I helped a landlord from New Jersey get possession of his rental property located in Orlando, Florida. The landlord read my blog and contacted me about doing an eviction. I told him we did not go to Orlando since we are based in Miami South Florida. Simon insisted and said he would pay double my usual fee if I would help him to negotiate with the tenant. We agreed on terms and I called the tenant in Orlando right away.

There were 10 people living in the property and finding the person who made the decisions was not easy. The tenant had not paid for months and the landlord was paying for all utilities including water and sewer, and electricity. He even rented the house completely furnished. The tenant refused to talk to him and refused to leave. I talked to the head of the household who was a lady and the one that made all the decisions.

I was able convince the tenant to give us possession of the property by offering the lady some money for her to leave with a promise that the landlord would not go after her for the rent owed. She agreed to leave but wanted the money first and then she would go. After lengthy negotiation over the phone she agreed to leave the premises and receive the money at the same time. She agreed to leave on Tuesday, December 01, 2009. A friend of the landlord who lives nearby agreed to give the tenant the money, take the keys and possession of the property.

On the day of the exchange the landlord’s friend changed her mind and said she was afraid to go to the house. She wanted to meet at a bank or at a police station.  It took several hours to convince her that it was safe and nothing would happen to her. The tenant took the money, signed an agreement and gave us possession of the property. I was on the phone with the tenant the whole time and I also talked to the landlord’s friend reassuring her that everything was going to be fine. The landlord was calling me constantly from New Jersey. The tenants left and we took possession of the property. We avoided an eviction and the landlord saved a lot of money and time.

I informed the landlord that we had possession of the property and that the nightmare was over. The landlord said he can now get a good night’s sleep. He is very happy an impressed with my negotiating skills. I always try to negotiate with the tenant first. If that does not work then we start the eviction process. Negotiating with the tenant is the key. The bottom line is to get the deadbeat tenant out fast, get possession of the property and rent to a good paying tenant.