All Forum Posts by: James Galla

Are there any recommended manuals that systematically go through a home and explain each fixture that might need maintenance?

Hey all, I was looking for some advice on what to do prior to starting out. I'm currently in school and will have to wait about 2 years before I get anything really moving. In the meantime, I think my biggest weakness is with property maintenance. Maintenance as in remodeling, repairs, installation, etc. So, what level of property maintenance do you engage in, or do you just outsource it all to a third party contractor? I suppose I would describe my current level as basic/elementary. I have done things like toilet part replacing, and I've replaced some shower parts. Other that, I don't really have any experience. Is there a checklist as to what items a Landlord/property manager ought to be reviewing (like parts of a house)?

@Erod R. Utility companies shutting off services is categorically different than landlords shutting off utilities to tenants because there are different interests at play. And, you should be able to evict someone for defaulting on your lease. The issue comes in when you, as the landlord, are acting to deprive them of necessary utilities that make the property habitable. You should find a new tenant.

Thank you very much!

I actually downloaded the app so I can listen to the podcast. I like it a lot.

Hi!

The first thing I did when I purchased my first home appealed the taxes. I remember right at closing I asked my attorney to go ahead and proceed with the appeal.  It took a couple of months because of the hearing times, but the appeal was a success and the assessment was reduced by the appropriate amount.

Three immediate benefits I think of when hiring an attorney to file the assessment appeal:

- Your time is saved

- Not too expensive

- They have experience

Now, you can do the whole thing yourself, but you ought to look towards the procedure. Also, you should have a recent appraisal on the property to substantiate the lower assessment value you are asking for. It's important to note that the reason you may be having an issue with assessment values is because they are often generated by what is called an AVM, or automated valuation model, which is a computerized valuation method which can sometimes be inaccurate. Another important factor is the frequency of when the AVMs are run. Often times, assessment offices run them periodically, but if you have a new purchase with a substantially lower purchase price than the assessed amount, they will not account for that change in market value until they re-run their AVM per their schedule.

So, ultimately, I'd suggest working with an attorney prior to carrying this out yourself. Although, it is always possible to get your appeal scheduled and just present your case by yourself. If you're interested in doing these yourself, I'd at least have an attorney do one appeal and watch him during the process so you can learn what is going on.

Hi all,

I'm James. I'm 25 and a current law student at the University of Akron in Ohio. I've been interested in real estate probably towards the end of my undergrad, and that's where I picked up my first job at an AMC (appraisal management company - sorry in advanced to any appraisers that hate AMCs!). Anyways, I've kept the idea of real estate in the back of my mind until around recently because I have 2 more years left of law school, and I will be trying to get more involved soon.

I look forward to participating in the forum!