12-02-2009, 04:54 AM
I have certainly seen the landlord/tenant world from both sides and there are abusers aplenty in the owner and the renter worlds.
One of my most appalling experiences was with a wealthy client who had paid me $20,000 to build fancy stereo cabinets in his home. He called me wanting some attention on a rental property he had. What I found was a slum condition property where this rich guy wanted me to go to Home Depot, buy a cheap storage shack kit, cut a hole in the garage wall and add the shack so he could stuff a few more illegal immigrants
into the sad situation.
I refused and never worked for him again.
Another memorable moment was doing a cold call estimate for an apartment building owner. Low rent. While I was briefly there some folks came by to leave a deposit on an apartment. The owner took the money and when they left chuckled to me that he had taken three deposits on the unit and the first one to move in got it. The rest could sue him if they had the balls.
I left never to return. Felt terrible for the poor folks who got thoroughly screwed and may have ended up homeless. For many families scraping up a deposit is hard work.
This was all years back and on the mainland. It all still goes on.
One of my most appalling experiences was with a wealthy client who had paid me $20,000 to build fancy stereo cabinets in his home. He called me wanting some attention on a rental property he had. What I found was a slum condition property where this rich guy wanted me to go to Home Depot, buy a cheap storage shack kit, cut a hole in the garage wall and add the shack so he could stuff a few more illegal immigrants
into the sad situation.
I refused and never worked for him again.
Another memorable moment was doing a cold call estimate for an apartment building owner. Low rent. While I was briefly there some folks came by to leave a deposit on an apartment. The owner took the money and when they left chuckled to me that he had taken three deposits on the unit and the first one to move in got it. The rest could sue him if they had the balls.
I left never to return. Felt terrible for the poor folks who got thoroughly screwed and may have ended up homeless. For many families scraping up a deposit is hard work.
This was all years back and on the mainland. It all still goes on.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Punaweb moderator