All Forum Posts by: Derek B.

I am looking for a new dishwasher for our personal residence and have not bought a new one in a long time.  I know they have made great strides in the noise levels over the past 10 years, but I am getting conflicting stories from the big box stores and the local appliance specialist.  

What in your opinion is a reasonable decibel rating on a dw that we can run while we are home but not interrupt the entire house?  I have friends who have a Kenmore Elite that is 48 db and I can barely hear it run.  How much louder would a 51 or 55 be?  This is our personal residence, but will be a rental within a year or two, so I need to strike a balance between reasonable price but still quiet enough that we can use it while we are home but still be in the family room and hear each other talk.

No help from the stores so I am here asking the people who know.....    Thanks for your feedback.

+1 for this awesome tip on how to get an email for followup 

@Todd L. Erie ins also has great coverage and rates.  Google them and use their website to find an agent. You can probably find an agent there in md who can handle your properties in carolina.  I live here but still use an erie agent in virginia because she has always taken care of my ins, i never switched agents when i moved.

@Gina Dovel welcome to the site.  If you are interested in flipping, you should really check out J Scott's books here on bp.  At the top of the page, Resources then BP Store.  Also scroll through and find some of the flipping related podcasts.  Best to you. Welcome!

 Welcome to bp. Not only are you moving to a great state, but to one of the better areas here imo.  There is good info here on vacation properties. Use the search function in the top right of the site.

You can use a rental company or go it alone through vrbo or another site.  Spend the time on your reaearch and dont get too excited by the high weekly rent during peak season.  That only lasts 8-10 weeks.  Your occupancy will (likely) be much lower in the shoulder season and non existent in the low season, except for maybe the holidays.  You are also reaponsible for everything...every piece of furniture, broken toaster and missing pillow is yours to replace.  You will also carry all the utilities incl cable and internet.  All that to say - know your expenses and a realistic rent revenue.  If you use a rental firm, expect to pay 25%+/- of the rent for them to manage. If you manage yorself, you will have to orchestrate check ins, cleaning, etc.

Google some of the rental companies and look at the houses they rent out.  Look at the prices and the availability calendars to guage how much gross income they bring in.  That will give you a good start as to whether or not the properties you are considering are feasible.  Best of luck and welcome to the tarheel state.

@Parker Harrison i have several for you to avoid.  Pm me for details. 

A friend of mine is using all property solutions, karen rittenhouse's co and they are really happy with them. She is on the forums as well.

search the forums as has been mentioned.  Lots of investors here that you can follow and learn from.  Consider following Ben Leybovich.  Listen to the podcasts, particularly those focused on buy/hold.

@Bradley Smotherman Congrats on pulling the trigger and best of luck to you.  It would be great if you would keep this post (or start another) up to date with your results.  Are you wholesaling or buying for your own portfolio?  I'm subscribing to follow your success and hope that you'll give us some updates.  Best to you in 2015.

@George Moehlenhoff Agree with @Joel Owens you might consider increasing the rent for the month to month.  You could also explain that the rent increases with mtm occupancy, but then keep the rent the same in exchange for their keeping the property in *clean* condition and allowing you to show it to prospective tenants (within reason) during the 3 months that they will go month to month.  Sounds as though they self imposed the 3 month max on mtm.  Depending on how hard it will be to re-rent this property, you should be the one to decide their max mtm term so that you can re-rent at the best possible time of year (be it may, or june for your area).  I think you have a great opportunity to leverage their request to ensure that your vacancy is as short as possible.

@Thomas Burns As others have said, it comes with time, knowing your market, talking with other investors and talking with insurance brokers.  If your strategy is, for example, 3/2 SFRs, then talking with brokers and investors should get you some averages that are usable for your first pass analysis.  This, of course, assumes that you are looking mostly at similar properties.  It will be hard to guestimate an old 4 plex based on what you have been told newer SFRs cost to insure.  Any good agent/broker who caters to investors should be happy to give you a more solid # when you are making an offer. 

Insurance is an important topic that is often overlooked.  When you find an agent that investors recommend, spend some time (lunch) with him/her and get to know the ins/outs of your market.  Talk about liability limits and umbrella liability policies as well.  It may not be an issue where you are, but in the eastern part of our state, moving one county over could place your property in the wind zone and have a significant impact on your rates.  Best of luck to you and welcome to BP.