Episode 76: Landlord GUILT: Stuff a Landlord SHOULD do, but won't - with Texas Attorney Ernie Garcia
Summary
Are you afraid of awkward conversations with your tenant? Is there an outstanding rent increase, or late fee, that you just are afraid to bill for? What about a repair that you are not fixing? My guest today is Texas Attorney Ernie Garcia, where we discuss the many facets of landlord guilt. He explains how ignored small issues become very large RAGING issues that can turn into a lawsuit.
Listen to full episode :
Meet Our Guest:
Ernie Garcia, a former English teacher in HISD, and father of 5. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, writing, traveling and hanging out with his dog, Jack. He is passionate about educating Landlords on how to run their rental businesses at peak profitability.
Ernie Garcia grew up in Alice, a small South Texas town. He came to live in Houston in 1996 when he enrolled at The University of Houston. After graduating cum laude with a degree in English in 2000, Ernie Garcia went on to teach in public school, beginning his career at McReynolds Middle School in HISD teaching 8th Grade English.
After three years as a Houston ISD teacher, Ernie transferred to the Spring Independent School District to teach in the same district where he lived. While Ernie enjoyed his six years as a middle school educator, he knew he wanted to pursue a new field. In November of 2006, Ernie was accepted into South Texas College of Law, where he began classes the following January.
While studying law, Ernie Garcia was a member of the Hispanic Law Students Association, where he served as Treasurer and President. He graduated in December of 2009 as a published member of the distinguished South Texas Law Review. Ernie Garcia received his license to practice law in May of 2010.
Ernie is the proud host of an amazing Facebook Community: Texas Landlords, with over 5,000 members. He’s also the star of our YouTube channel, Ernie Garcia Landlord Attorney, with over Ten Thousand loyal subscribers. We welcome you to join our FB group, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and follow us on TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads!
This Week’s Blog Post:
Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of My Life as a Landlord. Today, we're diving into a topic that many landlords face but seldom talk about: landlord guilt. We're joined by Texas attorney Ernie Garcia, who has some insightful perspectives on this issue.
Understanding Landlord Guilt
Landlords often suffer from what I call "landlord guilt." They feel guilty about asking for rent to be paid on time, collecting late fees, or charging tenants for damages. This guilt can lead to significant financial losses and isn't good business practice.
The Impact of Landlord Guilt
Landlord guilt often stems from a desire to avoid confrontation or to be liked by tenants. However, this mindset is counterproductive and can lead to landlords selling their properties out of frustration.
Preparing for Tenancy
It's crucial to take care of necessary steps before handing over the keys to a tenant. Many landlords are eager to get a tenant in and neglect essential preparations. Proper tenant screening and unit preparation are vital to ensure a smooth tenancy.
Learning from Mistakes
Mistakes are part of the learning process. Landlords may need to experience a few bumps along the way before they get things right. It's important to understand that nobody knows everything, and it's okay to seek help and ask questions.
Hands-On Approach
Ernie is all around Houston, speaking at local events and engaging with real estate groups. He believe in a hands-on approach, visiting properties and offering practical advice. This helps individual landlords and provides valuable insights for others.
Seeking Participation
Ernie says he’s looking for active landlords in the Houston area who are willing to participate in a walkthrough video where he'll offer coaching and point out improvements. If you're interested, feel free to reach out!
Contact Information
You can find Ernie online on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and even Threads. For those in the Houston area, the best way to reach is via email at info@attorneyeg.com. Or visit his website at https://attorneyeg.com/
Conclusion
Thank you, Ernie, for sharing your knowledge and insights with us. If you're new to this, whether you're in the US or Canada, check out @landlordattorney on YouTube for more valuable content. Join me next week for another exciting episode.
Thank you for joining me, Dr. Jennifer Salisbury, in this episode of My Life as a Landlord. See you next time!