All Forum Posts by: Scott Mac

Hi Cardell,

Ask the contractor for references, and call them. Ask about the quality of the work and if they showed up on time, and if they were a pain to work with or easy to work with. Ask the owner if they would hire them again or not.

Ask the contractor if you can go visit a similar to yours jobsite they are finishing up on now and look at the quality of their work.

Good Luck!

Hi Isaac,

If you catch them, ask them politely not to do that, and be positive about it and positive about the apartment community when talking to them.

You don't want to create ill will over someone doing something they perceive as cleanly. 

Just tell them it doesn't leave enough room for trash bags inside and that creates a mess for everyone.

Then end it on a positive note by asking them if they have any complaints about the property. There may be other things going on that need you attention that you don't know about.

If you have a monthly community newsletter type of thing you send out, put in there (every month) "Please do not throw couches and the like in the dumpsters it leaves no room for trash bags, etc...".

During your lease signing include a separate colored sheet of paper with large print on it with the same words as the monthly newsletter. Not a part of the lease, because I doubt you want to evict for this, just a sheet of paper.

Then when your maintenance techs see the dumpsters filled this way, have them fix it immediately.

If the furniture is in decent shape some people will run ads for it on Craig list "Free Stuff" and say it's by the dumpster come pick it up.

Just my thoughts.

Good Luck!

Hi Scott,

With the outdoor living/cooking that so many people seem to like to do in Texas I'd think rocks would not be a good choice.

If this were mine, and the rents would support it, I'd go with concrete, or pavers laid in sand and replace the back door with a wider sliding glass door, to make the house seem bigger from the inside.  (My thought would be how much more a month could I get if it were like this vs cost.)

If the whole patio area were finished it looks like it could be a selling point for potential renters if done well, but that's a major expenditure.

My thought on decks is that the wood wears out and need maintenance, concrete and pavers are a one time thing.

Good Luck!

Hi Steve,

If you haven't already, you might want to take a trip out to Las Vegas and spend a few days touring the area around the campus.

Some of it seems pretty tough (day and night). Meaning knowing where "a Student" (and their family who is paying) would want to rent and where they would be uncomfortable might be a boots on the ground decision.

Not to say those areas are unrentable, it's just that due to the area, they may be not as desirable to "students" as better selected areas.

Good Luck!

Hi Kirk,

If it were me, because the roof line really defines it (being 50% of the front), before I'd make any major decisions on what to spend on the exterior  I would talk to a local architect about colors and material selection, and also outdoor plantings.

Not to have him General Contract the job, just to provide architectural advise about possible re-styling and colors.

I've seen these spruced up by painting the wooden shingles and also by replacing them with metal. Both created a decent looking structure.

An architect may come up with some ideas that really make the place pop.

Just my thoughts on it.

Good Luck!

Hi D'Aydra,

Listing all of those skills and assets, It seems like you are looking to partner up with another investor?

Maybe hang onto that $3,000 and change the title of your post to something like Experienced Realtor with own HVAC company and construction background looking for Cash partner for Rehabs in the Reston VA area.

I think you need a paid account here to advertise like this though.

Just my thoughts on this.

Good Luck!

Hi Bob,

Obviously the guy is having cash flow timing problems (for whatever reason).

I agree with posting a pay or quit, but since you seem to not mind talking to him about this, why not suggest that he get a "Temporary Job" on his days off and get his cash flow back in line. If he does, great, if he doesn't things will not change.

Chasing residents for rent is a hard way to make a buck.

Good Luck!

Hi John,

If it were me, I'd build up a war chest of money for a while to cover problems these three may have in the future, drop it in a CD or something. Then begin to look for more like these.

Good Luck!

Hi Sean,

Rich Dad Poor Dad (if you have not read it already), and go to local real estate meetups and make some new friends of all ages.

Good Luck!

Hi Carl,

These are just my thoughts on this.

Construction can have a lot more risk than renovations (cost over runs and time over runs, labor issues, etc..), and you do not seem to have a construction background.

Maybe after rezoning, since it seems like such a good multi-family location (best schools), cut your risk and flip the lots to someone who want to build (for cash only).

Add value and then just (cash) out.

Good Luck!