DOs and DONTs of rental property growing

[Marshall]

Sounds like a cluster fuck

Anyone doing 6k ops should know how to wire things up themselves, no need for an electrician.

An unfinished basement is a clean canvas that you can throw up some studs, hang panda film and have direct access to the electrical panel, all while having the entire living space untampered. Tear down is easy and no repairs need to be made

 

[Snowberry]

I gotta agree with the Marshall.

An I ain't Festus

 

[Chester]

Rent a place with a pool or hot-tub. Yeah, it means it's a bigger place, but bigger="more power without raised eyebrows".

Nothing like the energy requirements of those babies to "obscure" your other activities. And a pool makes a wonderful heat sink for cooling that basement with all those miniature suns at work.

 

[Kalicokitty]

Start with two houses and see how that goes, if it's easy to maintain, then get another, and so on.
Higher crime, closer to the city neighborhoods are great, people mind there own business, and there's plenty of other stuff to keep the cops busy. But not the straight out ghetto/hood, the in between neighborhoods, with a mix of people and races, college age kids, these are the good ones.

Right now it's huge renters market, property owners are not nit picky right now, especially in the neighborhoods I'm talking about.

Put an ad on craigslist.
"Looking to rent 3-5 bedroom house"
In the (neighborhood you're seeking) area
$1200-$1800 range.
Mature responsible renter with great history/refs, very low maintenance, can fix little stuff myself.
Would like attached garage, fenced in yard, (plus whatever else you want)

You will get 100 plus responses in the first couple days, and the people that seek you out are motivated to rent, then you go look at several, let them know there's other places that you've seen that you're considering, make them compete to rent to you, not you out hoping someone will approve you.

You will have 10-15 dream places to pick and chose from, once you decide on a couple, weasel them down on rent, tell them you've seen others nicer with more options for the same or less money, that you've had an overwhelming response to your ad.
That $1400 a month(whatever) is a bit high, but you think you'd be a taker at $1200.

You will get your perfect places, and at a great price, just got to know how to work it.

Change the locks
Control the smell
Keep your mouth shut
Don't dress like bob Marley

 

[simos]

It's probably also a good idea to run flip-flop flowering rooms. My understanding is that many utility companies' grid management programs have algorithms specifically designed to pick up on large, regular surges/spikes in usage (like the ones that occur when all 6-8k worth of hps fire at the same time).

Along the same lines, I'd subtly ask whether or not the home was equipped with a smart meter. You definitely don't want the utility company to be able to see that detailed of a breakdown of your consumption. You could phrase it under the guise of wanting the added benefit of the feedback it would provide to help you responsibly manage your power usage.

Just my $.02 - I have no experience growing in a house I don't own, or in a non-medical state.

 

[Mr.Howie]

Thanks Kalico now that is some good advice man. I really appreciate and has given me a new way to look at going into a rental. Great ideas and thoughts, thanks.

 

[Mr.Howie]

Word Simons thank you as well. For sure going to be doing the flip flop. Looking like I am going to try and run 8k per house. Also good tip on the smart meter. Is there a way you can tell by looking at them?

 

[OrganicOzarks]

I grew in a rent house, and stressed about it like hell. The landlord called me up and told me that we had to have a termite inspector come out in 3 days to go through the whole house so that he could renew his insurance. Balls drop to the ground. I put them off for a month finished up and moved the spot. I already had a new one getting setup it just was not done yet. Come to find out when i am moving out I talk with my landlord and he grows.

 

[Qupid]

My 2 cents...you have to weigh the consequences vs the rewards. Be careful whatever you do. As a previous poster said you have to find a place in the middle of nowhere and then you have to go there and check it regularly. If the yard starts looking a mess that will indeed tip someone off. Again be careful...real careful.

 

[festivus]

Had an inspection today from the County Building Inspector and landlady. 17 females in full flower in 3 areas...
Survived!! Stealth Rocks!

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Renting....

DO:
-Pay rent on time every month
-Maintain the property at least as good as required by the lease
-Be nice to your neighbors, ie random acts of kindness go a LONG way (mow their front yard one day while they're at work and later tell them you thought they could use the help, etc)
-Change outside locks
-Be firm about your lease! It's a legal protection and a landlord that respects you and your lease will be very little problem. It also shows you're educated and therefore probably a good tenant. Stand your ground if an issue arises where routine access is needed. 24 hours is accepted "reasonable notice".
-Clean up after your pets
-Keep blinds closed. You never know if one of your perv neighbors likes to scan the neighborhood with binoculars.
-Set up the mailbox as far away from the front door as possible.
-Be the quiet, yet nice neighbor that dresses well and is civil. No one will suspect you.
-Have a cover story ready at all times if questioned about anything! Think two steps ahead at all times.


