All Forum Posts by: Berny Petersen

Welcome!      Start here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investin...

Don't hesitate to post questions here - the forums are full of people ready to help.

Awesome work so far - sounds like you are on a great path! Don't hesitate to post any questions, this forum is full of great people ready to help! 

Welcome! Start here and have fun! https://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investin...

Hi Joshua - welcome! The first stop here on BP is The Ultimate Beginners Guide https://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investin....

After that, while you are reading every article about your specific interests, jump over to the Marketplace forum and put in a filter for Georgia. That's a good starting point to see who is doing what in the ATL. Lots of "wholesalers" here; What you want to do is see who is doing deals on a regular basis and who is not. There's a few of one and LOTS of the other! 

The lenders forum will also show you some hard money outfits. Compare all the fees and criteria and get set up with a couple you like. Let me know if I can help!

First - make sure you interview several. And remember, you are interviewing them, not visa versa. Compare apples to apples: monthly fees, commission splits, training and education, any expected time requirements, etc. After that, look for culture. Is there a feeling that every agent in the office will help you, or is the broker giving you lip service just trying to recruit another warm body. They make money off of your fees whether you are successful or not - some care and some don't. 

In my own experience the brokerage you mentioned is pretty low on the list for new agents - basically sink or swim with little support. Great split plans for experienced producers though. I would look seriously at a different type of brokerage that focuses more on training. Feel free to PM me if need more info. Good luck!

"Further, 62 percent of the business owners anticipate sales increases in the next six months, the highest since spring 2007; 57 percent anticipate an increase in profits, the highest since spring 2005; and 28 percent expect increased full-time hiring, the highest proportion of businesses since spring 2012."

I would certainly rather hear this than the contrary - moving in the right direction...

Welcome! You have definitely come to the right place. If you ever have questions about anything, don't hesitate to post. You will find the community is eager to help!

@Dylan Bensinger  Go for it! I use grey all the time too, mostly for exterior work but its fine inside too. You just don't want to clash with any of the existing finishes or appliances, which is why the soft brown tones are used so much. I use flat on all walls and ceilings. The walls aren't very washable but you can literally repaint a room for a few bucks. I try to use a much tile and masonry as possible in the wet areas, but on exposed plaster/sheetrock in baths in use semi-gloss or satin, depending on the condition of the surface. Like you said, gloss and semi-gloss will show every blemish in the surface. 

Thanks for the info, @Linda Weygant  I'll leave the tax discussions to you pros! One thing I am sure of, as you mentioned, "it depends"!

Agree with most of above, as in addition to rental properties I have also owned a painting business in the past. It's amazing how many people think they can paint but have no clue, and end up costing you time and money. You do not need to paint everything white. Paint the walls "builder beige" , ceilings flat white, and trim semi-gloss white. Remember that there are hundreds of different shades of white and beige, so pick a manufacturer (Sherwin Williams, Glidden, etc.) and a color number, and buy the exact same color every time. That way you can repaint and touch up when needed and always keep a uniform look.