All Forum Posts by: Steven Straughn

Just a friendly suggestion - If you want to attract investors, find a decent picture of yourself (maybe one where you are smiling?) and use that as your profile picture. Then go edit your profile and figure out where to put periods and commas.

People will ever go into business with you if they can't take you seriously. Not trying to rag on you or anything, just trying to help.

The idea that kitchen and bath upgrades are most important comes from many studies conducted by groups like the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), who put out figures on how much money you are likely to "get back" upon sale. They survey realtors and other RE industry pros and compile lots of data. I can't speak to how accurate their reports are, or to how whether or not their methodology has biases. Of course, kitchen and bath remodelers latch on to this information and run with it. Hence, it has become conventional wisdom.

Theresa K.- You are reading that correctly.

Bill G. - The panels cover about 600sf of roof space and are attached. My assumption is that the solar company will come out and remove the equipment and the bank will have to pay to repair the roof. We have told them that we don't want the panels unless they are willing to renegotiate the rate with us. Otherwise, they are stuck with the cost of removal.

I'll let you know as things develop.

Theresa K. - yes we are.

I am in escrow on a property that has a solar lease agreement in place with a company called SunRun. The property was foreclosed, so the agreement appears to be null and void, though we have the option of assuming the contract if we want to. We plan to be in the home for 2-3 while remodeling it.

Here how it works. SunRun owns and maintains the solar equipment, which produces and average of 650 kWh per month, and we would be obligated to purchase ALL of the power [u]produced by the system at $.25/kWh. Our payments to SunRun would have nothing to do with the amount of energy the home consumes. Compared to the tiered rate structure of SDG&E, the breakeven point is at around 850 kWh per month. The company claims that they average historical usage of this home is around 1000 kWh/mo. I don't plan to use that much while living in the home, but maybe a potential buyer would, and would like to have the system in place, especially considering that SDGE's rates will likely increase over the next few years.

The main problem is that this contract is very difficult to get out of under normal circumstances. If we assume the contract and our potential buyer does not want the system, we would have to pay to have the system removed and roof repaired, or buyout the equipment at a cost of around $20k. As it is now, due to the foreclosure, SunRun has no recourse but to remove the equipment if we don't want to be in contract with them.

Also, this company does not have a great reputation. Plenty of horror stories pop up when you search their name online.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice on this issue.

Hello All,
My wife and I are in escrow on our first home. We plan to live in and remodel over the next two years and sell in 2015 (or rent it, depending on the market). I'm not sure if it's standard practice to include the address in a post like this, so I'll leave it out unless prompted.

The details...
Lake Murray/San Carlos Area of San Diego
2,300sf, 4/3
500sf master suite above garage
2 car garage
Pool
PP $430,000
expected rehab costs $45K, mostly materials (mid to high-end finishes)
I am a contractor, so I'll be doing most of the work.

I'd be curious to hear from people in San Diego regarding the estimated ARV of this home.