All Forum Posts by: Aaron T.

this thread should be bookmarked for all florida landlords. 

management companies are supposed to OR expected to maintain the property/investment for the owner. 

-Communicate with the owners about expectations/wants/needs
-keep quality tenants
-minimize vacancies
-manage repairs (unexpected to long term)
-collect rents
-issue any fees and maintain books
-evictions
-and keep oversight of the condition of the property conforming with the owners standards

 Sue, thanks again for your incite. It gives me ideas on a whole other direction i could take this. I have not even been to the property, although i close on it tomorrow. I will have someone go out and take measurements and see what my possibilities are.

 Ryan,

Where and how do you buy direct?

yup. Tampa price have gone up for a while now. 

 If you're going to rent it out, and you don't want it to be an eyesore - because tenants will probably store all kinds of junk in that carport - I'd suggest just closing it off completely and turning it into a garage.  Then put in a solid garage door, that you can't see through (no iron gates, in other words.)

This will hide the junk from view, and keep it safer, too.  My dad was a cop and he had a favorite saying - "Out of sight, out of mind."  In other words, don't leave stuff in view, and most thieves won't think about seeing if you have anything to steal."

So, if you really want to close it up, I vote for an enclosed garage with a solid door.  Regardless of that window that looks into the carport.

Someone will feel more comfortable about going into an enclosed garage to do laundry in the middle of the night, too.

Plus, access with a solid garage door that opens straight up, will give better access to that space than a split gate.

Anyway, now that you've explained your concerns, I have changed my vote to a solid garage door and enclose that area (if the back is open) to an enclosed garage with a door to the backyard, and a large solid garage door in front.

 Kelly, a garage door is not something i gave much thought to, but it does make a lot of sense. it may not be any more than a iron gate.

even if the backside of the car port stays open to the weather, it at least closes up the front area.

 that is what i figured. I did not know if there was something else that prevented it.

Good luck on relocating to FL. Its a hell of a drive.

thanks for the replies. I will get a couple quotes. If its more than $1500, I will pass on it or figure something else out.

in that left side are washers and dryers, so it would be nice to have a little security/privacy to the back yard when the rest is fenced in.

I am just looking to do a double hung gate. It will still be used as a carport.

This Is a transitional area where houses are being rehabed or new construction is taking place of 50s homes. Most were 2/1s.

I want to close the back off and make a nice outdoor area. In turn I dont want anything to walk or anyone to have access who does not live there to have access through the carport.

I had in mind a double hung iron style gate. I did not know if anyone had other ideas that would look nice too.

Erik,

I am tuned into this thread as a FL landlord. I hate when threads die and the results are never posted, so I am interested in the outcome. 

This is really turning into a how-to for landlords in FL.