Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here
Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties. Try BiggerPockets PRO.
x
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: John Collins

John Collins has started 45 posts and replied 311 times.

Post: Security System on Rental Homes

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337
Originally posted by @Jill F.:
Tell them if they want their stuff they need to come get it. If it's six years old it's probably so dated it's junk. I'd take it down and put it in a box; you have no contract with them so you don't owe them anything. We buy our own equipment for our small retail stores and pay Geoarm $12/month for monitoring. There is a bunch of new stuff out just in the last couple of years that is (relatively) cheap and super easy to set up.

Can I just disconnect the electrical wires without the system going off?? To clarify, the system is as old as the house, 15 years old. It just hasn't been used in atleast 6 years, likely more. 

I say this because the house I currently live in... I am not subscribed to anything but the alarm (installed when house was built, had a previous owner before me) is powered on and has gone off when the power went off and came back on. 

Thank you so much for the geoarm link, that's what I was looking for. 

Post: Security System on Rental Homes

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337
Originally posted by @Jill F.:
Wait. was the system in the house when you purchased the house? Do you have a contract with the alarm system provider?

 Yes, the system was in the house when I purchased it and no it hasn't been used in 6+ years...  but it's powered on and you hear the door click. Control box is disgusting and old. No contract. 

"Ranger American Home Security" , when I called them they said they used to be ADT. They are a dealer/installers. 

Post: Security System on Rental Homes

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337

What is protocol here in upper middle class neighborhoods with no crime? There is an existing system I want to take out but it's all hooked up and in order to do so the company is charging an arm and leg... or telling me to subscribe to their service. Is it recommended to take it out? Worth paying the monthly fee for these things? 

Post: Backyard redo - do following floors need a concrete base?

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337
Originally posted by @Diallo Jones:

@John Collins A great option would be pavers(brick) patio. The base would be type 57 gravel, then screed the 57 base with type 9 gravel and lay the pavers on top and sweep it in with sand. No concrete is required just be sure to put solid edging in.

Yes, I have seen youtube videos of this and the process it entails. Would like to be able to do it without heavy machinery to compact soil before laying gravel. 

Post: Backyard redo - do following floors need a concrete base?

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337

I am looking to install flooring in a backyard. Some ideas are above - one is a brick base, one is a slate type substance and one appears to be tile. I know porcelain tile with mortar requires a concrete slab to go on top of, but what options do I have if I do not want to install a concrete slab yet want the ground to remain fairly rigid and solid enough to have chairs, tables, etc? Not going to be a deck in addition - this will be the main sitting area. 

I have already demolished the concrete which was poorly installed and caused the tiles on top of them to move around, pop out, and generally be dangerous. 

There will be no firepit, only a sitting area!

Also noticed houses remain a bit cooler in the summer without huge slab of concrete outside. 

Post: Discarding a lot of old paint

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337

Thanks to everyone that replied, have all the information I need. WM in my county does not do any form of paint/toxic, and neither does Bagster. So I'm going to get the paint hardener and use bagster. 

Post: Discarding a lot of old paint

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337

So I got into the garage of a recently vacated property and the tenants left alot of half used paint in there. They took it upon themselves to paint each room a "wild" color without telling me. Anyways, what is the protocol for safely discarding these cans paint? I am in Texas. 

Post: Vice Article Hit Piece

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337

My renter screwed me out of 15k + 10k in damages , not including the hours I put in to work on the repairs I didn't contract out. Where is my puff piece as the kind but stupid landlord always taken advantage of. 

Post: Real Estate Agency that charges 1% listing fee?

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337
Originally posted by @Wayne Brooks:

Plenty of “flat fee discount” brokerages do this.....you still pay 2.5-3% or so to the buyer’s agent though. 

 Really? Is this universal and incapable of being bypassed? 

Post: Real Estate Agency that charges 1% listing fee?

John CollinsPosted
  • Investor
  • Tx, Ga
  • Posts 313
  • Votes 337

What is the website, I believe it was 4 letters and based in dallas, somethign like flyp, that charges a 1% fee to list and market a home you have for sale?