Jerry A Stimmel

I will call Jerry Stimmel again if I ever have a problem with a tenant. I couldn’t have asked for better support. Mr. Stimmel guided me and my family every step of the way through my first difficult Landlord-Tenant situation. Even though I had already sworn off my former “momlord” approach to man...aging a rental, due to minor problems that arose, Jerry’s advice made it possible by advising me through managing a problem quickly, with knowledge and patience. I had a rental house that I had managed, loosely, for 12 years. I had good tenants. In a house that had been my home previously for many years, I rented to a family, then several housemates for 8 years. Sometimes they would leave too much trash around, and pay rent late, they’d ask for deals, which we made, amiably. Good people, all. Not good business, really, but good life. I had only heard about nightmare tenants. Squatters, the suit happy, vandals, the violent or destructive. But none for me, fortunately. Then, I got my first nightmare tenant. First communication, one week into tenancy, was a threat of a lawsuit, because we had a “verbal agreement” for a different situation and price. No, actually, we didn’t. We had discussed, through a property manager, a different arrangement, with one exchange, but we didn’t come to an agreement. The tenant signed a lease for the original offer, with “no verbal agreements” beyond the lease, a standard clause. That first email claimed otherwise and threatened suit. Many other emails, threats, and pestering of other tenants followed, with an event of one kind or another every day. Other tenants considered leaving if she didn't. She blocked other potential tenants from seeing the last available room, by greeting them in the driveway with hostility and erroneous claims. This attorney educated me through the basics of when and how to deliver 3-day and 10-day notices; through what not to say and when to simply say nothing. Each exchange with him included thoughtful, thorough commentary on the situation with recommendations well–founded in state statutes, common sense, and wisdom. Sometimes email answers arrived in the middle of the night, when he had time off from his days in court. Mr. Stimmel made a visit to the property in question, after the tenant gave notice that she was moving out along with another notice that a lawsuit would be filed. Because she had called the police three times that we know of, resulting in nothing except a scolding *for her* from the officer, my family anticipated the possibility of mischief, minor vandalism, hostility toward other tenants again, or something unexpected. Jerry provided presence, talked to other tenants, and monitored the situation. The hostile tenant had already established that she would harass other tenants and potential tenants, let her unattended barking dog run loose, threaten lawsuits, and last, fill a lock in the house with glue. I highly recommend Jerry Stimmel for Landlord-Tenant relations. If I ever have another situation, I’ll use what I learned and beyond that, Mr. Stimmel will be the first person I will call.