“We tend to overpack. If it does not add value to your life journey, don’t bring it along for the ride.” ― Anthon St. Maarten
The business of being a landlord is great, but not for me.
I had great tenants in the past, that paid on time and never had any complaints. And some not so great. At the moment I have one of those. He pays late and complains about every little thing, at all hours of day and night.
I am at fault for not setting him straight from the beginning. I catered to every little thing he wanted, and didn’t make a big deal of the late rent. All of a sudden, years have gone by and I am feeling like a hostage.
“Don’t plan for the future until you have removed and unpacked the baggage on your back.” ― Charles F Glassman
In 2019 I sold the other rental I had. I thought I would regret selling it, because I loved the place, but instead I felt lighter. I no longer dread the calls from the tenant or from the super of that building.
I didn’t want to sell both condos in the same year. Also, since this is a one bedroom apartment, and by this time my tenant is married with 2 little kids; I thought that he would be moving out sooner, rather then later. He never did.
In 2020, when I was about to ask him to move out, there came Covid. In 2021 it was the same story.
“You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.”
― Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon
Finally, this January, I gave him notice to move out by April 15th. He is now complaining that 3 months is not enough time for them to move out. No matter what, the apartment will go on the market on April 16.
I cannot wait for it to be on the market and and to be sold. It will feel like I have shed another heavy layer.
In a prior post I mentioned, in response to a date’s question, that I wanted a series of homes in different places. The truth is, I don’t.
Don’t get me wrong, the idea is great; if they all came absolutely maintenance free. That would be a perfect world, where material possessions didn’t require any looking after.
“No baggage – there was the secret of existence.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, The Wrecker
In this not-so-perfect world, the more one has, the more it takes to maintain. It takes more money, more time, more energy, more dealing with painful people, etc. I don’t want any more of that, than I already have to deal with.
I aim to have less. Less to worry about. It helps that I am disliking shopping more and more. I have to buy a bedroom set and and I keep avoiding dealing with it. I wish I could go without a car also, but it is a necessary evil.
I want to get rid of stuff. I want to feel lighter and unencumbered. I want less baggage, less energy spent taking care of maintaining stuff. I don’t want to be tied to places and things. I don’t want to spend energy on things.
I want to be so light that I can feel like I can fly.
Wishing you a light weekend full of light and blessings!
“Only, in the end, you will realize. Among all the baggage you carried all your life, you didn’t own most of them. And the remaining weren’t as important as you always thought or expected it to be.” – Akshay Vasu, The Musings of Light and Darkness: Collection of words for the wandering souls
Good luck with selling your condo and simplifying your life Ana. I did that about 6 years ago and am mostly happy with the choice except I don’t have a home that I own so now I’m the tenant being booted.
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Hi Brad,
Thank you, a simpler life feels much better! I am sorry you have to find a new place to live now, but I like to think that any change is always for the better. I hope you find a place that is much better for you. Sending you prayers and blessings on your search! ♥
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Thank you Ana. 😀
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As Thoreau said – “Simplify, simplify!”
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Thank you for that and for the visit! Who am I to argue with Thoreau?
A blessed week to you! ♥
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You are absolutely right less is more. I was thinking of renting my place but decided to sell it. I don’t want all the hustle and repair constantly, chase rent etc. I am striving for a simple life and am still on clearing out all rooms. So far successfully- I have givne away so many things, I really don’t need. Enjoy the freedom.
Instead of having a series of homes in different places it is good to know people in different places. So you can alwyas go and visit them and have a nice time with friends.
Wishing you a lovely weekend Ana.
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Hi Ute,
Wise choice selling and not choosing to deal with all the stress that comes with being a landlord.
If I was your neighbor I would help you clear out the place – I love those kinds of projects.
Good point! I already have a good friend in England 😉
Blessings to you! ♥
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The money is great, but can be outweighed by the hassle of tenants.
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Hi Rob,
If I had someone to manage it for me, I would keep them.
In my case, my peace of mind is worth more than any profit from them.
Blessings to you! ♥
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Agreed on the landlord thing…what a PAIN. I finally hired someone to deal with all the BS which of course comes with a price. It’s worth it though! Can’t put a price on stress reduction!
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Hi Pam,
Thank you for the visit.
If I had found someone to deal with that for me, I would gladly keep the condos. But at this point I need to simplify.
Perhaps in the future I will buy something that already comes with a management company.
Blessings to you! ♥
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I love the comparison to baggage and overpacking. How freeing it would be to travel with just a backpack, not one of those marine ones they use for carrying queen size beds either. LOL Wasn’t it one of your posts that wished us space and time? I think so and I liked it.
I understand completely your idea of simplicity. Lightness and relief, is probably is one of the benefits one gets from emptying their closets or garages of the one is storing stuff but not using.
This tenant has been baggage too long, I hope he leaves your place clean but I feel apprehensive. I hope I am wrong.
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Hi David,
I always mention that, that I would love to just travel with a backpack. After 35 years of trips to Brazil packed like a mule, I am downsizing on that also.
Ha, I do remember writing something like that, good memory and thank you for the reminder! Perhaps I will go back and repost some of the old ones as a refresher.
I have his security deposit, but I hope I don’t have to use it. His appliances were the same age as mine (we are in the same building), I have already replaced his washer and dryer, fridge, and dishwasher. I still have the original ones. So that shows how much care he takes on other’s property. Gosh, looking back I don’t know why I waited so long to ask for him to leave.
Blessings and prayers to you on your treatment! ♥
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We had a rental apartment for a while with an excellent tenant but it just felt like a burden rather than an investment. He embraced the opportunity to buy a new house with his son. Good luck!
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Hi Kerry,
I agree with you – it does feel more like a burden!!
Thank you and a blessed week to you! ♥
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💟
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oh the push pull of having tenets Ana.. I feel ya. I have one too..
I’m dumping stuff as we speak~!
👏👏👏💖
I so agree with this “I want to get rid of stuff. I want to feel lighter and unencumbered. I want less baggage, less energy spent taking care of maintaining stuff. I don’t want to be tied to places and things. I don’t want to spend energy on things.
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You’ve found a silver lining with the pandemic I’d never thought of. I think we yearn for more companionship and less “stuff” as a result of the last two years. I know I do. As for your tenant, we are guilty of the same approach with our apartment. I’ve told my wife – after time-after-time with high-maintenance tenants – we need to set a mandatory two-week check-in after they move in, where we can raise any concerns and reinforce any expectations. It’s so much easier to be critical when you’re just getting going in these situations.
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Hi Dave,
You are totally right! After years of doing whatever he wanted, it is hard now to put my foot down. I am way too nice to be a landlord.
I like the idea of a mandatory check-in. It is indeed best to lay down the law at the start.
Good luck with your rental! Blessings! ♥
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