Renting Blues

[Dinny]

I have the rental blues...

I have been renting homes since 1995. Everything from apartments and townhouses to single-family houses. Here in Lawton, OK, my wife and I had the daunting task of finding a single-family house that was nestled in a good neighborhood where we feel safe raising our daughter. On the final day of my house-hunting TDY, and after being shown many houses that appeared to be previous crack houses, we found a great house in SE Lawton. It is an all brick house built in 1990 that was remodeled in 2005. It has everything that we need and is spacious enough to fit our larger German furniture into. Now the bad part....the property manager was chewing someone else a new behind over the phone and then rudely hung-up on them the day I was there to sign our lease. She told me she hates acting that way, but some people can't understand things any other way. Well, when we did the move-in inspection, she promised to either spot paint over the areas of the walls that were painted by the previous tenants, they used an odd color that did not match the walls. I'm still wondering why they did something so blatant. They are educated, respectful officers in the Army. Almost makes me think it was intentional.... Anyways, now it's 13 days later and still no paint on the walls. The house has been nearly empty this entire time but our household goods come on Friday. I have called everyday since last Friday when I was instructed to follow-up with them regarding their decision to spot paint or paint the entire walls with neutral colors.
  I have not been able to talk to the property manager, so I called her assistant the last two days for an update. Today she told me that she would take paint chips from the walls and have the paint matched so that I could spot paint it myself.  I explained that the house had not been painted in over 5 years, there's soot on the living room walls from the fireplace, the previous tenants had 4 young children and two dogs and two cats AND I DON'T PAINT. On top of this, we can see sun spots on the walls from where the sun has bleached the paint. She told me to stop belittling her. She proceeded to tell me that she could have paint matched that was decades old and that it would blend perfectly. She also stated that she had painted houses as part of the maintenance crew for 6 years before she became an assistant property manager. Well obviously she knows it all and I can't convince her otherwise.
  Now I'm faced with how to deal with this company. I don't want them inside my house after my belongings are here. I've already seen the maintenance staff in action. One maint man installed a new Co2 detector one foot above a direct vent from the furnance, which placed it 2 feet off the floor. Guess who likes her new toy Co2 detector? You guessed it, my 2 y/o daughter thought it was fun until I moved it above the doorway in the hallway outside our bedrooms (where the instructions say it should be).

Why can't the Army just keep me in one place and leave me alone? I had a wonderful house in Germany and the landlord was an awesome guy. He installed all of our light fixtures, satellite TV dish and ceiling fans. He wouldn't let me spot paint after spackling, said it would never match and he preferred to paint it fresh for a new tenant.

I have to play this game for 10 more years and then I'm buying a house and never moving again. Sure hope Alaska has room for me someday... These Oklahoma temps are a  bit much for me.


Thanks for reading my rants, complaints and bothers. With everything else being equal, I really don't have it all that bad, could always be in Afg fighting one deep against an entrenched enemy with my hands tied behind my back (ROE).



Thanks, Dinny

[mechanic]

If they don't resolve these issues, please file a report on post so others can be warned to stay away.  My son in law just had a really unpleasant moving experience for the first time in all their moves.  When he called the company headquarters and explained that he was a Colonel and could make sure they never moved a military family again, they replaced the crew, the truck and the attitude.  Whether he could pull that off or not is irrelevant, THEY thought he could.  You may have to do something similar.

Doesn't sound too good going in.

Best of luck,

Ben

[dukkillr]

Best trick for landlord or renter when they do the inspection?  Take a video camera, turn it on when you walk in, turn it off after you sign the sheet.  Document every single flaw you see and even things you might just be concerned about.  It makes the checkout so much easier when there's evidence.

[Dinny]

Ben,
  My last unit over sees all things that move in DoD. That includes beans, bullets, pax, household goods...everything. Let the Colonel know that I can provide good POC info, if needed.

