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All Forum Posts by: Darlena Jones

Darlena Jones has started 4 posts and replied 177 times.

Post: Suggest a lender near Springfield MO

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61

I would highly recommend Legacy Bank in Rogersville, MO (a few miles east of Springfield) - ask for Brett Majers - great resource!

Post: Marketing my rental

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61
Originally posted by @Tom McGrath:

Here is what I have done in the past and had success:

Craigslist with good clear photos as someone mentioned earlier

Postlets.com

Rentlinx.com

I also made up fliers with one really good pic and basic details and my cell number and put them up at laundrymats (if my units have washer and dryer in the unit), train stations and popular restuarants/delis that have lines of people waiting around for their orders.

I dont know if the ads I printed did much or not but the rentlinx, craigslist and postlets all worked great as long as there was demand out there.  Good luck!

Thank you for the suggestions!  I haven't heard of Rentlinx and hadn't thought about doing flyers.  I'll pull something together.

Post: Marketing my rental

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61
Originally posted by @George Kaberlein:

We are in the Springfield market as well, and have always had a terrible time from December til about the end of January. One SFR we had come up at this time of the year a few years back we had to discount quite a bit to get it rented, and even then, evicted the tenant a few months into Spring. It sounds like you're doing everything right. If you'd like to PM the Craigslist ad to me, I'd be happy to see if there are any suggestions I might be able to make...I'm no expert, but certainly would be willing to give it a look.

Thanks George!  I just sent it.

Post: How much will it cost to build a new home in NH?

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61

Well, very difficult question to answer.  Are you going to have high-end finishings like granite countertops, marble tile, hardwood floors throughout, vaulted ceilings, 9' walls, etc.  

Or, are you looking at lower-end finishings like formica countertops, carpet, 8' walls etc?

Post: Marketing my rental

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61
Originally posted by @Jamal White:

is the duplex near amenities within walking distance?

We're a car society here.  People drive everywhere here unless you live in the very center of the city.

Post: Marketing my rental

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61
Originally posted by @Luca Gobbini:

This time of the year is bad for empty units, January with the tax returns will be better.

Maybe you could consider restructuring the rent, lowering to 525 and not paying for the trash. Just a thought. People tend to focus on one number.

I thought about that but I really like paying for trash.  It insures that the property won't get trashed up.  I could lower to $525 if they mow the grass? 

Post: Marketing my rental

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61
Originally posted by @Sarnen Steinbarth:

Have you tried posting on social media as well?

Signs?  Flyers?  

Postlets hits a bunch of the online websites, but certainly not all.  

Like @Nicole A. mentioned you may want some better pics.

Here is my list of 7 P's for moving real estate, photos being one of them:

  • Price - Is your price right
  • Promotion - Are you doing a good job getting the word out
  • Property - Is it in good shape
  • Policies - Are your policies reasonable (e.g.- Are you asking for 10x the monthly rent 28 prior landlord references, and only 800+ credit scores)
  • Photos - Are they nice
  • Place - Is it in a good location
  • People - Is the demand cyclical - are people looking

(I think I need to make this into a blog post, yes?)

Price - We just bought this duplex in October and it was leased at $550.  I didn't raise the rent.

Promotion - This is a C unit in a C area (north side of Springfield) so social media isn't really happening.  Both of the tenants in this duplex paid with money orders. 

Property - Actually very good shape.  We repainted it this weekend and are having the carpets professionally cleaned.

Policies - I haven't even got to the point of talking about policies.  Only 3 phone calls.

Photos - Maybe a little dark - I'll retake them.

Place - It's a C area.  Blue-collar folks. 

People - I hope they're looking?

Post: Marketing my rental

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61

The tenant gave me 30 days notice (first of December) and I had signs out a week or so after that. My online posting (Craigslist/Postlets/MLS) went up in mid-December.

I know December is crappy (we build spec homes and can't sell anything in December) so I understand that.  But, I just thought that I would have had some movement on this unit by now.

Post: Hard money for new construction?

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61

Have you checked the marketplace?  I think there are several there.

Why are you wanting to use hard money for new construction?  The interest will eat you alive.  Have you tried a portfolio lender?  Very reasonable rates for us.

Post: Marketing my rental

Darlena JonesPosted
  • Strafford, MO
  • Posts 181
  • Votes 61

The duplex across the parking lot just rented for $525 (mine is $550) but we pay for trash and lawn service and they don't.  The photos could be better, I guess.  I'll take a look at that. 

And, yes, I posted to Postlets.com too. I even put it on MLS (I'm an agent).

The rent is definitely on par with the area (north central Springfield, MO).  Just frustrated.