All Forum Posts by: Todd Jones

I had family that lived there for some time.

It mostly depends on the street but it is pretty community based w/ block parties, neighborhood watches, etc. 

The Euclid police enforce the laws e.g., if a sign says no parking in the street after dusk and you're car is there, you're getting a ticket; if it is dusk and you're cutting the grass, they will drive up and tell you to stop. This is one of the reasons why it doesn't get crazy there.

The homes sizes are not "Cleveland Huge" but mostly bungalows which helps with maintenance. 

I agree w/ Andrew's assessment of South Euclid (especially near University Heights) then Euclid, OH. Schools are a "5" but I agree that's an "OK" for the city.

Overall, it is a "sweet spot" for relatively cheaper, smaller homes, no-so rowdy neighborhoods, fair rent, fair demand, and ok inventory. I know as I monitor the MLS in this area for new deals.

Quote from @Colleen F.:

@Ryan Duphorn you got one quote from lowes. Get other quotes from local company or wholesale window place and install. Non functional windows you have to fix or replace. There is no rule you have to replace them all at once. That said it's hard to get someone to do 5 windows. Believe me I have tried.

 This.

Get quotes from other local places. That’s their life so they are well invested in doing it right in some cases.

…and yes, replace them especially if you’re going to keep it for a while. They will pay for themselves when you sell it. Once it’s paid for completely, it’s done!

Quote from @Craig Janet:

 A "smoke break" will last about 5 minutes, 10 minutes tops with brief puffs of smoke. If your tenants can't stand the smell outdoors for a few minutes they need to stay inside or rent a place with acreage in the country. This is not your problem, I would tell them you have no control over it and if they want to break the lease over this it will cost them. I think most states have legal medical marijuana so they can always say it medical. 

Based on the OP, it sounds like she wants to keep the tenants. Also, it may be more than a 10 min puff. Smelling that every night with kids in the home isn’t cool. 

If the tenant goes, then what? New tenant comes in, complains, leaves, repeats, until a tenant comes in and doesn’t complain about smelling that in the back yard.

I agree with others that technically it’s not the landlord’s issue. I 100% agree the landlord is offering a service to their clients. However, I’m the landlord intervenes, they could get called for similar issues outside the property i.e. loud party, street pothole in front of the driveway, etc.

I don’t hesitate talking to neighbors about issues. But this is different. They go outside every night to smoke an addictive substance vs. in the house. If you ask them to stop, what will they do? They got no choice but to smoke outside or stop altogether, which they won’t. Therefore, talking to them or the landlord unfortunately won’t help.

I don’t like advising this but if you want the tenant to stay, make an anonymous call to local authorities indicating a home is smoking marijuana outside at night and you’ve been told is bothering the neighborhood kids. The authorities can then smell it in the air at night and take action based on the local laws.

I get what you’re saying. A home is a big, big purchase. Water accumulation and less desirable looking cars will send you a red flag like “oh, no! What have I done?!”

Before selling at a loss, if the cars were removed/resolved and the water issue was no more, would you still want to move?

If yes, sell at a loss but recognize you need an area with an HOA. You'll also need to save again and be able to afford the fees.

If no and you would stay, my vote is call city again about the flooding. For the cars, wait 2 weeks and make an anonymous call. Folks won’t care and point back to you.

It’s about perspective. I had to deal with loud basketball playing a 3:00 am. The police were called, they stopped, then kept going. I’ve dealt with shootings outside my home. One time, it happens twice. Even then, water accumulation and abandoned cars would annoy me too but I wouldn’t stress it. Property value isn’t declining and it’s not hurting me. 

Don’t worry. It can be resolved!

I understand you have individuals in home building "at cost" but there is one major factor:

Location.

Technically, you can go the land bank route and newly construct. Note the land bank currently only has 2 new construction homes for sale at $280k. High price but if the location is idea, doable.

Cleveland Land Bank Homes

So yes, the land banks can offer you some properties where you can build brand new. However, you will have to find a sweet, desirable spot as building a +$200k home in an area worth only $120k is not high reward.

Yes, they do build new homes in areas considered run down. Years ago, someone built townhomes in near E.30 / Central or Chester (can't recall) and I remember a builder contest near MLK blvd. However, they didn't appreciate well.

