Sometimes fair doesn't seem fair- but that doesn't make it any less so. The news report here speaks a veteran whose returned home on leave and wishes to stay with his wife. That's understandable, but a bit of a technicality exists in that he is not a party to her lease. He'd be a visitor in the eyes of the landlord- and would fall under their policy that visitors can only stay 7 days.
Guess what? This landlord's policy is more liberal than any … (8 comments)
In today's new video, I discuss Total Realty Corp's screening process with regard to tenant prospects.
Hope folks find a bit of value here.
Remember….. Feel free to suggest a video topic! Have a Property Management question? Let me know, and I’ll answer it and make a video from it. Chances are pretty good that I’ll have an answer for you- and you’ll likely be able to help others who might also find value in the question and its answer!
OK, technically it is- though it shouldn't be included among the other four-letter words many have come to despise. Both renting and renters have surely taken their hits over the years. Who hasn't heard of the ol' "Rent versus buy" analysis? And how often do you hear that question answered with "rent"? Chances are it's been a rare occurrence. More often than not, owners are advised to sell rather than rent their homes out- while prospective buyer/renters are shown the many benefits of homeownership to the detriment of both … (8 comments)
Have a tenant that lived in one of your places and left it like this? Have a tenant that’s still living in one of your places and it looks like this? If the answer to either of those questions is “yes”, you need to save this email and its accompanying flier- and save the date on your calendar so that you can attend the Helpful Hints and Best Practices For Property Managers Forum: October 22nd, 2013 1:30-4:30 pm This panel-style class hosted by our Orlando Regional Realtor … (6 comments)
Now that I have your attention... This wasn't the headline today- but the way some of my tenant prospects have been acting lately, it wouldn't surprise me to wake up one day and find this to be a true-life newspaper quote.
As many of you likely do, we advertise our rental properties and place signs in the front yards of our places when the HOA's allow. We also place lockboxes on the doors of those same properties- kinda makes the whole "showing" thing go a bit smoother when … (0 comments)
tenant: Good communication is key- it could even save a life
- 10/25/12 08:53 AM
Good communication is key- it could even save a life Good communication is key- it could even save a life! http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-landlord-tenant-shooting-death-20121025,0,4556319.story From today's Orlando Sentinel comes this story that I dare say few could label as anything short of disturbing. Excerpts: "A Lake County landlord is accused of shooting and killing his tenant while the man was holding his 1-year-old granddaughter Wednesday evening." "...had just returned home from dinner with his ex-wife before the shooting began, according to an arrest affidavit. The two were getting their granddaughter out of the car when....started arguing." At … (6 comments)
tenant: Orlando foreclosures, feudin' tenants and landlords
- 10/01/12 04:57 PM
Orlando foreclosures, feudin' tenants and landlords Orlando Sentinel 10/1/12 story on foreclosures, feudin' tenants and landlords Orlando foreclosures, feudin' tenants and landlords The more things change, the more they stay the same. Everyone knows our industry is a fast-paced one (except for you short sale folks- sorry!). Whether it be an item of a statutory nature or a technological one, each of us has to keep our eyes on both news and trends in our efforts to ensure we remain successful- and remain viable resources for an increasingly inquisitve public. Not so much the case in Tenant-Landlord-Foreclosureland, … (2 comments)
It seems like such a simple request, doesn’t it? Well, maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. Regardless, it is a frequent request. If handled properly, this can be a win-win scenario for both the tenant and your owner. The most important thing is to establish the following- and to do so in writing if at all possible. This will reduce the risk of any security deposit disputes that may arise if you need to retain any of … (6 comments)
"Not in there- my mom has strep...." I've never had strep throat. I speak about it from time to time, though. I guess it comes from my odd sense of humor that finds it pretty dang funny that I can have epilepsy, narcolepsy, sleep apnea and a peripheral mononeuropathy- but I've never had the flu, bronchiitis, chicken pox or other any other "childhood diseases"...or strep throat. I do know the ol' streptococcal bacteria is contagious, though- and that made a showing today just a tad bit awkward. It's … (0 comments)
A new law recently went into effect in Ohio- removing the “vicious dog” label that had been automatically assigned to all Pit Bulls. The 25-year-old law has now been replaced with 3 separate categories where dogs of any breed may now be labeled as nuisance dogs, dangerous dogs or vicious dogs.
