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?

The Talking House

I've been working on a house this week while I had some free help.  As my sister in law and I were painting, she says,  "it's amazing what you can learn about people just by painting their house."  "What do you mean," I asked.  She replied, "well look at this door jamb.  This door has obviously been kicked in. The people living here had violent tendencies".  I hadn't told her anything about the past tenants, but she was right.!  If these walls could talk?  I think they just did.

Miracle of the Season

A tenant called today and offered me the last $15.00 of her food stamp money to buy a turkey for my family for Christmas.   Just one of the Miracles of the season!  I didn't take it of course.  But its the thought that counts!

Better Times Tomorrow

Many people are having trouble paying their bills.  Heck, I have trouble with my bills now and then.  I ask myself, What is going to happen to all of us?  I prefer to think about solutions to problems; than the less productive poor-me scenero.......so I've decided it's a time to evaluate what is really important.  Ask ourselves the question, "Is this a want or need?" and be truthful in the answer.  We very possibly can get by on less.
Currently in my business, I have seen several generations in one family move in with each other to share expense.  Locally the government has come up with a couple of new programs to help people pay there housing, electric bills, and to find a job.  I have been recommending tenants to contact the Illinois Valley Office in our area.  People are getting help with rent, electric,  help with finding a job, AND a promise to continue helping as long as they stay in the program.  There is hope/light at the end of the tunnel as long as the funds hold out.  I chose not to borrow worry from tomorrow......but to look at one day at a time with the expectation of better times tomorrow.