All Forum Posts by: Patrick Strain

@Adah N. 

@David M.

Credit card fees are a business expense that the HVAC company incurs, and they have the ability to write that fee off, as long as they're doing business above the table. Also, always make sure that if the company does make you pay a fee, that they list the fee as a separate line on the invoice. If not, they're double dipping by charging you, then by writing off the expense separately. When negotiating, tell them that they're eating any associated fees.

 I'm not sure what fee you're referring to. Over the past two years, I've accumulated over 400,000 Chase points. The card does have a $95 annual fee, but the points I have are worth anywhere between $6000-8000 in travel rewards, so that more than offsets the fee.

 To each their own. I always pay my credit card off in full every month so I'm not spending money I don't have. I spend a month or two abroad every year and haven't spent a dime of my own money on flights or housing because of points. My card covers primary insurance when I rent a car. Covers my cellphone insurance. It extends the warranty by a year on appliances that I purchase with the card. Yes, people can be irresponsible with credit. To me, they're an incredibly useful tool.

I use a Chase Ink Business Preferred. I have a separate one for each of my properties. They offer a 100,000 Chase reward point bonus. When using my personal Chase Sapphire Reserve to redeem, that equals $1500 in cash back or travel. However, when transferring to travel partners, that can equal four or five times that amount.

I've been going through a lot of hassle getting a new heating source installed in a 1000 square foot single family property. The property had a mobile home furnace in  it when I purchased the property. It died last spring, and I decided to have a proper heating system installed. My local HVAC guy quoted me $14k to install a small boiler with baseboard radiators. Though this seemed high to me, paid for it in full because the property is occupied and I needed it done. Here's the question: Does that seem outrageous to anyone else? I feel like he may have given me a f*ck off price hoping I'd not accept the offer. Unfortunately for him, I need to get this done.

 Honestly, better than I expected. At first, it seemed incredibly daunting. The cops were worthless. Because of the pandemic, eviction wasn't even an option, and the parole officer wouldn't touch it. So, I resorted to the tried and true method of cash for keys. I told him that if he was out by the end of the week, I'd put $1000 cash in his hand. Took far less time, and cost a fraction of what an eviction would have.

My very first rental property was a house in a college town. I bought a four bedroom house that was less than a five minute walk from campus, had a small convenience store, and a bar right around the corner. I stayed in one room, and rented the other three bedrooms out to friends. It more than paid for itself, and when I sold it after four years, the appreciation gave me enough money to buy a single family house for myself, and a duplex which I flipped. 

Turns out the trooper was worthless. The parole officer was more helpful. I'll be speaking with her again tomorrow. I am just so pissed off at the former owner for not disclosing that he was a felon. This is a small village (under 400 people). He, the former owner, is a retired teacher, knew the guy was a felon, and never looked into his history. I still run background/credit checks on every single person who applies with me. 

A few months ago, I bought a 4-unit apartment building in a nice neighborhood just down the street from my house. Three of the four tenants are older ladies, while the fourth tenant is a 30-something man. Last night, while on drugs (he admitted to me), he kicked in his own door, and proceeded to make a racket until one of the other tenants called the troopers. The previous owner of the property had rented the apartment to him just a few weeks prior to closing. There is no lease no deposit. I found out today, that this man is a felon who is on probation for violent assault (not disclosed by the former landlord). No charges were pressed last night, but I'm speaking with the responding officer later today. Should I proceed with an eviction, or should I speak with his probation officer? Typically, I don't have an issue dealing with problem tenants, but this dude went to prison for assaulting someone with a 2x4. I'm sure a discussion with the trooper will bring some clarity, but as of right now, I'm not sure what to do. 

My first question was whether he'd be willing to hold the note, but he declined. He just wants to cash out and be done.