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Catherine Gacad

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Me the Landlord

IMG_6061I think it’s really weird that I’m a landlord, collecting checks, scheduling a plumber to take care of the toilet, refunding deposits.  If I learned one thing from checking out several tenants, it’s this: your place will never be the same again.  I understand normal wear and tear.  I get it.  But it was annoying to see off-color markings on my dining room table.  Maybe because they didn’t use coasters?  I have no idea.  I’m only speculating.  But owners care about their furniture and property.  We put down coasters.  We pick nits off of the couch.  I also don’t cook.  I’m a lavender-loving hippy chick.  I burned expensive candles every night when I lived there.  I walked into my place this past weekend for the first time in four months and it smelled like cooking.  But not in a good way.  I felt like I walked into a Mediterannean restaurant.  Disgusting!  I’ve been airing out the place and burning candles non-stop until the new tenants move in tonight.

My contract specifically states that the outgoing tenants are to have my place professionally cleaned.  I’ve decided to nix that language because I have no idea whether it’s truly done.  I spent hours this weekend dusting and vacuuming.  If it was professionally cleaned, why are there strands of hair all over the bathroom?  Yuck!  Then I feel bad so I still have to issue the full deposit.  It’s just not fair.  From now on, I will have it professionally cleaned and deduct it from the deposit.

One of the good things about renting out a fully-furnished apartment is that the tenants tend to leave behind food, spices, toiletries.  It’s great for the new tenants who come in to have some groceries available, shampoo, conditioner.  The ones coming in tonight lucked out with a TV.  I could care less about it, but the outgoing tenants left it behind.  Score!

I’m a good landlord.  If there’s a problem, I make sure it’s fixed right away.  Deposits are refunded within days.  But I’m also fair.  If there’s a spike of almost three times in the PG&E bill (I take care of all the bills), I’m going to charge you for it.  Here we go with another four month lease.  I better remind them to use coasters.

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Welcome to my site, derived from an advice column I wrote while getting my MBA. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I give helpful, opinionated advice based on my own experience and from the expertise of my extensive network. For more, click here.

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