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| A quick reference for residential investors from WILMOTH Group. Providing creative solutions, strategy, services and support in the residential investment community since 1994. |
| | The Night Before Christmas A WILMOTH fable with apologies to CLEMENT C. MOORE
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Our cell phones had all been muted because
We knew that our property manager would handle any buzz.
It certainly is different to be all snug in our beds.
While visions of happy tenants danced in our heads.
All those wintery nights of past years are just a memory
When our sleep was broken by the call of an emergency.
And to think our peace and comfort is because
Of a man who brings presents named Santa Claus |
| | On many winter nights not so long ago our sleep was broken.
With phone calls from tenants with many angry words spoken.
One magic Christmas night there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
I assumed it had happened, the time was finally here,
Our tenants had found out where we lived and were near.
Tenants ready to ambush us until we promised to find
A solution to all of what bothered them in rapid time.
As I moved toward the window like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a luster of midday to objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
This was not the tenants I had feared!
I felt so relieved as the sleigh drew near.
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| | With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! Let’s not make it deep!
This landlord needs some help and a good night’s sleep!"
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
Instead of coming to our home with just toys,
Santa had arrived with a message to bring us joy!
As I ran down the stairs, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
Was set down, and a pen and paper came from a small pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
On the paper he wrote simple words.
Truthfully, they were what I had already heard.
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| | “Dear Landlord-why are you losing sleep?
The answers to your misery are rather cheap.
There is a service called property management.
Where other people take the calls, and deal with the event.
Imagine no more phone calls all hours of the night.
No more leaving dinner at the sudden site
Of a renter lead, or a possible new vendor.
Just peace in your home from here ever after.
So this Christmas, Santa suggests a new strategy.
Give up self-managing as a gift for you and your family.”
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
As he considered the pain and the difficult lows;
For Santa knew what the future beholds.
And it was not pretty for the self-managing landlord.
Eviction moratoriums, rental assistance, and a thing called COVID.
Will force many landlords to stop the fight, and heaven forbid;
Sell their investments and try investing in something else.
Or worse yet, try and save money by managing themselves.
Santa has the knowledge of thousands of years
In his perspective that is short term thinking done from fear.
Santa knows hard times and does not want to gloat.
After all, his elf labor has been asking to work remote.
Santa wrote “I know I can’t do it all myself without lots of stress.
I need elves and reindeer for Christmas happiness!
So, this Christmas please hear my message loud and clear.
Don’t go it alone, things will get better from here!
And what the future holds likely will cause you much fear.
So, get a partner to help keep your life and dreams clear.”
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| | He chuckled at his wisdom and his little round belly,
Shook with him, like a bowl full of jelly.
Santa sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
After reading his note on that cold winter night,
I knew what I had to do at first morning light.
No longer would I take on the world of rentals by myself.
But a partner will be chosen to be our elves!
To quietly serve as our partner making our dreams probable.
The future looked brighter not mission impossible!
And what a gift he had given me that night
When I could go to sleep and know it will be alright
I can still hear him exclaim, as he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
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| | | The WILMOTH Team wishes you the very best holiday season and looks forward to being your partner in 2022..and beyond! |
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