Posted by Anne_ND on February 16, 2005 at 07:49:46:
Thanks Tony,
We do require all pets to be spayed or neutered in houses or mobile homes we rent or sell and it hasn’t been a problem yet.
I did have one guy with a few unneutered cats and I was adamant- they had to be fixed before he could move in. He did it and later thanked me because they all got along a lot better afterwards.
I’ve got 4 cats at the moment, and just recently had to have my dog put down. If I wasn’t about to move we’d get another one right away. He was good company when I went to work on a MH and all the contractors I work with loved him.
Renting a land/home to that perfect someone - Posted by Briton (IN)
Posted by Briton (IN) on February 14, 2005 at 15:22:27:
I have one land/home package. I bought the land because it was beside my park. It is 7 acres. This land also has a maintanance building that i store tools in, and a self storage facility i built about 1.5 years ago. The mobile home is a 14x70 located on the back of the property. (the storage is on the front of the property)
All that to say i just remodeled the home and am looking for a First class tenant. I need someone i feel very comfortable with that i can ask to keep an eye on my kingdom I have had an ad running for a few MONTHS now, and have only had a couple of what i would call good prospects. Most callers smoke or cant ask one of my first few questions the way i want them too. (where do you live? how long you been there? Do you smoke? Why you moving? ect.)
I personally think my ad is good. Part of my problem may be the time of year. I understand it may take a while to find a far better than average tenant. I have asked friends, which would be ideal, but nothing…
Here is the ad:
14x70 Mobile Home on large lot in a private country setting, 2BR, Access to Crooked Lake, recently remodled, $425/mo
After a 2 month of paying for ads i thought it may be worth a shot posting my situation. Should i put lower rent, and a sentance on the lines of “need responsable individual to watch property” or something. I have thought of that, but then lousy prospects will call me trying to act like something they are not. It would also point out what i feel as a weekness of the property. I am not really looking for a full out manager either. Any thoughts welcome. Briton (IN)
Posted by Briton (IN) on February 15, 2005 at 12:37:58:
First of all thank you to all who have responded.
Scott i have tried the get a couple current residents to live their. I am going to go threw my list again, and stop and talk to a few more small possibilites this afternoon.
Steve and Anne. If or when i put another ad in I will focus on large pets, and the number of acres. Thanks you.
As far as those that have said sell the home. I cannot risk this home being moved. Its a long story, but i have to keep this home on the lot for several years.
My long-term plan is to sell the 13 acres I own. (park, and all) to a rich person who would like to have horses, and lake frontage. Or a Condo developer. Then take that money and purchase a 100+space park, higher a mananger and do whatever i feel like…
Thank you for everyone that has responded. Any more thoughts on how to rent the MH and lot to a good person are welcome! Thanks again for those that have responded thus far. Briton (IN)
Simple Solution Outside the BOX ! - Posted by Robert(ID)
Posted by Robert(ID) on February 15, 2005 at 12:25:23:
Briton,
Sell the Home on an OWNER CARRY. Look for somone who has a bigger down payment than normal. Its TAX TIME, and many people have above average down payments right now. It will eliminate all hassels, and at the same time you can rent the lot back to them. This would give you, apporximately $650 - $750 a month in cash flow.
SECONDLY- I would call an ALL Encompassing Engineering firm, who specializes in small developments. They will come out and look at the property free of charge and put together a estimate or Bid for you. The beauty of using an all encompassing Firm, they do all the work from A to Z for you in regards to development. You have a potential gold mine here, through some research and persistence you could have a property generating Thousands Each month. Even splitting it into 7 1 acre lots, you could generate about $5,000 plus per month on this place. The engineering firm will be able to help you with that, and trust me, they know how to deal with the city or the county. I am currently using one in Las Vegas on a 2 1/2 acre development,and i live in IDAHO. The firm has made my job as an investor very very easy.
Hope this helps. Any questions feel free to e-mail me.
Regards,
Robert ( ID ) Http://www.helpidaho.com
Sell house, rent the land - Posted by John Merchant
Posted by John Merchant on February 15, 2005 at 09:54:20:
Have you thought of selling the MH, while keeping the land and just renting them the “space”?
That way, THEY take care of the MH, as it’s theirs, and there’s not a lot of real lasting damage they could do to the land…especially if you’re next door in the MHP.
And Steve’s idea of advertising for a horse owner is great, IMHO. Those folks need what you’ve got.
If they’re buying the MH, you wouldn’t have to care about what pets they have, as any damage would be their’s to contend with.
7 acres should also be sub-divisible so as to give you a number of additional MH lots, so you might get a number of additional rental spaces to up your gross income.
A chat with a local CE (civil engineer) should get you some hard info about how many such lots you might get, the reqirements you’d have in putting in streets, utilities, etc., and your likely cost to do so, etc.
