All Forum Posts by: Cindy Meyer

@Ben Curtin 

Often banks attempt to sell to Owner Occupied buyers first and keep Investors out the first couple of rounds; therefore, you might be protected from investor offers.  Ask your realtor if this is the case.  

It appears to be a really good deal with the numbers given.  Remember you will have an inspection contingency, so if there are any hidden repairs needed that are outrageous you can get out of the deal.  Grade of appliances, carpet, countertops and flooring can all be adjusted to your budget.  Go for a middle of the road window and do that first.

As someone that has been a female for almost 50 yrs I can tell you that your biggest variable will be how much your wife wants the house.  Happy wife = Priceless.  I probably paid more for my personal residence than I should have, but it was my ONE emotional purchase.  Everything else is business.

@Kai Hicks

Oh, believe me, my husband and I can TOTALLY emphasize with you on two fronts: 1) We only rent out homes we would live in and try to give our tenants someplace they will feel good about living and 2) Elderly are our weakness (my husband is a contractor and has given lots of breaks/free stuff to the grey hairs........yeah, I know.....DISCRIMINATION!).

I would have the PM tell her that you are willing to let her have it done by one of their regular vendors and you will pay half; however, she should also be aware that if this results in dirty windows, she will be fully responsible to pay to have them cleaned.  @Steve Babiak is right about the windows. No matter how good the washer is at his job, they are going to get dirty and that will lead to another call.  

Good luck!

Totally agree!  Those look the most elegant to me also.

Please don't make me look at #s 6 or 8 ever again.

@Kai Hicks  

When my husband and I purchased a home it was a soft market, so I rented out my Northern California condo to a really nice elderly lady.  Her son, a corporate lawyer paid the rent.  I thought it was sweet he would do that for his mom.  After a short while we realized he was paying just to get her out of his house and I started to consider it a rent/babysittng fee.

She called constantly: There was water in the carport (it had rained), light switch stopped working (it was on a dimmer), ants in the kitchen (don't leave food out). She would call me, she would call my husband and she would call the PM company for the HOA (who ended up really hating me during her tenancy). She wasn't senile, she was just lonely because her family was ignoring her. That 2 yr lease that looked great at the beginning felt like it would never end.

When her lease ended, she went month to month (refusing to pay the full rent increase and only paying what she felt I should get).  I got a note in the mail from a realtor with buyers wanting to purchase my unit.  When I told the tenant she said "No, I won't let you sell."  Thus began an extremely stressful 10 weeks (occurring simultaneously with losing my dad).  She was having the time of her life because her family was finally paying attention to her - they were all afraid she was going to end up at their house.  

Thanks to patient buyers, a hard working realtor, a wonderfully smart husband and me getting more hard nose with an elderly person than I would ever want to get, she got out in time for the sale to close.

My advise is to be aware that nice can turn ugly very quickly and to let all the little requests add up, taking care of 2-3 at once when it works for you.  

@Bill Bockwoldt

Sorry to do it this way, but my email is on strike right now.

When we redid our Santa Rosa house, my very anal GC husband would only call one company:  Hovden Roofing. 707-537-9601 or   Owner's name is Wayne.  He is a great guy that does quality work.  Don't know if he is busy now, but might be able to give you a name if he is.  If he asks, let him know Nathan Meyer that moved to Texas.

@Nick Thompson  Seems like YOU are the one doing the creative thinking.

When you do find the solution,please update.  Would really appreciate hearing how it is handled.

@Nick Thompson 

My husband just did repairs on a home where the damage became apparent due to recent heavy rains here in Texas.  The hardie board which was buried in about 3" of dirt, was completely brittle.  It would be my guess the vinyl hasn't been keeping the water out either.

Bottom line is that no siding is going to be completely waterproof and you want to do your best to keep any source of moisture away from the home.  I have learned this through my husband's multiple rants about flower boxes and plants up against the side of a home.  Even though he has made some good money repairing the resulting damage, he would rather his clients not have to pay for such things.

Have your gutters and downspouts checked for proper placement and look for ways to divert water.  French drain maybe?

If it were me I would buy and not renew, using the lie on the application to the previous owner as the reason.  

I would also ask the property manager for proof that proper notice was given to all current tenants regarding Sex Offender websites (required here in Texas).

As an owner, I think your numbers are very fair.  An, "I take really good care of your property and pay your mortgage," type tenant may not.  Wording the notice in such a manner that expresses your appreciation that they have been a good tenant will soften the blow.  Along the same lines, I would make option 4 their choice to give you 30 days notice they will be moving not that they have 30 days to vacate (which reads like they have to pay the increase in 30 days or you are kicking them to the curb).

With a $70 increase in a 3 year period in a strong market, they should be expecting some sort of bump up.  

@Manolo D. is right that you are taking a big gamble.  You have to determine if not getting a permit now is worth what it might cost you in the future, especially if city finds out you are moving a wall and the plumbing without a permit.

Assuming your friend will disclose the improvements at the time of sale: As a buyer, I would be fine with a civil engineer's sign off on the wall vs. from a city inspector (probably more so).  However, I wouldn't want to take a chance on unpermitted plumbing and would adjust my offer accordingly.