Renting out my front house, they want a dog.

[scottmandue]

When the Palestinian guy lived there with his family a skunk died under the house and he didn't tell me for two weeks.

Although he did paint the inside of the house for free... and offered to put new carpet in the two bedrooms... but when he pulled up the carpets he liked the hardwood floors so much he just had them refinished... again at no charge to me.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Put in hardwood floors. Carpet sucks. For the life of me, I don't understand why 99% of the apartments out there insist on installing the cheapest-crap beige puke-colored carpet imaginable and then defending the stuff like it's Persian rugs. Hardwood or tile. Indestructible.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by nostatic
geez...all these responses dodging the real issue:

is she hot?

Hmmmmm... only met her once... probably not hot by your hip swingin standards.


OTOH by my standards... just between you and me... I'd do her

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Put in hardwood floors. Carpet sucks.

As it stands now in the rental house the bedrooms and living room are hardwood, linoleum kitchen, tile bathroom. Dad talked me into getting carpet in the bedrooms and livingroom in my back house where I live and I hate it.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yea, about the only thing I don't like about the place where I live now (apartment) is the carpeting. The stuff is good only as a dirt/grime/flea/crap collector - not exactly what I want as part of my living space. All of the condos and homes I've been looking at stipulate hardwood as a requirement. Carpet in the bedroom I could possibly live with, but I'd personally prefer area rugs over tile or hardwood, because you can at least pull those out once every six months and clean 'em thoroughly.

Maybe it's personal preference, but when I see "wall-to-wall-carpeting" in a listing, it's usually the end of my interest - it's hardly a selling point far as I'm concerned.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by scottmandue


OTOH by my standards... just between you and me... I'd do her

so why is this even a question? Just make sure she has family close that likes to babysit.

[K9Torro]

Hey nostatic

If she was " hot " she would not need a dog ....lol hahahahaha

Todd

[the]

Originally posted by nostatic
geez...all these responses dodging the real issue:

is she hot?

Doesn't matter. She already has a kid. She's toast.

[RoninLB]

Renters have the power in court around here big time. A problem renter can cost me thousands of bucks. If they have court power over you your screwed.

I have a 2 family. A new possibility is told "No pets of any kind." From that point i'll work with the pet issue.

That said i've morphed into a fatalistic landlord given this 45k population hick town. No lease, no deposit, no bs. Friends get notified first and never an agent. The rent $ is slightly lower than comparative apts. If the renter doesn't like the deal or my rep he can go elsewhere.

Old renters stop around during summer to hang or to use the 2 person outside shower after coming off the beach or to sober up. The current renter took the apt sight unseen and it was on my closed market for 45 minutes. The usual is 2 weeks to 2 months. My current guy says he's in apt heaven and is staying another 5 years. He knows increases are $25/mo each additional year. He's tension free.

[scottmandue]

I know this is all in jest but seriously... no way I would "get involved" with a renter, I tried dating a gal at work once and when it didn't work it was very painful... root canal without anesthesia painful... can't and don't want to even imagine how badly this would turn out if things got ugly. So no way that is going to happen.

The, I just turned 50... 99% of the women I date have kids.

[scottmandue]

Probably bad timing on my part that I posted this thread just when the "My dog flash smiling for the camera" thread popped up again.

Okay so where are the two people who voted pro-dog?

Seems like everyone posting is supporting my no dog stance.

Just to reiterate, I love dogs! Just as long as I don't have to take care of them. I was at a pub in Redondo yesterday for some pre-St Pats beers and there was a big yellow dog tied up out front greeting everyone as they walked by.. he was great!

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by scottmandue


Seems like everyone posting is supporting my no dog stance.

i'm supporting "no pets of any kind" in hard paper then work with renter if he's worth it.

my friend allowed a renter with one of those snakes that eat mice. Mice got loose and infested the house.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

FWIW, the paint, fence no big deal.

FWIW, the dog, that is a personal thing. I have a dog, we make sure she is taken care of. Not everyone does. She might be looking for a friend for her daughter, I'm thinking recent divorce, daughter having to adjust. Not all dogs bark. Our old terrier only barked when playing or telling a stranger to get the fuch out!! Our current dog only barks, and only once or twice to let us know someone is near or to tell someone to stay AWAY FROM my Wife. When the dog barks, she means it.

