In the annals of relationship-ending conversations, there
are many flavors:
Reflective: I think I may hate you
Cooperative: We just don’t complete each other
Corporate: We need to divest
Dramatic: “This” (hands motioning in a circle around both parties) isn’t working for me!
Conditional: We need to either work harder at this or start seeing other people
Non-Committal: I’m not sure about us
Cold: You are altogether awful! Leave me alone forever.
Soft Approach: It’s not you, it’s me!
When a relationship has to end, it’s hurtful, and usually to both parties. People put themselves out there and are vulnerable. It’s tough. And there’s no good way to part ways, even when it has to be done.
In a less personable way, it’s the same situation between renters and property managers.
Renter: This rental house on-line looks enticing!
Property Manager: Come and see it in person!
(later)
PM: Did you like it?
Renter: It smells and is way over-priced! If you think it is the “best house on the street”, you may be as dumb as you look.
PM: Fortunately, I’m not that dumb... I’ll notate your response as “not interested at this time”.
But when the tenant response is favorable…
Renter: I love it! I’ll fill out a rental application!
PM: Woo-hoo!
(later)
PM: Your results are in and things look really good. But, unfortunately, you’re not approved. Thanks for applying.
Renter (confused): What???
PM: We’ll, it’s not you, it’s me!
Renter: Seriously??
Sadly, yes.
The problem is that in Charlotte’s hot real estate market, property managers can get 10-15 different applications for certain homes (typically single family homes $1,300.00/month or less). This makes it tough to pick a tenant. Some of the applications have undisclosed evictions and can be weeded out quickly, but several of them are usually really good. If we had five of the rental house, we could fill them all. But we only have one. And that creates unhappiness for the parties who are not approved for the house, even when they are very “dateable”.
It truly is me, not you. It’s nice to be landlord in this Charlotte market from a vacancy perspective, but we can certainly understand the renter frustration of not getting a house with normally acceptable credentials. It’s tough!
Happy Landlording!
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