All Forum Posts by: Kathleen Leary

I really like a "new paint" (& tar, for that matter!) smell, but most people don't. Air the place out & keep it as smell-neutral as you can - there are plenty of folks who REALLY hate all types of air freshener, too! Trust me, they'll complain about it & think you're trying to cover something up. 

You really can't win - I advise just keeping it as neutral as possible. Open those windows!

I've bought two "as-is" properties under those conditions, with the inspection giving me an out, if needed. I haven't had any problems other than a previous foreclosed-on owner coming over & helping himself to items out of the garage. 

My inspection clause requires no changes to the property after date of inspection; otherwise, it's back to the table for re-negotiations.

I don't have problems with men. I don't act overly "girly," just professional. (Besides, I've got the papers & I own the place.) Self-assurance & not being condescending go a long way toward good relations, in my experience.

In the (very) rare instance that I've needed some backup, I've got a (male) friend who's kinda scary-looking who can accompany me. He just stands there while I talk - works quite well.

It's part of my rental agreement - that way all signatures are in one place. It's a pretty standard inclusion - most ready-to-use forms have it in there, since it's required by the Feds. 

Wow, I can't imagine NOT having screens! They are required here. Plus we have bugs of all sorts that insist on coming in the house. 

It is very easy to make your own in any size/color you need. I've probably made a couple of million (seems like it!). A few tools, a calm head, a beer . . . . it's all good. Measure twice, cut once.

If you don't want to do it yourself, check your local glass replacement business - they do screens. 

My rental had (partial) knob-&-tube wiring, no work boxes behind fixtures/outlets & the entire system is ungrounded. I have made upgrades with an eye toward safety, such as work boxes, dedicated circuits for major appliances, removing lamp cord inside the walls (!), etc. but I did not strip & upgrade the entire system. The money didn't make sense.

If I were selling it, I would re-do the whole thing from the panel out, just because we use so many more appliances now & pull more power. I would, naturally, promote the upgrade as a selling point. 

If I were looking at a property with "antique" wiring, I would use that as a point to drop the price. 

Yeah, I have a tiny under-the-stairs closet in my SFR that apparently was used a bedroom for a young boy (before I bought it!). I guess he didn't want to walk the 14 feet to the bathroom, because the carpet in there reeked of urine & I ain't talkin' dog pee.

Lord almighty, what is it with these people? 

Check in your area for a feral cat spay/neuter program. In many areas, if you can catch 'em, the program will provide neutering (sometimes shots, too). Then they can resume their lives - cats are territorial, so having non-breeders in place will discourage others (breeders!) from moving in.

Catching them will take a bit of doing - buy or better yet, borrow a humane trap (Have-a-Heart or something similar). But don't try & catch them until you have a place to take them - a feral cat in a trap is a hurricane in a box!

By your method, I'm almost doubling my cash flow. (Taxes here are pretty reasonable.) I'm not comfortable setting aside less than 50%, however, & will continue to operate on that premise - I'd rather err on the conservative side.  Interesting take on an entirely different set of monetary circumstances, though.

Just points out - you've got to know your area! 

Needless to say, these policies exist to make money for the issuer. No profit, no product. Keep your money in a maintenance account & do your own due diligence.