So You Want To Be A Landlord Part II - Story 1

So You Want To Be A Landlord Part II

Well, maybe you don’t want to be, but you’re in the position that I mentioned in Part 1 of this Series.

Before you take the plunge, allow me to share a few stories with you: nothing fabricated; all TRUE. How do I know? They are mine, and mine alone to tell J
Story #1

I get a call from Susie (not her real name) enquiring about my house for rent . I must emit “soft touch” radar, because the next thing I know Susie is appealing to my Christian charity and asking me to save her and her child from homelessness. I should have ended it right there. I knew from what she told me that she couldn’t qualify under any traditional guidelines. It wasnt long before I took pity on poor Susie and told her I would rent to her if her parents would be willing to meet with me and co-sign a contract.

Her parents, who obviously didn’t want Susie living with them, agreed to co-sign for her rent payments. Whew! Ok, so I figure if I rent to her I shouldn’t have any problems, at least collecting the rent. Partially right, here’s what happened.

Susie paid her rent on time and took good care of the property until…. UNTIL her boyfriend was released from prison. #1 I had no knowledge of the boyfriend. #2 the boyfriend was not on the Rental Agreement. But I can guarantee you boyfriend was sharing the house with Susie, who was now not paying rent. I don’t think Susie’s parents approved of boyfriend because I stopped getting the rent.
When I went to collect I was greeted by a shirtless, tattooed, guy who obviously had nothing better to do in prison than work out. If I were to guess where the rent money was – I would say in his veins. He didn’t look happy; didn’t act happy. Just asking him for the rent money made my butt pucker.

After they moved out I had to patch a hole in the living room ceiling made by ballistics (translation: it looked like he blew a hole in the ceiling with a shotgun). I was also told later that while they were living there, a mutual friend who didn’t like how boyfriend was treating girlfriend, during an argument, shot boyfriend in the leg on the porch. I had good reason to be uncomfortable when collecting (or trying to collect) the rent.
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Check back soon! I have plenty more stories to tell. And if you need help selling or managing your Fresno California property don’t hesitate to call me. My stories might sound negative but I am POSITVE I can help you.

© Randy “Lazarus” McAtee
Owner/Broker Lazarus Realty
559.301.1647