All Forum Posts by: Erin Dorsey Robinson

@Hassan Muhammad we would all like to see that website if you find it lol! There are a lot of factors that would go into trying to estimate this...condition of the windows, number of people living there, and so on... Are you in communication with the home owner about the house? Feel free to send me a message. Happy to discuss by phone to give you a better idea of how to approach this estimate.

@Cristian Veres probably so! What kind of banking are you looking to do? You're welcome to send me a direct message.

We are realtors and investors in Cleveland and own ten properties in the Cleveland area. Our tenants stay with us at minimum 3 years, most even longer. When they leave, it's usually because they are buying a home (which we sell them lol!) AND, they ALL paid during April and May! This is our "secret sauce". 

1. 1. Offer rents that are slightly below market to attract a larger tenant pool, 
2. 2. We hold 1-2 open houses for the rental, meeting them face to face. No individual appointments (pre-COVID...) 
3. 3. Invite the cream of the crop from that group to apply ($30 fee per adult to cover background and credit check) 
4. 4. Selection criteria: renters earn ~3x the amount of the rental, no recent evictions, credit score 600+, no pets, tenants are responsible for snow removal, grass, utilities.  

What has worked for you?

@Brian Burke congratulations!! I feel like we have a celebrity in our midst lol! For those who haven’t read it would you tell us a little about the book and your experience that led to writing it?

@Tanvir Sattar Whew! You do not lack discipline, I see. Not everyone can read books about financial management and tax strategy! ....But EVERYONE wants cashflow and tax breaks lol!

@Joshua Ferrari You've been busy! Thanks for this nice list.

What's on your list of must reads for real estate investing that you would recommend to others?

@Michael McInerney That is so true! For most people this path we are on isn't super straight and clearly defined and it has many points at which new information or opportunities or even losses make us re-evaluate and change course. I think the trick is to always be moving forward in the direction of something we do value and to try to avoid making major shifts to just to get away from things we don't like. I believe change is good as long as it helps us grow into more of who we want to be.

@Josiah Patrick Zebarth For me the why is knowing that I’m walking the path God gave me to walk. The result of walking it will be the freedom I crave.

To me there nothing like the feeling of being aligned with your purpose and on the right track. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to see what that is. Sometimes you have to ask for guidance. For me that’s prayer. For you it might be meditation or looking outside yourself. Sometimes your why has nothing to do with you personally. It’s how your gifts can make a difference for someone else. Keep going. Maybe the answer is as simple as you haven’t met that someone yet. Until then, consider finding that purpose your why. That in itself a strong motivator.

Last thing-Pick up a copy of the Alchemist by Paul Cohelo if you haven’t read it. It’s a GREAT story and it was written for this specific moment in our lives when we are looking for the path. My favorite quote is “no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity.”

@Trevor Aydelott to be fair, isn't the bell curve always at play when you are looking for an exceptional experience with other human beings? There are going to be some people who are able to provide truly excellent customer service and be stand out performers. That's the 10% that @Karl B. is talking about. Then you have another 10% who are not particularly well suited for the work and won't even be realtors in a few months. Then there are that 80% in the middle who aren't going to knock your socks off, but might, with some guidance, be effective. 

I think there is something to be said for spreading yourself too thin on both sides. I've been surprised by the amount of interaction this site generates and with this quarantine, I know my work environment is less than ideal for being immediately responsive. One of my new office mates is less than 1.5 years old and she's constantly interrupting me with requests for O-meal...or maybe I'm interrupting her with my attempts to work. Yup. That's exactly the problem lol!

I would personally be willing, at least until things start getting back to normal, to extend some grace to the 80% because they could just be thrown slightly off, like I am, by this once in a lifetime disruption.