All Forum Posts by: Alice K.

This was my exact question of the month!

I have several bedrooms with ridiculous stains-- Likely kool-aid from the last dweller. 
One landlord in the area said his tenants destroyed laminate and recommended carpet. Another also said carpet... (Like what @Ken Raymond mentioned it seems.)

I wanted laminate until I looked at the quotes. Luckily, my region is one of those areas that is behind on fashion and the locals say although that hardwood-look is classy, carpet works. 
I'm running out of dough regardless for the replacements so have to stick with carpet.

Hello All,

Was searching online but haven't seen a recent thread/post in a while on this and since these services change often would love to hear what you use when screening tenants.
Ideal features:

• Credit report (preferably of an actual credit bureau)
• Criminal check 
• Eviction check
• Option for me to fill in the tenant's data myself (many residents around this area are more comfortable with paper / phone than using the internet.)
• Preferably $35 or less (so I'm not charging potential residents an arm and a leg)

Services I've heard of but have yet to try:

• Cozy.co <-- No ability for me to enter the tenant's data
• Houserie <-- This one seems promising. Do people trust this?
• On-site.com <-- Referred by a local but $40 for everything these days.
• Transunion / Experian service <-- Seems to require tenants to fill out form 

Many thanks in advance for any advice in this realm!

Alice

People have been warning us of "the bubble" since the dawn of time. 
We'll have a downturn (and subsequent upturn) again one of these days since everything is a cycle. (As I'm sure everyone here knows better than I.)

Regarding this Grant chap-- I didn't even know this guy until Googling him. He looks like another one of those people who makes money by talking about how to make money. Similar to how Paris Hilton is famous for being famous. (laughs) 

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like the true movers and shakers are the ones who are silent and in the background. 

Whenever I feel like getting a dooms-day report I go to http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/. Puffed up probably, but reminds me that change is inevitable and in the end, no one knows what they're doing. 

*Fingers crossed we're all situated in a somewhat conservative way*

Finally, a person in here quoting realistic interest rates! I keep hearing online (I know most internet quotes are bogus but I'm sure you've heard this too): "Oh, you can get a 3.75%" And, I will say, the week I went under contract that is not what I got. 

Personal thoughts

I think about this EVERY DAY (although I don't work in RE for my job). Being a young-looking female that is rarely taken seriously on first glance, I always bring some sort of professional top outfit. 

The results vary but it's interesting how discriminatory I've found people when I change outfit. Heck, even myself, I often unconsciously judge. Then again not too much as a hoodie and terrible pants in Silicon Valley means you make money.

For myself, if I see a person dressed business casual (sport jacket) and black / dark shoes (even though I prefer tacky, comfortable shoes myself) I am likely to take them more seriously. If it's a full-on suit, I assume they're going to sell me something unless I enter a 1MM open house. 

 I would recommend a suit (or business casual as a suit may seem a bit much) if you want to "fake it until you make it".*

*Exceptions: Silicon Valley, You are already rich (you have nothing to prove), you are good at lying

Whatever you missed I can guarantee you it's somewhere in the "Education" section or posted in this forum. 

What content are you looking for? I'm sure we can find you some answers.

Unless it's one of those motivation pep-talk ones where you need the excited voice of an optimist. ;)

I would go a lawyer-broker route. I found one in the market I shop in and the guy knew his stuff. 
Avvo.com is a pretty great resource I would recommend.

@Ryder Meehan also hosts meetups around SF downtown if you're interested in out of state investing. 
J Martin's is also fantastic. 

I haven't combed through all the comments here, but the last rental situation I saw was pretty grim and going for 500k in Berkeley. Grim enough for me to throw up my arms. I may just be a Bay Area pessimist. 

@Kyle J. That was a really great walkthrough on late charges. Thanks for sharing the reasoning!

Congratulations J!

I laughed out loud at the "Oakland koolaid" comment. 

Thanks for all of the RE meetups you've hosted and looking forward to the awesome stories to come!