All Forum Posts by: Tim Bishop

@Peter MacKercher 

While it may be true that you can build a tile shower for the same money or less than a prefab... It's also true that you will spend a significant amount of time doing it.

For a rental... If you're paying yourself 0.00 per hour and you've got nothing better to do, then it might be worth it.  If it makes the project take longer and you're increasing the time it takes to get the unit tenanted... then you're making less than 0.00 per hour.

If the project is a flip in an A neighborhood... Then you probably want tile.  Outside of that, I think prefab should at least be considered.

@Paul Ewing 

Haha, yeah in a perfect world a surcharge like that would be the way to go!

If they added some support, probably in the form of 2x4's it should hold up better than without.

@Paul Ewing 

Very good point about the durability of prefab pans.

The right solution is use deck mud underneath the pan to fill the air space so there will be no flexing.  I don't know how many people actually do it that way.  I just know that that's what the pros say to do... What the pros say to do and what the pros do... are two different things.  With that minor change, prefab is still very cost effective and should be nearly as durable as tile.

@Kevin C. 

If you go with a custom tile pan and walls, you will need to make sure your floors can support the weight.  Anything on a slab will work.  Anything else will need be evaluated.

Kerdi shower systems are tile, and lighter weight.... so that could be a solution but it comes at a premium.

For a college rental I still vote prefab by a mile.

prefab prefab prefab

IMO of course

Offer to apply the wholesale fee as your cut in a partnership with someone experienced who you can trust.  

That way you get paid to learn.  

I'll second that for @Adam Wright 

You will have lots of sellers who wont accept your low offer as wholesaler especially if your offer gives them no cash or they have to come up with the difference to finish paying the debt.  Let them know that you have a great realtor who may be able to help them net more on the sale than you are offering.  That's the benefit to your realtor... Tons of low effort leads.  When you buy a house tell the seller about your realtor, they might be looking to buy another house soon.  Tell your realtor that you are doing this and that you will continue to do so.  When it seems like someone is very interested in your realtor, ask them if you can give the realtor there number.  Easy. 

You need comps, and a second opinion and buyers.  A good realtor can help you with all of those.  You probably need them more than they need you... I'm not a realtor.  Your goal should be to help your realtor make more money from your relationship than any of their other clients.  They probably get a few emails a week from tire kickers who saw some infomercial or took some free seminar.  Set yourself apart when you contact them or you won't get a response.  Don't waste their time.

One more thing.  My agent sends me fsbo yard sign leads.  If I buy he makes 3%.  Have a good, honest agent and you will profit.

Listen here Roy!  If you're going to just make up words like "colloquialism and etymology" post them in the off topic section under...  Stuff I heard on NPR...

Set up alerts on zillow and forsalebyowner .. check cl every morning and go through all of the housing listings for the previous day (put 1 as your minimum price).  Drive neighborhoods and bring contracts...  If you see one knock.  I haven't personally tried the newspaper but the only ones who would think to list a house in it are probably old enough to have paid the loan down.

 Seems douchey to complain about it!