wherepovertytakesaholiday's Profile

Maggie,

I'm a landlord in San Francisco - another competitive rental market like D.C. I pride myself on offering super insulated, squeaky clean, beautifully maintained properties. I do this less to command high rents than to attract good tenants.

Most people don't know how to be a good rental applicant. My advice is simple: show up prepared, be charming, be responsive, and gently persistent. Good landlords want renters who are solvent, clean, and will treat the property with respect. Make it clear from the get go that you offer all three.

I post my rentals via Craigslist and get a ridiculous number of inquiries. I respond to each e-mail personally, I attach a standard rental application form and ask people to print and fill out that form before they arrive at the property. I make it clear that if they see the place in person and aren't interested they don't have to give me a thing, but if they like the house they should have what they need in hand. I make it clear that a credit history will be required and that I use a web-based service where the prospective tenant pays the reporting service directly (not to me) so there is no hint that I am scamming application fees. Then I select tenants based on 1) credit-worthiness, 2) references from employers, past landlords, etc. 3) number of compromises involved such as pets, smokers, etc. 4) gut feelings.

The last time I rented a property (two months ago) I interviewed 73 people. The vast majority dragged their feet, weighed other options, didn't want to spend $24 on the credit report, had train wreck credit, couldn't verify legitimate employment, etc. A few people offered to have family members co-sign, but the family members wouldn't agree to credit reports or employment verification. Some people gave sob stories about imminent eviction. (Not a good strategy.) Some people said I'd have to do X, Y and Z to the property if they wanted me as renters. (Goodby Mr. and Mrs. granite counter tops.) Several people were clearly not real renters but other landlords looking at the competition. (Fine with me.)

Only ONE woman brought her printed application the first time we met. She also included a cover letter explaining why she and her boyfriend would be excellent renters based on verifiable facts and why this property was perfect for her needs, rather than a terrible compromise. She didn't have perfect credit (who does these days?) and she did have a cat, which I didn't particularly want, but she got the place over the other 72 people. She was charming, polite, professional, and was willing to answer all my questions and concerns promptly with hard evidence. Two months in, I love them and they seem very happy.

- John

Land around Haiku on Maui probably costs as much as a space shuttle, but there are more affordable parts of the state. I built a modest cottage in the Puna district on the Big Island not far from the town of Hilo. You can still find a small building lot within walking distance of the beach for $25K. Did I mention the volcano? Still, if you really want a house in Hawaii on a tight budget it can be done. I built my place for about $30k.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/small-cool-2008-southwest/southwest-1-kolins-where-poverty-takes-a-holiday--046856

The crushed blue stone looks fabulous. HOWEVER... I grew up in an area (Jersey shore) where people routinely installed gravel ''lawns'' because they did not want the maintenance of a traditional yard. When done right the rock landscape looks good, but inevitably the plastic liner underneath becomes compromised and weeds spring up through the holes. When you pull the weeds out, it makes the holes larger and the weeds come back up stronger the next time. After a few years people opt for regular spraying of herbicide or they try to to remove the rock - but end up with garden soil full of gravel. Not my first recommendation if you want a low-maintenance yard over the long term. Good luck.

If you're looking for cheap digs there's always the part of Los Angeles County to the far east: Palmdale/Lancaster/Quartz Hill... Sort of like the asteroid belt, but my cousin just bought a five bedroom two bath house with a two car garage and an acre of land for under $250,000. I think apartments are nearly free if you don't mind commuting by space shuttle.

For BrooklynBob who asked... the stainles steel shelves in the living room were purchased for about 200 dollars at the Design Within Reach warehouse sale in Union City, CA just before they relocated to a new facility in Tennessee or Kentucky, hence the good price.

Great comments from everyone. I must agree that the cottage lacks the Wow Factor as one writer observed. So here's the deal. I've lived in New York, London, L.A., San Francisco... where you can find all kinds of fantastic stuff everywhere from uber expensive shops all the way down to yard sales and trash bins. The Big Island is WAY different. No people, no centuries of accumulated manufactured goods. Bubkas. If you want something you have to schlep it in from the mainland. So, if my Poverty Palace lacks the kind of amazing objet d’art that comes ten for a dollar in the big city… it’s because it takes time to find stuff (or make it yourself) out in the boonies. It’s a work in progress.

Thanks for all the great comments. In response to some of your questions:
1) The wall paint is from True value Hardware and is called “Cityscape”. Depending on the light it is gray, beige or ever so slightly pink.
2) The kitchen does need some art on the walls. Agreed. But I will say that it is so heavily used and full of food-related clutter that I was a bit over zealous about cleaning it before I took the photo, hence the sterile impression.
3) There is no couch, but there are two very comfy chairs and the bed to lounge on. Kick off your flip flops at the door and relax folks.
4) The table is oversized for the space, but I like to cook and feed people when they visit and wasn’t about to suffer with a puny card table just so I could wedge in a crappy futon.
5) This is a free standing house on its own lot with a big garden. It’s a short walk from Kehena Beach about fifteen minutes from Pahoa town.
6) The outdoor shower sounds strange, but it is usually everyone’s favorite thing after they’ve used it. Don’t try this in Saskatoon!
7) I love visitors. Come see for yourself.