This is one of the larger real estate agencies in Lawton, OK. They have 180 rental homes and I suspect they do little in order to keep their costs down and profits high. The hot water heater blew off the main water line last year while the tenants were vacationing. Property Mgmt wanted to wet vac the carpets and let the place air-out for a few days instead of replacing the carpet. 2" of water sat on their carpeted floors for 4 days and mold was already forming on the walls. I wonder if that's mold growing from inside the walls or if it's soot. It is in the peak of the vaulted ceiling, hard telling. I'll climb up the ladder and try to wipe it off. Anyways, the tenants had to contact the homeowner (stationed on the East coast) to share the situation with him. Property Mgmt had also tried to replace the hot water heater with a used one from one of their other houses. I'm not real water heater smart, but that doesn't sound like a good idea to me. The homeowner insisted they do what's right and replace the carpets along with adding a brand new water heater.

This is also why I didn't want to buy a house here and rely on property mgmt after I move away, these clowns would degrade the value of a house faster than a bunch of college kids having frat parties in it.


Thanks, Dinny

[Dinny]

Best trick for landlord or renter when they do the inspection?  Take a video camera, turn it on when you walk in, turn it off after you sign the sheet.  Document every single flaw you see and even things you might just be concerned about.  It makes the checkout so much easier when there's evidence.

I took 277 digital photos with our Canon Rebel and an external flash along with 15mins of video. Fortunately, my wife and I have been renting for many years and have learned a few of those tricks. It has saved us tremendously. The property managers said we are being too picky, I don't think there is such a thing. One told my wife that she needs to scrape the paint off the tile floor with a razor blade. Wife told her that the picture wasn't what needed done, but what has been done before we got there. They just don't get it...


Thanks, Dinny

[jhm]

Dinny:   It is only the 1st week of summer, relax it will warm up to a pleasant non chilling temp. B-4 summer is over.   Jim

[no guns here]

Dinny,

Values are low in Lawton now area.  Just buy a place.  Land is cheap around there.  Look out in the smaller towns instead of IN Lawton.  Apache, Elgin, Geronimo, Walters are all now to far of a drive.  Housing prices are even lower there.  I know all about renting and military housing and still would recommend buying if at all possible.


NGH

[SHOOTALL]

CO2 det should be low . Also here if you have a complaint when renting you can pay to the court and they will hold it until the work needed is finished.

[Old Syko]

When considering where to place a carbon monoxide detector, keep in mind that although carbon monoxide is roughly the same weight as air (carbon monoxide's specific gravity is 0.9657, as stated by the EPA; the National Resource Council lists the specific gravity of air as one), it may be contained in warm air coming from combustion appliances such as home heating equipment. If this is the case, carbon monoxide will rise with the warmer air.

http://www.homesafe.com/coalert/detect.htm

They mount up high.  Mine are on the ceiling close to the air returns and they work very well.

Dinny have your wife do what my daughter did.  She made friends with the base commander's wife.  When housing issues arose it was almost an instant fix.  After all, we all know who's actually in charge.   

[dukkillr]

All you guys with CO2 alarms, what is the risk of CO2?  I've never heard of CO2 poisoning?

[Dinny]

All you guys with CO2 alarms, what is the risk of CO2?  I've never heard of CO2 poisoning?

It's enough of an issue that detectors are required by law for rental properties. I always have one just in case.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning


Thanks, Dinny

[Dinny]

Dinny,
Values are low in Lawton now area.  Just buy a place.  Land is cheap around there.  Look out in the smaller towns instead of IN Lawton.  Apache, Elgin, Geronimo, Walters are all now to far of a drive.  Housing prices are even lower there.  I know all about renting and military housing and still would recommend buying if at all possible.
NGH

Three things keep me from buying here in Lawton.

1. I really don't want to be connected to Oklahoma in any way

2. The West is just now seeing what the East has been dealing with for 2 years, a drastic downturn in the housing market. If the realtors here are correct, they haven't hit rock bottom yet. I don't want to own a house here when it does.

3. I dealt with more than 10 different property managers while searching for a house here. All of them gave me the keys and said, "be back by 5pm." How do I know my investment is being protected while I'm not here?

Not a chance I want to take, besides, I don't see Lawton worth investing in...


