Still, the idea is to milk that leverage while you're still notching up to like three, four, or even five million in net worth because you are still in growth mode.Trying to juggle individual properties or even those portfolio loans, which by the way, are like Christmas bonuses for lending brokers, it's not exactly the kind of scalable approach you want.

Hope you all had a merry christmas and may the new year be prosporous to all of us.

I plan on taking on a flip/house hack myself within the next couple months after Christmas.

One thing you might do, is try to look right before Christmas and just be honest with the contractor and offer the $300 for a quick estimate (when it is presented).

Christmas time is a trap for them.

"Our company bonus is Christmas cookies from XYZ bakery for rent paid on time and zero neighbor complaints" Or whatever prize you can offer.Assume the contractor is actually Bubba that I described.

Last month I got a call from a tenant, wanting to get out of the lease, because her husband was being relocated to Arizona 2 weeks before Christmas! 

I started out in construction and then taught school while still working construction after work, on weekends, Christmas break and summer.

Last winter it was - 20 for about a week, pipes busting, you want that call on Christmas morning?

Have them pay the extra for the water bill...and if they complain (which I doubt) about the extra at Christmas, tell them too bad.