I received a call the other day from an owner/client who lives in the UK. She comes to NoVA periodically to see her parents and evidently had half a day to drive down to Charlottesville and walk around her property....she always files with plenty of time to book her tickets so I questioned why she did not alert me of her visit so I could notify the residents..,her answer was that she did not think they would mind.
Basically, it is not her property. She pays the taxes and mortgage on it; however, she does not have the right to come onto the property and walk around. Since the property is in a rural area and the residents work shifts, she could have easily awakened the residents or had the police called by the neighbors - worse, she could have been shot!
The sooner property owners start thinking about the BUSINESS of renting their property, the sooner they will learn to treat it as a business and not just drop by from across the world.
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * Over 45 years of property management experience to serve you * now renting homes in Central Virginia for the summer rental season....http://VAHomes4Rent.com
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
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"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous
Ha ha! Good for you for sticking up for your renters! I think it's frustrating towards the end of a lease when property owners make multiple appointments to show the house, with no regard to the current tennants. I know that you want to get the house rented, but it can make the last 3 months living in the house miserable for the current tennants. I know every contract is different, but what do you think is a reasonable amount of showings to put the current tennant through? Usually it's based on time frame...my last contract said 90 days, but that seemed like way to long for them to have access to the house for showings(they booked them often.)
Kelly - my point is that to SEE the house, it should be VACANT so you can SEE the house. To drive 5 hours round trip to just walk around the outside of the property is pointless. There could be issues at the house we could have discussed viewing it together, upgrades, etc. and entry could have been accomplished with proper notice to the residents.
Wallace - It is sometimes difficult to get owners to recognize that even though they 'own' the house it is not the tenant's 'home'. Everyone needs to feel safe and secure in their home. Since they are renting their home rather than buying it, they do have to allow access for inspections, repairs and showings once they have given notice of their intention to move. We respect the rights of our tenants - without them we would not have a business!
Agreed - tenants are a necessary "evil"....most of mine are PERFECT!!
Even WE as management will grant an advance notice and get the tenant's permission... it's only polite and respectful.
Here in the Coal Region, where pickup trucks often are sold with free gun racks, that'd be dangerous too!
Wallace, you're so right about the property owners thinking of the home as a business.
Common sense
Diane - I agree; although, I don't tell residents it is the property owner that is viewing...just that I am coming by and they do not need to be there as I have a key. 99% of the time, they are gone.
Erica - we have gun racks in VA and someone walking around a rural property who is not an electric "meter reader" runs the risk of being shot or WORSE
Christine * "common sense" does not enter into it...it's their HOME so it's emotional!!!
surpirse visits usually never workout