All Forum Posts by: Uwe K.

Ok, thanks for all the input, guys. I guess I stick with the cheapo mini blinds for $4. Since others pay for the damage (usually), they can mess them up all day long.
Just wanted to make sure I didn't overlook the obvious.

Rick, just wondering with which quality level you go for the laminate. Whenever I walk on cheap laminate with no padding (I assume), it sounds hollow and thus cheap, and I think better put some BC plywood down.
I am mostly asking about any padding under (attached, or separate, or any) and the thickness of the laminate, expected life (wear etc.).

That bar is called grocery store.
But I was once actually getting $1 beers in a bar in some rink-dink town in Illinois. However, after two gulps you needed a refill.

I don't remember if it was federal or state law, may have been state, here WI. Yours may vary. I believe here an owner being foreclosed on must notify the tenants about the situation. Additionally, the foreclosing party and/or court must notify the tenants of the property. The more I think about it, the more I believe this was WI law.
But even if that's the case for you, and even if you win a lawsuit, you probably won't collect anything, based on the landlord not having money to pay his mortgage.

Once you have the second tenant with he same rent amount deposit into your account, you have to start investigating.
Once of my tenants sometimes deposits at may bank. Still don' know why people want to go out of their way, driving 10 minutes etc. to save the stamp.
Anyway, I once deposited the exact same amount around the same day, I was scratching my head for a few minutes wondering what happened.

Ok, so I have to ask how you came up with that number.
Why not just make it 29.99, psychologically they won't really see it as being higher and you have money for two more beers. :)

Well, depends on your market and the type of property of course. For me, I thought so, too, and mostly the appliances are included here. But I've tried it, and mostly it works for me and my neighborhoods. Surprising especially because they are mostly low-income tenants who you would not expect to be able to cough up a few hundred for appliances just like that.
Inspector's words are still in my ears: "They complain about every little hole int he wall, but they are just happy cooking with a hot plate and microwave. And when they leave, the appliances are the first things they leave behind..."

I once looked into a building that had a billboard on the side. Decided against the building for an unrelated reason. But at the time the husband of a colleague at work was some area manager for one of the two billboard marketing companies and I tried to get some number I can add to the monthly income.
She said there is no way you get anything done with a billboard if you are not marketing/"reselling" through one of the two companies. No advertiser deals with all the John Does for a single billboard to put the Coke bottles up, not efficient.
An average location city billboard would have gotten me $50-100 a month. No hassles and no time spent on it, though.

I couldn't find too much conclusive on the topic here:

I was wondering what kind of blinds you use in your rentals for the windows.
I am supplying and installing the blinds for a few reasons.
So far I have always put in the cheapo vinyl mini blinds, and usually it takes max. a day after move-in until some blades are cracked, broken, missing, you name it. All lower-end low-income rental market.

While they are easy and quick to replace, I am wondering now if it's worth investing some more money in other types, like aluminum (at 5-10 times the cost) or, what I've read here, faux-wood.

If you use vinyl, do you replace every damaged one for a new tenant or do you leave some minor damages in there?

Yes, you very likely would have to disclose it when selling. Not sure about the implications with buyers, lenders, etc.

You could probably permit it after the fact, but it may open up a big can of worms.
Best case: They come, look (or not), find it ok, give you a virtual slap in the face while you play the dummy innocent novice, and they approve it.
Worst case: They put you on chains, have you bust up the concrete yourself, and practically have you rip it all out and redo with permit and licensed plumber, plus fines.

Or anything in between. You could call them and ask about it, stating you are looking into a purchase, this is the issue, how does the city see it if you want to make it right. They might be sticklers, or they might like people who want to do the right thing and give them a break.

Dave, I was just being facetious. Humor and sarcasm makes me survive the tenants from hell (and other occasional miseries that cross my path)
Have to throw out more smileys here, I guess. :)