All Forum Posts by: Marian Smith

@Zachary Jensen Always raise the rent especially if market rents are higher than your rent and your expenses go up. Everyone else does, some leases state they will each year. But you can raise $20-25 or so. Keeping your tenant below market is a good idea. So is maintaining the expectation that rents go up each year. IMO

I think a judge might look at the depreciation schedule tor taxes.  So if I put quartz in a rental I depreciate it over 5, 10, or 28.5 years or some other number, look it up on the irs site.  so if the quartz is 5 years old and depreciated over 10 years you'd pay 5/10 the price.  But i agree with the poster who said there are people who can repair quartz.  I can't see having to replace the whole kitchen unless you rebuilt your engine on it and stained it with motor oil or some such.

@Nathan G. Thanks...Ockham's razor.

@Mike Kroupa There used to be a tv show where decorators were given 2k to improve the appeal of a house on the market. Each house the money was spent differently...depended on what was turning off buyers. On your house I think I would consider making the front porch/stoop wider with a post at each end of the roof overhang, (or maybe an an even larger front deck if it is the kind of neighborhood where you might want to sit out front). I think the white is fine but the trim could be painted a contrasting color. The roof is fine but if it needs replacing, a grayer color.

Need advice. Hot market. Suburb, but walk to bus stop, restaurants, convenience stores. Plus new huge data center being built a block away. 1950's home moved to its location, where most houses nearby are slab 3-2-2s. 3-1 with an additional 2-1 350 sq ft attic conversion. Should the house be marketed as 4-2 with 2 living (or fifth bedroom w/o closet)? to a family? with no master en suite. Or a house hack with the upper area staged with a mini kitchenette for airbnb or income unit. A separate private entrance could be easily added with a deadbolted door to the main house. The three downstairs bedrooms share a hall bath. Not sure if families would be more okay with that or if roommates would. Oh, and house is 70 years old and not perfect by a long shot but has charm. Thanks for any advice. House will be priced lowest per sq ft, but area is expensive and thats why wondering if an income suite would be worth more than 2 bedrooms or 2 offices in the attic.

@John Teachout There is a new solid core vinyl that is just butted up against the baseboards and to each other. check you tube. Lifeproof is click lock.

@Lindsey Vargas I have started offering a renewal choice of a 1 year lease price and a month to month price that is higher...mainly so that if the 1year rent is too high tenants can stay an extra month or so until they find something cheaper. But everything rents fast here so no sacrifice on my part. And I just have a few properties.

@Tricia O'Brien I know someone who was turned down because the landlord wanted dual income. Applicant was a lawyer with retired husband (lawyer may have been the real reason but I doubt it). I require all non related occupants to qualify individually because I see roommates as higher risk.

@Nathan Weber This is the perfect place for shysters to find victims. Out of state is the perfect setup. I have read posts by people who felt they had been cheated by others on here. There are probably more who are ashamed to acknowledge having been duped. From buying turnkey investments that turn out to be shacks to sending thousands of dollars in loan fees to a lender that evaporates. Its like a cruise ship. Most good, some bad.

Creekview is a $500 flat fee and they loan you a sign and suprabox and set you up with an online showing appointment service.  They also do a cma.  it is up to you to photograph, stage, write a blurb and, most importantly, set the price...cma should help.  In some markets KW etc may bkackball or not show your property IDK, but with such low inventory it would be difficult.