All Forum Posts by: Doug Pintarch

@Dan Taylor

Ugh.  Sorry man, that truly sucks about the VW.

You are dead-on about value.

@Jack Ni, not meaning to hijack here, but I have a related question to yours. My partner handles all of our bookings for our STVR, our longest term this past year was 3 weeks for a long vacation, most are 1 week, many are 2 and 3 day weekends. We do charge an extra fee for a pet (We are "Small dog friendly" for the folks that take Fido on vacation). Is this legal in our situation for a service dog? I honestly don't remember us speaking about it in any of our meetings about it at all, even when he set us all up on VRBO initially. I'm thinking this debate is about yearly leases for apartments and SFH's, but I thought I'd clarify.

Actually, Jasmine, I think that is a serious issue and they can get in trouble for it.

@Alex Kamunyo Very nice house and flip!    

I like your lessons learned #'s 2 and 3.  Well stated and should be referenced before and during the process.

@Dan Taylor

2 things:

First...WOW.  

Take that as a compliment from a guy who has averaged 66 hours per week since I was 18 in the car business, and still do it today at age 51. (Only reason it's not more hours is because we are closed Sunday because it's still against the law to sell cars in PA on Sunday) Did this through raising 2 daughters and now is investing time for the wife and I heading towards retirement.  We are crushing the savings, but NOT close to your percentages!   Kudos on that! Great goal declarations and outline of your progress, I read that with great interest and respect.

Second...How in the holy hell did you LOSE money on a VW Vanagon?!?!?!    those things are like gold bullion in our neck of the woods...and if it's a pop-top Westphalia edition name your price!

:)

I see what you did there....    :)

THAT'S how you network, baby!!    :)

Landen - Good timely question, I'm a buy-and-holder so can't advise you on your subject, but you got some great advice already in here...I am certain the PM will be key to everything and is where I would start also.  

Good Luck!

 Paul!   I remember you saying this in one of your earlier replies in a different thread, and I thought "WOW!  I have no right to pitch a fit about one!!"   Our turn is weekly during the summer season (Vacation rental) and a minimum of 2 nights "Out" of season so we clean it a lot, and each couple alternates every-other turn.  We figured when we get another this year we'll still drive down and do 1 and get a cleaning service to do the other, then alternate units, so we get eyes-on each property several times a month.  

  We put the furniture back each cleaning, they only move end tables and sofa and love seat, and occasionally the wicker stuff in the sunroom and on the patio.  Never beds and dressers though.  One time they actually left the living room better than we had it, I thought...but didn't dare tell the wives, who are in charge of decorating...    :)

After a year with our STVR cleaning it ourselves for the turnarounds to save cash flow we see people moving furniture around to the way they like it, changing lamps on tables, and the toothpaste on the faucets is almost a given.  None of it is a big deal at all...You're staying a week and you want that chair over there?  Please!  Make yourselves at home.  

Everyone gets a 5 star (At least they have so far)  No real damage yet, knock on wood.   Messy does not equal damaged, as a clean freak I had to learn that after our first couple renters and just breathe deep and let it go.

Our "Thing" is little amenities (Snacks and bottled water and a personal note on the counter for them when they arrive) and Absolutely Spotlessly Clean on arrival.  We work like dogs to not miss one rogue hair, one balled-up tissue, one dirty spoon hiding in the dishwasher.  We don't expect people to put it back to exactly as they found it though!

@Julie McCoy  Great points.  Your "Approach from the insurance angle" is something I may mention to my partner in our STVR, he handles all the bookings for us.  I like blaming it on the regs!

Weird people with their disclosures, indeed.