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All Forum Posts by: Ed L.

Ed L. has started 43 posts and replied 449 times.

Post: Do you add a fridge to your flips?

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

Depends on the target purchaser. If the property will be priced sub 100K the buyer probably has little or no extra funds. A refrigerator might actually be the deciding factor.

On pricier properties I would do everything but the fridge.

Post: Tenant Improvements????

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

Yea I think it's time to phone my attorney.

I will be sure to have him draft a proper lease agreement to prevent future headaches.

The one posted was incredibly vague with regard to early termination IMO..

If anyone feels like sharing a quality lease agreement I would be greatly appreciative.

I wouldn't be so sore about the whole ordeal if she had given me proper notice.

I literally had 3-4 people call me looking for space a couple months prior to this whole ordeal. Of course they have already found suitable properties.

The stripping of the unit was basically the cherry on top.

On the bright side. I have secretly wanted the space to expand my real estate office since purchasing the building.

Pretty excited about the renovations, and I finally found a affordable finish carpenter.

Post: Tenant Improvements????

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

There's my generic lease agreement. It's pretty clear on improvements under section 6.

One of those things that you don't really expect to deal with. I just can't imagine the hassle of taking up precut cheapo laminate flooring.

The lease doesn't really specify how early termination is handled.

Would the tenant be liable for the full amount?

or

Would they be liable until I find a new tenant?

I think I will be on the lookout for a new lease agreement.

Post: Tenant Improvements????

