All Forum Posts by: Alexander Berger

Hi BP, I'm hoping to tap into this incredible network to find a general contractor or electrician within the Nashville area who has extensive experience dealing with Nashville Codes to help me resolve this unfortunate situation.

I recently completed (or rather, believed I had completed) a renovation project on a duplex in North Nashville. Unfortunately, I ran into a snag during the electrical trim-out inspection, resulting in a failed inspection, and the removal of the power meters from my property by Nashville Electric Service.

The inspector's note on my electrical permit mentioned three issues:

1. The circuit box for unit B was sizzling audibly after removing the front cover of the box
2. The inspector could not confirm if the correct gauge of wire was used from the circuit box to the main due to excessive dust coverage.
3. The house appeared to have been rewired without a permit.

I’m looking for someone who can resolve these outstanding concerns and successfully close my building permit.

If anyone could provide recommendations, contacts, or even just general advice on how to proceed here, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm eager to get this beautifully remodeled property rented and would be extremely grateful for any assistance this community can offer!

Here are some of the events on my radar:

Here's a link to the spreadsheet I'm using to track. Feel free to add your events as well!

Investment Info:

Single-family residence buy & hold investment in Redding.

Purchase price: $245,000
Cash invested: $57,000

My first SFR rental deal! I believe in the neighborhood so I plan to hold for at least 5 years and see what happens.

How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

A family friend offered it to me off-market

How did you finance this deal?

Conventional 20% down loan

If you are an established multi-family investor or wholesaler considering automating and improving aspects of your current process with Podio it could initially appear prohibitively intimidating. While it is a large undertaking, based on my recent experience configuring Podio for my lead management, it is VERY doable, and I encourage you to explore it further. 

 I am not affiliated with Podio, Zapier or any other apps mentioned in this post. I am not a technology consultant. I am not selling anything. Etc, etc, etc. Thank you, now back to the post: 

I have held a digital transformation role @ a Fortune 500 organization and I have a knack for optimizing technology process flows. I'm familiar with large enterprise systems like Oracle Hyperion and more startupy tools like Alteryx & Tableau so I have a good sense of how practical and easy to use different business process automation tools are. I recently set up my own Podio for lead management and was really impressed with the amount of flexibility available, while maintaining a surprising ease of use (these are generally direct trade-offs).

Quick Tips (Sorry @Brandon Turner, had to borrow the catchphrase)

#1 MAP YOUR BUSINESS PROCESS ON PAPER/WHITEBOARD FIRST! This applies to Podio or any technology implementation project. It will save you hours of fumbling around aimlessly in the tool. For me I simply drew out my lead funnel, the different stages and branches of the funnel, and then was able to begin methodically creating apps within Podio and connecting them accordingly. It's too difficult to try and mentally map your process while simultaneously learning how to build in a new tool.

#2 Explore Zapier for connecting Podio to all your other apps (and even itself). As far as I can tell so far, most Podio "automation" is actually Zapier driven.

#3 Make sure to import or create a "Contacts" app early on and use the Relationships field in other apps such as "Leads" or "Conversations Log" to link back to a contact. Podio doesn't by default enforce this behaviour, but trust me, there will be significantly reduced value if you build a "Customer Relationship Mamagement" (CRM) app that doesn't center around the Customers or "Contacts" that you are trying to maintain a relationship with. This may not make total sense before you start building, but as you start to use it you will get how important this approach is.

Best of luck to everyone looking to improve their operating efficiency!

@James Laginess I use Cozy and highly recommend it to anyone. Happy to answer ANY specific questions you have in this thread!  

@Joseph High

Very important definition to clarify! Based on my limited experience (working on a slow flip with another friend of mine in St. Louis) I would include everything you mentioned + painting, replacing flooring, and replacing doors/windows which could fall into hardware I guess. 

It took my friend and I about 15 hours to re-tile the kitchen, so I would have to vehemently agree with things taking longer than expected haha.

In a nutshell, I just don't want to do rehab projects that I couldn't comfortably do myself given enough time such as plumbing, electrical, foundation, mold/toxic materials, or roof. It's a desire to avoid risk not work.

@Devan Mcclish 

A. We are about the same age (I'm 27) which is very bad-***. Granted I'm at one door and you are at a significantly higher number, but would be cool to work together in the future.

B. Would love to chat property mgmt with you down the road.

C. I'm listening to your BP episode now, and I guarantee a DM is coming your way with some questions later this evening! 

Thanks for reaching out.

Thanks both! I’ve PM’ed both of you

My friend KJ is moving to Nashville this fall for a PhD program at Vanderbilt and I am looking for a Duplex or Fourplex that we can buy together. He would live in one unit and manage the others. Any help locating a deal or recommending local agents, lenders, or investors who might be willing to offer advice would be greatly appreciated!

Basic Criteria
2-4 Units
Less than $175k per unit
Less than 25 minute drive to Vanderbilt
Built 1970 or newer
Light rehab needed would be a plus (nothing structural)

Additionally, any feedback or advice on whether these criteria are attainable in the current market would be great! We are just at the beginning of our search process and I've only bought single family in California before.

Hi All,

I am looking for my first investment property in Ventura County, CA in the $400-500k range and Oxnard/Port Hueneme has caught my attention. If any BP members own properties out there, would you recommend that market for a first time buyer?

What types of tenants do you get and do they pay reliably/treat the property reasonably well?
   Seems like there would be a bunch of agriculture workers and military personnel

From what I can tell the median rent for a 3/2 SFR is in the $2,000 - $2,300 range. Are you seeing this range?

Any specific neighborhoods you like/would stay away from?
   Seems like some of the run down places a couple blocks from the new gated communities could be a good move

Thanks for any and all thoughts. Feel free to reach out if you are in the area and would like to connect and share ideas!