There's so much opportunity in this market.

We do attempt to notify the owner before we make the decision and give them the opportunity to give input but keeping the property and tenant safe, and following the Tenant Landlord Laws are more important than getting permission. 

Fix & Flip opportunity.

This sounds like an exciting opportunity @Sean Barnebey!

Philly has a ton of opportunity, but since you are new to the area, I would suggest waiting six months before you buy anything there so you can really understand the block construction of the area.

I saw this property as a prime value-add opportunity.

Germantown has plenty of opportunities, especially if you keep an eye on areas with improving infrastructure or schools.

That way, there is some type of cushion to help against any high usage months, should they just happen to use more than your previous tenants did, or if you unfortunately get tenants who abuse the "utilities included" opportunity. 

It's crucial to have a team that can provide both on and off-market opportunities, as Columbus can get a bit competitive.

However, if you intend to work with a hard money lender or utilize a short-term loan product, you're on the clock for repayment, which can be stressful if things go sideways.