All good things must come to an end

Although we've only been "in" the apartment business for a bit over a year, it has sometimes felt like a prison sentence.  The 8 plex has been full of colorful tenants and fodder for many good stories. 

• Remember Vicky - who kept telling us lie after lie until Jana finally evicted her in November? 
• There was the leaky bathtub in #2 that caused a $13,000 repair bill in the apartment underneath. 
• There was the scary tenant who said if he couldn't keep the pit bull dog he was leaving - he left.
• And on and on.

Well we've had enough, frankly.  About 6 weeks ago we put the apartment on the market thinking that only God could bring a buyer.  Well, He did.  We received an offer yesterday that looks like it's going to work.  We're still negotiating a few details, but it's looking good. 

However, we're not out of the rental woods yet.  We are only selling the 8 plex, and will retain the 4 plex for now.  The 4 plex is newer and I think we can get it stabilized.  And maybe, maybe we can have a little piece of our life back.  Stay tuned!

Courtney's World - the final chapter

I have sad news for you.  Courtney moved out on Saturday.  But in true form, she moved out without telling us.  Diego arrived at the building to work on the apartment next door and there was a big ol' UHaul sitting in the driveway.  Courtney's husband was busy loading the truck and Courtney was just wandering around. 
When asked, she told Diego they'd found another place to live that would take her dogs. 

When I arrived I went to talk to her.  She got really testy with me and said they were moving because I suddenly wouldn't let her have two big dogs and that there was mold in the bathroom that was making her sick.  She then went on a little rant that she had reported the mold and that Jana hadn't done anything about it. 

Let me tell you all right now - mold is a serious accusation, and both Jana and we take it very seriously.  She never reported any mold issues.  Further I checked her apartment that very afternoon.  Two guesses what I found and the first one doesn't count.  Ding.Ding. Ding.  You're right!  No mold. Anywhere. 

I have mixed feelings about Courtney leaving. 
I'm offended that they left with no notice (after she begged stay as long as they only kept one dog).
I'm relieved that she's gone and we won't have to deal with her anymore.
I'm richer now that she won't be plugging the drains every month.
I'm sad that I won't have anymore great Courtney-stories to share.

 

Who are you?

I don't have any good storiest to share this week, so I'm going to borrow one from my wonderful property manager.  She got a call from a tenant who lived in a house with a vacant basement apartment.  The tenant wanted to know who had moved in downstairs.  The answer was "no one.  It's still for rent."  Ha!  That's what she thought.  It turns out that there was someone living in the basement.  Here's my paraphrase of the conversation.

Jana:  Who are you?
Squatter: I'm Lisa 
J: Why are you here?
S:  I needed a place to live.
J:  How did you get in?
S:  The door was open so I moved in.
J:  But you can't live here.
S:  Why?
J:  Because you aren't a tenant.  You haven't paid any rent, you haven't signed a lease, you haven't done anything.
S:  But I am living here.
J:  But you can't  just move in without signing a lease.  I don't even know who you are!
S:  Why, I'm Lisa! 

of course ... It's Lisa!  That makes everything okay.  And the conversation went downhill from there. 

Jana called the police who said they couldn't/wouldn't do anything.  This woman is living in a parallel universe where it's okay to just move into any vacant space.  It wasn't breaking and entering, since she hadn't done any damage.  They suggested that Jana would have to go through the eviction process.  I kid you not!  They have to go through the expensive eviction process to throw out the person who just moved into an apartment because the door was open.

So, Jana posted a 3-day Eviction Notice on her door and, fortunately, Lisa left ... presumably to find another unlocked vacant apartment.