Hi Perna...Neighborhood is a quant, family oriented neighborhood. Houses are 30 or 50 years old...They were orginally built as starter homes. I love this house because there is so much potential. Is really cute and has a nice deck and yard. Isn't at all what one could call beautiful...Most folks with good taste would turn their noses up at this little house...

Type of renters I keep suggestiong are employed folks. And I also insist on a lease. When we first started renting the house, way before aj and I moved in, I wrote the leases, covered every area including security deposits............NEVER ONE PROBLEM then...Because it was in writing what was expected....

AJ's friend's girlfriend is renting a small room. AJ did not want me involved. There was no lease.. or understanding that utilities are not included in the rent. He dropped the rent almost $100. She pretty much thinks she is doing us a favor by renting.. Not fully realizing the deal she has.. But I can say she always pays her rent and now that the utilities are clear, she pays without problems...

AJ's dad likes renting to students because their parents pay the rent and utilities. But we lost our main kitchen upstairs due to neighbors complaining about the noise and parties and zoning got involved and made us remove one of the kitchens...I told AJ's dad there will be problems.. But talking to him is like talking to a tree sometimes.

As for renting furnished, we would buy used but nice furniture from craigslist. So there would not be a drastic loss should the furniture be damaged.

Seems I am the ony one here that pushes for leases and security deposits. shrugs shoulders.... I try to explain to AJ and his dad that a lease is very important. It covers everything the renter will be responsible for, including damage....

So far the only renter that damaged anything was the "contractor" I am pretty sure it was deliberate, because of his attitude. He was one nasty, arrogant man.

Bottom line is renting rooms has its up and downs..Unfortunately, at this point, we have no alternative. The only renters that worked out great, were the students "all females" that rented the upstairs and basements. They even mowed the yard and planted flowers..... The male students never mowed the lawn...

Boy, I sure babbled a lot.. lol

Babbling more. I take that back on damages.. Two or three guys rented the basement. They also had a pitt. Damage and filth was so bad we had to remove all the carpet and installed laminant floors.. OO the junk they left behind filled l0 garbage bags..... oooooooo and the stink.. Lordy, it made me gag... Was a mess to clean up ....