That was the soundtrack to my childhood in Jamaica, Queens. My parents had a rental property and the stories were legendary.   I’ll never forget the tenant who decided to host a solo, naked bonfire in his bedroom. To this day, I still ask: Who does that?

It was a real education. I watched my parents struggle as tenants skipped rent and the court system offered extension after extension. It felt like the system was built to break the small landlord.  If you’ve ever seen the movie Pacific Heights, the guy Michael Keaton played, he exists!   We had a tenant strip the copper pipes out of the walls on his way out and another who stored a mountain of trash on top of the garage.  I could go on and on.  Back then, they didn’t have the tools to vet people; it was a total gamble—a “box of chocolates” where every choice was a risk.

You can’t  gamble on character!  I’ve taken those lessons and modernized them. While I’ve stayed in the industry I grew up in, I’ve replaced guesswork with data. By utilizing SmartMove.com, I ensure a professional, secure screening process that respects applicant privacy while providing a comprehensive look at criminal, credit, and eviction histories. I’m committed to the business, but I’m even more committed to doing it right. I don’t just hope for a good tenant—I verify it, as I leave the “bonfire” days in the past.