All Forum Posts by: Paul M.

Is there a way to avoid the tenant forcing a payment on you (eg to avoid an eviction)

Is there a way to avoid the tenant forcing a payment on you?   (eg in a legal scheme to avoid an eviction etc).  

Personally I wouldn't list until I had the final inspection completed.  I know you want to get as much revenue as possible as soon as possible, but construction is too risky and unpredictable and it will cost big bucks if you are contractually obligated and can't fulfill that obligation.

As far as I can tell, Whirlpool is the *ONLY* brand of coin operated laundry machine available from Home Depot, Lowes and it is terribly reviewed.  Sears also has a Kenmore brand, also terribly reviewed.  None available from Best Buy.   The lack of choices is atrocious!   

You can get a coin operated timer to work with any machine, but those seem to be over $1k and it is not clear to me that there is any particular trusted well reviewed brand.

Yup, that is the forum I'm posting in!   I'm just saying a separate *property management" meaning people who manage property they don't own for an owner client, might make sense.   Since there are forums for real estate agents, contractors and bankers, this might make sense too.   

I did find another post on this topic since posting, but it is mostly sidetracked by a discussion of whether one should get a real estate agent license.

As a landlord, accountant and hands on rehabber, I've thought about becoming a property manager, in my market that would be for 1-4 unit properties most likely for now.  I'm looking for advice on the legal and insurance implications of doing so, or general advice.   I would have no employees, except someone to do things when I'm on vacation.   I notice there is no property managers forum on biggerpockets!

I charge $1, my goal is cut down on waste but not to maximize income.    You can fuel resentment if everytime they do laundry they are giving you money, and they may try to overload.   $1 is simple, cheap, convenient for them, and it will cover your costs. 

What was the scope of the renovations?  250k for a 4 unit gut job seems very low.

Does anyone else provide video tours of your rentals to prospective tenants? I've been doing it for a few years and I've found it to be a great tool for both screening uninterested (time savings-fewer wasted showings) and also for drawing in those who find the place a good match.

I've been taking these videos with my cell phone camera, which means they are somewhat unsteady. Is there a way to make them more professional? A tripod on wheels? (though you'd still have to carry it up stairs. Youtube does have a stabilizer tool that helps (though also makes it kind of weird too).

I have been using the Schlage locks on my personal residence for 7 months now, and it has been great. As tenants turn over, I'll be installing them on the rentals to eliminate lockout calls and so I don't have to rely on my giant key ring.

I won't use them for apartments where the front door is right on the street because neighbors could watch my tenants enter the keypad code, for those I'll do it on the back door.