All Forum Posts by: Chad B.

Sounds like a lot of work to save a couple of bucks. I like to order aluminum signs that will last a long time. You can find places on-line that will print whatever you want on the aluminum signs and then buy a couple of frames and both will last for years. I think the last order I placed for 2' x 3' aluminum signs with by logo and all my information on them cost about $50/sign. I think it was at victorystore.com. The frames I ordered cost about $80 and the frames will last forever or atleast until a snow plow or dump truck hits them. I've also ordered simple 18" construction signs on aluminum for about $30 and I think that was at signsdirect.com. I like the aluminum signs because they last longer and look professional. I think these websites also sell the corregated plastic signs with the stands for much much less. You might want to check these out.

I agree with everything PNW said except the fact that replacement windows are not the "only" thing you can do. I think they may be the most cost effective answer but you may also want to check out replacing the glass with insulated glass. I have worked on many historic homes where I wasn't allowed to replace the windows or allowed to install storm windows. On these homes I had to restore the original windows which included removing the single pane glass and install dual pane insulated glass in the sashes. It was costly but I think alot of that cost was the restoration work and not so much the cost of the glass. If you do this on a double hung window watch out for the weight of the new glass because the old balance weights were fit for the single pane of glass your new window won't stay open if you don't adjust the counter weight.

A slate roof is probably one of the most expensive roofing materials out there (I've had a roof cost $120,000 before). They can be expensive to fix. While the difference between 7,000 and 1,200 dollars do sound like a big difference I think it is more important to study the bids closely and talk with the contractors to get a full picture of what scope of work they are proposing to do. While one may only be proposing to fix a couple of broken tiles you can see from the ground the other may have found more issues and may be proposing to do more work than the other. Get atleast one more bid and just make sure all bidders are qualified to work on slate roofs. Some may tell you any roofer can fix a slate roof but I know roofers who also think they can install asphalt shingles yet for some reason within a few years they end up with a leak. Now I wonder why that is? Was it worth it to save a few bucks to have to replace it a few years later.

dal1-

What's this have to do with zillow?

Jes4-

Where did you learn that kind of math? First off just because she could have 50 units that you are assuming will be worth in $450k in 5 years doesn't mean she is going to make $20M on a $4M investment. Most of that $20M would be used to pay off the approx $15M in loans. Not to mention I would like to know what market you are expecting a 50% appreciation rate over the next 5 years. I think you are way off base with your numbers here.

I think Josh explained that you are limited to 15 letters as I see it you have 16 in your name. Adjust your name length and he will fix it as he stated in his message.

My god, you should have your own reality show!

I 2nd what Josh said... I have been in construction/real estate for a little over 10 years and after discovering this site I spent about 2 weeks going thru old posts here just learning what others had to say. After you spend some time here you will discover on your own which way you want to go with your investments. I think a lot of the stuff discussed here is stuff I already knew but all my ideas and plans were just cluttered in my head. After reading and writing about it here, I think I am now able to organize my goals so all the information I have amassed doesn't interfer with each other. There is also many new things I have learned here to make it much more profitable and now there is always a place to turn when I have a question.

There is always room for more education from some of those "gurus" books but I think you can clear up a lot of your confusion right here before proceeding. So what I'm saying is pull up a stool, have a cocktail right here and listen to what the members have to say.

Good Luck

Well said!

Welcome Eli-
I think you've come to the right place. I don't do rentals but there are plenty of guys here that do and I learn something new here everyday.