Helping family members bug out

Cornhusker · #1 04/23/12, 08:49 AM

I'm not sure if that's right or not, but it kinda feels like we are helping my daughter and her family bug out.
Right now, they live in a small town about 30 miles from us, and recently there has been an influx of unsavory people.
There's been more crime in the last couple years than in the entire time I lived there and raised my family there.
In the last month there has been at least 2 sexual assaults and what my daughter describes as "creepy looking" people walking the streets and alleys at all hours.
Anyway, we recently bought a place just down the road from us, it has a house, small garage\shop, an old barn that is leaning and needs torn down and a few small outbuildings.
The house itself has 5 bedrooms, one bathroom and a full basement.
It also has a refrigerator, cook stove, washer, dryer, table and a couple beds all on 5.79 acres.
They had asked us about renting it from us so they could get out of town
We pondered it a bit, realizing how renting to your family can get sticky (I have another house I rent to my niece for very low rent and still have to ask them for it) and decided it would be in their best interest as well as ours to move them in.
I will charge them $150 less than they are paying now and give them the first month free for cleaning the house out and painting.
I also have a few easy to follow rules
It's a single family residence, nobody else lives there
They have to pay the rent, on time and all utilities
They have 4 dogs, that's plenty, no more dogs, and they have to be responsible for the dogs, keep them home.
The yard will be kept mowed and watered.
Don't junk up the place.
That's about all I can think of
Any advice?

unregistered41671 · #2 04/23/12, 08:54 AM

I know it is family CH but sometimes people forget the details of agreements. Put it in writing and everyone involved sign it. I like the way you are taking care of family.

Old John · #3 04/23/12, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Possum Belly

I know it is family CH but sometimes people forget the details of agreements. Put it in writing and everyone involved sign it. I like the way you are taking care of family.

Yes, Absolutely put All the Details, every Detail, of the deal in writing, Signed by all the parties involved and Witnessed by a reliable outside party or preferably 2 good reliable outside folks. And, be sure you each have a copy.

That way, there's not so much chance that it will be "Remembered Differently". Good Luck!

P.S. I was burned once on a verbal agreement with a Family Member.

AverageJo · #4 04/23/12, 09:35 AM

I'd also put in there the repercussions of NOT following the rules!
Ex: If you have to mow the yard because they aren't, they owe you $___ for lawn care service.
Ex2: If they are more than 15 days late in rent payment, there's a $___ late fee. If they are more than 30 days overdue, they will be evicted and have to the end of that month to move out or the locks will be changed and they will need to make an appointment with you to either catch up on all rents or come get their stuff. If they haven't remedied this within the next 30 days (now 3 months late on rent), their stuff will be donated.

**Terri** · #5 04/23/12, 09:47 AM

Is there a fenced yard for the dogs? If not, one needs to go up. The house will stay much nicer if the dogs can go out on nice days!!!!!!!!!

Cornhusker · #6 04/23/12, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri

Is there a fenced yard for the dogs? If not, one needs to go up. The house will stay much nicer if the dogs can go out on nice days!!!!!!!!!

There's not a fenced yard as of yet, but we plan to put one up, at least for the little dogs.
Most people out here let their dogs run loose, and there's usually not a problem because we all live so far apart, but where these dogs have lived in town, we don't know if they'll take off or what.

Tracy Rimmer · #7 04/23/12, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

Any advice?

Get it in writing.

Cornhusker · #8 04/23/12, 12:30 PM

Thanks for the thoughts to think about

One thing that will be nice is being able to spend a lot more time with the granddaughter.

Sonshine · #9 04/23/12, 01:10 PM

My Grandfather was a very wise business man. I remember a few times he loaned money to my parents and he always got the terms of the agreement in writing. I always thought it was a strange thing to do, but since then I've learned that the best way to keep family from developing a lot of resentment over things like that is by doing exactly what he did. Get it in writing.