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

This Commercial Lease Agreement (“Lease”) is made and effective [Date], by and between [Landlord] (“Landlord”) and [Tenant] (“Tenant”).
Landlord is the owner of land and improvements commonly known and numbered as [Address of Building] and legally described as follows (the “Building”): ____ [Legal Description of Building]
Landlord makes available for lease a portion of the Building designated as [Suite or Other Number of Leased Building] (the “Leased Premises”).
Landlord desires to lease the Leased Premises to Tenant, and Tenant desires to lease the Leased Premises from Landlord for the term, at the rental and upon the covenants, conditions and provisions herein set forth.
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein, contained and other good and valuable consideration, it is agreed:
1. Term.
A. Landlord hereby leases the Leased Premises to Tenant, and Tenant hereby leases the same from Landlord, for an “Initial Term” beginning [Start Date] and ending [End Date]. Landlord shall use its best efforts to give Tenant possession as nearly as possible at the beginning of the Lease term. If Landlord is unable to timely provide the Leased Premises, rent shall abate for the period of delay. Tenant shall make no other claim against Landlord for any such delay.
B. Tenant may renew the Lease for one extended term of [Renewal Term]. Tenant shall exercise such renewal option, if at all, by giving written notice to Landlord not less than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term. The renewal term shall be at the rental set forth below and otherwise upon the same covenants, conditions and provisions as provided in this Lease.
2. Rental.
A. Tenant shall pay to Landlord during the Initial Term rental of [Annual Rent] per year, payable in installments of [Monthly Rental Amount] per month. Each installment payment shall be due in advance on the first day of each calendar month during the lease term to Landlord at _ [Landlord’s Designated Payment Address] or at such other place designated by written notice from Landlord or Tenant. The rental payment amount for any partial calendar months included in the lease term shall be prorated on a daily basis. Tenant shall also pay to Landlord a “Security Deposit” in the amount of [Security Deposit].
B. The rental for any renewal lease term, if created as permitted under this Lease, shall be [Annual Rent in Renewal Term] per year payable in installments of [Monthly Rental Amount] per month.
3. Use Page 1 of 6
Notwithstanding the forgoing, Tenant shall not use the Leased Premises for the purposes of storing, manufacturing or selling any explosives, flammables or other inherently dangerous substance, chemical, thing or device.
4. Sublease and Assignment.
Tenant shall have the right without Landlord’s consent, to assign this Lease to a corporation with which Tenant may merge or consolidate, to any subsidiary of Tenant, to any corporation under common control with Tenant, or to a purchaser of substantially all of Tenant’s assets. Except as set forth above, Tenant shall not sublease all or any part of the Leased Premises, or assign this Lease in whole or in part without Landlord’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
5. Repairs.
During the Lease term, Tenant shall make, at Tenant’s expense, all necessary repairs to the Leased Premises. Repairs shall include such items as routine repairs of floors, walls, ceilings, and other parts of the Leased Premises damaged or worn through normal occupancy, except for major mechanical systems or the roof, subject to the obligations of the parties otherwise set forth in this Lease.
6. Alterations and Improvements.
Tenant, at Tenant’s expense, shall have the right following Landlord’s consent to remodel, redecorate, and make additions, improvements and replacements of and to all or any part of the Leased Premises from time to time as Tenant may deem desirable, provided the same are made in a workmanlike manner and utilizing good quality materials. Tenant shall have the right to place and install personal property, trade fixtures, equipment and other temporary installations in and upon the Leased Premises, and fasten the same to the premises. All personal property, equipment, machinery, trade fixtures and temporary installations, whether acquired by Tenant at the commencement of the Lease term or placed or installed on the Leased Premises by Tenant thereafter, shall remain Tenant’s property free and clear of any claim by Landlord. Tenant shall have the right to remove the same at any time during the term of this Lease provided that all damage to the Leased Premises caused by such removal shall be repaired by Tenant at Tenant’s expense.
7. Property Taxes.
Landlord shall pay, prior to delinquency, all general real estate taxes and installments of special assessments coming due during the Lease term on the Leased Premises, and all personal property taxes with respect to Landlord’s personal property, if any, on the Leased Premises. Tenant shall be responsible for paying all personal property taxes with respect to Tenant’s personal property at the Leased Premises.
8. Insurance.
A. If the Leased Premises or any other party of the Building is damaged by fire or other casualty resulting from any act or negligence of Tenant or any of Tenant’s agents, employees or invitees, rent shall not be diminished or a bated while such damages are under repair, and Tenant shall be responsible for the costs of repair not covered by insurance.
B. Landlord shall maintain fire and extended coverage insurance on the Building and the Leased Premises in such amounts as Landlord shall deem appropriate. Tenant shall be responsible, at its expense, for fire and extended coverage insurance on all of its personal property, including removable trade fixtures, located in the Leased Premises.
Page 2 of 6
C. Tenant and Landlord shall, each at its own expense, maintain a policy or policies of comprehensive general liability insurance with respect to the respective activities of each in the Building with the premiums thereon fully paid on or before due date, issued by and binding upon some insurance company approved by Landlord, such insurance to afford minimum protection of not less than $1,000,000 combined single limit coverage of bodily injury, property damage or combination thereof. Landlord shall be listed as an additional insured on Tenant’s policy or policies of comprehensive general liability insurance, and Tenant shall provide Landlord with current Certificates of Insurance evidencing Tenant’s compliance with this Paragraph. Tenant shall obtain the agreement of Tenant’s insurers to notify Landlord that a policy is due to expire at least (10) days prior to such
expiration. Landlord shall not be required to maintain insurance against thefts within the Leased Premises or the Building.
9. Utilities.
