Read the next post before you read this one. It occurs to me that if you're not crippled and reasonably handy, you could get a deep discount on an apartment simply by being the caretaker of that apartment block. The work is light, and it's do-able in the evenings and weekends. If you're married, then you're more attractive to a rental agency or owner because then there are two people that can share the household and caretaking duties between them. After all, MOST of the work is very light, such as vaccuuming carpets, changing light bulbs and showing empty apartments. Basically, all most caretakers do is keep an eye on things so that the rental agency or landlord knows of any problems that occur. Looking after an apartment block is no more work than looking after your own house because you won't have to do many of the things homeowners choose to do, like their own plumbing, electrical or appliance repairs. If you mow the lawn of your house, you can mow the lawn of an apartment block. If you vaccuum a living room carpet once a week at home, you can vaccuum the hallway carpets once every two weeks in an apartment block. Think about it.
What the HE11 is an "event co-ordinator"? In an apartment block? They have those in nursing homes to organize activities for the residents so they're not totally bored out of their wits all the time. What kind of activities would that person organize for tenants? That's gotta be a scam.
Yep, I have had people try to "bargain" with me over the rent, but in my case it's a foolish proposition. That's because I would only be inclined to do that if I were desperate to find tenants, and that's never been the case. I have never had a problem finding people who want to rent an apartment from me. My problem has always been finding people I want to rent an apartment to.
That's because everyone tells me that my suites are the nicest (or among the nicest) they've seen, and I know my rents are reasonable. So, what incentive is there for me to negotiate on rent to get a tenant?
What I look for are:
1. Tenants with excellent references from previous landlords. Tenants that can't provide a very good references will give me the name and phone number of one of their buddies who's gonna pretend to be their landlord for when I phone. But, only dumb people try to do that because regardless who they claim their landlord is, I go to the City of Winnipeg Property Tax office and look at the Property Tax Statement on the address they're claiming to live at. That statement has the name and address of the registered owner on it so that it will show in a windowed envelope. That way the statement can be mailed without separately addressing the envelope. If the name of the landlord on the Application for Rent Form doesn't match the name of the person paying the property tax on the building, I don't bother checking any further because I know I'm being lied to. Someone is giving me a bogus landlord thinking I won't be able to tell that he's not the real landlord. If the names do match, then I'm reasonably sure I'm going to get a good reference from that landlord even before I phone him/her.
Then, I check the Provincial Court Registry. If you ever sue anyone, or get hauled into court by someone, (including the Government), that becomes a matter of public record. Here in Manitoba, the Province has a web site where you can search that public record for names. If someone's name comes up in a divorce case, that's no big deal since half the people that get married also get divorced. But, if the file keeps stretching on and there are subsequent restraining orders filed against the prospective tenant by their former wife, that's another matter and it suggests to me that they may have emotional problems. One applicant I had was 65 years old and was married and subsequently divorced 4 times in the course of 10 years, all to Phillipino women. The one he wanted to move into my apartment with was only 34 years old. What the heck is a 34 year old woman want to do with a 65 year old man, except get into the country and stay here. I ended up phoning Immigration Canada because it seemed to me that what he was doing was marrying Phillipino womean who only wanted to get their Canadian citizenship out of the deal, and then divorcing them once they were landed immigrants. Also, if you declare bankruptcy or are taken to court by anyone (like a credit union, bank, business or a utility company for not paying off your loans, debts or your utility bills), that's all in the public record for anyone to see. The record will say who is suing who over what, and the court's decision in the matter, and that tells me who was in the right and who was in the wrong. If the tenant phones me and I say that I checked the court records and they try to convince me the judge made a terrible mistake because he didn't know all the facts, I stop listening and start hanging up.
Then, if the tenant is clean so far, I phone their landlord and get a reference on them. So, I've actually checked them out quite a bit before I even phone their landlord.
2. Tenants who are likely going to stay a long time. That's because every landlord has to clean and fix things up when the tenant leaves, and they have to spend money advertising the apartment for rent and spend time showing it to prospective tenants. The less turnover there is in a building, the less work there is for the landlord to do.
3. Tenants that are responsible, easy to get along with and reasonably financially secure. I don't want tenants that are irresponsible because they cause damage using my property for things that it wasn;t meant for. I once had a tenant cremate a dead pet bird using the self clean cycle on their apartment's stove. I like tenants that are easy to get along with. Often I find that older tenants figure they own the place and are telling me how to run my business, and it seems that they find ways I should be running my business that benefits them more than it does me. Finally, tenants that are making a good income
tend to buy new clothing, bedding and furniture rather than look for used clothing, bedding and furniture. Used clothing, bedding and furniture can often harbour bugs like cockroaches or bed bugs, and that can create no end of problems for me.
The people I find generally make the best tenants are either young couples who are intending to get married or young married coulples. That's because both of them are trying to impress each other with how reasonable they are, and I end up being the beneficiary of that good will. For example, if one of them accidentally drops a hot steam iron on the carpet and leaves a scorch, they're not going to say to the other: "Hey, let's say the scorch was there when we moved in!" because the other would think: "Under difference circumstances, you'd try to screw me too, wouldn't you?" So, each one is more concerned with impressing the other than they are about the financial consequences of perfect honesty, and that makes life easier for me. And, of course, young married couples tend to stay a long time because they're saving up to buy a house, and that takes a good few years to do.
There are bound to be DIY'er landlords where you live too. It may take a while to find them, but I can't believe that there aren't people just like me managing and renovating rental properties in your neck of the woods too. I know several DIY landlords here in Winnipeg whom I met through the Manitoba Landlord's Association, so I can't believe there are NONE where you live. It's like fishing. This time you went out and didn't catch a thing. That don't mean you won't catch three fish the next time you go fishing. And, I maintain, the best way to find them is by looking through for the small ads because those people typically only have ONE building that they own and manage. If they owned more than one apartment block, they probably wouldn't be able to keep up with the amount of work, and would rely on caretakers and contractors just like the agencies. And typically if there's a woman involved, she'll do whatever she can to help hubby make the place look nice, and so you'll invariably see flowers growing in the planter outside.
I'd say keep trying to stick to short leases, but keep looking. The more you look, the more you find. You can't argue with that premise: The more you look, the more you find. You keep looking, and you'll find those DIY landlords that are operating in your area. You've been looking for what? One day, so far. You can't expect to find all there is to find in one day's worth of looking. Would you look for a new job that way and give up after the first day?