Your Investor's Guide on How To SUCCEED in Section 8 Housing Rentals

Chapter 15

Move in Day

What to tell your tenants. What to show your your tenants. Let them know who’s boss. Tell them what they can do, but more importantly, what they can’t.

"Finally! You have renovated your property, rented it to a Section 8 participant, passed the inspection, signed the leases, and received your security deposit. You’re about to start getting some return on your investment. You only have to jump through one more hoop. Move in day!..."

"After you open the door of the property, the first question the tenant usually asks is if you mind if they paint? Early on, when we first started out, I would say, no go right ahead. Even if I had just had the place painted, I figured, hey, if you want to change some colors around, knock yourself out! Besides if they
are painting, that shows some enthusiasm that they want to spruce up and take care of the place. However, that’s not always the case. First of all, 99% of the time, their choice of colors are horrible. Not that I’m an interior decorator or give two shits about what color the bedroom walls are, but come on, bright red? Pumpkin orange? Violet and hunter green? Do you know how many coats of primer it takes to paint over a purple wall? Not only that, but they get paint all over the carpets or floor. I don’t think they ever heard of drop cloths. Anyway,
the answer is no, they can’t paint. The color of the walls they came in with are the colors they will go out with..."

"The first time you say yes to a question, they will ask you ten more. Here’s a line I like to use after the first question: “Mrs. Green, I did what I had to do to pass the Section 8 inspection. I won’t be doing anything else.” Once they see you’re not willing to give an inch, they will stop asking questions..."

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