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If your tenant stops returning phone calls, GET YOUR BUTT OVER THERE AND FIND OUT WHY! Sorry for the caps and all, but it is important.
We just had a tenant move out after a year. He stopped answering phone calls or even coming to the door when we came by. This is a huge red flag. Since I couldn't make an appointment for an inspection, I got a nasty surprise this morning. An empty house with probably $10,000 worth of damage to it.
I could probably extend this to checking in on a tenant if their phone gets disconnected or the number gets changed.
Oh man welcome to my nightmare but I'm at 5x your estimate. Good luck to you. Even if I sued my old tenants they have no money so ill just be wasting more of mine. You'll probably. Get the judgement but good luck collecting.
When I get my place done ill post pics of before during and after.
I used to tell my new renters prior to them signing the lease papers, when they stop answering their telephone, they need not answer their door when I come over in short order. I'll be over only to post a "Notice to Vacate." Most of them knew what I meant because they knew most Texas evictions are quick and dirty.
Texas, and certainly west Texas, may be one of the more preferable places to be a landlord as the laws are fairly landlord-friendly. However, whenever I start wondering if I did the right thing by selling all my rentals, I come over here to read some horror stories. I'm fairly sure my last renters were not even humans as they left my property looking and smelling like a rat's nest.
Another lesson is keep the applications. The info on the app lead me straight to where they went. Hiring process server first thing in the morning and at a minimum I will be ruining their credit. And renewing the judgment as often as needed.
This makes me realize we need a better application. And we need to be much more diligent about getting photocopies of identification cards.
To all who want to complain that it is excessive, you can blame a handful of bad apples for screwing it up for the rest of you. I don't like having to take 5 extra steps to lease a place. I wish we could go back to a handshake agreement society, but we have too many people who willingly screw people over and probably enjoy it. I know I've heard some brag about it.
Name
DOB
SSN
current mailing address (do not assume that it's their current residence, they might have a PO Box)
Current and last 2 addresses with name and number of landlords
Current employment with name and number of supervisor
2 names, addresses and numbers of relative as emergency contacts
Establish a firm policy on qualifying applicants. For instance, a FICO of at least 650-675 with no major derogatory entries. 2.5 or 3 times the rent in gross income. Favorable rental history.
Go through a service that legally runs their credit for you. Require pay stubs or other verifiable proof of income. Do not accept checks from out of state banks.
Do inspections every 6 months without fail.
All this should be kept in the file with that property. Denied applications should be safely stored for 6 months (or whatever your state law requires) before shredding. You can keep them longer if you wish Be sure to keep them according to confidentiality laws.
Oh. Well, I've never endured an inspection, I have never been late on rent, and I have never owed anything.
Here, an exterminator comes about every 2 months, and they just stick notes on everyone's door letting us know he's coming on such and such a day. That's pretty much it.
I'm not sure I would tolerate an inspection, not that I have anything to hide. Or maybe I would. I guess I never thought about it before. It doesn't sound legal.
Oh. Well, I've never endured an inspection, I have never been late on rent, and I have never owed anything.
Here, an exterminator comes about every 2 months, and they just stick notes on everyone's door letting us know he's coming on such and such a day. That's pretty much it.
I'm not sure I would tolerate an inspection, not that I have anything to hide. Or maybe I would. I guess I never thought about it before. It doesn't sound legal.
Of course it's legal. An owner or his agent has the right to inspect, show, sell, have an appraisal etc with proper notice to a tenant (generally 48 hours). Our inspections are mostly regarding plumbing and electrical,and to make sure everything is working properly because many people never report a problem unless you're standing right there in the property.
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