Therefore, I offer two suggestions:
1) Build in an areas where there is long standing appreciation such as Lakewood or near the erie coast.

2) Flip. Use those resources to really fix up an existing home in a very desirable area. That is probably the best high reward approach. They're out there.

What did the county's property tax website state?
You can also see if it's behind on payments.

Quote from @Todd Collins:

... I am a veteran and this house spoke to me and gave me a sense of peace so letting it go is difficult 

I billion percent understand this portion, as many of us do. 

I still think of one place that I really, really wish I got as my primary. Dream layout, location was "eh", almost dream price. 3 car garage. Was it near perfect? No. I've seen/visited countless houses over the years and none have been perfect. But that was 2020 and, as you guessed it, It became contingent in minutes. 

Heck, I'll post it here.
920 Stone Crossing

Also, I can imagine it getting away in this potentially unethical manner doesn't sit well.
But here's what happens.
I found several other homes that I really liked had better advantages/stats in some areas, worse in others. Bigger yards, excellent attention to detail/workmanship with high quality materials, more sqft, way better location. Overall they weren't better...just different. When I compare my existing to the previous dream, I realize that dream home had its own share of downsides in comparison to what I have now. There may have been problems I would have experienced I don't experience now. Maybe not getting it was a good thing.

In summary, I would immediately say out loud "So be it. I'm going to let that one go. " and start looking. I 100% believe in time another one will give you a sense of peace...it will just be different.

Be grateful not just when doors open...be grateful when doors are closed as well.

Quote from @Shane Kelly:

$800 a unit is a little under market in this neighborhood, but not by much. The house looks in overall decent shape too. It's a little high priced for sure in my opinion, especially for where this house is in Cleveland Heights.

Agreed.
Rent: I was thinking $900. Comps show SFHs renting for +$1k so can't go too high. There's also +200 comps waiting to be rented, which isn't a good sign.

Price: I would have offered much lower with a walk number below asking. I would have cited required repairs as the reason.

Appreciate this feedback!

Quote from @Allan Smith:

I'd say you pretty much got it. Probably need more details on what repairs it needs but that comes with time.

A walkthrough is required to gather the repair details.

In the past, I took notes, then took pics, now I just record, narrating through it. I've seen laughable stuff that the pictures/angles try to hide (e.g., carpet used for wallpaper). I never go only by pics.

Funny yet sad true story:
Over 10 years ago, my nephew told me he just bought a duplex. The pic he had showed two furnaces. My father and I panicked and went there to look at it...and saw only one. I grabbed the printout and and told him, "Wow, they copy/pasted the furnace in the basement". The one furnace there wasn't even installed. We also saw a ton of other problems (bad roof job, cabinets not attached to...anything, missing plumbing). 
The next day, the furnace was "stolen". Come to find out, the realtor made the fake pic and took the other furnace out once my nephew bought it. He later went to prison for various frauds. There is a LOT more details with the home but I'll save that for another post. This was my nephew's first time so I don't fault him and he's learned a ton since then.

Quote from @James Hamling:

Ok, look, I am gonna cut through all this BS with a Light-Saber.... 

The UNIVERSAL, FUNDAMENTAL, LAW of business is: Solve-A-Problem. 

@Mark Weins, exactly what problem are you "solving"? 

People who "need" to sell there home as-is? Really? Is there a "problem" to solve there? With the 4,827 other persons and companies offering "solutions" for that? With the Redfin's and Opendoors of the world chasing that pony? With Blackrock offering to buy those homes as-is top of market price..... 

What PROBELM are you solving?     With all your calls and lists, what VALUE are you delivering? 

NONE....

That is the unfiltered, zero-BS, direct FACTS and TRUTH of it, and why your floundering. Because your business plan is manure. This is why countless THOUSANDS right at this exact same minute are doing the exact same thing, making a bunch of $ for a list seller, a guru program, a dialer, but DIDDLY-SQUAT for themselves. 

Your the product Mark, you are the profit center, you drank the cool-aid to make yourself other's pay-check. 

Do you know who the BEST wholesalers are in the world? They have a title, it's called REALTOR. They make more $ in 1-month than the entire "wholesaler" industry does in a year. 

 So, tell us how you really feel.

Harsh but I agree with the 2nd part.

But my thought is let @Mark Weins see on his own. We said all we can say.