The rental had ratty furniture, a record player prominently featured in the marketing but it had no speakers, missing basics items in the kitchen, lots of drunks in the concrete hallways that reverberated right into the bedroom at 2am, a strong odor of urine outside, and more.We have super hosts in this forum that have hundreds of 5-star reviews and are masters of the craft, but I look at their rentals and see they don't have any artwork on the walls, decor is basic, they do nothing to make the guest feel welcome, etc. 

@Phillip Austin feel your pain!

I feel like a 100 year old home is going to have a lot of problems even it's renovated - if I hold it long enough it'll appreciate but will my appreciation outweigh all my repairs and Capex.

With my anxiety, It still feels like I'm about to jump off a cliff and I had to make and pack my own parachute from YouTube videos.Hopefully I can learn more from you guys in 2025.

It feels like there’s always a surprise—whether it’s skyrocketing material prices or finding something unexpected during the demo—that eats into the budget and profits.I know there’s always more to learn, so I’m curious—how do you approach rehab budgeting?

If you’re just getting started in real estate, feel free to reach out – I’ve been coaching new investors for a while and am happy to help you however I can. 

Many investors feel the same way.

You can get in and talk to the mayor or city council to get a feel for what is going on plus voice your opinions. 

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need guidance, happy to connect and help you on your journey!

It is harder to sell on the back end, but I do feel like it is easier to negotiate nowadays.