I would NOT let puppies in. And you can get a good rescue dog for much cheaper than a puppy mill puppy.

You are not responsible if her dog gets out, but I would think you to be responsible to check to ensure there is not an easy way for the dog to get out, IE holes in the fence. Dogs can be house trained to not go potty in the home.

If you allow the dog, I would not think requesting a deposit to be out of line. Picking up after the dog would be part of the rules. It is also a good way for her daughter to start learning responsibility, etc...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally posted by RoninLB
i'm supporting "no pets of any kind" in hard paper then work with renter if he's worth it.

my friend allowed a renter with one of those snakes that eat mice. Mice got loose and infested the house.

Solution: More snakes.

Scott, I'd simply say "sorry, but I've had renters who have had dogs before and it ended up not working out well", even if that's a little white lie. I suspect she'll understand. Most rentals don't allow dogs. Comes with the territory. Most that do stipulate small (under 25#) dogs, which tend to be the hyper, yap-yap type, which are arguably even worse from a rental standpoint. If they get a dog and the thing ends up being a hyperactive basketcase and yapping all day and night - YOU (not they) will be liable and bear the brunt of the neighbors' wrath. If they complain to HER, she might move out to keep the dog in a situation without (from her perspective) "********* neighbors", which means you lose the renter.

Think of your bottom line only - that's what being a landlord is all about. It's not about being a "nice guy" to your tenants, it's about making money.

[john70t]

I'd take a close look, and check at her job and renting history as a start, and go from there.
Everything stable, and verifyable, for 2-5 years? Good. Unions are sometimes good for keeping salaries continuous(if nothing else).

The fence thing sounds a little wierd, like she's coaxing you into the dog idea even before being accepted, but it could be the property really needed a fence anyways. It could possibly be a good sign as well.
The dog idea could be a good sign of being protective for the kid: i.e. that she tries to make everything around her safe and secure. That could prove nice when the roof is occasionally leaking and she tells you about it immediately.
Mabye she just needs security lights instead, and/or some other forms of protection. This would add property value as well and will probably be tax deductable.

Her "demands" seem quite natural (and good) as a single woman/mom looking for a place. Good tenants are hard to find-depending on the location.

However, the "nesting instinct" can go haywire sometimes, leading to unnecessary court appearances for petty things, and unauthorized redecorating of the unit. I knew a co-tenant chick who was an "interior decorator"(i.e. coke stripper) who painted the whole place fusia with magazine cut-outs stuck into the fresh paint.

[JavaBrewer]

No dogs. Period. No cats. Period.

And what's this "hardwood floors are indestructible" talk??? Hardwood is not renter flooring. Tile is because it *IS* indestructible - as long as you seal the grout with HD stuff. Carpet is cheap and easily replaced. That is why it's the rental standard. Hardwood...ah no. Easily damaged and expensive to redo. Hardwood is the homeowner flooring - we have our entire lower floor in it.

[K9Torro]

I will second the above poster on Hardwood it is not a rental material to use, when my properties were built they used carpet and the standard linoleum in kitchen, dining and bath area's , after that wore out I replaced everything with good cheap ceramic tile and sealed the grout, easy to maintain and clean almost (almost) indestructable.

As to a poster saying you are not liable for her dog on your property, as the primary homeowner/property owner your policy will bear the brunt of the lawsuit on a dog bite, and most roll right over and pay then hike your rates or drop you.

Bottom line : It's your property you decide what will or will not be allowed, there is always more renters than places to rent I don't care where you live in the USA.

Todd

PS... as you can see from my handle, I am a dog person both at work and at home.

[Seahawk]

I have had a rental house for 11 years. We allow dogs BY EXCEPTION only.

For instance, clean single older woman with a great rental history who has a poddle...yes.

Couple who both work and have an Akita...nope.

I will echo the fact that single mothers have been the best renters. We have had very little turnover.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by RoninLB
i'm supporting "no pets of any kind" in hard paper then work with renter if he's worth it.

+1

I'm a dog lover, but I would be pretty damn fussy about renting to a dog owner.

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by notfarnow
+1

I'm a dog lover, but I would be pretty damn fussy about renting to a dog owner.

The problem is you can control your own actions, but not the actions of others. And once the dog is there, if they're neglectful owners, there's nothing you can do.