Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here
Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties. Try BiggerPockets PRO.
x
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: Maureen Wilkerson

Maureen Wilkerson has started 2 posts and replied 10 times.

@Cory Mccarthyundefined@VAUGHN BLACK@Jonathan Wyse  Gosh 10 months flew by!  For several reasons we took a lot longer then planned.  So many lessons were learned from this flip!  At one point I thought I wanted to keep the house during that time Neal took on another entire home renovation which put our house on the back burner.  In the end we decided to list it we tried for sale by owner for a little while however ultimately we listed it with a realtor.  We have since accepted an offer and provided everything goes as planned it will Have a new owner next month!  The house itself turned out beautifully!  I'm trying to remember how to add pictures if I can figure it out I'll add the finished product!

Thank you @Cory Mccarthy!  It is very exciting to see it coming together, the thought of being at the closing table is even more exciting and keeps us motivated!!!  

To start out my boyfriend Neal and I have only been dating for just over a year.  When we met we knew our backgrounds gave us a lot in common.  What we didn't realize is where and how quickly it would lead us.  We both work in the home improvement industry him day to day hands on me on the design, estimating and books side of things.  We have both worked on numerous investment properties for others.  Both of us being in our thirties we are looking at the future and long term goals.  We decided that we should try our own hands in real estate investing.  Are we ambitious or just crazy?  I'm not sure yet!

It started with lots of research which lead to a business plan.  Then finding a lender.  Before we knew it we had found a house in a non-conventional manor.  

The house had been auctioned and was purchased by someone who resells properties to investors.  He wanted to do a dual settlement on the house.  This house is also about 1 1/2 hrs from mine but in the area we were looking because Neal does a lot of work on investment properties in Lebanon.  Neal was able to walk through the house one time for about 15 minutes he took a few pictures but that was all I was able to see before we purchased the property.  The house is a 2400 sq. ft. farm house from the 1800's.  It consisted of 2 separate units and an addition added likely in the 80's on the back of each section.  Also on the property is a  30' x 70' detached garage. 

Settlement was set for while Neal was away fishing in the White Marlin Open (a trip that had been planned for some time).  I figured that's ok I will take my friend for moral support he owns the construction companies that I do the book work and estimates for and has flipped several houses himself.  After settlement we drove to the property for the first time.  I walk through each unit and very quickly buyers remorse set in.  For whatever reason I just couldn't wrap my head around what to do with it.  There is nothing that is salvageable on the interior the floors where so out of level (What had Neal gotten me into?).  I was sooooo overwhelmed!  This isn't like me I can usually come up with a plan for anything.  While my friend said very little I could tell he was a little scared for me.  I spent very little time there that day I just wanted to run and hide.  I wasn't able to talk to Neal until around 7pm that night at which time I told him how freaked out I was.  He reassured me that he had a plan and that when he returned home that weekend we would go to the house and go over everything.  Needless to say it was the longest 4 days of my life! 

That Sunday we traveled to Lebanon.  It quickly became obvious that the best thing to do was turn the house into a single family home.  We started taking measurements (I should have done that on settlement day it was in the plans but I just hadn't been able to.)  and talking about how we would lay out the house the walls that would be removed etc.  The next day Neal began demo and I completely laid out the entire house including the design for the Kitchen and Bathrooms.  At this point we were extremely excited everything was going to flow very nicely and I could see how the finished product was going to be a beautiful, functional home.  By the time Demo was done we were left with basically a shell on the main level we even had to tear out most of the floor joists. 

We are now a couple months into the project the exterior of the house has all new siding.  The front porch has been rebuilt.  All new windows have been installed the house has been completely re-wired the HVAC system has been installed and plumbing rough-in is done.  This week as drywall goes up it seems like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  Doors and trim get delivered tomorrow! 

Even with all of our knowledge and experience this has been quite a ride!  We knew going in it would be hard work and long hours which it has been.   Turning our relationship into a business partner ship as well has been a little stressful but we have handled it pretty darn well!  Throughout the process I have often wondered how people not in the construction industry do this for the first time?  We already knew where and how to get the best prices on materials and we have relationships with other trades I honestly couldn't imagine doing it without those things. 

This is our journey so far!  We hope to finish the project next month! 

Post: Property Insurance Help Needed in PA!

Maureen WilkersonPosted
  • Quarryville, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 1

@Jason Shellaway and @Derek Lacy thank you!  

Post: Property Insurance Help Needed in PA!

Maureen WilkersonPosted
  • Quarryville, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 1

I am set to settle on our first property next Wednesday. I am extremely excited however I am having a problem obtaining insurance. I am currently a Maryland resident however the flip property that we are purchasing is in Pennsylvania. I currently rent my home so I only have renters insurance and car insurance. I have both of these through Geico and they don't offer anything. I am purchasing the property through an LLC. I contacted a couple of brokers today that were unable to help me. Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone have any advice?

Post: Hardwood Floors

Maureen WilkersonPosted
  • Quarryville, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 1

I have a cabinetry showroom in Maryland we have accounts with wholesale distributors for flooring as well.  Even with having those accounts we still have been able to find even better deals on flooring at Wood Floors Plus in Glen Burnie.  We recently paid $.75 a sf for engineered floors for a investment property we are doing the work on for a friend.   The only thing you need to be careful with is a lot of what they sell is cabin grade and it has milling defects.  It still looks great but you need to purchase about 10% more then you generally would because some boards will be unusable.    

My biggest fear is obtaining funding.  I have worked in the construction industry for years with a background in interior design.  I currently work as a kitchen designer but prepare all of the estimates, contracts and schedules for a construction company.  In addition I also do the bookkeeping and payroll for the company I currently work with.  I have helped several people with their investment properties and have watched people do it the right and wrong.  My boyfriend is a very skilled contractor who currently works on other peoples flip houses.    We want to buy our first flip house but because we are both technically self employed it is very difficult for us to get loans.  Our plan would be for my boyfriend to work full time on the property so we could quickly turn it over and I would keep my full time job and handle the financials, insurances, realators etc.  I feel that with the skills between the two of us we are very capable of being successful.  I am currently working on a business plan and am planning on presenting it to my family.  If they aren't able to help us do you have any suggestions or words of caution for finding investors?

Post: Can you get rid of cat smell?

Maureen WilkersonPosted
  • Quarryville, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 1

We are currently working in a house where cats had sprayed so much it was hard to walk through the front door.  Once the flooring was removed we had to seal the sub floor to get ride of the smell.  It did work and the smell is finally gone but it took a lot.