All Forum Posts by: Deborah Burian

I admit, I just bought a lighter lithium ion battery power driver and I'm in love... but it's arthritis more than size :-)

The only two considerations your gender would have is 1) as Dawn A. mentions above, the fear factor and 2) your physical ability to do the work in terms of heavy lifting.

I am a woman and I do the major renovations myself, sometimes alone and sometimes with help, without regard to gender. (my major plumbing/hvac company is owned by a woman) Not having been raised doing hands-on repair work, I did have to learn how by using books, video, wiser people around me and the good 'ol school of hard knocks and busted knuckles. I occasionally hire day laborers for stuff that just needs two people. Books I especially rely on are 'Renovating Old Houses' and Home Depot's "Home Improvement 1-2-3."

The only gender specific teaching of which I am aware is at our Home Depot - they often have 'handy woman' classes and I have to say, it used to annoy the pee-willy out of me when they gave me a pink flyer and I'm buying construction materials whilst covered in paint, caulk and bandaids. As I get older and wiser?, I'm trying just to think it's funny.

This is one of the things that makes me crazy.

Tenant - "I love your house, love your house, love your house, when can I move in." A few hours pass...

Deborah - "I'm calling to let you know we've looked at the applications, you're first in line, just making sure you are still interested."

Tenant - "I love your house, love your house, love your house, I can't wait, when can I move in."

a day later -

Deborah - "I have your application back, you passed with flying colors, let's plan a time to sign the lease."

Tenant - "Uh... I rented another house last night"

Hasn't happened yet this time but I've got a day to go, right?

This is why I've learned to play patty cake on my website and not call a house leased until lease and cash are in hand.

It's going to be market specific but we do not. The vast majority of tenants have refrigerators and we got tired of having to remove them. W/D, hook ups only. The one home we own without a hook up is actually a real problem to lease.

I did show a grubby house a little while ago but the viewers were from a waiting list and had seen some of our other homes. They trusted us to take care of it and we did. I wouldn't show a house in that condition to someone I didn't have a previous relationship with.

As my sweet husband and partner would say "Fair's a place for pigs to get ribbons." Liability is a cost of doing business.

Ok. Step one appeared effective. My appts showed up, both did applications, both are financially qualified on the app. Will process the first one and see what happens. The house looked spectacular and the tenant sat in the yard with his dog - keeping goofy at bay.

I didn't mention before that they are breaking the lease to buy their own home so they're pretty motivated.

Getting so much volume from Craigslist I pulled the ad pending processing applications I just received.

YMMV, we have little unemployment here and the rental market is rocking.

Life is good so far.

Carry your own liability.

But... if you're working with a community bank it might make you help the argument that your debt is producing cash flow.

I do know that this tenant is immaculately clean so that helps... On the other hand they're a little goofy so we'll see.