FELONS: Some apartments really don't understand D.A.s

DA - it doesn't mean anything to 99% of Apartment Leasing Agents

In fact, I don't know if the words "Deferred Adjudication" means anything to most of them either. You can have a DA for a Felony or for a Misdemeanor.

I think most leasing agents are just taught "we don't take felonies". The good news is I have the leasing criteria for most apartment complexes and I know the ones that will take a deffered felony (or D.A. or Deferred Adjudication for a Felony.

And I know the ones that won't. I also know the ones with a little wiggle room. I never have the "wiggle room" conversations with anyone but the manager. And you shouldn't either.

In fact, let me locate your next apartment in Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio or any of the nearby cities. It's a FREE service (the apartments pay me) and I specialize in helping families with a DA or Felony or Misdemeanor.

I'm JOHN at you can reach me at 866-285-2100 or at AptFindFelons@gmail.com or fill out this handy form.

HOUSTON: Compassion at one complex yields "good business"

Sometimes the answer is not what you know but who you know.

I got a call from a nice man yesterday who told me that he would be one of his hardest clients I had ever placed. Right away, I prepared myself for the worst - like a murder in his background or a sex offender (which I will not work with).

He told me he thought he had a broken lease but the complex had recorded it as an eviction. Well, evictions are tough to handle but the situation WHY matters - medical problems or job issues aren't considered by many apartment complexes to be in the same "boat" as non-payment or a violation of the lease for other reasons.

I knew of a complex with compassionate management in the area that this man wanted. When I called and explained his situation, a job hourly reduction, that left him unable to meet his bills AND THAT THE COMPLEX WOULDN'T MOVE HIM TO A SMALLER UNIT, the complex with the compassionate management told me they would have to run his credit and determine the amount of security deposit that would require. They went on to say that they might just need an additional $100 deposit or they might need a double deposit or a full month's rent but they would work with him.

Sometimes it is more important to know WHO YOU KNOW than what you know. The capper is, the complex that will accept him isn't listed as one who will normally work with evictions.

(c) Copyright 2009 24x4AptFind.com and AptFindFelons.com are owned by John At The Apartment Store. All Rights Reserved.

Images in this post were downloaded from a free clip art gallery from a major PC software provider.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Complex not paying my invoice

What to do when a Complex doesn't pay my invoice?

It doesn't happen often but I am going through a situation with a complex in Conroe, Texas I wanted to write about.

My client wants his gift card. The trouble is the complex hasn't paid me and it doesn't look like it will. They owe my broker for several invoices. So many that my broker has placed the complex on our AVOID list of properties that if we recommend them that we know that the broker will not pay any commissions until the invoice is collected.

There are too many great complexes to bother with those on the AVOID list. And I always feel that if the complex isn't paying me, what other services or vendors are they not paying.

That's not a good situation for my clients. You can bet that if my clients didn't pay their rent for 2 or 3 months, they would be EVICTED.

But I have decided to notify my client that their complex hasn't paid my commission, and as my policy states, I cannot send them a gift card until they do. I can't have my clients thinking I'm the problem when I'm a victim of their complex.

And if the tenant has words with the management, so much the better.

GENERAL INFORMATION: First Client Contact via Texting

I'm a "caller" but my clients under 30 are Texters

I started publishing my cell phone number (and the fact that it's an ATT Wireless phone). I knew it would happen and "it" did.

I had a client who contacted me via TEXTING (no voice calls or e-mail forms) and wanted me to find an apartment for him. I didn't know that there are several FREE TEXTING web sites so that people can text from their computers but there are. All you need to know is the wireless company and the phone number.

I have to make myself available in the fashion that my customer's want. I am surprised that it only took one week to get my first "TEXT ONLY" deal.

Oh, my ATT Wireless phone is 281-217-6367. Text me or call me after hours. You can reach me at

866-285-2100 (my toll-free number) during business hours. I work Monday through Saturday 9 - 5:30.

FELONS: Felon business picking up

It has been only 2 months since I expanded my business past Houston metro

I have now placed former felons in Ft. Worth, Garland, North Dallas, Eustis, San Antonio, Austin, Irving, and the surrounding areas.

Business is good and my customer's are happy. I will forever be tweaking my database to insure I have the latest policies and that my customers are thrilled with my service.

Some people are "unplaceable" due to their prior convictions, for example it is much harder to place someone who must live in a certain area if no apartments will accept that crime and timeframe in the area the client wants to reside. Some apartments will not take felony convictions but will only take deferred felonies; that is why my web form asks the questions it does.

To engage my services, just click on this FIND A TX APT FOR ME form or call me at 866-285-2100.

GENERAL INFORMATION: I can't believe it took me months

I added a Submission Successful screen to my Websites

I can't believe it took me four months to realize how to do it. It was so easy. Now my clients of 24x7AptFind.com or AptFindFelons.com will see a large image of a "gold guy, holding his thumb up with a large green checkmark".

And I placed the image you will see in a smaller format at the base of my FIND TX APT FOR ME forms, just so there would be no questions.

Why did I start thinking about it? I had a client who wasn't sure that the form was accepted and he called me to explain that. Sometimes, when you are too close, you just don't see the problems.

Thank you for your continued feedback.

FELONS: Pick My Brain 4 - No Sex Crimes please

PICK MY BRAIN SERIES, NUMBER 4: NO REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS

I work tirelessly for my clients but I'm not a miracle worker. If you are a Sex Offender who has to register, I can't help you.

If I did manage to get you in an apartment, as soon as the residents knew you were there they will start to lobby the management to get you evicted. I've seen it happen.

My best advice is for you to rent from a private party, a home, a condo, or Garage apartment. You can check out your city's Realtor website (like HAR.COM in Houston) or Craigslist.org.

I can't help you.

© Copyright 2009. 24x7AptFind.com and AptFindFelons.com. All Rights Reserved.

*Like the "Gold Guys" image. I've used this free image with the approval of the artist. To view the free images or for information on purchasing Gold Guys images see http://thegoldguys.blogspot.com/

BROKEN LEASE: The power of a Payment Plan

The Power of a Payment Plan

Broken Leases happen. I see it all the time with roommates going their separate ways or couples breaking up; in the best case, the individual can continue paying the lease until it terminates. But in others the financial impact is too great and the "surviving roommate" has no option but to break the lease.

But how you break the lease is very important. You must give Notice. You must explain to the property what happened and document it. You should ask for another apartment in the complex - an efficiency or one bedroom (assuming you can afford a smaller place) and pay the reletting fee.

You should set up a payment plan for your portion of the broken lease if you can't rent a smaller place at the same property. If you do this the impact on you (heck with the EX roommate or spouse), will be far less. I can find you a great place if you enter in to a payment plan (paying as little as $10 a month). Without it, be prepared to live in a run down facility for a year.

Not saying it's fair. Just trying to keep you from the harsh reality of a Broken Lease.