PFM Dec 2001 Guerrilla Framer (the landlord one)

[Marc Lzier]

On this one I will comment first.

This came up on HHers donkeys' moons ago.

I stated my thoughts then, and was a clear minority. I will expect it still to be so.

There is one part where he says to think like a landlord.

This is not hard, as I am one.

As a Landlord I would rather have a vacancy than cut rent. This is a common thought to other landlords I know, and deal with.

The other thing I take issue with is the payment arrears. For me (and others) a tennant is arrears is a former tennat. Landlord associations advise thier members to not compound loss by letting the tennant go further in arrears. It is better to be vacant, and not getting money (this way you find a tennant). Than to be occupied and not getting money (kinda hard to find a new tennant while the property is occupied).

If you are finding the rent is killing you, it is not the landlords fault. You can raise prices to sell merchandse comensurate with the location.

It is like selling a frame job.

The customer agrees on the price.

When they pick it up they say it is perfect, they are happy with it, and will take it, but at 20% less.

Okay, Iv'e ranted enough.

Now all youse other folks come and tell me why I'm wrong.

thanks,
marc

As a tennant, arrears is not a position of strength. It is precipice to fall from.

[Dermot]

I only have PFM online so I cannot access some of the articles.

I do not agree that going into arrears is a position of strength.

I do agree with the writer that rent/lease can be renegotiated, in fact a good business person will consider that all aspects of there business can and should be reviewed on an ongoing basis (even landlords).

It sometimes astonishes me that business people will on a regular bases review part of there business and never have a look at other areas of there operation, all and everything can and should be reviewed regardless of any economic conditions why wait till things are bad.

[PAMELA DESIMONE,CPF]

Truth be told, Marc, I think most of the Guerilla framers articles are, well, silly. This one is no exception. I agree with you. If you are not doing the business it takes to make the rent, lowering the rent will make no difference in the long run. If you are not making the rent, then you are probably not paying the utilities or vendors, either. Any landlord willing to renegotiate a lease to keep a tenant probably has a dud of a location.