner, I'll void the remainder of the lease term just to get him out and get the house on the market sooner. She agreed.
Well, I waited by the phone, but got no call that night. The next day, he calls, but I had the cell phone on "quiet" and didn't get to talk to him. He said he left the check under the door mat, but noticed I hadn't gotten it. Hmmmmm - I DID tell him to call me. So, I called him back, left him a VM, and headed over tot he house. Sure enough the check was under the doormat.
Property Management
I wrote in the comments section to Shaun in my last blog post how I managed to find a guy who owns a PM company and may be able to manage any properties I buy in that area. He also said he had two complexes with a total of 11 units he was going to sell, and wanted to know if I was interested. Well, I sent him a reply with some info, and asked him if he could send me as much info about the two complexes that he can, and I'd see if I could purchase them. This was last Wednesday, and I still ahven't heard back from him on anything (managing my properties OR the complexes he wanted to sell). So, starting today, I'll start going fown that list of PM companies in the area and see if they can help me, instead.
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3 comments:
So how many days late was the rent? Does your contract state when he has to start paying late fees? I wouldn't call him until a day or two after the late fees have kicked in. At least get some extra cash for your efforts. And does your contract specify where he is to make the rent payment? Make him live up to that. Why are you running to him? It's his responsibility to get the payment to you. I don't like his "allowing" you to put the sign up early. He thinks he's in charge.
Rent is due on the 1st of each month and is considered late on the 3rd at 7pm. This was an interesting case as I can't confirm the check was or was not under the mat on the 3rd. I agree with you about not running after him (my wife says the same thing). The lease agreement says I can put a sign in the yard 30 days before the end of the lease term. He was saying he had no problem with me putting it up 30 days before that. To be honest, I hope he finds a house to buy before the lease term is up and vacates. Spring is just beginning here and home buyers will be looking en masse in in the next couple of months. I'd just as soon he left next month.
Have to say I was wrong about the renter. He has all the traits of a "dodger", but glad you are getting the rent Hopefully he won't damage anything on the way out.
Buyers out en masse? How will the subprime meltdown shrink the pool of buyers?
Best Wishes
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