All Forum Posts by: Mike Baker

It sounds like a flat rate price, or they are so busy its easier to give you a high price then send you to a competitor. The tub, although its small, looks like an older model. the amount of problems that could arise from the old drain or the old pipes is pretty broad. I am a Service Plumber and I have had everything from just a hair clog, to having to sawsall out the drain because my 36"pipe wrench wont move it.

Plumbing is not always easy, fun, clean, or sanitary. So i would cut the company a little slack until you know for a fact that they are trying to screw you.  

So my wife and I bought this duplex a little over a year ago with the intention of turning an empty space, located below my living room, into a studio apartment. We were hoping to have it done but due to problems with the city we haven't even started yet.

Here's the issue. From the outside the space has its own entrance and it's own driveway. The only thing not finished Is the inside. The space is 350sft, and the city is telling us we owe $5200 in impact fees before they will approve a building permit. The room was part of an addition in 2000 and the space is listed separately on the tax record and has been taxed since it was built. The impact fees for this space never popped up in my due diligence, and I don't even have a problem with paying them, but the cost seems outrageous for the square footage. 

With that we appealed to the city. We were told by the city manager that if it had been a mother in law suite there would not have been fees, but the city planner says he's wrong, and that it doesn't matter. He also told us there was no room for a deduction. 

I'm trying to play by the rules here, but my patience is waning thin. (Did I mention it took over 2 months to get replys to some of the questions. That was with us calling almost every day)

So my questions are:

1. Get a lawyer?

2. Pay the fee?

3. Keep fighting?

4. Or just finish the space?

Thanks for letting me rant.

I'm out of Bozeman and we have a pretty good investment group as well. Welcome!

If the tenant was unwilling to wait and unwilling to use a plunger, then it's on them. Their lack of patience does not constitute a bill on yours. 

As a plumber I always ask first, when I get a call, if they own or rent. I will not go out on a job that the landlord is unaware of. We have to have their permission to work on any plumbing.

@Ben Padilla

Glad to see you found your way here! 

Plenty to dig into.

@Cody Sarrazin, and @John Morris 

There is a local Cashflow/ investors group in Bozeman. It's listed in the meetup app for he area. @Patrick McGowen, and @Regena Orzansky run it. 

Good group, and lots of cumulative info on the area.

Feel free to contact me as well if you have any other questions.

Welcome to a fellow Montanan.

They are all right. Listen to the podcasts, and ask lots of questions.

5:30

yes there is a Cashflow/ investors meet up group and we are meeting this Thursday (10/29) at Hastings.  My wife and I highly encourage anyone in the BOZEMAN area to attend.  It is a great group of investors! If you are interested visit the meet up site and join the group!  You will not regret it!!

I am currently looking at a fourplex. The units are all 2/1, no garages and each unit is 1020 sqft, and they are all rented. The lady who owns it is asking $345000. This is actually a pretty good price as most 4-plexs are going for 100-120 a door. There have been many offers, but it has been on the market for over 120 days. Found out the reason is the lady bought it at the peak and can't afford to take a penny less, so she won't accept anything less then asking. 

I spoke with my realtor, who is also a property manager and investor herself, and she said the going rents for a 4-pled like it are around $795. The current rents are about $650.

We don't have the 20%down and she's not super interested in owner financing, but I can't help but think there is something to be had here. 

So the question is, what other creative ideas for helping her out of this property do you guys have? Our credit isn't a problem either.

Thanks in advance.