All Forum Posts by: Yusuf Qureshi

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Yusuf Qureshi:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Yusuf Qureshi:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

 This is helpful, and I can ask my plumber about fixing. But the whole downstairs area (kitchen/living) smells, the strongest smell is in the bathroom. Is it possible just that simple cleaning will fix such a strong smell? I feel there might be a bigger issues. I am just surprise how far the smell spreads.  

 Any number of things are possible. Cleaning and airing out the space is a good starting point. Does it get worse when you use certain plumbing fixtures? Is there a floor drain downstairs? If there is, try running water down that drain. It could even be smelly drain pipes, so maybe try boiling some white vinegar and pouring down the drains. My kitchen drain gets smelly sometimes and we do that.

 No floor drain. The plumber recommended a "smoke test." Have you done a smoke test before? The plumbers said they cannot detect the smell when entering the home, but the tenant said there is a smell. 

 There is an old saying, whoever smelt it dealt it, haha. Yes a smoke test basically just fills the sewer line with smoke and if it leaks out, they use it to help find the leak. This seems like considerable expense for a problem the plumber cannot smell. Can you get someone else over to smell the property? 

 The plumber quoted me for $250, and I think it is bit expensive as the tenant claims "the smell comes and goes." I will bring someone with me for the smell. I could not smell anything. 

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Yusuf Qureshi:

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

 This is helpful, and I can ask my plumber about fixing. But the whole downstairs area (kitchen/living) smells, the strongest smell is in the bathroom. Is it possible just that simple cleaning will fix such a strong smell? I feel there might be a bigger issues. I am just surprise how far the smell spreads.  

 Any number of things are possible. Cleaning and airing out the space is a good starting point. Does it get worse when you use certain plumbing fixtures? Is there a floor drain downstairs? If there is, try running water down that drain. It could even be smelly drain pipes, so maybe try boiling some white vinegar and pouring down the drains. My kitchen drain gets smelly sometimes and we do that.

 No floor drain. The plumber recommended a "smoke test." Have you done a smoke test before? The plumbers said they cannot detect the smell when entering the home, but the tenant said there is a smell. 

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

 This is helpful, and I can ask my plumber about fixing. But the whole downstairs area (kitchen/living) smells, the strongest smell is in the bathroom. Is it possible just that simple cleaning will fix such a strong smell? I feel there might be a bigger issues. I am just surprise how far the smell spreads.  

 Steve thank you for your comments. The water runs freely even if a lot of water is poured. You know the type of company that would check the drain line? The plumber did not mention this, and bit unsure what type of company to call. 

 Joe - thank you for the advice. Would you recommend asking the plumber to check wax ring for both the toilet and sink? I researched online that  P-trap piping might be the issue? You know the type of companies that would check the venting stack?

I have a single family home, and one bathroom has a sewage smell. I have called a plumber multiple amount of times, and they cannot fix the issue. The smell just comes from one bathroom. This is half bath, just toilet and sink. No shower. 

Anyone had similar issues and were able to solve it? Who else should I call?

@Jeff Lee thank you for response. 

I have been looking mostly at cookie cutter SFH. However, I have looked at several homes that I could BRRRR. Again, the homes that I could use BRRRR method I got out bid.

I will hold the property long term, and the property needs to cash flow with CoC 10%-12%, IRR 12%-14%

I am wondering if others are having the same issue as me or if I am doing something wrong.

I have been looking to purchase properties for almost four months now, and I cannot find anything that would give me the return I would want (12%-14% ROI). I have made several offers, but I am usually getting outbid.

Should I sit tight or should I start being more aggressive? If I should be aggressive, what steps would you take? 

I am reading the BRRRR book, and I was wondering how do you get estimates from contractors for rehab projects?

The book provides a format activity/scope/price. Do you use something similar? 

My contractor just gives me an estimate without much detail. Should I ask for more detail: Scope/Activity/Price? I do not want to add any unnecessary work to my contractor, however, I want clear expectations to avoid any confusion. 

Any articles/books recommendation would be great. I want to understand how contractors operate to make sure I understand their business need. 

I am new to rental properties, and real estate investing. I was listening to the BiggerPockets Podcast, and I heard something interesting by Brandon Turner. He mentioned purchasing a rental property for his child to pay for their college.

I was wondering if I should purchase a home, put 20% down in safe yet high price area, and rent the home in hopes of selling it in 15-20 years to pay for future large expenses. The tenant would be technically paying for the mortgage and other expenses. Cash flow would not be main focus, however, it must be positive cash flow. When the home is paid off, it is like I paid only 20% of the home. The tenant paid 80% of the home. 

I ran the numbers, and I should come out ahead versus the market if I were to use that money to invest in the stock market. 

Has anyone tried this? Thoughts on this strategy? 

Again, the purpose of the property is not to have great returns so I can retire, rather the purpose for the investment is to use the cash for future large expenses.