It Happens!

Got a call the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at 4:30 p.m. that her furnace does not work.  When did you notice it had stopped working?  She responded oh about 2 or 3 days ago?   "What, and you are calling me now before a 4 day holiday to get it fixed."  Can you believe it?  It happens every time.  Yes it does!

Grease Clog

The caller said that her sink was clogged.  I replied that I would send someone over by 5 p.m.  Then I got busy and forgot all about the call until I was getting ready to leave.  Great, I can't find anyone at this time of day to fix it.....I guess I will have to fix it myself.  And I did.  I even amazed myself.  I took pipes apart removed the gross clog, sprayed smelly water all over myself....and then put the pipes all back together and it didn't even leak.  I guess I am wonder woman of the day with smelly clothes!

The Lightbulb Came On

Many of my tenants get a government check monthly.  The government direct deposits the funds into their checking or saving account.  I now have the tenants sign up for the bill pay feature with their bank.  Bank automatically sends me a check on the due date.  If they don't want to sign up  for the proggram; they can go rent from someone else.

I am smiling again!

The Card

I got a card in the mail today.  A lovely card.  One of those you never expect; but gives you chills when you read it.  I had to share it.

"Dear Ruth,
I just want to thank you so  very much for letting us have this apt.  You really helped me so much, we had no where to go.  I truly love it here.  I promise to keep it spotless and take good care of it.
Thank you Ruth,  God Bless you.
Debbie & her son Rick"

YES!

Start the Day

There is nothing like starting the day off with a big old load of old, damp, smelly furniture, loaded by moi.  IN fact, I started every day out last week loading old, damp, smelly furniture.

Notice the car that doesn't run parked next to my truck!  Now, to get rid of that.

Fun at Wal-Mart

Yep, that's me having fun at Wal-Mart pushing my cart full of furnace filters, curtain rods, and mini blinds.  Oh, I almost forgot my cleaning supplies and paint.  The cart is so heavy now, I can't push it to the cash register.  You know this almost feels like Work!  I think that it is work.  UGH!

Dumpsters cost $300.

Yep they have moved out.  House is  flea and roach infested.  We burned everything that we could AND filled a 20 yard dumpster. Carpets are ruined, the whole house needs painted and fumigated.  City said we could burn anything we wanted; they were so glad that the tenants left.  The best part about this whole scene is that tenant  left me with an $850. water bill that the city says I have to pay.

It's not my fault the water bill is that high.  I told the city the  last time that this happened to shut the water off  when the bill was larger than the deposit.  I feel that the city should pay the bill.  Of course city does not agree.  Tenants moved out of state.  I may have to get an attorney on this one.  I want to get along but ....... 

I figure it will cost me close to $5,000. to get this property back in condition.

Rent

Called a slow tenant for rent today.  They assured me that they would drop it off at the office tomorrow.  Went in on a Saturday to make sure they did what they said they would do.  Nope!  So, I drive to their home and they have a trailer backed up to the f ront door.  Guess what?  No Rent.  And they are moving.   Gee this has never happened before.  NOT!

Why oh why didn't I continue teaching? I could be retired by now.

Sunday Call

I got my usual call on Sunday.  Of course, it is always an emergency.  I went to check on the 'water is coming out of the ceiling in 3 places and I've got water every where' call.  After checking it out, there was a little drip, handily dripping into the bathroom sink.  We replaced the hot water heater last week which probably caused a fitting to come loose when the water was hooked back up.  The repair will require the opening of a wall to locate the problem.  So I calmed down the tenant, calmed down myself, and alerted the maintenance man to take care of it on Monday.  Back home to my hammock.  Happy Sunday!

It Works

I did one of those things that you only read about in those real estate how-to guru books.   In my 15 years of acquiring real estate this is the first house purchase that I have  done in this manner. 

The sellers did not need the cash.  They accepted my offer to buy on contract for deed with  $2,000. down.  I will be purchasing the house with low interest and pay for it over 10 years with the right to pay off at anytime.

