All Forum Posts by: Dan Bryskin

I am a newly minted Florida agent, (both licensed and experienced in Minnesota) looking for a broker in South Florida. My area of interest is Gulf side, from Tampa to Marco Islands. I am looking for a suggestions, who would you recommend and why. Thank you, Dan Bryskin. 

@Matt J. we operate a number of Airbnb's around MPLS / St Paul & a few out of state, some are ours, some we operate for others (an elusive professional host you have been looking for). There are a lot of considerations going into a great airbnb. From the type of remodel - picking up durable great looking finishes to the level of service one needs to provide for the 5 star rating. PM me, I'd be happy to chat.

@Kelly Conrad try siwek lumber yard in NE Minneapolis, they have a good selection of MDF, and if they don't have something - they usually know there to get it. 

@Jason Jirjis - 1.5% for a paperwork is crazy. It should take a decent agent about 30 min ... It should cost broker fees + $300-$500 and should not exceed $1000 .... And yes, have agent write a pa and have it go through the broker, at least you will have E & O insurance coverage .

@Alan Crookham, @Scott Mac gave you a good answer. Here are my few suggestions for you: 

1. Get married if you have not already. Wife will know everything, mine does :)

2. Work with realtor who will be assisting you with buying / selling the property. For us they are a local experts, going into 100's of houses a year, hearing things from the buyers. They can assist you with determining the price point, extend of the rehab and with figuring out fit and finish. 

3. Check out your competition. Look at remodeled houses in the neighborhood selling quickly, see what they use. 

4. Pinterest & such can be used as a source for the ideas

Good luck

@Reagen Natho, smart locks, cameras, if you have to have a lock box as a backup, hide it.

@Paul Moore, Data in the article is based on Jan & Feb and the year started very strong. Here is what I see in my local market, Minneapolis & surrounding areas, Minnesota:

1. We went from having 15 buyers for every house to having 2-3 buyers.

2. Buyers who are out, are bottom of the barrel, 3% down FHA. Last year people would not consider their offers, today it's their chance.

3. Buyers are on the hunt for deals and jittery. We have to sell each house 2-3 times ... 

4. Higher the price bracket, higher the decline in property value. Some affordable housing still sells in multiple offers and some more expansive houses get no showings. 

5. Percentage of empty vs occupied houses have shifted. Now I see a lot more occupied houses. People are afraid to let people in, but still list. New listing coming out are mainly rich who want to sell and everybody else who has to sell. Whoever doesn't have to sell is staying a hell out of this market. 

6. I see a lot less price reductions and a lot of new listings are very close to the mortgage amounts

7. I think a lot of listing coming out today will become short sales in coming months, exerting a downward pressure on the market. Lost income will further depress prices, so will delayed foreclosures.  

8. In my market I think it's still a good time to sell, expecting buying opportunities to appear in the winter.

@Dave Meyer your survey won't work for people with portfolio balanced between different segments / types as each has it's own concerns / strategy.

@Frank Szymanski

For the rental in fl, here is what I would do: 

• Remove uppers over the U, add nice lights
• Floating LVL floors
• Move cook top over to the left, nice hood
• Extend an L with the counter top to provide seating on the other side, round the edge of the counter top
• Buy / replace appliances, may be counter depth fridge with ice and water on the door
• Use quartz / granit for counter top, or butcher block
• Add nice lights, new big sink & nice moen faucet
• I'd lightly hand sand cabinets and spray new coat of poly
• Good luck

@Frank Szymanski

It all depends on what are you going for / price point. What you got is 70's oak. You can replace the kitchen, if you go with IKEA and not hang uppers over the L you got may be 2k in the new cabinets. You can get all new faces. You can have kitchen wrapped in plastic. You can remove raised wood from the doors, fill the lines and and repaint - that will give you flat doors. To stain you need to sand / strip the old finish, it is more work then repainting. For paint to stick you should scratch the surface first, use steel wool or something. If you want a nice finish - spray an oil base enamel. IMHO it's a lot of labor to make old cabinets look nice and do a quality durable finish. For us it is more cost effective to just replace cabinets. Good luck.