All Forum Posts by: Trevor Baker

Not surprisingly, I just found out we were out-bid.  There were 27 offers total, mostly all cash.

The search continues...

@CJ Berina IF they accept our low-ball offer, it would be a fix and flip.  It's already on the open market, so they are likely to get several higher offers than ours.  But, we did make the offer for all cash, as-is, no contingencies & fast close.  So, if they just want to get it sold quickly, maybe we'll get it.  I'm not holding my breath!  Continuing to look for other fixers in the San Fernando Valley.

I'm considering putting an offer in on a House in Reseda that clearly needs new roof!  I'd like to get a quote on the roofing expense, before I submit a an offer.  Does anyone know of a roofer in the area who could check it out and give me a quote tomorrow, Sunday?  I have to submit offer by Monday!

After assisting in a lengthy foreclosure process, it looks like I'm about to receive a 33 acre plot of vacant desert in Phellan, CA from an old family friend.  I don't have any desire to hold onto it very long.  I don't want to pay property taxes without any income from it.  I like assets, not liabilities!

It's about 3 miles north of and on the main road that runs north from "downtown" Phellen.  There's a railroad track that runs diagonally through it... which may preclude it from residential use.

With the general lightening of attitudes towards Marijuana, I know certain areas have made it easier to cultivate it.  Adalanto, CA is a prime example, but it is a separately incorporated city which set up an area specifically for this.  My understanding is that incorporated areas don't have such clear-cut allowances.  Phellan is in an unincorporated area of San Bernadino County.

Does anyone have experience with this?  Can I and should I promote this land as having pot growing potential?  I'd also welcome other ideas or suggestions for selling this land quickly.

Here it is!

My partner & I are looking for our next house flip project.

I just looked at a home in the San Fernando Valley that is a nice post modern design, but is quite dated and needs a fair amount of work.  

It has a small pool... maybe 6 feet at the deep end.  The pool has clear water in it and pump seems to be functional.  There's an old pool heater that probably isn't functional.  There is a chain link fence between the house and the pool, which I believe is required now to sell and home with a pool?  

The odd thing we noticed is there are no steps in the pool.  There's no ladder.

We've not flipped a house with a pool yet.  What should we check on and/or be aware of before we do??

Thanks!

You should be able to go to the County Recorder's website to get owner info.  I've used the Los Angeles County recorder's website a few times for this.  We have to request the info and they email it to you.  Generally not a lot of info, but it can be a start.  Once you have the owner's name, further internet searching can get you more.

I hope this helps! Good Luck!

Thanks @Nick G., @Garry C. & @Rick Wang for your comments and suggestions.

We spent the night there last night and nothing happened.  The police finally came over and took a report.  They dusted for fingerprints this morning.  There was no sign of forced entry.  My partner is positive that no windows or doors where left unlocked.  Our only conclusion is that someone accessed the realtor's lock box and/or someone duplicated the key.  We've had the lockbox removed and viewings are by appointment only now.

@Walter Roby jr, I'm picking up a SimpliSafe security system at Best Buy this afternoon.  I have heard of them before and they have very good reviews.  Plus, they have their own cellular transmitter, so no wi-fi is needed.  

We have completed our Flip home in the San Fernando valley area of Los Angeles and it's now for sale.  We discovered today that someone broke in last night.  It looks like they were hanging out there for a while, smoking cigarettes, using the bathroom, going through things.  They stole a few minor items.  We're afraid they might come back.  We called the police, but we're not high on their list of problems.  We're probably going to start sleeping there.  An alarm system is expensive for a short term use.

We don't need any squatters moving in!  Any advice or suggestions?

My partner and I are nearing completion of our first flip property in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.  It's a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 1450 square foot, one-story house in a nice, quiet neighborhood.  It's not a trendy, up-and-coming area.  The buyers will most likely be a family with 2 or 3 kids.  We stayed fairly "safe" on the rehab... it's very white.  White walls, light grey, distressed wood-like laminate flooring, white shaker kitchen with charcoal quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances.

We aren't considering staging the bedrooms.  However, we are pondering the idea of staging the main living areas... living room, dining room & breakfast nook.  We could put a basic couch and rug in the living room and leave the rest alone.  We "could" do some basic staging ourselves with a cheap couch, dining table & breakfast table for roughly $1000 - $1200.  Or, we have an "okay" staging company who will do those areas for us for 3 months for $1650.

What we want to know is...  Are we better off letting a "professional" do it?  How much quicker will staging help sell the house?  Can we expect to recoup our staging investment and more?