Everyone wanted to be a Y2K programmer so I took the secretary jobs when I moved to Chicago. 

The only thing I had to do was fix their heat which hadn't worked in a year (bad thermostat, $20 fix). 

And, I like your sense of humor - which is sometimes needed in this business.Without actually walking across the house and getting mine, I think it also includes adjusting thermostats and opening cabinets, etc. and setting off the first round of insect spray "bombs" if there was a pet. 

It’s tedious to get a good list built right now using manual research through public records, but I have programmer friend working on a tool to scrape the public record sites to help me speed up the process.

They were mindful of closing the door, but 85 is nuts if I am paying the bill, so I put in a "landlord thermostat" which limits the heat to 73 degrees F (by law they have to be able to turn it up to at least 71).  

My wife, who is a computer programmer,  has been saving money for about 25 years.  

Hi all.I figure it's time to introduce myself, having lurked, watched several webinars and taken in 12 hours of BP Podcasts over the past month or so.Anyway, my name is Craig, I live near Manchester, England, and I have absolutely ZERO experience in Real Estate.However, having seen my uncle and his 2 sons do really well in RE, and having nothing in the way of a retirement plan/fund (and being 44), I figure it's time to get off my butt and come up with a plan.Having looked around, RE seems like the way to go but, like a lot of people, pretty much everything I have is tied up my home and , as we only moved to this property 2 years ago, we don't have a massive amount of equity in it yet.Therefore, I need to find out how much of what i am reading/hearing on BP actually applies to UK Real Estate for a start (obviously, things like the MLS don't exist here - at least not to my knowledge) and how I can start doing something in the next 1-2 years.I could go to my cousins for advice, but we've never been a particularly close family and I don't want to just turn up and start asking for handouts (any advice they give could potentially impact their own business, as they buy-to-rent in an area less than 10 miles from me).I would prefer to get in to buy-to-rent (or buy-and-hold as I believe it's called over there), as I have a full-time IT job, that I am not looking to give up any time soon.Also, if any other UK-based members have advice on the best way to deal with the banks, any specific rules/pitfalls over here, whether the auction is the only place to buy smaller, cheap properties that need rehab (every man and his dog seems to go there, though, thanks to programmes like Homes Under the Hammer).Anyway. 

@James BellIt never hurts to check-out the programme.  

yes, i have a day job as a programmer (IT) then i come home to 2 elementary school children.

thanks, tyler. it think i listed most of the items somewhere in my other threads (i think i started announcing when i hit 14 or so), but i have no problem giving you the highlights again. hope i dont bore people though.cabinets - Kitchen Kompact, home depot (HD)bath tiles - http://www.homedepot.com/p/MS-International-Metro-...faucet - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Delta-Foundations-Singl...vanity - painted - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-24-5-in-Van...vanity faucet - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Peerless-Core-4-in-Cent...of this vanity - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-Shaila-24-1...toilet - toto drake or american standard cadetaccent tile - http://www.homedepot.com/p/MS-International-Arctic...kitchen tiles - http://www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMASTER-Portland-...most pendants - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-1-Light-86-... sinks - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Elkay-Neptune-Drop-in-S...lights - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-2-L...bath timers - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-500-Watt-60-Min...bath mirror - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Zenith-16-in-W-x-20-in-...thermostat - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywell-7-Day-Program...tub - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bootz-Industries-Aloha-...disposal - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004U9JO/ref=wl_it_dp_o...knobs - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006HZ2NNE/ref=wl_it_dp_o...sink grid drain - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GMR51XG/ref=wl_it_dp_o...shower diverter - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AI1VMW/ref=wl_it_dp_o...shower trim - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AHZRQO/ref=wl_it_dp_o...bath fan - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EAD6PNE/ref=wl_it_dp_o...now you can make your houses look like mine.ovens and appliances - whatever was JUST over the cheapest, dishwasher around $300.as for pics... they were linked to the original trulia listing, i will have to get that when i get back from vacation.