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I have learned so much from everyone in this particular forum. The first thing that I have learned is that there is no way that I want to be a landlord! There is too much stuff that ya'll have to put up with.
I used to think that I would love to own a couple of properties and rent them out - but no more! (now I would just love to own my own home but that is a few years off still)
I have also learned how important it is to document everything when it comes to working with landlords or contractors or anyone that you have to work with in your property. I don't mean this in a bad way or anything and I hope that it is not taken like that. I guess that I am just trying to say that I have really learned how important it is to document everything and if you can do it with pictures then that is even better.
Just wanted to say thank you to those of you who take time to answer questions and point people to the right websites for answers to their specific questions, etc.
Thanks for the back slap. Don't give up wanting to be a LL. It's not all bad. Sometimes I think you only hea the bad stuff or problems. It's not always bad. This site has been a big help in finding answers to the unusual. At least I know I am not alone as a LL with occasional problems.
Its the same in all forums. If I had been researching parenting many years back I'd never have had children. Oh, wait. ......... maybe I should have done that!
Yes, there are landlords who are greedy and who are not people of integrity and there are tenants who are the same. Still, many people seem to enter into rental agreements and live without incident. They just don't show up on forums like this.
Its the same in all forums. If I had been researching parenting many years back I'd never have had children. Oh, wait. ......... maybe I should have done that!
After the morning that I have had with my daughter - I can totally relate to your comment!!!
Yes, there are landlords who are greedy and who are not people of integrity and there are tenants who are the same. Still, many people seem to enter into rental agreements and live without incident. They just don't show up on forums like this.
That is true - like I tell people.....people don't take to the internet and forums (at least not all the time) to talk about howwonderful something is....but....if something goes bad - those same people will scream it from the roof tops and the mountain tops.
I have been researching a medical procedure that I am having in a month and if I went with every thing that I read on the net I would never have it because most of the reports were bad. But if you look at the number of procedures that have been done - the good obviously outweighs the bad - just the people who have had good expereinces are not out there telling people about it.
Isn't it interesting that its mostly landlords here that spend a lot of time trying to help people understand their rights and obligations under the law?
It is true, the most knowledgeable and helpful, regular contributors here are landlords. It's the landlords job to know what the law requires and how to do business properly. Even though some don't, like anything there is a learning curve involved. But, the tenant is rare who has even bothered to read their lease before they get into a dispute and come here complaining, or has any idea what their state laws require.
I've been a landlord/property manager for many years and when someone has a problem I try to help...
I've had more then a few previous tenants call me out of the blue because they or someone they know is having a problem... same goes for neighbors and colleagues.
The best part of City-Data is that it provides a forum for sharing experience...
I still think there are opportunities in Landlording for the person starting out that has the demeanor and skill set...
One of the best managers I have ever met was in her 80's when she retired... she just had a way about her... you knew she knew her stuff, that she meant what she said and no one was going to hood wink her all the while being a sweet and kind woman...
Being in business dealing with people and where they live is an eye-opening experience...
I've learned a lot and am still learning...
I do have a confession... for the last 15 years I've been transitioning to commercial property because it is much more straightforward business to business...
The biggest change I have seen is when I started a rental agreement was one page with a condition/inventory addendum attached...
Now, my residential agreements are almost 30 pages... all but 4 are required disclosures and governmental notices in my Rent Controlled jurisdictions.
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......... maybe I should have done that! 
