All Forum Posts by: Eric F.

@Steven Hamilton II Before today I would disagree but now I feel the same way. Basically they asked me for what I paid him through the date of the first request, which I was fine with, and the second request was an updated payment amount before their trial next week, again a reasonable enough request that I have no problem with.

Appearing is different though. For 1, I got the subpoena at 9am today for next Wednesday. That is just bullcrap in my opinion. And there is not a response with this one, just a summon to appear. I am not sure what an attorney can even do if I hired one.

The worst part is this guy is the best guy I have ever worked with. Totally honest, on time every single day, does exactly what he says he will do every time, doesn't drink or smoke or do drugs on the job (which should be a given of course but I'm sure I'm not the only one who has rolled up on the jobsite to see some beer cans around), provides input on how to do something better and is almost always correct, does tremendous work, etc. I have never been happier with anyone I have used and that is the truth. I would recommend him to anyone and even vouch to him to the point that if he screwed someone over I'd make it right....endorsements don't get much stronger than that!

I called the firm to make sure they got my most recent response to their subpoena but they wouldn't tell me, which seems weird. I was just talking to an assistant but the head attorney is supposed to call me. I stated I feel like I gave them everything they could possibly need and I don't see why I have to testify just because I hired this guy to do put in floors, build a deck, install cabinets, and do some tile work. I basically said I cannot see any reason I should have to testify. I probably should have kept my mouth shut but I'm a moron sometimes. I did say this feels like harassment. 

Lesson learned. If I ever get a subpoena again I'm not doing anything without talking to an attorney first no matter how simple and reasonable the request is.

Honestly, I have had no luck with them here. I have put up hundreds (well over 600) and never gotten a good deal off of them. I don't think I have even gotten 50 good leads. Every now and then I still put some out when I'm bored since I still have some, but they just don't work for me. I have put them up all over Raleigh, Durham, and Garner. I've tried vanity numbers, handwritten, logos, etc. they all performed poorly. There is only one guy I consistently see up them up: 855 9NC-Sell. He is all over the place. I don't know who it is though. I've called it a few times but never had a call returned. 

Of course, that being said, go for it. Anything to get started. I never have received a fine. The Durham enforcement officer called me and told me to take one down a couple of times or I would get a fine, so I took it down. She was actually pretty nice. In Raleigh they just rip them down. I don't think they even try to fine you.

Guys I know in Greensboro kill with them though, although not as much as a couple of years ago. Some guys I know do nothing but signs and they make a full time living off flips and wholesales. 

Yes I sent him a 1099. I also gave his ex's attorney every canceled check, a spreadsheet of every payment, and a letter stating how much I paid him and the work he did. That seems like enough to me.

I have no idea what or why I am being subpoenaed. Basically a guy who did a bunch of work for me last year (the majority of work on 2 rehabs) is in a divorce. Twice his ex's lawyers have sent me a subpoena for what I paid him and both times I provided all the details. I have no problem with that, I get it, there is child support, etc. Now his ex's lawyer has issued me a subpoena to appear in court for their 2 day hearing.

What the hell could they possibly want from me? Why should I have to go do this? What could they need to know? This guy is NOT my employee. As a matter of fact I haven't even used him for anything in a month. This is just ridiculous. Is this common? I cannot imagine this is common practice. 

I truly cannot even figure out what they hope to accomplish. I don't even see what I can tell them. This guy put in floors, installed cabinets, and built a couple of decks. I paid him by the hour. What could I possibly have to do with the divorce? I sent canceled checks and a spreadsheet of all payments. They also have all his bank statements which I assume show the deposits. 

Has anyone been through this? What should I expect?

Surplus Warehouse is the best deal for cabinets as Chris said. They are so much better than the Lowes/Home Depot cheap ones. Just make sure the guy loading them actually closes your tailgate! He did not close mine all the way and I left a cabinet on 440. Whoops!