Re: Renting a land/home to that perfect someone - Posted by Anne_ND
Posted by Anne_ND on February 15, 2005 at 06:43:11:
Hi Briton,
This is my favorite time of year to sell my mobiles because of tax refunds. People have so much more money to put down.
Whether your rent is appropriate will depend on your market, so I can’t make any comments there- is it a straight rental or are you selling the home and renting the lot?
As for the pets- my main niche is nice homes (stick-built) that require you to have a pet if you want to live there. Not all pet owners are going to trash a place!! Because we allow pets we get the creme de la creme of tenants- all the professional people with little Fluffy that no one else will rent to. If you have a pet-hostile market, there will be many people looking for a NICE house that allows pets and they will treat it extremely well. You can also advertise for free at places like your local Humane Society and PetCo or PetSmart.
All the local businesses refer their new executives to us because they know we’ll take pets and our houses come with a lot of unusual amenities (new appliances, lots of charm, very responsive management) and they are thrilled to pay top dollar to get a nice place that allows them to keep Fluffy.
The key is to screen like crazy. If you’re in the right kind of market most of your pet-owning applicants will have stellar credit.
(disclaimer: most perfect-credit, pet-owning professionals don’t know which end of a hammer is the one you hold, so don’t expect them to be handy)
Re: Renting a land/home to that perfect someone - Posted by karl (TN)
Posted by karl (TN) on February 15, 2005 at 01:50:30:
You mentioned that this was a lousy time to advertize. I have lot’s of rentals and find this is a great time to advertise. We are entering pre-spring. Not that weather has much to do about it but Uncle Sam is sending out those refunds. In fact I will advertise higher rents this time of year and come summer, when I go to fill vacancies I will advertise $25 less. Get the picture?
My suggestion…Normally I would say remove the add for a week, but under the circumstances not this time. Reword your add entirely. People looking in the paper have already seen your add and skim by it, dismissing it. (IF it was a good deal why hasn’t it rented yet?). You may even use a mobile number this time. Just make it look different to catch attn.
I liked someone elses suggestion of 4 acres instead of large lot. Try this. 2 bedroom home located on 4 acres, private country setting with lake access. No smoking or pets. $425/mos.
No need to say Mobile in your ad if it’s already advertised under MH for rent. If not you may want to add that. I include The no smoking and pet clause for two reasons. 1) it weeds out those callers. You will be surprised how many will call you anyway, but now they are quick to ask if a small house broken dog is acceptable. Or the wife will say, my husband smokes, but I make him go outside…
2) That phrase tells readers that this is a nice place to live.
Oh yeah, try going up on your rent instead of down. You’d be surprised. Good luck!
Posted by Steve-WA on February 14, 2005 at 19:29:46:
Is the back portion of the lot fenced? are you willing to allow pets? what about horses
If so, instead of “large lot”, advertise “4 acres” or whatever the available land is, and the fact that horses are OK.
Wherever I’ve lived, I’ve always run across people who want room for ponies. Perhaps erect a barn, and charge another 200 rent - or whatever you market will bear.
Renting a land/home to that perfect someone - Posted by ScottS(NC)
Posted by ScottS(NC) on February 14, 2005 at 17:00:22:
Briton,
What I love to do in my parks is to Promote from within. Is there someone who is responsable, already living in one of your rental units? Offer them a better place at a cheaper price. They will love it and do a good job for you. I have a full-time handy man in my bigger park that I give free rent and electric to. It works well for his family and allows me to spend my time doing bigger projects while he handles the small stuff. Think of each of your tenants maybe there’s a quiet tenant, you don’t know much about but they always pay well that you could offer the place to, with the added responsibility you will need to reduce the going rental rate. Works well for me. Take Care ScottS(NC)
Posted by Tony Colella on February 15, 2005 at 21:30:46:
Anne,
I wanted to post a note of thanks to you. I too have a weakness for the animals that our properties (particularly the mobile home parks) attract that are provided less than great treatment.
Don’t get me wrong, many of my pet owner tenants do take care of their pets but at some point some do go unattended or simply breed or attract others.
I have not yet reached a point in the parks where I believe I can enforece a screening for spay/neuter but that day will come.
I have personally found homes for the many of the ones that fall through the cracks and have had to call animal control to collect some of those that I could not help directly.
Both of my dogs are pound pups. I am running out of friends to adopt the more people oriented animals that find their way into our properties. I suspect my lot of pets will grow each year.
My compliments on your efforts on behalf of those animals.
I have had an ad running for a few MONTHS now, and have only had a couple of what i would call good prospects. Most callers smoke or cant ask one of my first few questions the way i want them too. (where do you live? how long you been there? Do you smoke? Why you moving? ect.)