All Forum Posts by: Maria McCreless

My husband is a handyman in Tallahassee. If your interested, feel free to message me and I can provide his contact information for you. For major projects, I would recommend Cureton Plumbing and Albritton or Matters Electric.

@Tim Hall, thanks and you as well. 

@Matt W., if you havent already done so I would suggest contacting your local board of realtors and joining as an affiliate.  PMs and Realtors are always looking for handyman services.  It also depends on the services you are providing.  24 hour services for PMs is a great service.  Most offer limited maint services after hours - water leaks, heat/ac, lock outs. I would not pay a handyman service to come out and diagnose a problem, but would be open to paying a set after hour rate- thats what I do now. What all services are you offering?

@Bjorn Ahlblad, thank you. I will look into that. 

Hi all.  I currently manage three apartment complexes, SF, and some commercial buildings.  The largest apartment being 176 units and totally units around 350. I am trying to prevent the possibility of spreading or outbreaks.  

In Tallahassee, FL and we currently have no confirmed cases; however I am sure its here we just don't know yet. I am trying to put measures in place to prevent anything. Here are the changes I have put in place. Looking for feedback and if anyone can think of anything I have missed.  Yes I may being paranoid or over the top, but want to protect my tenants and staff.  Thoughts?

*Closed our gym, pool and not allowing parties in our clubhouse. 

*All staff/contractors that enter a unit, must wear disposable gloves inside the unit and will change gloves between units.  Provided disposable mask for staff in case they chose to use.

*Spraying down of our office, doorknobs, bathrooms, twice a day.

*Asked tenants if they wish to withdraw non emergency work orders until this passes and restrict access to their units unless of emergency.

*Asked tenants to contact us if they have recently traveled overseas or have symptoms. (I know they probably wont).

*Asked tenants to avoid coming to office and asked to email, call, or text with work orders or issues.

*No longer accepting packages for tenants. 

*Encouraged online rental payments and e-leases.  Explained office staff will wear gloves when processing payments and paperwork.

*Asked tenant to contact us if they are experiencing job loss, loss of hours, etc. so we could set up a plan for them now. 

@Joseph Beilke and @Brad Miller

I have purchased leads from Zillow and Realtor.com.  I have purchased them in multiple zip codes and some zip codes have yielded great conversations while others I haven't sold a single house in.  The zip codes that have worked out best for me are actually the cheapest ones to purchase.  They tend to be a little more of a drive but have been a huge success.  The ones I have tried that are higher end zip codes have produced very little leads and no conversations.  I had way more success with Realtor.com than Zillow. 

I like the fact that realtor.com texts and emails you when a lead comes in vs. Zillow that calls you. This allows me to get in front of the computer, pull up MLS and have more information on the property than getting a random call. Realtor.com reimbursed me for those zip codes that didn't produce the leads that they promised. In my area, there are some big teams that sell tons of real estate - one broker has all of his agents on salaries, so all sales go to him. So if you're the buyer and you see a home you like on Zillow and you want more information, do you click on the picture of the agent who has sold 460 homes this year or the 30 homes? I am sure if you have huge advertising budgets than zillow might work for you, but again it didn't for me. Not trying to encourage you guys one way or the other, just my experience.

I do not get listings from my leads only buyers.  In the last two years, I may have received one seller lead, but I chose not to follow up on the lead.  

All in all, its been WELL worth it for me. I do believe its trial and error, you have to try several zip codes and see what happens and be prepared to move zip codes and let them know that they are producing leads or conversations.   Many buyers are not preapproved, but I have had great success getting them over to my lender and then approved.  My rule of thump is to show a lead one house, get to know them, and then get them preapproved.  When talking to online leads, I only screen by asking them if they are working with another agent and wait to discuss preapproval when I meet them.  I know that most people agents do not work this way, but in terms of online leads its worked really well for me.  

Let me know if you guys have more questions and I would be happy to answer them.  

I would have the tile professional sprayed and would change sink, medicine cabinet, window covering, and light fixture. Paint wall above tile - I would go gray. Change vent cover and outlet cover.  

@Jonathan Reed

Hi Jonathan.  I would suggest not allowing the number of agents in your area turn you away if its something you want to pursue.  In my area, in December each year there are about 1300 agents and after yearly dues(feb) that number drops to around 900. Sometimes more sometimes less both ways.  Agents who have been in the business for a long time will get most of their customers from referrals and so business will naturally come easier to them, but remember they were once new too.  It takes time to build a customer base but that doesn't mean you cannot get lots of sells your first few years.  Listings come easier to long term agents but if you work your sphere of influence you can get them too.  I believe that real estate is like anything else in life, you get what you put in.  With all the agents out there, there are still room for new ones.  Find what works for you and stick to it.  For me, I am better as a buyers agent than listing agent.  Not because I cannot list homes and I can do it well but my personality allows me to obtain buyers easier than listings.  I do not turn away listings but I also do not spend my time or advertising dollars on obtaining them. Agents have told me that you cannot make it as an agent if you are part-time or if you do not focus on listings but both of those didnt apply to me.  Anyone can make it work if they invest in themselves and find what works for them. Now with that being said being a relator is costly and I have to sell two-three homes per year to breakeven. I think many agents get into the business without knowing that they can shell out $3-$5k before seeing any of that money.  

Also, if the 150 to 500 really worries you, you can also reach out to your local board of realtors and ask them to tell you the numbers of realtors and sells for the last two years and year to date.  They can also provide figures of how many agents did not renew or any other data you wish regarding sells, types of sells, etc.  If you get zip codes or county numbers, you could use this to help you determine zip codes to advertise in and markets to target.   

Wish you much luck making the best decision for you!!! 

@Manny Cirino, does the sellers agent the one who contact you know what closing company?  Has your broker contacted the seller and reminded them of clause in the listing agreement?  Has your broker contact the buyer's agent broker? 

I was involved in a similar situation and once the broker called and explained to the seller their obligation to pay the commission and that if they payed the buyers agent their percentage, they would still owe the full 6% to her firm per the listing agreement, the sellers understood their obligation and it worked out. 

If all else fails, I would contact every closing company in the area.  If you can get a hold of them before it closes, it will make your life so much easier!

@Manny Cirino, has the deal already closed? If not contact the escrow agent and explain the situation. They might be able to help. Also, did you have on MLS or loopnet?