All Forum Posts by: Sandra B.

Get several estimates for the tree removal and present them to the seller with a request for credit at closing. As others have said, "as-is" refers to the property condition at time of contract. If the seller is unwilling to do the work to restore the property to the condition it was in when you went under contract, a credit should be issued to cover the expense to you.

If it is an inherited asset and personal funds are not commingled into the asset, it should be protected from being considered marital property. Of course, check with an attorney on this. You can also jointly make addendums to the operating agreement of the llc that can increase protections. Again, have an attorney draft this amendment and must be agreed to and signed by all parties. She should also have her husband sign a "post-nup" waiving his rights to the venture. Bottom line, get an attorney involved and layer in as many protections as possible.

Those portable A/C units are a huge energy drain. You might want to look into mini split systems. Yes, the upfront cost is significant, but the energy savings versus portable systems will be worth it in the long run. And there are some that you can program and manage temps remotely when you don't have renters in place.

I personally would switch agents without a second thought. IF you lose any of the properties because another person beats you to an offer, you will be angry not only with the agent but also yourself for not taking more aggressive action. I get it. I'm an east coast city girl living in the west coast suburbs. Most people with whom I interact can't keep up with my sense of urgency. It's not their fault and it isn't personal. You just need to move forward with someone who can, set clear expectations about their level of responsiveness and initiative, and hold them and yourself accountable. As for agent B, you have no contractual obligation to him. If he confronts you about moving forward with another agent, be polite and be honest. Use tangible examples in which his level of responsiveness did not meet your expectations. And APOLOGIZE and accept ACCOUNTABILITY about failing to clearly communicate your expectations to him from the outset. No hard feelings. That is important. And don't talk smack about him to anyone. He's more established than you in the market. When things go well, give credit to others. When things go badly, accept responsibility.

If you plan to live there, then I suggest just picking a neighborhood you like and not worrying too much about future appreciation. If you like the neighborhood, it is very likely that people who fit your demographic would also prefer it as future renters. When selecting the property, I would keep the following in mind for "rentability" (which would also be quality of life for you): in unit laundry, proximity to metro/public transportation, on premise parking or nearby affordable monthly lots, central heat and air, closet/storage space, outdoor space (private or shared). You can always upgrade the finishes down the road, but you can't always make these types of upgrades to a property. Especially in major metros, these will set your property apart when/if you choose to rent it out down the road.

Your property could be good for multi-generational family - older parents moving in with adult children. Or post college grads moving back in with parents. They don't have to go up the stairs and can have their own privacy. This is something I would have the agent highlight as a positive in the listing and could open up a different buyer pool, especially since you missed the start of school year window.

First off, I hate this idea. My tenants are my customers, and I treat them as such. But I don't own C rentals... Your idea of monthly auto rent doesn't work. What is to stop the tenant from paying the auto rent and not the actual rent? Here is another idea: every month when the rent is paid, they receive a hanging tag (or two) that goes on the mirror and expires on the 5th of the following month. The color changes every month. If rent isn't paid on time, they get their 5 day notice along with a notice about the expiration of car tag on the 5th. You just have a tow company patrol and look for expired tags. I think this would be fine in the eyes of the law if the information regarding the tow company is posted in the lot and the details regarding car tag issuance are clearly outlined in the lease. However, if tenants elect to park on the street, you have no remedy.

Before doing another open house to the public, I would have your agent run a broker's open. This will you get you detailed feedback from people with buyers. If you just traipse a few more potential listing agents through the house, they are likely to sugarcoat their opinions to try to get the listing rather than give you honest feedback about the best approach to tweek, price, market, and sell the property. Good luck!

You can also report the unlicensed "business", which would likely get the township's attention. Does the townhouse fall within an HOA? Even if it is a PUD rather than condo, there are likely rules governing businesses being operated out of the home and general maintenance. You could complain to them and get the HOA to step in and play the villain.

If your information is accurate, any other buyer will have this same problem, unless they are cash. This gives you some leverage to get the seller to meet the appraised price. It is really just a matter of how motivated the seller is versus how much you want the property/cash you have to bring to the closing table. You might also want to investigate if the lot can be subdivided. This could be a long term remedy if you have to bring extra cash to close to then try to subdivide the lot, sell the additional parcel, and recoup some of your investment. Though, admittedly, land sales are tricky in their own right.