Charlotte Property Management Weekly: 5 Signs the “Home Sales Swine Flu” Has Infected Your Rental Market
“Yes, I would like some cheese with this whine. Thanks.” (Brett Furniss, Charlotte Property Manager and author of Charlotte Property Management Weekly)
“President Obama has declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency…” (Charlotte Observer, 10/25/09)
Swine flu is now officially both a national emergency and a pandemic! I’m not entirely sure what that means, but it sounds pretty bad and pretty official.
Learn MoreCharlotte Property Management Weekly: “Sully Love”: Customers Will Like You More if You Fly Them into the Hudson River?
“I messed up. I placed a tenant into an owner’s home and they wound up tearing it up and not paying rent. There is no way they will ever hire me again…” (Charlotte Property Manager)
“It was crazy, you see. I took off and then two hours later, I landed in Charlotte. I guess technically you could say that I did my job. But the guy who crashed into the river, no, he’s the hero. It’s weird, right?” (Bitter Captain Roger Baines, played by Jason Sudeikis- Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday- 10/2/09)
Learn MoreCharlotte Property Management Weekly: Obama’s Entrepreneur-less Recovery Plan
“Too big to fail.” (President Obama)
“…(Then US Treasury Secretary Alexander) Hamilton regarded the national debt as ‘a national blessing,’ for it permitted the clustering of resources into the hands of a small group of enterprising men who would invest and not just spend it.” (Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis)
Learn MoreCharlotte Property Management Weekly: Sarah Palin- A Huge Rent-To-Own and Seller Financing Fan?
“I need to do something to sell my empty house NOW.” (Unhappy Charlotte Landlord)
Moderator: “Who do you think was at fault? I start with you, Gov. Palin. Was it the greedy lenders? Was it the risky home-buyers who shouldn’t have been buying a home in the first place?”
Sarah Palin: “Darn right it was the predator lenders!” (VP Debate vs. Joe Biden 10/2/08)
Learn MoreCharlotte Property Management Weekly: What is “Rent-To-Sell”? A Primer by “Ugly Kid”
“You think ‘Rent-To-Sell’ is the best way to sell in this economy? Why is it better than just listing my home for sale?” (Skeptical Charlotte Home Seller)
“My son will have a date to that darn prom if it is the last thing I do…” (Rueful rallying cry from the father of “Ugly Kid”)
A father had a problem. Rather it was his son’s problem, but he couldn’t stomach the thought that his offspring was so unappealing to the opposite sex.
Learn MoreCharlotte Property Management Weekly: Retail Lessons on How to Sell the “Little House on the Prairie” in Today’s Market
“Oh, I wish a buyer would buy my house now…” (Many anxious Charlotte home sellers)
“Oh, I wish I could buy a house right now…” (Many anxious Charlotte renters)
Retailers are getting a really bad rap these days. Their sales figures are low, profit margins are terrible (they have to discount everything to move it), many are going into bankruptcy, and Wall Street is punishing their stocks.
Learn MoreCharlotte Property Management Weekly: Rental Incentives with Dennis Rodman
“I’ve had my home listed with my real estate agent forever! I didn’t figure it would sell in this market, but he has it up for rental and rent-to-own as well on MLS. Still, there are no takers yet. What gives???” (Charlotte Landlord)
Dennis Rodman was one of the most prolific rebounders in NBA history, a 2-Time All-NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and an integral member of five championship teams. Known affectionately as the “Worm”, his off the court antics were even more noteworthy.
Learn MoreCharlotte Property Management Weekly: “To evict or not to evict” OJ Simpson
“If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” (Johnnie Cochran- OJ’s lawyer)
“If the tenant doesn’t submit (payment), you must evict?” (Anxious Landlords)
From a drama perspective, OJ Simpson’s (first) trial was great theater. It had a thrilling beginning (who could forget the white Bronco chase on the interstate?) and it immediately captured the nation’s attention. The story was televised 24-hours a day and reporters energetically followed every lead and generated hundreds of side stories (the “Dancing Ito’s” anyone?). The public was excited, and then the trial got past its first week (which turned out to be the first of around 60 weeks). Whew!
Learn MoreRenting McDonald’s-Style- “Do you want Fido(s) with that?”
“No, we will never allow pets in our rental home! They are destructive, the arch-enemy of nice carpet, and borderline evil. In fact, my Uncle Jeb’s ex-wife got a dog and ran away with Fido 6 months later!”
OK- this conversation might not have happened.
McDonalds’s stock in the mid-1980’s was struggling
Learn MoreRental Pricing by Bernie Madoff
“When I used to rent my property out, we had tenants in it paying $1,495/month. You have it listed for $1,195/month. What’s wrong with you?”
First of all, if things were so rosy in $1,495/month self-management land, I don’t think you would be talking to a property manager. But I already digress…
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