All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

@Jen R.  The sweepovac looks so cool!  Thanks for telling me about it!

@Jen R.Thanks so much for your insights!  I really like your idea to upgrade some of the faucets and a couple light fixtures in the house -- actually I like all of your ideas, lol!  And I totally agree about walking into houses that smell like anything other than a house (probably why I have never done the cookie thing before)

I'll have to look into the vacuum pan thing, I have never heard of it before but this is definitely a family neighborhood so that might be my edge :) 

House flippers and/or real estate agents can you give me any advice about little things that you have done or seen done to a house that make a big difference to buyers? 

We are finishing up a live in flip and we have done all the major things- windows, floors, kitchen, paint, etc and the house looks really nice,  and will be staged well, but I really want to add a few extra touches that will make it really stand out.
 

I was thinking things like maybe a Nest thermostat or Ring doorbell -- something that is a few hundred dollars but that most houses won't have and will give me an edge over the competition.  

It doesn't have to be something electronic-- I am looking for input on things that you have done that people enjoy and sell a house more quickly and for more money-- even just tiny things (like bake cookies before an open house-- I haven't done it before but that is the age old thing to do right)?  

 The houses in this neighborhood already sell quickly since this is a less expensive neighborhood of an area with a renowned school district ($200-300K houses as opposed to 400K+)--but I kind of want to list this at the high end for my neighborhood so I'm looking for an edge.

If I left out any important details that would help you answer please let me know.  Thank you in advance!!

take this with a grain of salt since I don't know much about the economy there.  But my brother in law works for ge and it's a huge for jobs in niskyuana (20 minaway) and ge isn't doing well and mass Layoffs are expected.  But just mentioning as something to look into,  not something I know much about. 

@Minuit Spence

I've been in your financial shoes before and it sucks (never had the huge family situation though).  I would say that you have to fix your credit, but it sounds like you know that.  Did you know not all services and debts report to credit? And that no one reports to credit prior to an item being 30 days past due?  Just a couple of things to think about if you have to be more strategic about which bills to pay and when. 

Are you good at talking to people or are you willing to learn to be good at selling?  Sales is a job you can jump right into and if you work hard you will be rewarded. You don't have to be a realtor, you can do anything.  I got my start in the mortgage industry at Quicken Loans on the phones as a loan officer.  These types of jobs are usually HARD and the hours will be long, but at least you won't be tied to an hourly wage and that can make your earnings HUGE.  You don't even have to do anything that is really related to the RE industry, you just have to start making more money. 

Have you read The One Thing by Gary Keller? They talk about it on the podcast kind of often.  IMO your One Thing right now cannot be getting into Real Estate- it has to be becoming financially stable.  

Good luck, I know this community will be rooting for you!

@Troy Bailey and 

@Aidan Mulligan  I will check in with my banker on this. 

Did you try this website?  

https://www.flagstar.com/personal/loans/home-loans/apply-for-a-home-loan.html?null

It has a phone number on it that should get you to a person who can help you.   

flagstar bank will do under 50k. They are a bank out of Michigan but do loans in all states.  Full disclosure i work there,  but i did just get a loan for 36k. 

I would select some homes to go view as if I were a buyer and go see what kind of choices a buyer would have. 

 Yes,  we found that it held up well to dog claws,  water, kids,  but one grain of sand under anything and drug any distance left a deep and noticeable gouge.  Even with pads on stuff.  We had to watch it like we would real wood floors.  Other brands we have had we could do anything to, no issues. It looks nice, but I wouldn't put it in a rental

@Jennifer Darby I would not use Lifeproof.  Put that in my last house and it was awful with scratches.  That being said there is a lot of vinyl plank that I have used and really like.  I like the kinds that are a little more flexible/bendable.  They are super easy to put in (when you need to make a cut you just use a utility knife), look great, and are very, very durable.  

If you did go with carpet I know people who are big fans of carpet tile.  There are kinds that don't look like corporate office carpet and then when a patch gets stained you just pull it up and replace just that patch.  

Good luck!