All Forum Posts by: Austin F.

Yeah get another quote. Flat roofs (if actually a flat roof with EPDM product) don't need ice and water shield.

Mold is everywhere.

Don't panic, do an air quality test, do research about how most mold isn't an issue.

This is something I am working on too. I try not to tell my tenants that I will be away.

You could set up a Google voice number and have the tenants call that in "urgent emergencies only if I cannot be" then get a trusted friend or family member to answer that for the week that you are gone. Then that trusted friend or family member could have a list of "emergency contacts" (plumbers, electricians etc) that they can call to sort out the issue.

I try to make it easy on my contact by not asking for bids when I'm on vacation I just accept that if something goes wrong I'll have to pay more to make the issue go away without me having to handle it. Depending on how anxious you are, you could get something like a Garmin inReach it is a satellite communicator which you can send texts with. I have one for other hobbies, but have considered this option when I will be out of service for weeks at a time.

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Austin F.:

Nor does regulating one of the 'wrongs' out of existence. And owning/operating a STR is not a wrong anyway.....WTF?

My original post on page 1 had more info. I don't think owning an STR isn't morally wrong, but I do think that government should impose restrictions on them such as saturation limits, or units caps in some markets.

Quote from @Joshua B.:

Quote from @Austin F.:

I've thought about this a lot, and the answer I've come up with is no. STR's hurt locals, especially in small markets like ski towns. They force the cost of housing up, and detract from any sense of community in neighborhoods. These issues are magnified greatly in small population high pressure markets, in bigger cities there is so little sense of community that it doesn't matter so much, also there are generally low cost neighborhoods the displaced people can filter out to.

I'm personally a big freedom guy, but I believe this is one place where local government needs to step in and draw up regulations. My local market has a cap on the number of licenses they will grant, 225 total units, and only one STR per block face, the waiting list is about 2 to 3 years long. As frustrating as it is (I have a property that would make a great STR) I believe it is what is best for the city.

I can see your point, but time and again I've seen desirable cities with heavily entrenched NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) populations that purposefully keep antiquated zoning policies in place in order to halt development, even well thought/planned development. They want to limit STRs (understandable) but also try to stop other types of development that would decrease the need for STRs.

I don't think people can cry "immoral" when entrenched interests are making no efforts to relieve demand pressures and, in fact, are doing just the opposite.

I have no debate with this statement, local government caused the housing crisis. But that doesn't mean two wrongs make a right

I had a guy hang up on me mid sentence in January, I'm closing on his house next week. Turns out he's really nice and loves to talk.

You never know what will happen until you pick up the phone!

That said I'm nervous to call another guy tomorrow, the butterflies are addicting though, the feel of potential.

My student leases are all "jointly and severally", and are the same leases I use for more traditional tenants. This would probably be a bit market dependent, the students renting from me are groups of friends or however they do it, I do not rent by the room. All tenants are on the same lease, and I collect ONE rent check, no exceptions.

I don't do cosigners, the costs of me taking 4 sets of parents to court and getting a judgment issued against them, and the students will almost certainly cost more than just repairing the property and moving on.

I've thought about this a lot, and the answer I've come up with is no. STR's hurt locals, especially in small markets like ski towns. They force the cost of housing up, and detract from any sense of community in neighborhoods. These issues are magnified greatly in small population high pressure markets, in bigger cities there is so little sense of community that it doesn't matter so much, also there are generally low cost neighborhoods the displaced people can filter out to.

I'm personally a big freedom guy, but I believe this is one place where local government needs to step in and draw up regulations. My local market has a cap on the number of licenses they will grant, 225 total units, and only one STR per block face, the waiting list is about 2 to 3 years long. As frustrating as it is (I have a property that would make a great STR) I believe it is what is best for the city.

The cost is in the labor, buy the more expensive shingles.

Go to the store and look at them, theyre rated by years warranty 20, 30, 45, lifetime, figure out how many square you need (approximate is fine) then figure out how much the cost difference is. Dont buy 3 tab.

Based on the picture that I can see (which isn't that great) I wouldn't do anything about that wall.