AC Condenser Getting Vandalized
Both my properties had my AC condensing unit vandalized at different times. One was totally pulled out and towed away. I know have a metal cage surrounding it but the crooks can still get to the copper and break the unit open.
Another property was not stolen but the crooks ripped everything up just to get to the compressor and the copper. I now have to buy yet another condenser.
How do you recommend protecting your condenser from these copper thieves who are trying to make $25 while I spend another wasted $800???
Something like either of the following came to mind.
http://www.contextengineering.com
or
http://www.armoraccessboxes.com/products/products-list.asp?catID=3&pab=1_3
and then bolted and anchored.
I am just wondering if they can be put inside of an attic or something? Rather than on the roof? Or perhaps it is a heat pump that can be put inside of an attic?
Stay out of New England, the most Landlord unfriendly area of the USA. Good Luck
Stay out of California also.
You may want to check with different REIA-type groups in the areas that interest you. I would think they could give you "local" insight. They are listed on TCI under "Groups" above...
[addsig]
I like West Virginia ..... it is VERY easy and QUICK to evict a tenant for non payment of rent .... rent due the 1st, past due after the 5th, eviction filed the 7th, court date by the 21st, tenant ordered to be out within 24-48 hours of the hearing usually.
See also http://www.thecreativeinvestor.com/ViewTopic66007-24.html, Landlord-Unfriendly States and Cities
Texas is awesome We have rentals there and we do not even need a lawyer to evict. Less than 30 day process and we share information about tenants that do not pay. So there are no serial dead beat tenants.
We just sold all of our Missouri rentals which is the state of Misery for landlords. takes up to 4 months to evict. You have to have a trial if they show up. You must have a lawyer which can cost up to 2k just to get started plus filing fees. Prosecutors will prosecute you if they abandon the property under the Missourii abandonment statute and you throw away left over belongings. Missouri Lawyers laugh it is the best con in Missouri. You have more rights as a tenant to possession than you do if you are getting forclosed on as an owner. Missouri forces landlords through their arcane laws to subsidize rentals so they do not have to. In sum. there is a reason why Missouri rentals are worthless. Go South if you want a good investment in rentals. Texas is the absolute best. Deadbeats get the boot.
I would stay out of Washington State. The eviction process is less than 30 days if you lawyer up, but the tenants get free legal counsel. If the tenants leave abandoned property worth more than $250, you get to store for them for 30 days, notify them of a pending sale, then none of any sales proceeds can go to back rent or legal fees or damage to the property. After a year, surplus monies above storage fees only, have to go back to the state dept of revenue! Yeah!
It sounds like the gas deposit is probably too costly for her.
Does she have children living there also?
Do you have pex or copper? If the former, it is pretty durable and can expand more than the copper.
You could put the heat in your name and charge a fee for going through you..
After you have informed her of the consequences to frozen pipes and them breaking, let her know that the apartment below which gets water damage would also be her responsibility. Her security deposit is not going to cover her and the other tenant below with the water damage it causes. The costs could exceed $10k.