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They haven't paid the rent and now a U-Haul is backed up to the garage!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with RE/MAX Access (Garden Ridge, San Antonio, New Braunfels) TREC# 0386905

"My neighbors tell me that my Tenant's have a U-Haul backed up to the garage door and are packing up!"  This is what I heard from the caller last Friday morning.  

The guy lives like many, many miles (and is now in the snow) and out of the blue he gets a friendly phone call from one of his neighbors here in San Antonio that kind of keeps a look out for his rental home.  Of course, his Tenant hasn't returned any of his phone calls, has been late on the rent, hasn't included the agreed upon late fees and stopped responding to any of the Owners requests.  So, what do you think is going on? 

Well, basically I told him that it looks like they are doing the old packing up, moving in the night trick.   How could that be?  We signed a lease together?  They have total control over my property....how did this happen? 

Well, I don't have all of the answers but, I do have a few.  

First off this really nice guy thought that he could "manage" his property from some 1200 miles away.  Secondly, he thought that since it was a newer property that he wouldn't have any "repair" issues.  3rd, HE DIDN'T SCREEN HIS TENANTS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.  Is it just me, or does it seem that there is a problem here?  

I can't stress enough the importance of hiring a Professional Management Company to handle all of the issues above for him.  The headaches that he has now he will pay with whatever money he saved "managing it" himself!  It doesn't pay.     

Out of sight out of mind.  If your too far away to check in on your property and make sure that your Tenants are keeping it in good working order and condition then issues will arise.  Also, during these "visits" it's a great opportunity to see what kind of preventive maintenance could be done to make sure there aren't bigger issues down the road.  

Secondly, even though the property may be newer there are still going to be issues.  If you are not familiar with the Texas Property Code (like we are) you may not realize that Landlord's have certain items that need to be addressed when the Tenant moves in as well as repair issue time frames during the term of the lease.   

As your Agent it is our responsibility to diligently screen all applicants (not take their word for it) and not call their Mother to verify that they have been paying "rent" to live in her house!  The number one key to getting excellent Tenants is screening.  For credit issues, past credit problems, timely rental payments, to check and see if they have ever been evicted or sued by another and what the reasoning for it was.  

As a Professional property management company we are members of the National Association of Residential Property Managers and have a different set of ethics and education than others. 

This is our business. 

We are your eyes and ears when you can't be.  

Have questions about property management?  Call Sheila with Moran Property Management, 210-325-6962, RE/MAX Access, 19115 FM 2252, Ste. 7, Garden Ridge, TX 78266               

Buy or Sell a house from me, use my moving truck for FREE!   

Call me for details, Sheila Moran, RE/MAX Access, 210-325-6962.

Posted by

Serving the needs of Agents, Buyer's and Seller's for over 25 years.

 

Sheila Moran, Broker/Owner

RE/MAX ACCESS

19115 FM 2252, Ste. 7

Garden Ridge, Texas 78266

210-657-7500  /  210-325-6962

www.SistersThatSell.com

                   

Comments (10)

Kelly Kilpatrick
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Broker-Associate

Sheila:  You make some excellent points.  It's difficult enough to manage rental properties that are located just outside of your own community.  Thorough credit screening is essential.  I've seen a number of people lately who have fairly high credit scores, but who are walking away from their homes before their credit is ruined.  This can be an enormous problem for landlords, especially if the prospective tenant moves in and subsequently files for bankruptcy.

Dec 22, 2008 01:34 PM
Kristin Moran
Owner - RE/MAX Access - KristinMoran@Remax.net - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio,TX - Real Estate - 210-313-7397

Great information on property management in San Antonio and the surrounding cities.  Hiring a good property manager can make a huge difference in the success of your rental property or not.  KM

Dec 22, 2008 01:40 PM
Ellie McIntire
Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD
Luxury service in Central Maryland

Trying to save money in this situation will cost a lot more in the long run. Next time he may use the management company!

Dec 22, 2008 02:34 PM
Wayne Warshawsky
RE/MAX Four Corners - McKinney, TX
Realtor, ABR,IRES,CDPE,SFR Your Texas

Experience is a mean teacher.  The bad part is he might give up on acquiring rentals because of his experience and never learn. 

Dec 22, 2008 02:48 PM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Owners who think they will save money by managing their own property from out of town are in for a huge surprise.

Dec 22, 2008 03:51 PM
Dona Reynolds
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Stein Summers - Saint Joseph, MO
St. Joseph MO

Nice post!  I agree that they should hire a professional property manager to begin with.  I have a friend that is a professional property manager but even with all the right scores, tenants are walking away, some damaging the property.  It is a new world out there now, as people tend to do just what they want to do, guess they are thinking home owners are walking so why not tenants.  I don't have any answers but it does raise a few questions.

Dec 22, 2008 04:30 PM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

That looks like the page I wrote way back in 1985 in Houston except that I was only 180 miles away. Been there, done that one -- not the fly by night, part you understand -- LOL. I can speak from experience that there ain't nuttin' like a good property management company to keep an eye on things when one is too far away or has fingers in too many pies.

Best wishes for health, happiness, peace, and prosperity in 2009.

Dec 28, 2008 09:33 AM
Joseph D. Federico
MVP Realty - Naples, FL
Southwest Florida Homes with Joe Federico

Sheila-I just wanted to wish you a happy and healthy new year.

Dec 31, 2008 07:47 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Real estate 101 teaches us the worse thing you can ever do in real estate is have a rental and live out of state.  It isn't a smart thing to do.  He was lucky a neighbor gave him a heads up!

Dec 31, 2008 08:52 AM
Cristal Drake
Prudential California Realty - Fullerton, CA
Realtor - Fullerton Real Estate

Scary stuff Sheila!  Getting a professional is the best way to go!  There are so many things that can happen; especially when you are so far away!

Jan 04, 2009 02:04 PM