Checked out the rental today, figured I should since the plumber who provided the estimate eluded to the fact the tenant was not a good housekeeper.
I won't even consider renewing the lease with the tenant even if they were interested. I had an estimate today for a new HVAC system (ours is original to the home). And the front yard looks great, but I can't even begin to show the home. It would be an embarrassment to me.
I try to keep in mind the tenant is by herself with 4 kids because her hubby is deployed but the dog chewed up the door jam to the backdoor (small dog, thought it would be okay), the rain vent extenders have been placed up so water is accumulating at the foundation when it rains, the dog has dug holes in the yard, and we LEFT the backyard with grass. However, they put in a trampoline so what used to be grass is now dirt.
I contacted the property manager obviously upset about this. I value this home and was told that these are good tenants, I thought they were taking good care of the property.
In addition, there is dust accumulating on the air vents. The HVAC person today told me its due to a ductwork leak or no air filter, not replacing the air filter strains the current heating and A/C system - necessitating its replacement NOW. He confirmed there are no leaks so despite the tenants SAYING they have been replacing the air filters, evidence points to otherwise.
So the estimates are:
$6634 to replace the pipes (currently Polybutylene is in the home and its a matter of WHEN not if the pipes will eventually corrode and burst or leak causing structural damage)
$6000 for a new Heating & A/C system (we'd replace it with a 14 SEER system so at least thats a better advertising feature and offers a tax credit)
But because I can't even hope to show the place with the tenants in it, we are looking at having a month's vacancy ($1400/mo).
If we don't have the rental income coming in, we'll be in the red $300-$400/mo.
I'm going to plan for at least a 2 month vacancy.
The lease is up June 30th and I'm tempted to just let them go sooner cause I want my house back to original condition and renting out to a newer better tenant.
For the improvements, I'm not sure what to do first. The plumbing is just a matter of time, the HVAC system does need replaced. So I don't know.
Selling is out of the question at this point, the market has tanked even more so what equity I did have is $0 and I would have no way of coming up with money at closing.
All this though, I'm not going to let it get me down. The economy and all else is trying, the best I can do is have a plan in place and do my best to be responsible.
Here are pictures of our home when we left it. I'm so disappointed in the condition its in now. We will never rent to someone with pets again and adopting one will be grounds for eviction.
This has been our first landlord experience, so all I can say is "Live and learn." I will be more aware next time and not make the same mistakes again.
Not sure what to do
February 26th, 2009 at 09:26 pm
February 26th, 2009 at 09:36 pm 1235684206
February 26th, 2009 at 09:41 pm 1235684480
February 26th, 2009 at 10:01 pm 1235685666
Sadly, renters will never take care of your property as if it was theirs. That has been our experience as well.
Equally sad, there is no guarantee that the next tenants will be better.
Did your property management company require an additional pet deposit? If they haven't, they should have. I would use that to replace the damage to the wood. I also wonder what percentage of the security deposit you can use to apply towards the damage. That is what it is there for, monetary guarantees which are forfeited when damage occurs.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:45 pm 1235688327
February 26th, 2009 at 11:04 pm 1235689449
Anyway, I Would consider owning a second property for my children or parents to live in or something like that. Maybe a vacation home. Renters? No thanks.
The house was beautiful, by the way.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:06 pm 1235689568
I talked to DH and he said we should fix this stuff up when they leave, we have to have it vacant cause its just in too embarrassing of a condition to show.
I would consider renting to someone with a pet if they were responsible, but after this experience, I'd have to personally know them before considering it again.
We are going to Missouri soon and even the guy who offered to take our dog while we were gone, DH's Senior Chief said "No, you don't want your dog living in those conditions"
Its appalling, is it too much to ask for clean living conditions let alone respectful tenants? Before today I thought it was a reasonable request. I'm not asking them to act like homeowners, but there should be some sense of pride in where you are living whether you are renting or owning.
February 27th, 2009 at 12:04 am 1235693054
February 27th, 2009 at 12:57 am 1235696271
I think you should consider withholding the deposit as a punishment for lying about the air filters and the subsequent damage.
I'd love to live in a place like that someday !!
ps... I've no pets of my own... hehe