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Ya’ll take ya vitamins today?
Someone is retiring. 💎🖐✌️🚀

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Any Property Management recs in Seattle area? :(
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Subject Expert
Have a lease that clearly delineates what is your responsibility and what is the tenants responsibility. Clearly call out the accepted methods of payment, when it is due, when it becomes late, and what fees might be imposter if late (and follow these to a T). Clearly call out what is a deposit and/or refundable, and what is non refundable. Call out the timeline for returning any refundable amount (and make sure it is in compliance with your state landlord tenant laws). If you have to raise rent, provide plenty of notice and raise it only by a small amount (3% or less is usually considered reasonable). I generally suggest offering a discount or flat rate for a longer lease period (18 or 24 months instead of 12).
Do a move-in checklist with them to document the condition of everything at the time of move-in, so there’s no discrepancy at the time of move out.
Fix things in a timely manner if / when they break. Hire professionals to fix anything that breaks (don’t try and do it yourself). If you need to enter the premises, provide formal and proper notice as required in both your lease and/or your state landlord tenant laws.
Send a gift basket or gift card at holiday time if they pay on time all year.
That’s it. Don’t try and be friends with them, don’t overstep your boundaries, and don’t treat this like anything other than a formal business transaction.
Agree with all of this. Be cautiously optimistic about the family. I had a small family rent my first house and OMG they were disgusting. I felt so bad for the little girl. When they loved out they tried to accuse me of not managing pests well enough (they had never once complained of issues and I had no idea how disgusting they were bc I wasn’t doing indoor site visits). There were holes in ceilings that they tried to day were there when they moved in 🙄.
So trust, but verify and cover yourself with a thorough and clear lease. Good luck.
Be the best landlord = lower the rent. Duh.
Subject Expert
Or better yet! Dont collect rent, dont charge late fees, and dont evict. Boom, you’ll be the best landlord ever! 😉