All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

Ad yesterday on Craigslist offering $50k down.

I thought it was interesting enough to pull up the ad and read it. Additional info, offering $3,000 a month for 10 years, interest at 5%.

I was interested enough to run amortization to see how much he could afford to spend. (about $300k, unless he expects taxes and insurance to be included in the 3k a month payment.)

I am not going to contact him. I have no idea if it is a legitimate offer or if he is some sort of guru graduate looking to pick up subject-to's or to make up a buyer's list, or whatever.

At any rate, I'm both jaded and suspicious, and he got me to look. So whatever it is that he is doing, I suspect he got a decent enough response. It's not actually a good price for the seller, but most home owner type people just see the numbers and don't really understand if it is a good deal or not.

Vikram, I'd offer a base salary that was at least a living wage, and then a percentage. Then you say what the possible income that could be earned by someone who does a thorough job.

I'd put it in terms of "last year, your percentage of completed projects would have been $XXX" since so many sales jobs try to hire by promising very unlikely amounts of commission. Let them know you are offering solid proven compensation.

Ben, darlin', there was no such thing as a 401K.

She did get a notice about the deposit. She just didn't like it.

Nicola, as long as you are going to small claims court over the deposit, go ahead and ask to have 5 days rent refunded. I don't think you should be charged rent for days after the owner started to move in.

People are out of work and begging for jobs. Construction workers are even harder hit by unemployment. That will make it a lot easier to fill the position.

I'd hit the job fairs being given by colleges for their recent graduates. Sometimes, people who have made it through college have more drive to complete projects.

I'd set up a table and look for someone who paid their way through college doing construction, or who grew up in a home where construction type things were done.

Look for someone who took some business classes.

If it is presented correctly, the graduate will see an opportunity to secure a job with a salary and at the same time the opportunity to learn new skills to generate income.

Just me, but I'd announce that drug testing is being done (whether you actually do it or not). You don't want some of your profits funneled up someone's nose.

I basically do the job you are trying to fill, but I wouldn't do it for someone else. But then, I'm not hungry like a new college grad will be.

Under current federal law, it isn't illegal to only rent to teachers or police. However, some states and some towns have laws that you can not discriminate based on source of income.

The way around would be to only advertise on the police or school lunch room bulletin board.

Primary income stream (only income stream) for the first 20 years was salary.

I bought and sold land and reinvested all the profits into more land.

Then it all got converted into rentals and I live off the rental income.

I like land a lot better. No tenants but, unfortunately, no income, either.

Look, you sent the email today. People who are actually investing in real estate might very well be out and about working.

You have to wait until people have the time to sit down and check their mail. Your buyers probably haven't even seen your email, yet.

Also, it is very likely that they will read your email and mull it over for awhile. Then they will contact you with any additional questions.

If you gave an address, they might do a drive-by before they call you.

For move-in day, I give a sparkling clean house with everything repaired, tightened, checked to see that it works.

I leave a new roll of paper towels on the kitchen counter and 2 new rolls of TP in each bathroom, since those will be needed as the family moves in.

That's what I leave for buyers, too.

You don't qualify for a reduction in rent. The landlord dealt with the problem.

Next time, if you will call the landlord at the very first sign of the very first mouse, you won't have a mouse problem.