Tenant shall pay all charges for water, sewer, gas, electricity, telephone and other services and utilities used by Tenant on the Leased Premises during the term of this Lease unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing by Landlord. In the event that any utility or service provided to the Leased Premises is not separately metered, Landlord shall pay the amount due and separately invoice Tenant for Tenant’s pro rata share of the charges. Tenant shall pay such amounts within fifteen (15) days of invoice. Tenant acknowledges that the Leased Premises are designed to provide standard office use electrical facilities and standard office lighting. Tenant shall not use any equipment or devices that utilize excessive electrical energy or which may, in Landlord’s reasonable opinion, overload the wiring or interfere with electrical services to other tenants.
10. Signs.
Following Landlord’s consent, Tenant shall have the right to place on the Leased Premises, at locations selected by Tenant, any signs which are permitted by applicable zoning ordinances and private restrictions. Landlord may ref use consent to any proposed signage that is in Landlord’s opinion too large, deceptive, unattractive or otherwise inconsistent with or inappropriate to the Leased Premises or use of any other tenant. Landlord shall assist and cooperate with Tenant in obtaining any necessary permission from governmental authorities or adjoining owners and occupants for Tenant to place or construct the foregoing signs. Tenant shall repair all damage to the Leased Premises resulting from the removal of signs installed by Tenant.
11. Entry.
Landlord shall have the right to enter upon the Leased Premises at reasonable hours to inspect the same, provided Landlord shall not thereby unreasonably interfere with Tenant’s business on the Leased Premises.
12. Parking.
During the term of this Lease, Tenant shall have the non-exclusive use in common with Landlord, other tenants of the Building, their guests and invitees, of the non-reserved common automobile parking areas, driveways, and footway s, subject to rules and regulations for the use thereof as prescribed from time to time by Landlord. Landlord reserves the right to designate parking areas within the Building or in reasonable proximity thereto, for Tenant and Tenant’s agents and employees. Tenant shall provide Landlord with a list of all license numbers for the cars owned by Tenant, its agents and employees. Separated structured parking, if any, located about the Building is reserved for tenants of the Building who rent such parking spaces. Tenant hereby leases from Landlord _ [Number of Parking Spaces] spaces in such structural parking area, such spaces to be on a first come-first served basis. In consideration of the leasing to Tenant of such spaces, Tenant shall pay a monthly rental of [Parking Space Rental] per space throughout the term of the Lease. Such rental shall be due and payable each month without demand at the time herein set for the payment of other monthly rentals, in addition to such other rentals.
13. Building Rules.
Tenant will comply with the rules of the Building adopted and altered by Landlord from time to time and will cause all of its agents, employees, invitees and visitors to do so; all changes to such rules will be sent by Landlord to Tenant in writing. The initial rules for the Building are attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein for all purposes.
14. Damage and Destruction.
Page 3 of 6
Subject to Section 8 A. above, if the Leased Premises or any part thereof or any appurtenance thereto is so damaged by fire, casualty or structural defects that the same cannot be used for Tenant’s purposes, then Tenant shall have the right within ninety (90) days following damage to elect by notice to Landlord to terminate this Lease as of the date of such damage. In the event of minor damage to any part of the Leased Premises,
and if such damage does not render the Leased Premises unusable for Tenant’s purposes, Landlord shall promptly repair such damage at the cost of the Landlord. In making the repairs called for in this paragraph, Landlord shall not be liable for any delays resulting from strikes, governmental restrictions, inability to obtain necessary materials or labor or other matters which are beyond the reasonable control of Landlord. Tenant shall be relieved from paying rent and other charges during any portion of the Lease term that the Leased Premises are inoperable or unfit for occupancy, or use, in whole or in part, for Tenant’s purposes. Rentals and other charges paid in advance for any such periods shall be credited on the next ensuing payments, if any, but if no further payments are to be made, any such advance payments shall be refunded to Tenant. The provisions of this paragraph extend not only to the matters aforesaid, but also to any occurrence which is beyond Tenant’s reasonable control and which renders the Leased Premises, or any appurtenance thereto, inoperable or unfit for occupancy or use, in whole or in part, for Tenant’s purposes.
15. Default.
If default shall at any time be made by Tenant in the payment of rent when due to Landlord as herein provided, and if said default shall continue for fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof shall have been given to Tenant by Landlord, or if default shall be made in any of the other covenants or conditions to be kept, observed and performed by Tenant, and such default shall continue for thirty (30) days after notice thereof in writing to Tenant by Landlord without correction thereof then having been commenced and thereafter diligently prosecuted, Landlord may declare the term of this Lease ended and terminated by giving Tenant written notice of such intention, and if possession of the Leased Premises is not surrendered, Landlord may reenter said premises. Landlord shall have, in addition to the remedy above provided, any other right or remedy available to Landlord on account of any Tenant default, either in law or equity. Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to mitigate its damages.
16. Quiet Possession.
Landlord covenants and warrants that upon performance by Tenant of its obligations hereunder, Landlord will keep and maintain Tenant in exclusive, quiet, peaceable and undisturbed and uninterrupted possession of the Leased Premises during the term of this Lease.
17. Condemnation.
If any legally, constituted authority condemns the Building or such part thereof which shall make the Leased Premises unsuitable for leasing, this Lease shall cease when the public authority takes possession, and Landlord and Ten ant shall account for rental as of that date. Such termination shall be without prejudice to the rights of either party to recover compensation from the condemning authority for any loss or damage caused by the condemnation. Neither party shall have any rights in or to any award made to the other by the condemning authority.
