All Forum Posts by: Jourdain Francine

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I currently own a duplex and are looking to add a larger multi-unit to our portfolio. We would like to research the possibility of doing a new construction fourplex where myself and the company I work for can do all of the HVAC and plumbing. 
I am looking for advice on where to start with this project. Do I go to an architect to work on plans and then get quotes from general contractors before taking the proposal to a bank? 

Thank you for any and all advice!

Hi All,

We have an old duplex where my fiancée and I live in one unit and have tenants in the other. We have natural gas being installed later this week with two meters and will be putting two boilers in to be able to separate the two units heat and hot water.

The problem is that our tenants lease is up this coming month and the boilers will not be done in time. We would like to keep their rent the same, but have them pay for their natural gas bill. Is there a way to put it in the lease that once the boilers are setup, they will pay for the natural gas?

We are still new to this. Thank you for all answers and conversation!

Thanks for the reply, Luke. A handful of people have said this not and I think it is a good way to look at it. We will look at the overall cost and decide whether it makes sense for us or not. 

But should that not just factor into your overhead cost just like any other business? You do not pay Starbucks an extra fee because they used their coffee machine to make your coffee. They just raise their prices in order to get a return from their investments. Are tools not investments in order to perform their job?

While I appreciate you taking the time to reply, your response is a bit immature when you do not have a full understanding of the situation. He is a friend who is trying to figure out how to develop a business. I am working with him as he works on building more experience and credentials. I am certainly not getting anything for free and paid him before I even posted this thread. We just bought our first home/duplex and are simply looking for advice on how others usually get billed by their maintenance service. Again, thank you for taking the time out of your day to put so much time and effort into your response.

My fiancée and I just bought our first duplex that is already occupied. We hired a friend who does maintenance for a large real estate management company. He has recently started doing personal jobs on the side but is new to the business part of it.

He went to a unit and replaced an outdated thermostat, fixed a light fixture that was hanging, and sprayed WD-40 into the units entrance lock because it was giving the tenants some trouble.

When we got the invoice, he charged for 45 minutes of labor but also charged an extra $30 for additional fees and had no further description. When politely asked to breakdown what made up the additional fees he said it covers mileage, any supplies he has to use and 2% of his tool set value.

I am wondering if that makes sense. Especially paying for his tool set value. I do not see anything more than a drill being needed. Shouldn’t the expense of needing to periodically replace tools be put into their hourly cost? What are others experiences with hiring out maintenance? Thanks!

My fiancee and I are buying a duplex in Brunswick, Maine that has a great location.  Walking distance to multiple local restaurants, Bowdoin College, public library, park, grocery store, etc. My fiancee and I will be living in the downstairs unit. The tenants that live in the upstairs unit are supposedly very nice, do not complain and keep the unit in great shape. The upstairs unit is a 5 bedroom, 1 bath that is currently renting for $1,150 with heat included (old house so separating heat will be a project) which is far under any comps in the area (between$1,500 and $1,900). My hopes would be to rent it for $1500 with heat included, but I can't see the tenants staying if I increase the rent by $350 a month.

We are looking for suggestions on how to handle this. Do we take the cut in rent because they are good tenants or just risk them leaving and hope it gets filled at $1500?

Thank you in advance!