DON'T:
-Steal power
-Have parties or random groups of loud or drama filled people over, even if the op itself is safe and secure
-Be obvious about your lack of daytime job (if that's the case). Garages also help here since your car can be concealed and your comings and goings not easily noticed
-Stink like weed. Not just your plants, but you too. And don't smoke where anyone can smell it
-Have a working home alarm system
-Leave any information about where you grow in your car. Have an alternate (non-grow) address on license and tags. This prevents cops from contacting your landlord if you're ever followed from a hydro shop. Other rules about hydro shop purchases apply too.

Bottom line is don't do anything your neighbors wouldn't do. Just blend in as best as possible and of course make odor control your top priority. If you blend in, be a good and respectable tenant, and don't stand out then you'll be fine.

 

[simos]

Howie - as far as identifying Smart Meters, I unfortunately don't think it's as easy as spotting one particular brand. A cursory googling suggests that there are multiple manufacturers, but they pretty much all resemble one another - circular meters with rectangular DIGITAL LED readouts.
The property owner/manager should know and depending on how you posed the question would probably be more than happy to tell you. Good luck, and as everyone has stated repeatedly - don't say a word about what you're doing to anyone.

 

[ZackMorris]

I like the idea of getting a place on campus. If youre young enough you can tell the landlord youve decided to go back to school, but you have a child that you share custody with so you cant have roommates. You can get a 4-5 bedroom but they wont blink an eye because you just need something close to school. They usually rent to 18-19 yr olds so theyre gonna think they hit the lotto if they get a mature 30 yr. old with a kid instead. Theyll make it a point not to bother you And the best part is no nosy middle aged or retired neighbors to deal with. Yes i like this idea. The only down side i guess could be youre more likely to get robbed.

 

[Marshall]

having grown in several houses, I say you want one with privacy. Doesnt have to be 20 acres. Just something with some trees around and a buffer between you and the neighbors. Can they look out their window and see if your car is there?

If you do not live there a garage would be nice and park in there so people see you park in the garage and wont think twice if they dont see your car there.


A house in a busy neighborhood could have you paranoid as hell every time you hear a noise etc. I think you stand a higher chance of a freak accident, like cops coming due to mistaken address, etc. Plus people may see you loading/unloading equipment, watch your comings and goings etc Its a matter of preference, I would rather be somewhere where I was out of sight, out of mind

 

[KONY]

One thing lots of people forget is odor control in smoking/drying rooms. If you dry in your grow area this is not big deal, but if you dry somewhere else with no carbon filter its gonna be just as bad as not having a filter on your grow.

 

[Chester]

Most of you already know this, yet it is important.

In a non-med state, make sure you are more than the minimum 1000 feet (0.2 miles) from any day-care (church) or school. The jackbooted thugs like to double the penalties if you inadvertently violate that one.

Stay safe.

 

[SkimmingDaSky]

My .02
This is very risky, but it can be done.
Go thru a management company that has alot of property, they will most likely not come around. Don't convert the whole apartment to a grow. Put a lock on the bedroom door or closet, have a cover up for the sound of fans(a fish tank is great) and have a GOOD carbon filter with some glad plug ins or sprayer around the apartment. Filter the smell of drying weed.Don't grow in a space where there is something that maintenance may need access to.Make sure you pay your own electric on time and don't do too much in an apartment. Tell no one!!! Pay your bills on time!! Don't look like a pothead or have flashy cars nd stuff.
Don't pump out tha crib lol! Apartments imo are a bit more risky when it comes to big grows b/c of the amount of people around you.
If you rent a house and feel comfortable enough, get an alarm but don't put it on. The sign *should* deter most people wanting to rob you. If someone does try to rob you and your alarm goes off, the police will get called to your grow. Also, in a house, never put your trimmings in your own garbage. LEO doesn't need a warrant to look thru ure trash.
But did you say 5 houses? It'll look real suspicious if you never come around, except when you have stuff to set up. But, in the right neighborhood, nobody will really care.
But, good luck, and remember always put money aside for a good lawyer.