Landlord Privacy
Now that we are living in Information Age, preserving our privacy as landlords is harder than it used to be. Do any of you have any good tips on ways to maintain your privacy?
Now that we are living in Information Age, preserving our privacy as landlords is harder than it used to be. Do any of you have any good tips on ways to maintain your privacy?
Privacy from what, for what?
A trust with your LLC as the beneficiary is the best line of defense, in my opinion.
Currently I have only my entity as my line of privacy (no trust). This works well within the first year in Iowa because my name is not reported anywhere on any form for one year until it asks me for the name of all officers and a principal address. I do use a PO box for an address.
I have the rent checks sent to my work address.
My home phone number is unlisted.
My license plates are blocked.
The trust I am setting up to hold my properties will not be named "the dstudeba trust".
All that said, if you take the time to hunt me down, it isn't too hard.
Aside from being unlisted, blocking your number so it doesn't show up on caller Id, and shielding yourself by using a corporation or other entity I am not sure there is much else you can do.
The good news is that many people are lazy and if they can't easily find your number or address they will give up. However, as mentioned earlier, I have a feeling that if someone really wanted to find someone they could.
I have heard horror stories in my profession about disgruntled clients showing up at homes and writing nasty letters, however once again, that is rare - which is good...
If you work on building good relationships based on mutual respect hopefully there won't be a serious problem.
Charley
Do you tell your tenants that you own the building, or that you just manage it? A new tenant of mine has really pressed the issue. She is sure that I am the owner, but I just keep telling her I am the property manager. How do you guys handle this situation?
Hey,
I am always the Property Manager and a group of investors owns the property. I have never had anyone question it before, but I do certain things to help with the illusion.
1) I have business cards that say Property Manager.
2) I wear a shirt with my logo on it. Only workers wear shirts like these.
3) When I talk about the "investors", I mention that I am only responsible for the properties in this "region" and not other areas of the city.
4) Lastly, complain about all the work I have to do on Sundays (the Open Houses are on Sundays).