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Can I Make Payments on the Deposit?

By
Real Estate Agent with Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified #1 in Forest Land Mgmt

Can I Make Payments on the Deposit?house

I don’t like having vacancies at this time of year but sometimes it happens that way so we have been getting a few homes ready this past month and interviewing potential tenants. Unfortunately this time of year we have a lot less candidates than we have in the summer and many of them are far less solid candidates than those we see in the summer as well.

After painstakingly checking all of the references and backgrounds of our best candidates for two homes, we offered them the homes. 

Both were very pleased and wanted to move in right away.

Then they both asked similar questions that I never want to hear.

“Can you wait until next Friday for the first month’s rent and then let us make payments on the deposit?”

I told them that this never works out well and that they would have to come up with the money elsewhere.

If they did not have a friend or relative who would trust them enough to loan them the money until they got their other deposit back then why would they expect me to trust them.

Luckily one of the parties came up with the money right away and will be moving in Friday, and the other party will be letting me know by tomorrow if they can come up with the money.

Over the years I have spoken to many landlords on this subject, and 100% of them agreed and many with horror stories to support this.
Tenants who do not have deposit money when they move in, never will have the deposit.  And many will not have next months rent either.
 
 
 
 
When you are ready to look for a nice home in Stevens Point, give me a call, but please don't waste my time or yours if you are not prepared to treat me as fairly as I will treat you.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Comments(13)

Pete Xavier
Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA
Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

In agreement after observing this as a landlord myself, if they're not prepared financially than they are not prepared to rent from me, so it's back to their parent's or very "understanding" friend's house.

Feb 08, 2015 02:39 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I can see thay being a problem in the future if not received right away Bob Crane 

Feb 08, 2015 03:12 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Bob. I know first hand that this doesn't usually work out. I would rather leave my rental employ than put in a bad tenant.

Make it a great week!

Feb 08, 2015 05:30 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is good advice for landlords. 

Bad tenants can lead to time wasted and costly repairs.

Feb 08, 2015 07:51 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I am a landlord as well...have to be tough since it is a business, although I make exceptions here and there

Feb 08, 2015 10:55 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

IF they can't even come up with a deposit there's absolutely no way I trust them to come up with the rent. Then you have to worry about evicting them and it's just a mess. 

Feb 08, 2015 11:57 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Bob - I agree that those questions are not a good sign and it is best to hold firm.

Feb 09, 2015 01:28 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It is the ones that have new cars that tell me they can't come up with a deposit the get me.   You were able to come up with money for that car...

Feb 09, 2015 08:45 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I agree, it seems like if you start off in a hole, it's too hard to dig yourself out of quickly.

Feb 09, 2015 08:59 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I had a deal like that once and the tenant made up the deposit over time, then came back a year later and wanted it back, even though she still lived there.  It was odd.

Feb 09, 2015 09:12 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Bob - We completely agree. It's our policy as well, which we unfortunately had to learn the hard way.

Feb 09, 2015 11:00 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I have never heard of anyone asking if they can make payments on a deposit. That's just too much.

Feb 09, 2015 11:31 AM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

In Louisiana, once they are in they are in. As long as they pay the rent, there is no way to force collect on a deposit.  Believe me the bad apples know this. Then the fun begins...

If they are short on funds but look good otherwise, don't call the spread out amount deposit. Make the rent say, 200 bucks more each month. Then when they come up short you have grounds for an eviction.

Feb 09, 2015 09:29 PM