Time flies when you're having *fun?* and rental woes
I have to put the question mark because this has been a tough summer. In June we were trying to set up to have a relaxing summer, where I worked during the weeks like normal and on the weekends or occasional day off we would go out boating on my dads boat with the kids, or check out the zoo, or do something fun. Not exactly a huge vacation or anything but hoping for some regular fun.
First we had a lease contract with our tenants through September 15th. We expected them to stay through the end of their contract then leave, or leave early if we could find a renter to replace them and if they told us in advanced when they wanted to leave so we could get another renter with minimal vacancy. I told them repeatedly they would need to let me know a couple months in advanced and they said that was fine because they would need to find another place too, and needed something more affordable as they were struggling to make the payment. They kept delaying when I asked about their departure saying there oldest daughter would have to take some additional school during summer to graduate and they didn't know when they were leaving.
I had them on a payment plan due to late payments, etc... over the first 9 months, so they were paying me every 2 weeks. Well they were late, pretty normal. So I called, also pretty normal. Their phone was disconnected, not very normal. I thought that was odd, so I drove out to the rental/farmhouse that day which was June 21st. There were no cars, which they always have 2 to 3 sitting around including a couple in disrepair, missing windows or having half the engine in the carport. I thought, crap they abandoned it and didn't tell me. I looked in the windows and the place was almost completely empty, I could only see a vacuum cleaner. Outside there was a pile of garbage in the carport that looked like they were still maybe going through it. I didn't even bring my keys because I really try to leave my tenants in peace and wouldn't want someone (even the owner) just showing up to where I live either. It also disturbed me they left the cat, which I thought they left him and the 3 chickens we gave them when we left, unfed and without water. Miguel, he was our outside cat, stays with the farm and had befriended the renters. He is a good mouser and somewhat friendly but not super friendly. You could pet him and if you were a trusted adult you can pick him up. I also thought this sucks we need new renters ASAP.
The next day we came back after I reviewed our contract and the laws on abandonment and called the county sheriff. Everything gave me the go ahead to change the locks and started the cleanup. We actually got a call that day from the sheriff since a neighbor thought the house was abandoned and the chickens were going to starve, they hadn't seen us stop by and had no clue when we would figure it out, which was very good of them to make sure someone called us. The tenants completely destroyed the carpet that was brand new in the house a day before they moved in so it was only 9 months old. They left lots of garbage in the carport and had plants etc... that were filled with rain water and rotting stuff. It was gross. Jen stopped by during the day the day after we changed locks and actually ran in to the renters. The father was up on the carport roof, we are guessing he was trying to break in. He came down and Jen read him the riot act for abandoning the property and leaving the place a mess and making the carpet completely filthy and unfortunately she didn't have the keys with her either since she was on her way somewhere and just was going to feed the animals. She told them to call us to get their stuff and to clean the house and remove their garbage.
Needless to say they never called. So we have been working non-stop since that date, repainting the entire inside, painting the doors, changing the door knobs and hinges since the old stuff was brass and really beat up. We tore out the cruddy looking false ceiling in the kitchen. Then we had carpet cleaners come and they tested it but told us they couldn't clean the carpet it was too molded and had too much dog urine etc... on it. Really nasty. So we tore it out and have had the carpet replaced. We replaced all the windows with Vinyl windows and have been fixing everything we can plus doing some improvements to make it easier to maintain and easier to get rented. We plan to repaint the outside in addition and do some more fixes and cleaning outside after the new renters move in but before the fall.
Needless to say, it's been a long summer of *fun?*
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