I've had occasion twice in the last two weeks to turn away property owners/property accounts because the property owners wanted me to treat tenants as SECOND CLASS CITIZENS.
The first property owner, after being rude and having discussions with her husband on her cel phone rather than having a 3-way discussion so we ALL could be on the same page, left me a voicemail that after packing her furniture she could not remove the sofa and if the new tenants did not want it, they could hack it up and remove it. They had built a master suite in the above-level basement and made a doorway too small to remove the sofa existing in the family room. I e-mailed the property owner that I did not think that was appropriate and returned her $500 owner contribution check.
The second property owner, while in discussions about management for her deceased father's house, kept bringing up the "worst case scenarios" of tenant situations * no rent, destroyed property, over-occupancy. The house she and I will be renting is beautiful and will rent to a family moving into the area who probably own a home elsewhere that they will be renting out themselves...these are not your typical "tenants" and often present different challenges for a property manager; however, just because they put RENT on the memo line of their check each month, does not mean they are stupid or that they do not deserve respect or courteous treatment. Providing a home that is not clean, that has dirty or soiled furniture in it, or that is not "move-in" ready will end up costing money as it will delay the renting of the property.
Owners who have not sold their home and are leaving the area SHOULD be looking at their new TENANTS as the "Saviors of their Financial Derriere"! The rent they pay will be assisting them in making their mortgage payment, keeping their homeowners insurance in effect, AND allow them to weather the current real estate downturn and save their home's equity.
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