Ep 3. You're Their Boss - Not Their Friend

In The Deed season 2 episode 3, titled "You're Their Boss - Not Their Friend," real estate mogul Sidney Torres returns to help struggling investors save their properties from foreclosure. Torres takes on a new challenge in this episode as he works with Kevin, who is trying to keep his apartment complex in New Orleans afloat amidst mounting financial troubles. Kevin has a long history with his tenants and has often blurred the lines between being their boss and being their friend, which has caused him to make some costly decisions in the past.

Torres quickly realizes that Kevin is not running his property as a business and is instead putting his personal relationships ahead of financial success. Despite Kevin's resistance to making drastic changes to his management style, Torres convinces him to become a more effective leader and take charge of the situation.

One of the first steps Torres takes is to assess the property and identify areas where Kevin can cut costs. He discovers that the property has several vacant units, which is a source of lost revenue. Torres discusses various strategies with Kevin to attract new tenants and fill these units, including improving the property's online presence and offering incentives to potential renters.

In addition to addressing the vacancies, Torres also challenges Kevin to improve the overall quality of the property. He notes that the complex is in dire need of maintenance and repair work, which has been neglected in the past due to Kevin's lenient approach with tenants. Torres provides guidance on how to address these issues and encourages Kevin to hold his contractors accountable for completing the work on time and within budget.

Throughout the episode, Kevin struggles with balancing his personal relationships with his job as a landlord. He faces difficult decisions about how to handle tenants who are behind on rent or causing disturbances on the property. Torres reminds him that he needs to be firm but fair and hold tenants accountable for their actions, even if it means evicting them.

As the episode progresses, Kevin begins to see the value in Torres' advice and starts to implement changes to improve his property. He takes a more assertive approach with tenants, enforcing rules and regulations to maintain a safe and peaceful environment. He also invests in upgrades and repairs to improve the quality of living for his tenants.

In the end, Torres helps Kevin turn his struggling property around, saving it from foreclosure and setting it on a path to financial stability. The episode serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a professional distance between landlords and tenants and the value of running a property as a successful business.