All Forum Posts by: Ashraf Spahi

I think it's worth it. Mainly because the Real Estate sales agent course will teach you a lot about real estate that you may not know about and it'll help you get familiar with your state laws.

If you do decide to purchase properties though you may want to have a mentor/lawyer oversee all the contracts as that's where it gets tricky and the agent course doesn't teach you which forms and such to use for specific purchase scenarios or just use another agent for your first few purchases and learn how they do it and maybe get a commission referral fee back from them

Are you using a general contractor or subbing everything out? You can potentially save money by subbing everything out and managing the project yourself if you have the skills for it. That would save you a lot but it will take work on your part

 
Congrats on the house, at least you took a step into investing instead of sitting on the sidelines, you'll only learn by doing. 

This is what your game plan should be:
1. Talk to an agent and figure out the current value (help you determine how much of a deal you got) then talk to them about after renovation value. 
2. Hire a property inspector to inspect the house and figure out what's wrong with it. 
3. Take those issues to the right contractors and get estimates
4. Calculate all those totals for rehab estimates
5. Now knowing the ARV and the rehab estimates you can determine if the profit is large enough for you to want to learn how to rehab a house
6. If it's not worth your time or too much work, drive around and look for other homes under construction. There you'll find rehabbers who may be interested in buying your house.
7. Cash out $$

Hey Zack, 

Im looking to install hurricane impact windows in Miami and would like to know.

What brands are best to go with for a flip, with regards to manufacturing time and quality and average installation cost?

Your thoughts on
Eco Windows
CGI Sparta Series
Assura
Lawson Industries
ESWindows

Hello,

I'm working on a flip in the Miami area and I'm looking to change out all the windows. I've dug around and talked to a few window people to get estimates and it seems like each installer is trying to sell me on a different brand and I'm trying to understand the differences and advantages of each. 

The brands I've been bid on have been:
Eco Windows
CGI Sparta Series
Lawson Industries
ESWindows
Assura

Assura is from home depot, main advantage i've found is that they have a quick lead time of 4 weeks, compared to everyone else saying 6-8 weeks.

CGI I heard its a reputable brand with a good warranty 

Lawson, cheapest quote but Im' hearing has a huge lead time now and they have been messing up peoples orders with sizes or specifications

ES Windows, comes from Colombia and I heard spare parts, replacements and customer service is terrible

Eco, I haven't really heard much about but price seems close to what I'm being quoted for CGI Spartas 

Anybody on here with more experience that can help me narrow it down? 

@Dana Whicker Its located in Miami Dade county

@Mike McCarthy That was the next thing I was going to try

@Lynnette E. The property is in Florida. I've been trying to research info on septic tank rules for the state but I can't seem to find much. 

I know they don't have to inspect for a sale as my neighbors did that after they bought it for peace of mind. 

I recently purchased a property built in 1970 through an auction that I am looking to rehab and flip. One of the items I want to rehab is the driveway which needs asphalt resurfacing. 

I was at the building permit office today and inquired what I would need to show in order to get the permit approved. They asked whether the property was septic or municipal sewer because nothing showed up in their system in case the septic system is under the driveway so I went next door to talk to the septic tank department and they told me they have no record of my property having a septic tank and to check with the water department. 

I visited the water department and they weren't sure either. (it's an unincorporated area which receives utilities from various neighboring divisions) They only told me that I was only connected for water and not sewer. Meaning I have a septic tank. 

My question is: When I let the city know that I do in fact have a septic system after I get a team out to figure out where it exists; What would happen? Would they just make note of it? Would they ask me to do a bunch of tests and inspections that could end up costing lots of money? 

@Elvis Vasquez have you been able to find a good GC in miami since you posted? I'm currently looking for one myself

@Wayne Brooks I was recently the highest bidder on a property that didn't meet the reserve. I went through the checkout process though and there was an option that if you used the seller's preferred title company that they would give you a premium title insurance that the seller would pay for. Is this what you are talking about? It's just a bunch of bologna?