All Forum Posts by: Kelly DeWinter

@Michael Henry

You have 3  issues right now 

. Real estate, especially renovation properties are hot right now, so contractors are in high demand.

. You are out of state, and contractors know out of state buyers rarely pull the trigger on a deal, so they go where they are more likely to get paid, usually with someone they have worked with in state before.

. You offer no skin in their game, thats money. 

Offering a retainer for their time to perform a Scope of Work is you best bet. I do this for big projects and now have no problems with contractors. 

@Eric Chausse
http://proximityone.com/eee.htm is one source., The type of data you are looking for can be spotty incorrect or out of date. However the absolute best way is to drive an area you are interested in in the evening an see what kind of cars are parked in the driveways and garages. What kind auto dealerships are around, places to eat and stores to ship. 

@Phillip Merrill 

Whether a property is serviced by public sewer or Private Waste Treatment Facility is typically not a factor in the purchase or sale of a property other then you may be required to disclose  which it is. In Maryland your bill for public water and public sewer service is combined in your Water Bill The Water Meter tells the State how much water you recieve in gallons, it is assumed you then pass the same number of gallon into the Sewer and your bill is calculated accordingly in 1 Bill. The same applies to Private Waste Treatment Facility except you get a separate bill from two companies for water and sewer based on the same number. If you have a well and sewer with a Private Waste Treatment Facility you pay for sewer via a flat fee. Again people don't care HOW the wast is handled only that it IS handled.

no, it will not be a problem. ive sold property with Private Waste Treatment Facility, you just have to disclose that thats the hook up.

@Ian Barnes

I agree with your post, In Baltimore it is about who you know and if you know how to 'work' the system. I've usually do not have a problem getting an eviction in Baltimore, but every few years i'll get 1 Tenant the can professionally work the system  . But as you know some of these 1 property Landlords come to court, who don't know the system and the Tenant walks all over them. 

I had a Landlord with a multi unit property in the city. The housing inspector came out and told her a hadrail was .25 inches to far to the left, then came out to reinspect an said it was 1 inch too high. She asked me what she could do to get this item passed. I told her the inspector was probably expecting an "envelope". Amazing how quickly the railing was passed after that.

Yes Baltimore is about knowing who can help you with your goals, but it can also be a very corrupt place to do business if you don't know who is who.

@Russell Brazil

A lot of Real Estate Agents quote 7 to 8% to close to sell a property, but the Truth is in this Internet age, the cost of selling a home can be drastically reduced by reducing or eliminating realtor fees. You can list a property in the MLS for as little as $499.00 have professional photos taken for 399.00 Offer a 1.5% to 2% Seller agent commission and pay depending on where you live as little as 2-3% in transfer costs.

Anyone who chooses a Sellers agent who does not offer a "Menu of Services" or Concierge services is throwing money away IMHO.

Not unless there is a public line nearby, which is doubtful. Even then you would have to go through zoning board, and if approved would cost 10's of thousands to connect to. What exactly are the issues you are having ?  Im assuming the property is connected to a Private Waste Treatment Facility ?

No, 

https://www.upnest.com/1/post/average-idaho-real-estate-agent-commission-rate/

A Big deal when trying to sell for top dollar. Once you are under contract , approach the neighbor and offer to clean up his yard and haul his junk away. Cost to you 200-300 . If he agrees, you are golden. If not i'd reconsider.

Make sure your contract includes a 1 week 'feasibility study" with a right to cancel the contract for any reason.

This will give you time to approach the neighbor and clean his yard.

@Noel R.

I am a property manager local to Baltimore, and have impeccable credentials with my Landlords because I run a tight ship with the properties I manage. However any properties I manage in Baltimore City I include a contract clause that Landlords pay court time on an hourly basis when I have to go to court for their property. This can get expensive for a Landlord as a typical eviction requires 3 to 6 court appearances. Baltimore is notorious for 'professional' tenants. I had a tenant two years ago who claimed Military status and came to court in a mix matched service uniform and tennis shoes. And the Judge gave him a 6 month extension because he claimed he was shipping out in two weeks on a "classified mission". I had a lease he initialed stating he was NOT in the military. Go figure