Even when you check someone out thoroughly, you just never know what type of tenant they'll be until the 2nd rent check comes due. For this particular tenant, we have TWO issues to contend with. First, as I mentioned in a previous entry, we received a sewer bill for House #1 for the period of September. This tells me the tenant never set up sewer service as she was supposed to. The second issue is not receiving the rent check yet. To head off a disaster, I decided to call the tenant last night to touch base with her on these two issues.
I first reminded her that rent was due on the FIRST, but was not late until the 3rd, so she had one more day to give me the rent for October before I would start assessing late fees. She said something like her and her mother "were just talking about the rent." Hmmmm. She said she could drop it off at my house, or we could meet, or I could come by and pick it up. I'm not too comfortable having tenants come by my personal residence, so I told her I could swing by her place to pick it up.
I then asked her about the sewer bill to which her response was something like 'I called everyone on the list you gave me, and I remember trying to call these people, but I could never get hold of them.' This is probably true as I am having a helluva time trying to get a live person on the phone there. Regardless, it sounds like she just "tried", but never actually set it up. She said to bring the bill when I pick up the check and she'd pay it. Hmmmm. I went ahead and printed out a new resident application form from the city's web site and pre-filled for her. I'll bring it along with the bill with me when I pick up the check. I'll also tell her to give me the amount for the bill, so *I* can pay it (i.e., I'm not going to trust her to pay it), and tell her to send the application with the deposit ASAP to the city to start sewer service in her name.
Of course, all of this sounds "pleasant" over the phone - we'll see what happens when I actually go to her house to collect.
Update: Met the tenant at House #1 as planned. She had the Property Condition report made out and gave it to me. We chatted a little regarding community issues, like the proposed upgrades to the "lake", a new grocery store coming nearby, etc. I then handed her the pre-filled application for sewer service and told her where to submit it. I also showed her the bill we received that she needs to reimburse us for. She gave me the rent AND the money for the sewer bill without any qualms. HEr mother was also there and I talked to her for a little bit as well. All-in-all it was a good conversation and I hope she understands now about rent and utilities needing to be paid on time. She did mention the fireplace again, and I told her I would get a chimney sweep over to clean it as I didn't think it'd been cleaned since the house was built 5-6 years ago.
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7 comments:
Well, it seems like they might be the friendly but forgetful types. FYI, whenever I get a personal check for rent, I take it to the bank it is drawn on for cashing. They will tell you right away if there isn't enough money in the account to cover it and you'll save yourself a couple days and some bounced check fees compared to if you just deposited it in your bank.
The last renter I had would always give me cashier's checks. This current tenant gave me a cashier's check for the deposit and 1st month's rent, but gave me CASH last night. While cash is always nice, I hate having to hold onto that much money until I can get to my bank. I told her to try and have it in the form of a personal check, or, more preferably, a cashier's check next time. We'll see what happens.
Wow.. You prefer a personal check to cash?! You must be the only person in the world who does! :-)
It's not that I don't prefer cash over checks, but checks have a paper trail (if need be) and it sometimes takes me a day or two before I can deposit the money. I'm a little squimish having to protect $1,000+ until that time. :-)
I gave up having renters bring checks to me, or me going by to pick them up a couple of years age. It became too much work for me. Often times they said they would come by with the rent at a certain time and not show up. So, I would be stuck waiting for them. Each month it would be the same thing.
Now, in my contract I require them to mail me the check or money orders. It has made my life a lot more enjoyable. If the check does not arrive on time, I call them and remind them they are being assesed fees for each day they are late. And I stricty enforce the fees.
I think it pays to start off laying down the law otherwise they will do it their way as long as they live there.
I enjoy your blog.
Terry Sprouse
http://fixerupperhouses.blogspot.com/
terry - You are absolutely right. Sometimes, I catch myself playing the "nice guy" too many times, which I need to stop doing. Most of the time, I'll take off my personal mask and put on my business mask, but I still do things a "normal" business wouldn't otherwise do. It's something I have to work on more.
It's interesting, but if you were to have seen me just 5 years ago compared to now, you wouldn't believe I was the same person. Back then, I wouldn't have even HAD tenants as I was too socially timid. Still got work to do, though.
Steve,
I must admit that my system is far from foolproof, and I still deal with with problem tenants. And, I still am not that comfortable about confronting them when they don't do what they should.
But, it sounds like you're doing pretty good. The good thing is we can make mistakes, and do better on the next tenant.
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