Episode 160: Giancarlo Carangelo's International Tenant Word Play
Summary
My guest today has a great philosophy: you’re going to pay for your landlord education one way or another. The question is how much pain do you want to endure, and how long do you want the pain to last? My interview with a fellow international real estate investor, with rentals in the US, Dominican Republic and in Canada brings property management to a whole new perspective. Giancarlo Carangelo and I discuss tenant word play, how to avoid discrimination and 1-star google reviews, lessons learned in renovation mistakes and how to keep great tenants. All that and more in today’s show!
Listen to the full episode :
This Week’s Blog Post:
Hi friends! I’m Dr. Jen, and in this episode of My Life as a Landlord, I had the pleasure of speaking with Giancarlo Carangelo, a property manager, global investor, and real estate agent whose work spans from Montreal to the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Midwest. Giancarlo shared his journey into real estate, beginning as a property manager and then becoming a buy-and-hold investor. What I loved most about our conversation was how his international perspective gave fresh insights into managing tenants and properties across different markets.
Tenant Screening Starts with the First Call
One of Giancarlo’s most valuable lessons was that tenant screening doesn’t start with the application—it starts the moment a prospective tenant calls about a unit. He and his team ask simple but important questions like “How long have you lived at your current place?” and “Where are you working?” These early conversations often reveal stability—or instability—before a showing even happens. By setting clear expectations upfront, Giancarlo prevents wasted time and weeds out potential problems before they begin.
The Power of Word Choice in Tenant Relations
Giancarlo emphasized the importance of word play when discussing tenant fit. Especially in markets like Montreal, where regulations are strict, landlords need to frame communication carefully to avoid misunderstandings or accusations of discrimination. For example, instead of outright rejecting a family for an undersized unit, explaining that it is “ideal for a professional individual” or a “small family” helps guide applicants without creating conflict. I shared my own experiences with systems-based screening—when every tenant goes through the same process, it protects both landlords and tenants.
Retaining Good Tenants with Smart Investments
Keeping great tenants is just as important as finding them. Giancarlo described how he identifies small upgrades that encourage renewals, like adding storage space or installing air conditioning. He compared the cost of a vacancy—months of lost rent plus leasing commissions—against the investment of $2,800 in AC for a tenant who then happily stays another year. As we agreed, those numbers are simple math, and keeping tenants happy often saves money while building goodwill.
Renovation Lessons and Final Words of Wisdom
Finally, Giancarlo shared candid stories about underestimating renovation costs and the importance of doing thorough due diligence. He reminded us to put on our “landlord lens” instead of a homeowner’s lens when making renovation choices—tenants don’t pay extra for granite countertops when vinyl will do the job. His closing advice was deeply inspiring: block out limiting beliefs and external noise. If you believe in your goals and put in the work, anything is possible.
This episode was recorded in Desolation Sound, British Columbia. Why? Because real estate takes you places. Where do you want real estate to take you? Join me next week for Episode 161, where Michael and I guest on the High Velocity Couples podcast. See you there!