All Forum Posts by: Julie Verardi

I have in my lease that the downstairs tenants can take off $40 for the month when it snows, not for individual times but just for that month when they send a photo of it cleared. Now I realize that might not be fair if it snows anymore than 2X heavily and I should spell things out more directly. I was going to send an addendum for February.  I'm not sure what local people charge to shovel roughly 20Ft of sidewalk and 6 stairs leading up to the front door. I was curious what other owners have done for snow shoveling and what they think a fair price is. 

Has anyone met a management agency they actually liked? Looking for one in or around Jersey City.

What questions are best to ask when screening for one?

hey  @Jake Silverman  I talked to a few architects in the area and apparently Jersey City won't allow any more curb cuts. Do you already have an indentation in your curb leading to your house? 

I have a basement in Jersey City that is a great space. Every so often water gets in. 1 time it was seepage from the floor and a french drain solved that in one section. It's been fine for 4 years and now water has found a new way along the wall. Hoping the roof work we did will solve that issue. Finger crossed. 

I'm looking for suggestions on what I can put on the floor (currently cement) and walls (currently brick) to water proof it but not have to rip up and destroy if water finds its ways in again. The two walls that I had issues with under the dry wall are brick so I'm thinking of exposing the brick since that's in style, cleaning the brick, patching up the missing mortar and painting it with a water proof white paint. Any suggestions on what type of paint and tips when exposing brick walls in the basement?

Lastly the floors are cement so looking to put something over it so it still makes the basement look finished but god forbid water gets in again and I'm faced with having to put a french drain repairing the floors will be no big deal and water can never get under it to the point where it will cause me headaches. I heard epoxy is the best but wanted to ask other owners how they water proofed there basement to still look good and be cost efficient. 

I still want to attract tenants with it looking good but if I get another flood repairing won't be that bad and water won't stay trapped. 

Hi, 

Does anyone know if we are allowed to charge late rent fees in New Jersey specifically Jersey City? 

What I'm seeing online seems to contradict each other and when I call no one picks up. 

Thank you! 

Is the landlord required to paint in NJ when new tenants come in, if it's just some normal wear and tear? 

If so do I let the tenants weigh in on what paint color? I know they don't have to but could be good to start off on the right foot. 

Thanks @Steve Schulman everyone by me seems to have it. It looks like I might need to adjust my front stoop to make room but it might be worth the investment to hold on to tenants for long term. I'll call around some architects and try to get a price range and if its possible.

Has anyone gone through the process of adding a parking space to the front of their house? I would imagine you would need an architect and the city for approval. Curious the process if anyone has done it or if anyone knows of any lots people could rent out in Jersey City Heights area. 

I currently have a 2 unit in Jersey City. I have always had the downstairs tenants get the backyard space as private. However with everything going on lately tenants want outdoor space. After the lease is up should I split the backyard space so the upstairs tenants get half the space and the downstairs get the other half. I will of course lower the downstairs tenants rent and add that on to the upstairs. Or have landlords had too many issues with shared outdoor spaces? I couldn't really put a fence up to separate it. Curious if other people have had few issues when it's a shared backyard space divided in half. 

I was wondering what insurance people use for there investment properties they don't live in in Jersey City? My current one seems to have jumped up $250 this year and while I wait to hear back why I was wondering what insurance companies people are using in this area that is working for them. 

Also what rule of thumb do people use to set their insurance quotes?