All Forum Posts by: Brenda Whittaker

@Marian Smith Thank you.  It's just that I did the exact same thing 2 years ago and again 3 years ago, forgot the dang dish, and this time I even reprimanded the tenants for installing it (they late proved it was the tenants before them) but point being I just spoke about it a week before the job, and the roofers even sent me photos, one of which the thing was visible if you zoom in.  I just hate the thought of a brand new pristine roof being gouged with holes for a piece of trash to be mounted on it's virgin shingles.  Grrrrrr.  Thank you though, that does help to know others don't remember everything either.  I just wish I would learn form my mistakes instead of making them over and over and over again. And does anyone out there ave a good strategy for keeping those things the hell away from your rental roof?  The horrid TV companies don't even ask the owner, and they don't even take them down.  Once I found one on my ceramic roof tiles and got fined from the condo board, and the stinking dish company refused to remove it!  Those things are demons.

Update:  Well so just when I thought I was doing well, BAM!  Proven to be too much for me once again.  Why don't I learn?  The good news is I got the roof done, and I even talked them into taking entire payment upon completion.  The job seemed to go well, until I realized I forgot, AGAIN, the demon known as the tv dish!  I spent all day beating myself up because I have replaced roof after roof after roof after roof, and every single firggin time, they destroy a part of it by re-installing a friggin dish that wasnt even in use, because of some brain blockage I apparently suffer from. I even got photos of the jobsite, the roof, I even spoke to tenants about the fact that I do not allow those dirty disgusting things on my roofs, I even got photos from the tenants to prove it was the tenants before them that had it installed, so it's not like it wasnt in my mind, and here I thought I dotted every i and crossed every t, but no.  That would apparently be too much to expect from myself, they installed a dead dish on my brand new roof.  Just shoot me.  Now. GOD I HATE THIS BUSINESS. Can't understand why I ever thought I could do this stuff, it's made me feel nothing but inadequate, stupid, dim, brain dead.  Everything I touch in this business turns to crap, every decision I have ever made in this horrible wretched occupation has confirmed my inability and caused me nothing but despair and grief.  I hate it so much it has ruined my perception of myself, my finances, my personality, my entire inner being, my whole life, all devastated by this abusive horrendous business.  The thought of travelling to it which I do not want to do and trying to fix it which I am not capable of and being cheated again and beaten to the ground by my own stupidity is making me sick.  I highly doubt I will live through this massacre of any shred I had left of any confidence in my capability.  It's gone.  I wish I could just drop dead.  Now.  I don;t want to be here.

No it was the result of several refinances in which the closing costs were added to the loan. And for 20 years I was trapped in nearly 8%. The banking system is a true demon. 

@Dustin Mathenia what is OOS?  You have a good point about asking supplier for a good roof guy. Not understanding the bit about the bank and the roof leaking. ?  The roof is not leaking, it's just old and very worn. I need enough out of it to pay off my home mtg., it's my life goal because my home was free and clear and I borrowed out of it to do these rentals but now im trapped in a mortgage that never goes down.  After 20 years I owe more than I initially borrowed!  I am trapped in no-confidence-because-of-the-past paralysis and the horror of possibly not ever being able to get rid of this monster called a mortgage, that is set to outlive me.  Without the income I cannot pay my own mortgage and without getting at least what I owe out of it I wouldn't be able to get rid of the mortgage. At this time an investor probably wouldn't pay that much, but it sure would save my sanity to get rid of the whole business asap.  Owner finance is worse than renting I think because an eviction is far easier than a foreclosure.  I am stuck. 

Thank you Mike Reynolds.  I have gotten other estimates, Im buried in them.  I have asked for better terms.  The roofer is Main St. Roofing out of Sherman Texas.  I learned roofers do not have to be licensed, and he does have a BBB rating.  He has done county buildings but I highly doubt they paid 70% up front, and I called them but no one knew anything about it, I could not find who hires roofing contractors for their buildings.  So not much a far as references.  I have asked for better references and better terms.  His bid was the best one and I like the maintenance program in which they come out a few times a year and clean out gutters and do a general inspection for a $50 trip charge.  He was also recommended by the gutter guy I hired who did a great gutter job.  Hard to believe it takes this much stress and effort to get a dang roof put up.  It's too much for me, it's the final nail in the coffin of my rehab career hope.  I am definitely not cut out for this.  I am hating every moment of this nightmare. 

I just told him I need something to show for all that cash and to let me know what he is willing to do to ensure that, such as giving it to a mediator like an attorney or letting me buy the material from the supplier and having the supplier deliver it.  It;s a start I guess.  

@Mike Reynolds They sure are expecting that.  AND they want 70% down!  Holy hell!  What do I do now, tell them no way?  Then they'll tell me it's their standard practice?  Tell them to amend the contract?  Their contract already says they will order material once down payment is made. Won't they all say that since they don't want to end up paying for the order if the customer defaults>?

I am having SO MUCH TROUBLE!  Why can't the roofer I want to hire just send me a friggin contract for the price he quoted me??  He is BBB certified, licensed, insured, has multiple locations although only in business for a year, boasts about how big the company has gotten in a short time, has been very good about sending photos, showing up for estimate process, and showed up to meet with insurance guy, however he keeps talking about insurance and I know it's because he wants to charge more if I am using insurance.  Again, shouldnt a roof cost what a roof costs, regardless of insurance coverage??  How do I get a roofer to just do the damn job without trying to commit ins. fraud??  His bid is $6500, I think he's competent but he did not send a contract, he is insisting on "insurance papers".  What?  I did file a claim and with depreciation and high deductible, I got a little cash to help with the job, but as I see it it's none of the roofers business what I got or if I got anything at all.  He wants to bill the ins. co. or something, no just NO..  Is this a giant red flag and should I run the other way?  Why cant he just honor the quote he gave me?  When he heard I was having an adjuster go out there to have a look he told me things I cant even remember that seemed to me like he was going to raise his price if I use insurance.  This seems wrong and how do I get away from this crap?  Hire someone else?  Its turned into a research and detail nightmare.  Help!

@Mike Reynolds Thank you again!! 

They were referred by my gutter guy.  Only one year in business, but already BBB accredited and they do some of the local county buildings' roofs.  I have not called the county as a reference because I know I would just get a secretary but I might try anyway. According to Yellow pages there is a physical building but who knows for sure.  They are prompt, return calls, and their bid is in the ballpark of others, even slightly lower. They also have a program where they will come out for $50 and clean the gutters out and check on roof.  Even though I could get anyone to clean gutters for $50 most likely.  But it's a nice program, as they would be able to address any roof issues that may exist. 1300 sf. house, $6500 roof quote plus $35 per plywood piece 8x4 if any decking needs repair.  Their BBB score is A- and the - could be their short time in business.