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KANSAN.COM
Accessibility a characteristic of landlord
Rob Farha, owner of The Wheel, also manages properties in nearby area; is accessible at the bar
BY AUTUMN MORNINGSKY amorningsky@kansan.com
It's past the fifth of the month, and rent is overdue. Rob Farha is worried, so he flips open his cell and shoots a quick text. A few minutes later, he gets a reply from his tenant, who will stop by after class to drop off a check.
Farha is a landlord in the Oread neighborhood. There he owns and rents seven properties, five of which are boarding houses. He also owns The Wheel, 507 W.14th, where he spends most of his time. It's his bar business, he said, that sets him apart from other landlords.
Sometimes, if a tenant is late paying rent and doesn't want a late fee, Farha lets them drop it off to him at The Wheel instead of mailing it to his post office box. This helps him build a stronger relationship with his renters, he said.
Other times, his accessibility can become a problem because he always seems to be available at the bar, he said.
"I'm what you call a visible landlord," Farha said. "People see me in here all the time. Then whenever they need me, they know where to find me."
"I'm what you call a visible landlord. People see me in here all the time."
ROB FARHA
Owner of The Wheel
"When I start getting maintenance calls at 10 p.m., I get angry," he said.
Besides being close with his tenants, Farha said his biggest concern is maintaining a good reputation among the community. It's this way, he said, that he's had success in his business. In November of 2009,
Farha had already leased all of his properties for 2010-2011,a year in advance. He also had three calls from students and parents looking for housing in 2011-2012.
Farha said he tries to build strong communication lines with parents and students. With each new move-in, he makes it a point to sit down with the tenants.
"I give an hour-long speech over city noise ordinations, what to do if the garbage disposal breaks, and how to shut off an overflowing toilet," Farha said. He said 90 percent of the damage done to a place is from someone who doesn't live there, so it's important for tenants to know who their friends were.
"The parents are always so glad that I take the time to talk to them,"he said. "Most students have never lived on their own before and don't know what to do in certain situations."
In an average month, Farha spends 5 hours doing administrative work. This includes making sure rent checks are in, mortgages and bills are paid, and calling tenants who are late. The rest of his responsibilities are in maintenance.
However, there are three times of the year when Farha is busiest.
Before leasing, he spends hours on the phone having consultations with parents, who want to make sure their son or daughter's needs are accommodated. Then there is a two-month period of administrative work as Farha completes the leases.
The busiest week, he said, is the beginning of August when former tenants move out and new tenants move in.
"We have to make sure everything is cleaned and repainted and working properly," Farha said. "Often times, we're up all night. We want to have the nicest, most upkept houses not only for the good of the business, but for the neighborhood as well."
Farha said he's aware of the social habits of some college students. Every Monday, he sends maintenance workers to his properties to make sure they're not littered with trash and beer bottles.
"I was in college once," he said.
Edited by Jesse Rangel
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