 They are getting a better interest rate than in a CD.  I am paying a lower interest rate than at a bank.  And my out of pocket was only $2,000.    It is a win-win for both of us

Same-Same

A regular month of regular activities.  Every day is different but all in all month after month is the same.  The same problems with different names to them.  This month with lots of rain and the normal amount of leaky roofs with water in basements.  Same people to slow pay.  Same people that pay in advance paid in advance.  Doesn't sound too exciting.  I never get too comfortable, because as soon as I do something happens.

Girl in a Towel

Sunday evening at 5 p.m. I am heading out the door to go to a wake.  The visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. and I am already late.  My phone rings a new tenant does not have any hot water.  I asked her to check the fuse box.  That seemed to be ok.  I was heading in that general direction, so I told her that I would be by in a little bit.  I picked up my son on the way in case the heater needed to be lit.  So far, I have avoided learning how to do that.  After checking the hot water heater and discovered that it was electric and did not have a pilot light to be lit.  We decided that we should check the fuse box ourselves.  Met at the door by a young co-ed wrapped in only a towel (she decided to give herself a bath by heating up hot water on the stove) she showed us to the fuse box.  Everything looked fine there so back to the basement.  As we were leaving the apartment, I glanced over at my son and just the ever so slight smile was on his face, thinking about the girl in the towel I imagine....  I did not say a word.  Anyway we took the covers off the heater and found a red button to push, which we did, heard a little hum and decided it was working.  Put the covers back on and told her to call me tomorrow if was not working.  So far no calls, so I am assuming that it is working.

Son did stop by the office today and offered to do any maintenance required at that apartment if I needed him too.  It was cute.

Evil or Not

About 3 weeks ago, I heard from an anonymous scource that I was "evil" and "preyed on poor people".  I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.  I was numb of all feeling and my fragile self-esteem took a really big hit.  How could that be?  I take great pride in providing the cleanest most efficient  properties in town.  I answer service calls immediately.  I I feel like a mother to all of them, reminding them to cut their grass, pick up their trash, and if they cann't get to it, I do it for them.  I encourage them to be good neighbors. I brag on their children. I know stuff happens and people get behind for one reason or another.  If they are sincere; I will work with them, when they get behind,  There is a limit to how much I can do before it starts effecting my ability to pay my bills.  If I can not pay my bills, then I will not have a place for them to live.   Then who gets hurt?  We are all dependent on each other.   Kind of like the "circle of life".  What goes around comes around.

Having said all this, I realize that I am not "evil".   I help poor people by providing good clean housing.  And that I will NEVER be able to please everyone.!

On The Move

Taxes have been filed.  Refunds are here. This is always a typical time of year for people to move into their first apartment/house or maybe to improve their living conditions.  I have given a couple of kids their first chance at living out of their parents home.  We talk about expected utility bills, I caution them to not be late on their first rent payment.  I look at their employment pay stubs.  I much prefer to suggest that they find something a little more in their price range than ask them to leave later.  I hope it works for them.  I hope it works for me.  That's all I can do!

Move-out Day

Move-out Day, I love these days when we finish a rehab and load up all the supplies and take them to the warehouse.  The windows are clean, the floors are polished and the smell of the new carpet and new kitchen cabinets permeate through out the house.  Let's see now, how many times have  I done a complete rehab on this particular house.  I can think of at least 3, well maybe that's not to bad for 9 years.  We're ready to start again looking for that perfect tenant!

What's next?

It's been over a month since I  last wrote in my blog and to be honest with you I still do not have a positive thought to write about.  This is what's going on..

1. Tenants have lost their jobs.
2. Tenants can not find new  jobs.
3. Tenants unemployment has not kicked in yet.
4. Tenants are waiting for financial help from government agencies.
5. Tenants  are waiting for tax refunds.
6. Tenants are now behind 2 months on their rent.

Where does that leave a barely gettin by landlord.......in a panic.  Anxious to find new ways to cut expenses and ways to increase income.  I haven't figured out how to increase income but to cut expenses I have:

1. Traded a truck for labor.
2. Got my family to volunteer labor.
3. Traded a rental debt for labor.
4. Learned to paint myself.
5. Worked late to keep up with the bookkeeping.
6. Prayed.

I am fortunate in that I am able to think outside of the box.  But what about the tenants!  What's next?