Thanks, Dinny

[briarpatch]

Is it carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide detectors you are referring to?

[dukkillr]

All you guys with CO2 alarms, what is the risk of CO2?  I've never heard of CO2 poisoning?

It's enough of an issue that detectors are required by law for rental properties. I always have one just in case.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning


Thanks, Dinny

I'm well aware of carbon monoxide... above many are speaking of CO2 or carbon DIoxide... i've never heard that it could harm you... and I have a chemistry degree

I think some smoke detectors may use CO2 levels as a measurement, but I don't think that's what people are talking about.

[hillbill]

how long did yu plan to be stationed there?

[Old Syko]

I assumed the reference was to CO and not Co2.  What would cause high concentrations of Co2 other than too much heavy breathing in confined spaces full of plants?

[Dinny]

My mistake, I typed one (CO2) but certainly meant the other (CO). Sources of carbon monoxide include cigarette smoke, house fires, faulty furnaces, heaters, wood-burning stoves, internal combustion vehicle exhaust, electrical generators, propane-fueled equipment such as portable stoves, and gasoline-powered tools such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, high-pressure washers, concrete cutting saws, power trowels, and welders.

Thanks, Dinny

[SHOOTALL]

When considering where to place a carbon monoxide detector, keep in mind that although carbon monoxide is roughly the same weight as air (carbon monoxide's specific gravity is 0.9657, as stated by the EPA; the National Resource Council lists the specific gravity of air as one), it may be contained in warm air coming from combustion appliances such as home heating equipment. If this is the case, carbon monoxide will rise with the warmer air.

http://www.homesafe.com/coalert/detect.htm

They mount up high.  Mine are on the ceiling close to the air returns and they work very well.

Dinny have your wife do what my daughter did.  She made friends with the base commander's wife.  When housing issues arose it was almost an instant fix.  After all, we all know who's actually in charge.   

At one time that was the instruction. What has been learned is children die long before adults are affected enough to notice. Children seldom hang from the cieling as is often said but do play on the floor. This will take time to become standard for sure as most changes do. Note some detectors are even plug in with bat back up now I have been told. As for air flow that is true to a point but return air intake can alter that assumption greatly.

[no guns here]

I fully understand not wanting to be tied to one place.  Ft Sill just (in past couple of years) added a BUNCH of troops when some mission transferred there.  Lot's of folks are commuting from Duncan even.  I never looked at it as being tied down.  If I bought something that was nice enough to sell but not too nice so that it wasn't priced out of the E6 and up range, then I never had a problem selling.  Might be a bit of different story now.  Rented to military a time or two.  Much better than renting to civvies.  I made sure they new that I was military too and that I knew their system and how to get in touch with their 1SG/CSM.  Best of luck with your place.  Has the housing on Ft Sill been privatized and rebuilt or renovated yet?


NGH

[Old Syko]

At one time that was the instruction. What has been learned is children die long before adults are affected enough to notice. Children seldom hang from the cieling as is often said but do play on the floor. This will take time to become standard for sure as most changes do. Note some detectors are even plug in with bat back up now I have been told. As for air flow that is true to a point but return air intake can alter that assumption greatly.

SHOOTALL you're dealing with outdated info.  Both CO and smoke detectors have been plug in or hard wired with battery backup for many years now.  (20 or more)  The only time a CO detector is to be mounted low is for summer use when AC is used in conjunction with gas appliances such as a gas water heater or cook top.  For winter use a low mounted detector is useless as CO combines with rising warm or heated air.  I have 5 high mounted in a 3500 sq. ft. single level home and have set them off both in testing and once due to a faulty control valve in a gas fireplace that I discovered during installation.  The 2 low mounts i have 8 inches above the floor have only gone off with intentional testing.

[Dinny]

Besides that, the instructions state that they should be mounted out of children's reach and away from vents. Close proximity to vents can cause false positives. I have mine mounted between the sleeping areas and the only combustion source, a fireplace. This house is gasless. Well, except for my occasional venting...


Thanks, Dinny