Tobin S. didn't just fall off the turnip truck; squibble-squabble ensues

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018713274

Oh my.

Tobin S. (7,220 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 01:11 PM

Have you ever wanted to take a chance on someone?

I have a small condo that's been sitting empty since last April. I've been trying to to sell it outright, sell it on land contract, or lease it. I've been open to any kind of offer. No dice. Not one offer for anything in over 9 months.

It's not in a bad area. It's in good shape. I replaced the carpet and painted the place. Everything in it is operable. In short, there is not a damn thing wrong with the place. Just move your stuff in and you're good.

My realtor says that since the condo only has one bedroom it makes it a tougher sell in an already tough market.

Anyway, I was looking on Craigslist today at the housing wanted ads on the off chance that I night run across a potential deal and I saw a couple of ads that intrigued me. One is from an out of work carpenter who is currently homeless. He has his own work truck and tools and I guess that's what he's living in right now.

My bleeding heart instincts kicked in immediately. I got to thinking and it's in the middle of winter around here and there probably isn't much work for carpenters. But here in a couple of months it will probably be easy for this guy to find work. So, a 14 month lease, first two months free plus electric paid for the first two months. My place is probably going to be sitting empty for at least that long so it really isn't hurting me to let the guy have it for free for a couple of months. He gets in out of the cold and has running water.

I also saw an ad for another person that appears to be down on his or her luck. They were seeking an apartment like mine in the area where it is located. The catch is that their rent will be subsidized by a local charity that helps former addicts and alcoholics get back on their feet. It's for a good cause and my money would be at least partially guaranteed every month, but at the same time I know that person living there is coming with some baggage.

Do you think either one of those deals sound good? Or would you just let it ride?

CaliforniaPeggy (113,062 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 01:19 PM

1. Life is full of risks, my dear Tobin!

Either one of those sounds good to me. I'd surely explore them.

You need to get someone into your condo, and both these people need a place to live.

I would not let it ride; I'd get busy talking to either one, or both of them.

Good luck!

^^^the same primitive who told walrus-face "good job!" on hiding the television remote-control.

we can do it (5,333 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 02:01 PM

4. Good luck with anything on crazilist.

There are way more scammers there than legitimate deals.

People have been killed by craigslist kooks, "just sayin".

I'd probably do it if it was someone I knew, otherwise be very careful.

Tobin S. (7,220 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 02:19 PM
6. I think that depends on where you are looking

I can usually spot the scams fairly easily. Where I live, over half of the job postings are scams and a good chunk of the cars for sale are scams as well. As far as real estate deals go, there are a lot of ways you can protect yourself and I have a property manager who knows how to do that.

What it basically comes down to is a greater risk of default and a greater possibility of having to evict someone from where I'm looking at it. Out of a desire to have some kind of deal on the place would I be taking an inappropriate risk? That's the main deal right there.

we can do it (5,333 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 02:22 PM

7. I don't. Bad checks used to secure property who then let someone else move in.

There are people running this in at least 5 states for nearly 30 years- all nice homes, con man who looks like he just walked out of a country club.

Tobin S. (7,220 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 02:30 PM

10. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck

Background checks. Credit checks. Reference checks. You just don't let someone have a place without checking them out. I've leased the place twice and I have all kinds of legal paperwork covering my ass plus a property manager who knows way more about real estate deals than I do. That's how you do it.

we can do it (5,333 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 03:36 PM

14. OK I won't bother trying to help you. You already know everything.

Tobin S. (7,220 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 03:39 PM

15. I clearly know more than you and I don't need your help.

we can do it (5,333 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 03:42 PM

17. Oh right you were driving the turnip truck.

Tobin S. (7,220 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 03:43 PM

18. Truck driving is honorable work. Do you have a problem with that?

we can do it (5,333 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 03:45 PM

19. No, I have family members who drive.

Most of them however aren't know-it-alls who bash people who try to help them. But you clearly know everything about everyone and everything. Have a nice life

Tobin S. (7,220 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 03:47 PM

21. I wouldn't be giving you a hard time if you didn't deserve it.

That's what happens when you treat people like they are stupid.

Touchy, touchy.

[GOBUCKS]

Tobin S. (7,220 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 02:30 PM

10. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck

Background checks. Credit checks. Reference checks. You just don't let someone have a place without checking them out.

Background check, credit check, references...riight.

Yet DUmmy Tobin S., fresh out of the DUmp nuthatch forum, is planning to allow an unemployed hobo move into his condo for free.

DUmmy Tobin S. didn't just fall off the turnip truck - he was one of the first.

[Chris_]

I'm curious how many times Tobin has advocated the government do something he himself is unwilling to do privately.

"There ought to be a law!"

[Carl]

C`mon Tobin...sign up to accept section 8 payments like the good liberal you are.
What can possibly go wrong when you involve the government? 

[Gina]

lolz he tries to act like guy insulted his trade. 

[FiddyBeowulf]

Tobin S. (7,220 posts)   Mon Jan 19, 2015, 02:30 PM

10. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck

After you fell off the truck it stopped and then backed up over you before going forward to run over you again.

[dixierose]

After you fell off the truck it stopped and then backed up over you before going forward to run over you again.

^H5 to you.

 

[JohnnyReb]

DUmmie renting to DUmmie....this should be good.

[Bad Dog]

DUmmie renting to DUmmie....this should be good.

There have been several threads on that subject.  They never end well.