All Forum Posts by: Jim Goebel

@Jordan Deeney

Depends on the install but here's some rules of thumb/observations that are specific to my area:

Basically, the AHJ wants you to permit just about everything.  That said, if the existing system works they typically let you use it.  One example in particular is pretty telling for a heuristic to know when you HAVE to do something - which is, electrically, when you open up a wall, and existing wires are exposed, generally speaking if it's old 2 wire insulated wire, the inspector will want to see that changed out.  However, if your remodel does not require you to open up that wall, typically they will let you leave it in place, and just use a 2 wire receptacle.

You may know something I don't know, but I'm not aware of getting AFCI outlets.  They typically are breakers that need to be installed at $40-50 a piece in the panel.

I think you're asking the right question, but I'd suggest you look to ask this question specifically to another seasoned investor on an application specific basis.

We have paid a local guy here $100 to be our 'go/no go' inspector before we buy a house.  He likes us and likes passing along his knowledge but especially because he does rentals, his experiences are very very valuable.  If you can do that as you're looking to scope/cost out a remodel, you'll be way ahead.

Hope this helps and good luck!

@Shaun Hunt

Utah law, if those details are spelled out, can be communicated by that lawyer I bet.  I'd think in a situation like this, you should pay for a half hour consult.  If you send an email priming them they should be able to get those answers for you.

Otherwise, it's a judge's call.  Seems reasonable to me, as your tenant falsified a bunch of stuff and was not acting in good faith.  I'd like to think/hope that most judges would relish sticking it to folks like that.

@Robert Hernandez

You need to figure out if it's the sub floor or just wavy from perhaps water on the vinyl or temperature expanding / contracting.

If you have sub floor issue, you'll need to decide how far you want to go with it.  Do you have access below to look up at your joist system? 

I'm assuming your vinyl's on sub floor and joist system, by the way.  Let's start there.

@Mike Mullins

Sounds like an interesting one to explore.  What's your feel for the upside on rents.  $450 a pop is not exciting, but can that market, if your product is done well, sustain say $700-1000 per unit.   I think that's what it would take to really get the numbers cooking a bit more.

@Chance Hinkle

For what it's worth I think plumbers trash the shark bite brand (and equivalent) because it democratizes the plumbing world a little.  We've installed plenty of this style and we've had no failures that I can recall over the last 3-4 years.

I can't speak to your issue.  Leaky pipes have been the really old copper variety.

@Kalei Poteat

What's your angle, Kalei?  Do you want the house?  What do you think it's worth?  I'm not really sure from your post if you're sort of fishing for altruistic advice, or if the opportunistic capitalist Kalei is talking.  Please advise.

@Pat Heidingsfelder

Nope, I don't invest in Biloxi, MS.  I just have become a little familiar from so many trips over the years.  It doesn't surprise me that regulators have come down on AirBnbs as that area is owned by Casinos, and the insertion of new supply threatens what's there.

@Casey Johns

It's kind of top heavy.  The casinos seem to have an outsize influence on the local economy, and I'm guessing politicians.  It's a neat area, though and we have a lot of memories there as my mom's parents lived down there for years and years.  It's got Keesler AFB and some other public sector, but that and the casinos being your anchor - I'd be looking elsewhere personally.  All this said, this is more of a 'feel' not having run and numbers.  I don't feel there's a lot of disposable income or ability/willingness to pay for 'nice' finishes etc.

@Nicole Heasley Beitenman

I couldn't disagree more.

4 year degree holders (and more), all else equal, have a better chance in life.  

There's a lot of examples (exceptions) that prove the rule.

However, we don't have a great way to compare their possible outcomes if they had gone and finished a (decent) degree.  Numbers don't lie though, those with a degree do better outcome wise, and not just on income.

Should we start listing off example after example of ignorant people that can never get ahead in life to prove our point?  Of course not, that's what statistics is for, and oddly - a real good grasp of statistics and the language that comes with it - comes from a 4 year (decent) degree.

@Chris Vanderloo

Hey Chris some other thoughts, and I'm surprised not more have weighed in:

1. Some analytics / data visualization that shows Variables like: price changes over different time periods (either based on estimates like Zestimates or actual sale data), in some cases, steep/rapid changes, or acceleration may be a window into when an area is getting that critical mass to move forward - I'm thinking a heat map etc after scraping price info over time - by the way, the Zestimate I've found the historical graph is not the ACTUAL historical Zestimate, (for whatever reason)
2. Scraping the note world (paperstac, Note MLS) to again look for rapid changes in default rates or other relevant info that'd be leading indicator for pricing - note this would need more brainstorming
3. We use Monday.com - if there was a plug-in or something that'd help very specifically handle RE projects, especially as we onboard other people, that'd be great.
4. Platform for specifically detailing projects for bid - something different than the Homeadvisor model, though - If we as investors could see actual historical labor rates on a per unit basis, this would be great.  Would be pie in the sky, likely, to capture transactions for RE work on a platform as that'd be what was needed for historical (accurate) data

If you're serious about developing something and have a good skill-set, I wouldn't rule out getting together on this.  I'm not a developer (software, I mean :)) but in a previous life I had some Java skills.  My wife is more of the IT wizard having worked professionally in that field for a bit.  We've got some real ambition and a budget that can go towards projects that we think we can get some value out of and have a market.

Sidebar, we need more of this kind of activity in the BP community.