A lot of Raleigh, especially the outskirts, are not very walkable. It is a pretty new city and was built for cars. I live in Midtown Raleigh and there is one strip mall I can walk to with a couple of restaurants, a grocery store, etc. (no coffee shop though) but most destinations involve getting in a car. Forget public transportation. When I moved from downtown to where I live now I looked up taking a bus to work and it was basically an hour vs a 20 minute drive. We do have a really good greenway system for running/biking/etc. Umstead Park is great for hiking. We take our dogs there quite often when the weather is nice.

When I lived and worked near downtown (lived in Oakwood) I almost never drove. I rode my bike or motorcycle almost everywhere. I went so long without turning on my car the battery died. That being said, now that I am older and debatably smarter I don't ride my bicycle on roads anymore. We have very few dedicated bike lanes and with texting and driving it is just too dangerous. I think I am selling my motorcycles soon and quitting that as well. This is not exclusive to Raleigh of course but it just seems too dangerous now. I can't ride my motorcycle 5 times in a row without almost getting crushed. I probably had six "that is it, I'm done, I'm selling this thing" near calls on my motorcycles last year. 

I don't have kids yet so but I went to schools here and they were not bad back then.  I am one of the rare people who live here that was born here. Our schools are not perfect but I guess no schools are. 

I know some people who moved to NC (more in Charlotte than Raleigh) from Pittsburgh and none moved back. I think I know 7 people who are Steelers fans (not sure how many are from Pittsburgh itself) and they are all still here.

I am biased but I really don't think there are many better places to move, especially if you have a family. It is safe, the economy is very diverse and strong. We don't have one industry or factory so we can ride out a lot of economic swings better than most places. Charlotte got smoked in 2008 (banking dominated) compared to Raleigh.  

All that being said, sorry our city is full now ;)

I would do a title search and go inspect the house myself at the very least. You don't necessarily need to do a full blown professional inspection but you are putting yourself at unnecessary risk if you do not at least go in it and look around.

There really isn't anything about buying cash from a wholesaler that needs to be different than when you use a realtor. Check out the house, make sure you are happy with it, get a title search (if the wholesaler didn't), and close with an attorney. 

@Brett Snodgrass has some solid advice there in terms of follow up. You will get better through practice. When you go to the seller's house your first order of business is build comfort and trust. When we show up we're just some stranger who drove there. They don't know if we can really buy the house. They think "is this a scam." So first, build trust. Then, you have to be able to assess their motivation. This can go with the trust building phase. Did they mention their husband left them and they want to move back home so mom can help with the kids? They bought a new house and can't afford to fix this one to list it and 2 mortgages are killing them? 

Hopefully, you have been there a while talking before the offer is even broached. Now you have to get them to understand why your offer is a good one for them? They can fix it up (20k), then list it (6%), then sell it for 100k after 6 months, so they want 100k. You have to explain if they did all that, after the mortgage, holding costs, repairs, etc. they are lucky if that 100k is 70k, and that is IF they sell. So you can give them 55k right now, give them 6 months of their life back, and solve their problem, and the house is SOLD! 

Also @Kyle Lopez I like your spirit. You're getting out, hitting houses, going on appointments, and not giving up! I don't care what any guru says, this is a hard business to learn. I was scared to talk on the phone when I started. Based on your positivity and attitude in your post I see good success for you in the future. You're not in here whining you can't get a deal, complaining about the sellers wanting to much, you are asking for actionable advice to move forward. 

Back when I did bandit signs I used Dirt Cheap Signs. They seemed like the best deal at the time but I am not sure if they still are.

@Larry N.

Does the wholesaler know you are shopping his deal? Are you shopping it without having it under contract? If so, you are probably breaking the law and most certainly acting unethically. 

I am curious how you are "working with another wholesaler to help sell their deal" yet "they doesn't want to split their deal with you." That doesn't sound like any working relationship I would want to enter. 

It sounds like you are shopping a deal you have no interest in. I hate to assume, but it sounds like the wholesaler who actually has the deal does not know you are doing this or want you to do it. I would stop this before your reputation is ruined.

If I am misunderstanding the situation please let me know.

If you think you can sell the deal at a higher price, get it under contract, CLOSE ON IT, then sell it. Yes, I said close on it.