Expertise - Landlord Forum thread

Expertise by Anonymous on August 7, 2012 @10:19

Asking someone why they didn't do something without answering the questions they have is not helpful.

Everything is always 20/20 in hindsight. And sometimes things are not always as clear cut as you would like them to be portrayed here depending on the relationship you have with a tenant over time. It is easy to sit in front of a computer and pick apart someone's actions over time however day to day I do not feel that those of you who talk down to people never made a mistake in this industry from beginning to end. Stop looking down your noses at everyone and giving snarly responses.

If your expectations were to come here to give advice to people who already had all the answers and years upon years of experience ... and if you feel you are wasting your time giving advice to idiots because they don't already know what they are doing...please know that you are correct. Please don't bother wasting what you may or may not have voiced or implied to be your precious time here.

If those are the type of people you are hoping to find to assist here you are probably correct that you are wasting your time responding in the manner that you do. Especially if you are going to just continually respond to each post asking why they did what they did and not answer the questions they came here with. Offer advice for the future in a constructive way but at the end of the day that does not help the situation they are currently in if you offer nothing in response to resolve their issue.

Not everyone has a wealth of experience. That is why they are here.

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Re: Expertise by freda demarco (ga) on August 7, 2012 @10:23	[ Reply ]

The original post is way too long so I didn't bother to read it. My suggestion is to be concise and clear so that maybe someone can find out what you are asking and give you an answer.

Re: Expertise by Anonymous on August 7, 2012 @11:13	[ Reply ]

There is in a lot of cases more than one way to skin a cat. Just because someone puts an idiot/a-hole spin on their theory does not make them correct. It also doesn't mean they would react in the situation the same way they say they would either. There is such a thing as customer service when dealing with relationships. There are people here who can give great guidance. There are also people here who think they do.

Re: Expertise by Anonymous on August 7, 2012 @11:40	[ Reply ]

If this is about the broken down, worn out AC unit the solution is simple. Get a new one right away. It does not matter how the tenant keeps his yard, who lives with him while a blind eye is turned, the dog, who did not replace the filter, how much the electric bill is or how much privacy the tenant likes, or the "discount" on the new AC which is a price that will be marked up and then down, or a promise to "look into getting a new AC while considering a new furnice" if a new lease is signed. What kind of a commitment is that...looking and considering? Just get a new AC unit.

Re: Expertise by OK-LL on August 7, 2012 @11:55	[ Reply ]

Sometimes, asking a return question instead of just giving a solution teaches the OP how to think through a situation, or discover where his error occurred so he doesn't make the same mistake again. What's the old saw about teaching a man to fish, not handing him a fish? Sometimes situations are so far gone, there is no good solution, but OP can learn for the next time. And sometimes, the situations described beg the question, "what the heck are you doing owning rental property?" That, too, is a legitimate, fair and honest appraisal of some situations. If you came here for a quick answer to a question, good luck; I hope you get more out of this forum.

Re: Expertise by Anna Mouse on August 7, 2012 @13:25	[ Reply ]

I agree with what you are saying and understand how you feel. There are many people here who have been doing this for a long time and have seen all the mistakes that could be made whether they made them or watched someone else make them. It is nice if you temper your answer with "next time it might help if you try this." Don't be discouraged. Read through the last 100 pages of this board and learn what you do not know yet. When you see somethiing that is unfamilar like a statue or state law, wonder how it applies in your state and find the answer. p.s. I have not read your original post so not sure what I agree with or not, just wanted to let you know and point you the right way.

Re: Expertise by NY-LL on August 7, 2012 @14:02	[ Reply ]

Often times, business matters are approached from the standpoint of personal knowledge and limited experience. In certain case scenarios, it is clear that an �accidental landlord,� due to relocation and having to rent there home, must hire a �real estate professional� only to receive poor service. In specific scenarios, it is clear that an �accidental landlord� must manage a �professional tenant� only to escalate the problem even further to their disadvantage. Nonetheless, most of the responses are provided from the experience and personality of the posting landlords � (these would be the same thought processes which would run the gamut in the real world). Just take the information for what it is worth, separate the law from the opinions, and use what is in your own best interest. I, for one, can never understand how landlords are not prepared for the routine consequences of non-payment of rent, intentional property negligence or damage, unqualified tenant applicants, etc. These issues, in my opinion, are familiar to anyone who has entered into any business arrangement which requires the assessment of a person�s character and financial status and overall qualifications and experience, such as neighbors, co-workers, family members, etc.

Re: Expertise by Anonymous on August 7, 2012 @18:26	[ Reply ]

I agree that this should be a place where new landlords can come for advice from people with hopefully more experience. I appreciate reading Jake and Eric and Anna's and other opinions. I've a fair bit of experience but there's lot's of stuff I learn from others or that ratifies why I do something. The point I think is to learn from our mistakes and not make the same one again, or at least not too often.

Re: Expertise by anon on August 8, 2012 @17:51	[ Reply ]

Well said.