All Forum Posts by: Andrew Cameron

I've heard many times that people shouldn't appeal their property tax assessment because there is a chance that the value could go up instead of down.  Has this actually happened to anyone?  Or is this a rumour that the tax assessors like to have out there, but know that it's wrong.

@Alexander B. Are they building these units to rent or to sell?  Any idea when they'll actually be ready?  

If they're rentals they could force your rents downward if they offer better value than your current units.

The risk if they are for sale is that they don't sell at a sufficient margin above what you pay for your older duplex.

Ah, good to know.  I had this same problem too.

My question is what did you miss in your due-diligence?  And what can you change in your process to make sure it doesn't happen again?

@Mindy Jensen  Funny thing about that. There are people out there without any morals or qualms about cheating or screwing some over.  Maybe it's just that I'm an eternal optimist, I just like to thing there are more good people than bad people out there and this was just a one off thing.

How big was the repair issues from the roof?

I have a different take on someone going to get their business degree. I truly think what has made me successful has been able to draw from different skill sets and knowledge sets to apply to business. I have my undergrad business degree, but I also have my teaching degree. The teaching degree has helped me in designing coaching, and mentoring programs for my employees. My belief is if you offer a specific rote skill you are easily replaced, the ability to think and draw in different points of view and knowledge areas makes you irreplaceable. My standard recommendation for anyone thinking of business school is: - plan for two degrees, your undergrad and your MBA. - for you undergrad pick something you want to learn about and a topic you would love to become highly knowledgeable about - history, art, chemistry, engineering, music, whatever it is. Enroll and work hard and learn as much as you can. - finish your undergrad and then enroll and do your MBA You then have a foundation of knowledge that can help you in your business career.

@Mindy Jensen  UGH!  Your post made me audibly groan, I just hope I didn't wake my daughter!

Looking back on it was there anything you could have done at the time to find this issue?  Or did you have to wait for the snow to melt?

It can be tough to do a thorough exterior inspection, especially the ground and foundation if it’s covered in a foot of snow!

@David Calme  Glad the suggestion will work for you.  After I look at the property with a 5% management and 5% R/M, I like to run some different scenarios to answer what happens if management is 10% or 3%. Same for R/M.  This just gives me a sense of what will happen if these cost estimates change.  

@Steve S. In our municipality they won't actually let us put the water bill in the tenant's name.  It's much easier for them to chase down property owners than tenants.  

Can you actually do that in Winnipeg?