asking for help...

[OIIIIIIIO]

Hi

I'm building a garage...got the foundation in this fall...stick walls go up next spring...I'm trying to round up some help...can you guys tell me if these thoughts are dumb/stupid/disrespectful...

Situation 1
I rent out a house on my property. It has a 2 car garage. I share it with the tenant. We each use one side. I had the tenant as a student about 12 years ago. He's a handy guy. His rent is currently 475 mo. Would it be reasonable to ask if he wanted to help put up the garage in exchange for getting the second stall in the garage after it's built and not raise his rent, or maybe even lower it to $450/mo...lock that price in with a 2 year lease and write in the lease that if he decides to leave he can break his lease without penalty?

Situation 2
A couple other students I have had...graduated 5 years ago...more friend than former student relationship now...both experienced handymen...one is currently a shop teacher at another high school and worked in home construction with his uncle in the summers...the other studying to be an architect...works for his Dad, a contractor, during the summer and whenever he can... Ask if they can help...tell them I can't pay them but can feed them...

Just cautious and don't want to cross any kind of lines...

Thanks for any input!
Patrick

 

[jklingel]

sit 1: sure, asking won't hurt, but it sounds like a better deal for you than him. that, however, will be his call. sit 2: no-go. working for food is only ok if they want to help on occasion, or can date your daughter. just mho.

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

yeah...I don't want to come off looking like I'm trying to take advantage of anyone...nor do I want to actually take advantage of anyone...

 

[Stuart in MN]

When I first bought my house I had a roommate who paid rent. I had to do a lot of renovating, and if he helped out he got a break in his rent. I forget our terms (plus it was 25 years ago so it wouldn't be applicable anyway) but the point is it worked out well for both of us.

 

[LEVE]

IMHO, with the renter, keep things as they are, on a business relationship. You provide the place to live, he provides the rent. When you start muddling the line, usually, only bad things can happen.

With the two previous students.. if they want to provide slave labor... that's fine, pay 'em any way you can so you're all happy.

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

IMHO, with the renter, keep things as they are, on a business relationship.

That sounds smart...