Do a credit check. Any real estate office can do it for you for a small fee. Ask for bank statements. You want to see that they have some savings in case they lose their job. Ask them where they've lived in the past 5 years. You don't want someone who is constantly moving b/c you will have to go through the process again the following year.

Posted by: lilyhstang at October 1, 2009 2:33 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant

I need a recommendation. Anyone know a good floor guy? I will probably need a new floor installed. thanks!

Posted by: lilyhstang at September 23, 2009 8:57 AM in response to Wood Floors

Yes, i do. The company is Shane Deary construction. I have seen numerous flooring jobs of his and they have all been professionally installed. He is a GC that does all the work himself with his crew. His prices are reasonable. His number is (917) 495-7120 and he is local to Brooklyn. I will let him know i have referred him. Good luck.

Posted by: brownstonereno24 at September 23, 2009 3:23 PM in response to Wood Floors

I don’t know if it is appropriate to recommend myself, but I only do floors for a living. I do have references, photo, person, and even live inspection of my work. Would be glad to give you a free estimate.

Posted by: Ray Bascaglia at September 26, 2009 10:53 AM in response to Wood Floors

A lot of people don't agree with me, but I like to use a broker. I like the idea that I can have limited contact with the potential tenant until they are screened regarding job, credit, previous rental history, criminal and legal records. The broker gets a sense of how the building "works" and my life and gets a sense of whether the tenant would be happy there and if all checks out, we all meet together some place other than the house and have a heart to heart about what's what, the "rules", how things work and whether they can live with them. I don't want to be "rejecting" anyone personally and/or in my house. This has worked out great for me -- others say that the fee discourages renters. I would be willing to kick in part of the fee, but hopefully, the tenant will also benefit by the seriousness of how we approach things from the start and then we lay the solid groundwork for a mutually happy relationship. I have great releationships with my tenants and it is because we have agreed on the lay of the land. And I treat them very well.

Posted by: donatella at October 1, 2009 3:04 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant

Yes, go with a broker...although, you can apparently charge the tenant the costs of the credit report/search you will need to do. Yes, go with a broker as numbskull as some of them can be. If you had posted your neighborhood, I might have had a suggestion or two.'

By the way Lily, you really shouldn't judge which tenant you accept on the length of tenancy in their last apartment. That's not quite fair...and I'm wondering if it is legal.

If you're going to live with tenants upstairs, get used to it sounding like elephants barreling down the staircase...don't let your nerves get shattered.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at October 1, 2009 3:31 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant

I prefer not to use broker. These people are going to be living in same bldg so I want a real sense of them.
I want to see how they react to apt. If broker shows them, you get no sense and broker will try to minimize any issue
tenant brings up.
If prospect asks about can get this done, and this changed, and has excuse about not having all the money now, or some vague reason why moving, etc you get it 1st hand.
Realtor just wants to seal the deal.
You also get to bring up subtle things about their lifestyle - music, going out, do they like hot hate cold(want lots of heat), etc, entertain lots, etc.

Posted by: Petebklyn at October 1, 2009 3:43 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant

I agree with all the things that Petebklyn says, but I do all that chatting about me, them, lifestyle, what works for me, how I take care of the building, quirks associated with living in a 120+ year old building, things I like, how I don't like being cold and so they don't need to worry about that etc etc., how the mail works, how to pay me, how we do everything from spraying for bugs to handling pets, garbage stuff (like NO STUFF) in the hallway...etc etc. We have a nice heart to heart AFTER I know that they are OK from a salary, job, credit, criminal etc. point of view that the broker checks. Then I ask the person to think it over and that I am reviewing some other folks but would very much like to hear from them (if I do). I like this because we get to talk in a relaxed way after I know they "check out". From this, we know if we like one another and if they have a problem with anything I mention....well, that should work for them too. They get to look elsewhere rather than get locked into a deal where they don't feel happy.

Posted by: donatella at October 1, 2009 4:10 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant

I always do Craig's & it has worked very well. I do ask for references - prior landlords, boss at work, personal. I get a credit check. I go over the plus aspects of the apartment & the minus - small building, everyone responsible for rubbish & recycling, etc. Usually there are several qualified applicants at which point I use my gut.

Posted by: Arkady at October 1, 2009 4:23 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant

I don't use a broker, because I'd rather have two months' security and first month's rent from the tenant.

I don't do an open house, but instead ask them to come see the place if they sound reasonable on the phone. I make it clear that I live in the building and want someone who will appreciate my well-cared-for home.

If the tenant likes the place and I like them, I ask them to fill out a simple application--name, address, place of work, etc., and take a deposit to cover a background check on American Tenant Screen. The deposit just covers the ATS cost (last time I used them, it was $25), and helps to weed out the lookers from the truly serious.

I can't say I have a set of questions for tenants, but you can learn alot from chatting with folks. People that ask a great number of picayune questions scare me as they might be overly demanding. And some people just seem weird.

I let prospective tenants know what the lease terms are, including additions I've made to the standard Blumberg lease (rules about garbage, public space, etc.)

Yes it's a tenant but they're living in your house. I trust myself to make a better decision than a broker, and it saves the tenant some money as well. Good luck.

Posted by: tinarina at October 1, 2009 4:38 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant

OP - great questions.

If one were to do the background checks themselves - LT court, credit, criminal - is there one place that you can go to to do this on your behalf?

Thanks.

Posted by: bedstuytownhouse at October 1, 2009 5:32 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant

Bedstuy--check out American Tenant Screen--they do the whole shootin' match as long as you become a member and prove that you own rental property.

Posted by: tinarina at October 1, 2009 5:44 PM in response to Advice on Finding Tenant