18. Subordination. Page 4 of 6
Tenant accepts this Lease subject and subordinate to any mortgage, deed of trust or other lien presently existing or hereafter arising upon the Leased Premises, or upon the Building and to any renewals, refinancing and extensions thereof, but Tenant agrees that any such mortgagee shall have the right at any time to subordinate such mortgage, deed of trust or other lien to this Lease on such terms and subject to such conditions as such mortgagee may deem appropriate in its discretion. Landlord is hereby irrevocably vested with full power and authority to subordinate this Lease to any mortgage, deed of trust or other lien now existing or hereafter placed upon the Leased Premises of the Building, and Tenant agrees upon demand to execute such further instruments subordinating this Lease or attorning to the holder of any such liens as Landlord may request. In the event that Tenant should fail to execute any instrument of subordination herein require d to be executed by Tenant promptly as requested, Tenant hereby irrevocably constitutes Landlord as its attorney-in-fact to execute such instrument in Tenant’s name, place and stead, it being agreed that such power is one coupled with an interest. Tenant agrees that it will from time to time upon request by Landlord execute and deliver to such persons as Landlord shall request a statement in recordable form certifying that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there have been modifications, that the same is in full force and effect as so modified), stating the dates to which rent and other charges payable under this Lease have been
Page 5 of 6
paid, stating that Landlord is not in default hereunder (or if Tenant alleges a default stating the nature of such alleged default) and further stating such other matters as Landlord shall reasonably require.
19. Security Deposit.
The Security Deposit shall be held by Landlord without liability for interest and as security for the performance by Tenant of Tenant’s covenants and obligations under this Lease, it being expressly understood that the Security Deposit shall not be considered an advance payment of rental or a measure of Landlord’s damages in case of default by Tenant. Unless otherwise provided by mandatory non-waivable law or regulation, Landlord may commingle the Security Deposit with Landlord’s other funds. Landlord may, from time to time, without prejudice to any other remedy, use the Security Deposit to the extent necessary to make good any arrearages of rent or to satisfy any other covenant or obligation of Tenant hereunder. Following any such application of the Security Deposit, Tenant shall pay to Landlord on demand the amount so applied in order to restore the Security Deposit to its original amount. If Tenant is not in default at the termination of this Lease, the balance of the Security Deposit remaining after any such application shall be returned by Landlord to Tenant. If Landlord transfers its interest in the Premises during the term of this Lease, Landlord may assign the Security Deposit to the transferee and thereafter shall have no further liability for the return of such Security Deposit.
20. Notice.
Any notice required or permitted under this Lease shall be deemed sufficiently given or served if sent by United States certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to Landlord to:
[Landlord]
____
[Landlord’s Address]
If to Tenant to:
[Tenant]
____
[Tenant’s Address]
Landlord and Tenant shall each have the right from time to time to change the place notice is to be given under this paragraph by written notice thereof to the other party.
21. Brokers.
Tenant represents that Tenant was not shown the Premises by any real estate broker or agent and that Tenant has not otherwise engaged in, any activity which could form the basis for a claim for real estate commission, brokerage fee, finder’s fee or other similar charge, in connection with this Lease.
22. Waiver.
No waiver of any default of Landlord or Tenant hereunder shall be implied from any omission to take any action on account of such default if such default persists or is repeated, and no express waiver shall affect any default other than the default specified in the express waiver and that only for the time and to the extent therein stated. One or more waivers by Landlord or Tenant shall not be construed as a waiver of a subsequent breach of the same covenant, term or condition.
23. Memorandum of Lease.
The parties hereto contemplate that this Lease should not and shall not be filed for record, but in lieu thereof, at the request of either party, Landlord and Tenant shall execute a Memorandum of Lease to be recorded for the purpose of giving record notice of the appropriate provisions of this Lease.
24. Headings.
The headings used in this Lease are for convenience of the parties only and shall not be considered in interpreting the meaning of any provision of this Lease.
25. Successors.
The provisions of this Lease shall extend to and be binding upon Landlord and Tenant and their respective legal representatives, successors and assigns.
26. Consent.
Landlord shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent with respect to any matter for which Landlord’s consent is required or desirable under this Lease.
27. Performance.
If there is a default with respect to any of Landlord’s covenants, warranties or representations under this Lease, and if the default continues more than fifteen (15) days after notice in writing from Tenant to Landlord specifying the default, Tenant may, at its option and without affecting any other remedy hereunder, cure such default and deduct the cost thereof from the next accruing installment or installments of rent payable hereunder until Tenant shall have been fully reimbursed for such expenditures, together with interest thereon at a rate equal to the lesser of twelve percent (12%) per annum or the then highest lawful rate. If this Lease terminates prior to Tenant’s receiving full reimbursement, Landlord shall pay the unreimbursed balance plus accrued interest to Tenant on demand.
28. Compliance with Law.
Tenant shall comply with all laws, orders, ordinances and other public requirements now or hereafter pertaining to Tenant’s use of the Leased Premises. Landlord shall comply with all laws, orders, ordinances and other public requirements now or hereafter affecting the Leased Premises.
29. Final Agreement.
This Agreement terminates and supersedes all prior understandings or agreements on the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be modified only by a further writing that is duly executed by both parties.
30. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed, construed and interpreted by, through and under the Laws of the State of Mississippi.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Lease as of the day and year first above written.
[Landlord Signature]
[Tenant Signature] Page 6

