Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

[ezbtr]

My buddy will be outta here end of month, we have a large community college .5 mile from here. Need responsible, quiet person. Will need to take out trash few times a week and some very small chores while I heal up. Shared large bathroom (son here on wknds over night) small entertainment center w/ TV, free wireless and CATV, full kitchen privledges, beautiful, large 2nd floor deck off room, lotsa windows/bright. What else to get besides first and last month rent, credit check? Half utilities? In this area I'm thinking $550 a month. Thanks guys!!

 

[aspeck]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

Live in the home with you? My tip: Don't.

I'm agreeing with Bubba. To many variables. Tough at times for a husband and wife to live together. A stranger? Doesn't matter how well you vet them, they are still a stranger with quirky, to you, habits. Generally a receipt for disaster. Now I know a few families who have done this, but they had their own entrance, their own kitchen to use, their own bedroom, and the only thing shared was a rec room with very explicit rules and times attached.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

Whose insurance coverage???? When a renter gets hurt, overdoses on experimenting with a controlled substance or burns your place to the ground........

Best advice - Don't third answer in a row like that.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

wow - great comments guys! Maybe to another person I know then??

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

wow - great comments guys! Maybe to another person I know then??

I have done this, with best friends and it worked out great. we would be hanging out with each other all the time any way:rockon: and shared common intrests. we had fun times, mostly, but did get into physical altercations :fencing: on a few rare occasions(alcohol induced):facepalm: I no longer drink(cant handle)

 

[scipper77]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I know you said community college is near but if you rent to a student, rent to a grad student. Preferably an engineering grad student or some other major where there is little time for a personal life. This is not a joke!!

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I know you said community college is near but if you rent to a student, rent to a grad student. Preferably an engineering grad student or some other major where there is little time for a personal life. This is not a joke!!

yup great idea, no hard liquor here, no friends, never parties, no smoking, have to keep areas clean too, maybe a week renter, we have those here, they work in SF 4 or so days a week and go home on weekends

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I will never rent a room to another person ever again. Been there done that.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I will never rent a room to another person ever again. Been there done that.

what was your experience?

 

[tazrig]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I will never rent a room to another person ever again. Been there done that.

+1^^^ It always starts out great and then they start taking over your space little by little. Asking to borrow the car or tools or they have little pets that damage your house or they do and never quite end up replacing what they broke. If you remember nothing else remember this... NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED! Tenants are bad enough at another location. When they come to live with you it almost never works out.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I know you said community college is near but if you rent to a student, rent to a grad student. Preferably an engineering grad student or some other major where there is little time for a personal life. This is not a joke!!

Maybe different in CA, but here a community college has only undergrads and even, they usually are freshmen and sophomores. And not to overgeneralize, but often they are either not the most mature or they aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer. Taking one of them into your home would be a risk, I think.

The advice of renting to grad students is right on, though, if the school has grad programs.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

+1^^^ It always starts out great and then they start taking over your space little by little. Asking to borrow the car or tools or they have little pets that damage your house or they do and never quite end up replacing what they broke. If you remember nothing else remember this... NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED! Tenants are bad enough at another location. When they come to live with you it almost never works out.

no borrowing here at ALL, first damage, they out and I keep deposit, no pets, no late payments, no house key, garage door access which I can change code in 60 secs.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

In Ca they have renters rights. So no out just because you want them out because this got damaged. I would say don't do it.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

In MA it is a 6 month minimum to get people out and thats if you're lucky, seriously...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

no borrowing here at ALL, first damage, they out and I keep deposit, no pets, no late payments, no house key, garage door access which I can change code in 60 secs.

You are in way over your head.

Way too many rules with no way to enforce them.

If you want someone to rent from you, sit quietly in their room, never have a friend or relative visit, and do chores for you, you need to find a slave. Or a wife.

What are you going to do when something is missing, and they say the door was open when they came home?

Or, you go out to eat, and come home to an empty house?

Lease or no lease, once they move in, it becomes their domicile. And they can't drink? In their own "home" ?

Good Luck.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

What is the motivation to have someone live with you in your place.???

Probably not worth it in the long run, so I too would say don't do it.

Might be different if it was a separate entry apartment as part of the house, but not as you described it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

my advise - dont do it

if you have an unused room - then use it, or downsize the house if its a finance thing. you have too many rules/restrictions for a renter.

I agree with above, renting a room to a stranger is a recipe for disaster. Tried it in college when I was in my 20's with friends and it was a disaster back then. Had both my brother and sister live with me for a few months in my 30's and it was a painful disaster in both cases (and that is with family). recently had my father live with me for 5 months while he recovered from major surgery and that was not easy either.

my advise is still dont do it.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I worked in the collegiate housing industry (individual lease apartments) for about 4 years (which was about 1,459 days too long): no way in the world would I lease a portion of my house to ANY of those kids. Even the best of 'em would be a terrible tenant in my private home.

Kids of that age generally have no social filter, no self restraint and little respect for anything they don't own.

… and you're bound by law and lease to 'em.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I cannot believe the OP has not seen this thread!

http://forums.iboats.com/dockside-chat/bit-problem-my-renter-little-help-637756.html

 

[gm280]

Re: Renting third unused bedroom out, tips?

I'd never do such a thing knowing too well the many serious things that could go wrong and against you. While people like to give the college student a benefit of the doubt, they still have not matured enough to handle responsibility to abide by any contractual agreement. Watch a few "People's Court" or other fake daytime judgment shows. They are covered up with such law suits daily. I'd never allow any stranger to roam my house for any reason. Heck, I wouldn't allow a relative to do that either. My personal space/room is just that...personal! Too many things can go wrong. Thing could go missing and how do you prove where those things disappeared too? Every college student always needs money. Not to say every student is a thief, but don't give them that opportunity to your belongings... JMHO!