All Forum Posts by: Lois Ginter

The issue is I don't know the employer, as this guy has worked different jobs.  I do have a bank account that might be good, but I doubt there will be funds to garnish, and they can always close it.  It will cost me $35 to have a local detective agency skip trace them for their new address.   Not sure if the court/sheriff can access the state employer new hire data base to find the employer.  The data base was set up to alert the family courts for child support enforcement, by law the data base may be limited to only that purpose.  

I would paint the front of the house and the car port different but complemtary colors, or at minimum the exterior door.  Maybe a different color for the window trim.  

Houzz has a lot of pictures to give you ideas on color and landscaping.  Many paint manufacturers will let you upload a picture and let you paint in different colors.  

I always do time and materials with contractors, and pay when work is done.  I buy a lot of the materials myself.  However, I do give contractors some lee way on completion.  They don't know what they are going to run into during a renovation.  It isn't a HGTV show.

Can you set up a reserve fund?  If you can't use the method that will have the lowest over all interest cost for the loan.  If you have multiple properties, does it make sense to sell one to pay for the repairs of many? 

Has anybody sold a court judgement in northern Illinois or know who to contact to have wages garnished?  I have a judgement for past rent and legal fees from an eviction.   Even if I get 50% of the amount I would be happy.   

I would make closing dependent upon the properties being vacant.  If closing can't be moved I would ask for some type of monetary consideration.  

If the judge hasn't order the eviction, and you purchase, how can you enforce it?  

I think your security deposit and move in cost is very high, unless this is common for your area.  

I don't think it is fair to charge somebody more because they have a credit issue. If anything it makes it harder for them to improve their credit because they don't have money to pay down debt.  The credit issue could be due to divorce, medical bills, etc, 

If you think they will be good tenants, why not just collect the first month rent and security deposit?  Put them on a month to month lease if something comes up and they can't pay. 

I am using a real estate agent to market my current listing.  She has a network that I can't touch.  I was using CL and Facebook.  Got zero leads off of CL, and FB was full of people who didn't pass my qualifications.

You could also plant prickly bushes that would be difficult to walk through.  Are the other yards in the area fenced?  

Since I am a dog owner it wouldn't bother me if some one with a leashed dog walked through my yard.  People who walk dogs are actually a good deterrent to crime because they see what goes on in the area and know when something isn't right.  

I live at my properties, and I allow them to pay in any method except personal check.  They are my customer, so I work with them.  I actually like to engage them so they feel comfortable about letting me know about any issues.