Post: Are agents deal killers?

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

I'm a self hating Realtor.

Almost all have the capacity to be your best friend when things are going according to plan...

The moment a commission comes into question the fangs tend to come out.

Post: Tenant Improvements????

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

How are tenant property improvements handled???

Example.
Tenant installed laminate flooring.
Tenant installed new exterior door.
Tenant installed fence on the property.
Floor to ceiling mirrors glued to drywall.
Tenant installed wood baseboard.

I have a tenant moving out of my office building. She had improvements made to the suite. Some before I purchased the property and some after.

She still had 6 months remaining on her lease and I offered to let her end the lease early if she didn't strip the unit.

She decided the 1,000 ft of used laminate, and mirrors were worth bickering over.

Now I have a 45ft wall that is pretty much destroyed from tearing the mirrors off. She agreed to have the wall repaired.

I also am going to have to purchase 1,000 sq/ft of new flooring.

I've been pretty accommodating through the whole process and now she's getting quotes to remove a wood privacy fence that is about 100ft long.

Just curious how I should handle this? For this particular situation and future reference.

She still had 6 months remaining on her lease agreement for 650 per month.

This is the first time I've had someone walk out early on a lease.

She gave me no notice. My wife just happened to notice she was celebrating the purchase of a new studio and asked if she would be leaving.

It was a 2 fold slap in the face. I'm actually losing a total of 1800 in rental income (Occupied 2 units), and now I have to spend 3-4,000 cleaning up the mess she made by stripping down the unit.

Post: Type of carpet for SFH Rentals

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

Stained Concrete FTW!

I also like the wood look vinyl planks.. They look great, and they hold up much better than laminate. The ones I use are made by express plank. Have them in my office building, and recently used them in a flip.

They also don't have that hollow laminate sound when you walk on them.

I just couldn't rationalize carpet in any rental property... Even the carpet in my home is showing it's age after 5 yrs, and my wife and I are OCD about taking care of our home.

Post: 600k to invest any suggestions on the best strategy for leveraging?

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

I would personally steer clear of having 10-20 sfr homes...

I would lean more towards finding a commercial property that is 30-40% under market value due to cosmetic deficiency, and poor management.

My budget would be $500,000 purchase price, $50,000 renovations, & $50,000 Rainy day fund.

Property would need to gross $110,00 per year x 50%= $55,000 annual profit or %10 of original investment.

I would also use the property as collateral for a secured LOC.. That way you have immediate access to your original $550,000 if needed...

Just my advice... It's probably worth what you paid lol....

Post: What did YOU do in your first month as a Real Estate Agent?

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

I can't recall my first month, but I did have over a million in sales that year.. They actually have a million dollar club in my local board...

Which is kinda sad because 1 Million Sale x .03% (50%Selling & 50%Listing)= $30,000

Then you have to give your broker 40% of that.... That leaves you with a whopping $18,000 in income.

Then you have to back out fees of 2,000 annually. + another 3-5,000 in expenses (Car, Gas, Personal Advertising, etc, etc).

That leaves our proud new agent with about $11,000 in taxable income.... Save the trophy and give me a walmart gift card...

I look at my RE license as a tool..

It gives me a automatic 3% discount on every investment property I purchase.

It saves me 3% on every property I sell.

I just despise being a listing agent unless it is family, or a friend of sorts (Someone I be completely honest with ).. Anyone else I now hand down to agents in my brokerage.

Post: Just updating...

Ed L.Posted
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Posts 475
  • Votes 141

Hey BP Community!

Been busy lately and haven't been visiting the forum as much as I used to..

Some observations I've made over the past few months...

Rural land market has been slowwwww.... This has been my bread and butter since getting started in RE and I find myself feeling depressed I'm not showing much land.. My investor clients are getting kinda hard to work with..

My commercial office building has been doing great.... Maint has been almost nothing lately. Am losing a tenant on Jan 1st, but my wife was needing a place to operate her ebay operation... I look forward to having her back next door at my RE office.

Set to close on a flip sale tomorrow morning and am looking forward to getting a payday.

Submitted 2 offers on REO today.

One is a early 1900's farm house on 5.5 Acres for $25,000.

Other is a house in town that was remodeled and sold in 2008 for 130,000.. Asking price was $65,000 and it actually was in great shape... I was shocked to see it looked exactly the same as in 2008..

My real estate brokerage is doing well, but it seems like I'm just getting lucky lately... Call volume isn't as high as I like it to be.

I was supposed to purchase a duplex a few months back... Luckily the seller had title issues and the contract was canceled.

I was accepting apps on the duplex before closing and the tenant quality for duplexes was crap compared to SFR.....

I also found out that long term fixed financing for rental property is exceedingly complex to obtain at this time... My banker could only do 5yr fixed with 20yr amm.....

I'm going to avoid rentals until I have some large cash reserves that are collecting dust in my savings account...

My wife has always dabbled with buying and selling clothing on Ebay...

Lately she has been using my LOC to buy and sell on ebay and it has really allowed her to grow the operation...

That's life lately! Bit stressful at times, but I'm lovin it...