All Forum Posts by: Mags S.

@Kelly McMillan  unfortunately pits and large dogs get an extremely bad rap because they are stereotyped. Every pit bull I have met has been so friendly and just sweeties. I myself have a large breed - a Great Dane that we've had since 8 weeks old. She is a show dog champion and before retiring, was a therapy dog visiting local nursing homes and participating children library reading programs.  So the blanket statement is unjust.

It is great that you will take the time to personally interview each tenant and their pets. Insist that the tenant get tenant/rental insurance that does not exclude any breeds (State Farm is one).

your ARV will let you know if you should replace or try to update current cabinets. Sales pricing can live or die by the kitchen.

Ours revert back to property owner when tenant closes their account.  I remind the tenant that a final bill will be coming and we discuss how they will pay it.

@Anastasiia Greca - congrats on your new purchase !  If you worked with a real estate agent for the purchase, ask them for a copy of their residential rental lease.  It's been state approved.

@James Ayers - big congrats on your first investment purchase.  First things first - u're a landlord now, so you must choose your words more carefully.  

Learn about landlording and the associated local laws. Clearly understand what the fair housing rules are to avoid getting yourself into trouble. one of the units is section 8, learn the rules regarding section 8.  Understand the tenant's current lease and the dates provided within.  You'll need to follow that lease (whether you agree or not with it). Your local laws and the lease should spell out when and what you can do.

@adam - since we're talking about kitchen cabinets, consider base drawers instead of the typical doors/shelf/rollout.  They are 100% more functional, especially when aging. Prolly one of the best functional upgrade decisions I made.

If successful here's a pic of kitchen in progress - it shows the taller cabs in 8' ceiling and a drawer stack.  It's a rental that will prolly never see another kitchen update in my lifetime 

@Kurt K.

The passive income on paid off properties is nothing to sneeze about.  DH and I recently retired (6 yrs ago).  Could you get the same passive income via another means?  With that type of passive income, you could put social security, pension or any retirement funds on hold for now or drastically reduce how much you withdraw from them annually.  It sounds like You've already expended the money to keep them in pretty good shape for a number of years.  It would be a no brainer for me - I'd hold on to them.

@Adam Craig  36 or 42 usually will look more aesthetically pleasing and balanced than the 30s.  If it was in my personal kitchen, would definitely do one of the taller uppers. Without question.  I did stacked cabs to ceiling.  I did do 42s (IKEA) in a rental kitchen (8' ceiling).  I reduced the cost by doing a 1-wall galley kitchen with 42s. The kitchen sealed the deal in the rental. In a sale, the kitchen will definitely impact the results. 

I agree with @Mateusz Prawdzik open spaces by taking down walls is definitely hot in personal residences and flips. Hot, hot, hot the last few years.

@Jack B. - my criteria just says 'acceptable credit score',  since I use places like mysmartmove and they only provide a renter's score, not a credit score, it leaves me with some leeway.  For me, credit score doesn't tell the entire picture