All Forum Posts by: David R.

@Account Closed

Did you ever use a public WiFi area discussing the transaction ?

@Steven Lowe

I had the water heater installed by a licensed HVAC company 3 years ago. A Bradford White 50 gal >$1000 dollar one. The handyman said the heater failed and water was coming out the bottom. He put a new one in immediately, but now the 7 yr warranty is void per the HVAC company because they didn’t replace it. I had reflexively called the handyman because he is available, more was wrong than just a water heater, and I wanted it fixed ASAP.

@Frank Chin

There is a TV with chair and storage being used down in the full ceiling height basement with furnace and water heater. This is a single family home where the tenant does all lawn care and snow removal. We have a good relationship in general, he has been there for years.

If the tenant were to leave for 2 months without telling me, and then returned to this, should I have had someone going through the place once a month or more just to make sure everything is good ?

If this were a roof leak that happened in a bedroom they never used that went on for 6 months, and they eventually found a room with severe water damage in it, is there any difference ?

I’m trying to get the theoretics of expectations. Many are advocating self management from out of state, but for a single family home do they have people checking on things on a monthly or weekly basis ? That seems like the only way this may have been avoided.

I’d never have the tenant fix it themselves, the question was regarding costs of repair which I am getting done professionally and expeditiously.

I certainly now see the value in the overflow pipe, and tankless water heaters

@Pat L.

I had a licensed plumber install the thing about 5 years ago. It sounds like a tankless is preferable if it can handle a family of 5-6.

@Scott Mac

I did thank him and the hot water was fixed the next day.

A tenant called and stated the basement looks like there has been an explosion down there. He said he went down into the basement and turned off the water after seeing hot water had been coming out of the overflow valve of the hot water heater. It had been going on long enough that mold was on the drywall. The basement was fairly dry before, not finished but had drywall on edges, studs on the interior, poured cement floor, and luckily a French drain around the perimeter. He said he doesn’t go down there very much. In my lease I have the following

Under Repairs

1. Tenant shall take good care of the premises, it’s fixtures and equipment and keep in good working order. Tenant shall immediately notify landlord when any maintenance or repairs are necessary to the premises. Landlord reserves the right to enter the premises for purposes of maintenance and repair when landlord deems necessary.

2. Tenant shall be responsible for the costs of all maintenance or repairs resulting from tenants neglect, miss use, or failure to take good care of the premises.

3. If tenant fails to immediately notify landlord of the need for repair or maintenance, and additional damage occurs to the premises which could have been prevented if landlord had been able to make prompt repairs, tenant shall be responsible for the cost of repairing the additional damage even if the original damage was not tenants fault.

Would this be a situation where the tenant should pay for all/some of the dry wall needing replacement ? Would you consider it a black and white or gray situation ? My handyman who drives by the place often, thinks the tenant has not been there very much lately.

@NIcholas Hamel I've bought 4 properties in 3 states, 3/4 of them on the MLS. They aren't home runs, but all cash flow above mortgage and expenses. A long number of days on the listing intrigues me as the seller is more likely ready to consider lower offers. 2 of the 4 had been on the market for over a year. That's not too uncommon in nonmetro areas.

I am about to offer 50% of ask on a short sale that's been 160 days plus on MLS. I think in smaller towns there is less buyer competition sometimes compared to larger cities. Maybe when I get rid of the 60+hr/wk job I can do the auctions etc..

@Robert Duffer

As an Upstate New Yorker I can say taxes are high, prices are lowish, and in general most populations are slowly declining. I’m sure certain areas may be OK, but not as much appreciation as you’d see in a growing population.

@Angelica M Garzon

Hello,

How do you manage it ? Tenant screeNing, rent collection, repairs, lawn work etc.? Thx

@Jay Hinrichs

Quantitatively 3% of 130k is not a lot. If the median household income in this rural town is 47k, what would you suggest I attempt to negotiate regarding commission for a Realtor ? It’d be a cash deal, with inspection.