All Forum Posts by: Al Bunch

Pot. Stirred.

Where's my popcorn?

First, how many rentals do you currently own?

Second, how did you acquire each of your first 10 rentals?

Third, how long did it take you to get your first 10?

You don't have to give a blow-by-blow account, but maybe a broad overview like first 4 were conforming mortgages, second 2 were sub2 deals, next 3 were bought using a line of credit against the first 4..etc.

I've got two "dead" smartkey locks that I can't rekey because they were re-keyed and the key used to rekey them disappeared.  These are the landlord version with the rotating face so I only need a master to get into the property.  

More folks are aware that you can rekey the locks with the little hole on the face..I'll be switching to landlordlocks shortly and selling the kwikset locks on ebay.  Should have gone with my gut the first time around.

The kwikset locks sounded real appetizing and they were simple to get started, but it doesn't take much to render them useless.

@Account Closed I'd love to use Appfolio, it's only $1/property - but it has a $200/month minimum.  If I had enough units, I'd switch immediately, as it is, I'm in the same boat as Tamera - looking for something to manage a few properties that won't break the bank or make me pull my hair out trying to force-fit it to work as PM software.

Dealt with chronic lateness when I did OF deals on mobile homes...just remember - you're either training them or they're training you.  Figure out which way you want it to be and follow that path.

@Sandeep S. - there are plenty of large networking RE events in Houston - almost one large event every week. You shouldn't have an issue meeting fellow investors when you're in town. Shoot me an email and I'll point you in the right direction.

I'll be there.

@Michael Finkelshteyn - you going?

Thanks @Michael Finkelshteyn - yes, count me in.

Here's two questions for the Yellow Letter gurus (or just the folks with more than a fair bit of experience doing it).

1) Yellow legal paper (~16# newsprint) has a definite different feel than offset printed bond paper made to look like legal paper. Have you noticed an appreciable difference in response between the two?

2) If you're printing your letters and the type isn't close to being between the lines, have you noticed a difference in response between that and one where the text is carefully positioned to line up with the ruled lines on the paper?

@Dev Horn dangit - I was gonna use that site for this weeks drawing...

6 degrees? I talk to everyone about what I do...and I mean everyone - guy came out to do a site inspection for access to credit header info for one of my lead sources and before I knew it he's telling me about two properties he sees when he rides his bike for exercise. He emailed me the addresses last week.

I seem to find a lot of my paychecks hiding under other folks dusty work boots.

..

Ok - the biggest single problem I have with my marketing is that I'm learning everything as I go. Most of the DIY marketing books seem to chant the same mantra and then throw a new tidbit or two out there...I need the book with all the tidbits rounded up..or a consultant that can give solid direction.