Pit Bull enthusiasts here in Florida will surely stumble across this news, and revel in the fact that Ohio no longer classifies all Pit Bulls as vicious- yet they should make no inferences that what has happened in Ohio … (0 comments)
Ever run into a tenant you've evicted? Every now and then, I'll see a tenant of mine "out in public" (like my office or their house isn't public for some reason). This is a business where you deal with a ton of folks, and I'm actually surprised I don't run across them more often. Small talk is usally made and everyone moves along, but there's always the possibility that an awkward situation could arise. One of these would be when/if you run into someone whose application you've rejected, with the other being an … (8 comments)
tenant: The importance of renter's insurance
- 04/06/12 02:37 PM
The importance of renter's insurance There's no doubting the most important part of this news story- by the grace of God, a family of 5 escaped a burning house. The tragic loss of a single life is devastating; the loss of 5 in a family would seem unbearable. But what about the end of the story? "They rented the home and have no insurance for their belongings." Rental (or "renter's") insurance is cheap, cheap, cheap- yet it's something I'd guess only 1/2 of my tenants over the years have carried. That number's anecdotal, of course- but the number of folks having it could be … (8 comments)
Baseboards, tile, grout, vent fans...and the all-important shower curtain
Baseboards, tile, grout, vent fans...and the all-important shower curtain
Baseboards, tile, grout, vent fans...and the all-important shower curtain
Baseboards, tile, grout, vent fans...and the all-important shower curtain In dealing with rental properties, the home/townhome/condo's bathroom may very well be the room in the place that presents opportunities for problems like no other area. I'll just touch on a few of them here, and- you guessed it- they deal with baseboards, tile, grout, vent fans...and the all-important shower curtain. Baseboards... … (4 comments)
tenant: Orlando Property Manager Dennis Burgess....is now a woman named Patty?!?!
- 02/18/12 04:58 AM
Orlando Property Manager Dennis Burgess....is now a woman named Patty?!?! Well, that's sort of true. Our Orlando Regional Realtor Association (ORRA) distributes a weekly update/newsletter that's aptly called Orlando Realtor Online. Once each month, the newsletter includes a "Dear Abby"- type column from Patty The Property Manager. This is written by a member of our association's Property Management Subcommittee- and deals with any number of topics that might be of concern to property managers whether expert or novice. I serve on the Property Management Subcommittee, and I volunteered to write the following column. I'm privileged that it was chosen for inclusion in the publication. … (0 comments)
Property management is an odd game to play. There are days when things make you mad, days when things make you sad, and days when both happen and you don't know which emotion to deal with first- I guess it's best to be sad first, then be happy it's over with!
Property management is rarely dull, though- and there's often something in one's day that begs the question "What the heck is that?" or something that leaves one asking "What dang planet did they come from?"
In this somewhat tongue-in-cheek message, … (6 comments)
In this video, Orlando Property Manager and licensed Realtor Dennis Burgess (Hampton & Hampton Management & Leasing, Inc.) discusses calls from tenant prospects. Ideally, one calling to talk about a rental listing will have the following information about the property they're interested in: street address, rent price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, subdivision(?), area of town or city where property is located.
That doesn't always happen, though- and a good bit of time is often wasted in trying to uncover, discover, remember or recollect that pertinent … (0 comments)
Orlando Property Manager and Realtor Dennis Burgess (Hampton & Hampton Management & Leasing, Inc.) discusses one of the unpleasant yet necessary duties of a professional property manager- serving "3 Day Notices" upon tenants who have not yet paid the current month's rent.
Governed by Florida Statutes 83.56, these notices are the very first steps in what could ultimately be an evictions process. As with any journey or process, it's often the very first steps that are the most important ones- and that's surely the … (0 comments)
When your tenant tapes your toilet back together and bails... ...it's time to hire a professional property manager- like yours truly.
Every now and then, someone will ask me "What would I need you for? I sign my tenants up, they pay rent, they leave. All of that 'property management' hocus pocus is for the birds!"
There are surely some good tenants out there, and good homeowner/investors that are more than capable of managing their own properties. No doubt about it- when things go well, the ol' Mr. … (4 comments)
Well, I made it. Though my faith failed me for a bit in the end, God never did. Just as I'd resigned myself to the fact that my Realtor-ness would come to an end effective 1/1 (or today, however it is that they whack folks when they whack 'em), the Lord came through for me. I'll allow the details to remain private- but suffice to say that God is good. I'm not out of the woods yet, mind you- but I have renewed energy … (0 comments)
The Tide's rolling....err...The Tide's turning...err....No, for once, I'm not talking about my 13-time National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide (hopefully 14-time soon, by the way). Here, rather, I'd like to talk a bit about our Orlando area's increasing rent prices and the tide that rolled in and and brought them.
Our industry didn't see rent prices drop through the floor overnight- so we shouldn't expect a recovery and prices through the roof any more quickly. There's a strange period of adjustment going on right now, and the adjustment will require a good … (4 comments)
Orlando Property Manager Dennis Burgess writes about property management, general real estate and news/events affecting the metro Orlando, FL area.
With more than 13 years of property management experience and being a licensed Florida Realtor, Dennis surely has some sort of information you'll find interesting!
Feel free to comment, send questions he may be able to help you with, or any referrals he may provide with top-notch service.
Thank you kindly for stopping and reading, and thank you for the opportunity to be of service in the future.
Sometimes, "Fair" Landlordin' Doesn't Seem Fair
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