One of the best ways we have found is to talk with other rehabbers/investors.This way you can SEE the finished work and have the scoop as to who is the good,bad,ugly.

I saw some of his previous work and was convinced that he could get it done.

As for whether is is a good way to get properties, it all depends on if you did your home work and checked the comps.

I think you incur a considerable liability when you try to shortcut something designed to save you big dollars and risk.Frankly, I would spend the money on the liability insurance regardless.

It is also not difficult work and you can always hire a minimum-wage employee to take care of the corners that require the hand scrubbing, stripping, or waxing.

anywhere in Toronto but there are more in artistic districts, I used to watch the Now magazine listings but this was years back - "lofts" can have different meanings in Toronto - anything with one room might be listed as such (from a bachelor apt, to a real artist loft, to a condo style “loftâ€, or condo or apt “with (upper level) loftâ€, to a super expensive Donald Trump one room hotel style “loft†condo with room service)… some lofts may be simply listed as apts, and some are zoned for work/live use and geared toward artists but not many are listed with that much detail. there is a wide variance in quality and types of lofts, some are unfinished, others are finished with exposed brick etc.if you dig through Now magazine and other papers and can't find them, hit me up with a PM and I'll try to get you some more details. probably the fastest way to find some is to drive through artistic areas and see what's above and between the storefronts. otherwise some are in converted buildings mainly downtownish but at least one as far as Mississauga so just about anywhere goes. you can see if you're driving downtown some buildings that look like old factories on the outside but have different coloured curtains hanging in all the windows.a few but not all are offered at discounted rates to artists because most probably don't make much money - so if you're looking into it make sure it is profitable for you if you wanted to buy and hold for renting. it is probably entirely possible to create loft spaces in just about any building but if you have a particular vision in mind it might require certain types of buildings. many artists looking for work spaces are not terribly picky about their surroundings as long as they have the required space they need for their work and basic needs like kitchen/washroom etc. any more Qs let me know!

I may keep her on the payroll at a lower rate, just to cut the grass, do evictions, so I won't have to lose a days work and to yell at the tenants when they are misbehaving.

I can be done..I have done it..but it takes a lot of persistence and a lot of wasted energy to find the one motivated guy with the pen..you will also be surprised that guys who turn you down over and over again saying we don't do that..will eventually call you..but like I said it takes a lot of work and even more networking.

I kind of wanted to see the ones that need work and the ones that were vacant to see if I could finagle my way around some of the cheap repairs and do them myself... then I realized... hey this is a HUGE complex and it would take me for ever!

If it makes it easier, blame someone else - "Sorry, but I checked with my insurance agent about tenants doing a little work and he/she said it would void the terms of my policy."