All Forum Posts by: Jacob Carlson

Thank you all for the replies!

Ultimately what has happened is I gave the tenants the contact info for the utility company MUD and they are getting compensated for their personal belongings being lost. They also are getting coverage from their own rental insurance. I told the tenants that rent is still due even though this was an unfortunate event it was out of our control and we did everything we could to get it taken care of ASAP. It took about 30 days from start of the even to the basements being back to working order. Tenants are getting compensated by MUD/renters insurance and tenants continued to make payments. So, thankfully in this situation I think good communication really helped smooth things over for everyone involved and everyone is coming out happy for the most part.

I appreciate all responses as I thought about each of them and made the best decisions I could.

Question for the group:

Here is the scenario: I have a duplex that recently flooded in the basement from the Metro Utilities District Company (MUD) doing work in the area. 30+ homes in the area were affected with flooded/muddy basements. MUD is working with subcontractors to clean and replace basements that were damaged. Tenants are now asking for rent to be reduced for not having access to washer and dryer or ability to use the basement for a month... 

My Question: Do I need to offer reduced rent or anything while the situation is remedied? 

I want to basically say I appreciate you getting through this frustrating situation and I am sorry for the inconvenience but rent is still due. This was out of my control but is being handled by MUD. 

Thanks for reading the post and your answers!

Hey all!

As investors don't you hate when you get a call or text from someone trying to bug you and buy your property? I do too!

And... I am going to do it anyway. Why? Because I only need one person to say yes. However, I do not want to get in any sort of trouble when doing this.  

My plan is: Sending out a text blast using Reach.com, calling the individuals that do not respond and direct mailing the rest. I got the idea from BP episode #332 but need help on some specifics..

I have a list I got from List Source. I skip traced using REISKIP.com and now I am realizing that the phone numbers have not been scrubbed for the DNC list. How can I do this? Is there a software that allows me to do this without subscribing and paying a hefty monthly fee?  

Thanks!!!

Thank you guys for the input! It sounds so obvious now that I have read it in everyone's responses. I have never dealt with this issue before and now I feel confident I know how to handle it. She is up to date with her rent at this point and I am planning on not renewing when the time is up. She could not provide any sort of proof that she actually paid for the tree removal and it was NOT a safety hazard... It was done on her own free will without my consent and I am not obligated and should not have to pay.

I appreciate the feedback!

Question about a tenant payment scenario..

My tenant has been struggling to pay the rent recently but has always ended up paying. She recently decided to pay someone to cut down a small tree in the yard. I would have taken care of this myself. I believe she over paid and that the entire thing was unnecessary - especially if she is struggling to pay for rent why would she pay to cut down a tree without first asking me? She is demanding I pay her back. I told her not without a receipt proving she paid that amount. I personally think that it should come out of her pocket since she did not ask me to begin with. What do you guys think?

Am I in the wrong and need to refund her that amount? Or did she take an unnecessary liberty that she is responsible for?

Thanks for your feed back

Hey All,

I am happy to say I quit my job this year after starting a business a couple years ago and doing it on the side until I couldn’t possibly do both. Now I pursue my construction business and real estate deals full time. My wife is still employed at her 9-5 job which gives us health insurance (for now). She wants to quit in the near future because we have a baby on the way and her work does not even offer a single day of maternity leave - also she doesn’t get paid a ton.

Anyway, the question is what is everyone using for health insurance if you don’t have standard benefits from a 9-5 job? The healthcare system is expensive so I’d like to hear if there are some preferable options to look into.

Thank you!!

Hello BP,

I am writing today because I have some concerns about a tenant of mine. She has suffered a stroke a couple months ago. She was hospitalized but her health has since improved some. She is able to walk around the property but has informed me that she keeps falling... I do not want harm to come to my tenant. She is an older lady and lives alone. I am concerned that she may fall and hurt herself. I am not sure if this is something that could come back on me in anyway? She keeps falling because the stroke has left parts of her body not as functional as they once were. Is there any way that this could have an affect on me? The last thing I want is a lawsuit. 

Her lease is up at the end of the year and I plan on not renewing it and asking her to find a place to move with family or assisted living. Thanks in advance for everyones advice!

Hey Matt, I am a contractor and investor here in Omaha. Shoot me a message if you want 

Collin Schwartz has a great meetups to attend, and there are other local REIA meetups

Welcome to Omaha!

Hey BiggerPockets! 

I am in the midst of doing my due diligence on a quad. 

Here's the situation.  There is an off-market quad that I want to house hack.  The building was built in 1888. The current owner/seller has completely rehabbed two units including plumbing, electrical, windows and aesthetics.  One unit was not upgraded but still has a breaker box and everything is in working order.  The last unit, the one I would occupy, is in the middle of being rehabbed.  They will finish it enough to make it livable and then I will finish it from there. 

The issue is the current owner/seller did not pull any permits for this, but had it done by licensed contractors. I am concerned that this may come back to bite me in the future.  Here are some of my questions:

1. Am I protected in anyway since I am not the one that did the unpermitted work? Or is the risk transferred to me?

2. What is the risk involved if I decide to move forward and purchase this property?

3. I am thinking about finishing the basement myself which would require a permit. If I get it permitted and inspected does that open all the other renovations up to question and possibly opening a can of worms? 

4. Am I overthinking this or would/should this be a deal breaker?

Thank you in advance for your advice! 

@Sam Shueh I drove around a few times and it seemed like a decent, quiet area. It is blocks from a semi popular school in town so the location to me was pretty good. But there was not an option to add much value - like a bedroom and the price was too high for an investment even though it appeared to be rent ready. Thank you for your response.