All Forum Posts by: Brian Mathews

I have no experience in Travis, but Williamson county is much more conservative in nature and Travis much more liberal.    You couldn't be more wrong in the approach that both are in Texas and similar.   Never could 2 counties that touch each other be more different.  I would hazard that Williamson is much more landlord friendly, but Travis will bring higher returns on rent. 

I'd check to see if the owner will even sell.    Then just plan on knocking them down if they are in that bad a shape.   Now take into consideration the hassle factor of dealing with the city first on demolition and then on re-building.  I don't know where the city is at now on approving projects, but I know it was in the 1-2 year range in the not so distant past.  

That's the way it should be.   I don't care what you make.   I give a quote.  You agree or don't.  If you do.   I do job, you pay timely.   I don't bother you and you call me when/if a next job.  I don't want to hang out with my customers.  Because then the line gets blurred as you said between friend and business.  

Do you have the cash to cover the payments on both properties should something go south on you?   And you will run into issues.   Don't borrow from friends and family   It makes gatherings and holidays awkward should something go wrong. 

And this is why I don't work with many investors.  I don't expect a bonus and would be shocked if anybody offered one.   But if I did something above and beyond to help you out of a tough situation and you compensated me unexpectedly.   I would be much more willing to help you out of a tough situation if another one arose.  If I went out of my way to help you out and I got this attitude.   It wouldn't happen again.   I guess I'm a different type of contractor though.  I'm not desperate for work and don't have to work with people I don't want too. 

Not much anymore.   I've ran most off.   They are too cheap and don't like to pay on time or want to beat you up on price.   My only work with investors anymore is service work on rentals.   A lot of them are starting to buy home warranties.   I'll go fix what the warranty company's screw up.   I'm more of a value guy than a cheapo contractor.   I fix problems and make things right.   

I've never had anybody offer me more money than what I quoted whether I finish early or whatever I do.   If anything they want a better deal for giving me the job.   I've also never heard of such a thing offering contractors more money.   Investors are inherently cheap I've found. 

Neighborhoods can't go from A to B.   But I've seen about 4 or 5 houses do it pretty quickly due to tenant neglect and destruction.   The one that comes to mind was a new home, family moved into it.   Lived there about 5 years then moved out.   Landlord spent around $5000  fixing it up.   New carpet, paint, cleaning.   More than normal wear and tear.   New family moved in because he was desperate after spending that money and being not rented for a while.   They were there about 2 months.   Pretty much put it back to condition before they moved in with 2 pit bulls, the guy did tattoos in the living room.    Now owner really desperate, didn't have money to put back into it  decent shape, so went section 8 to get it rented.    You can imagine what it is now.   I might even go so far as to say it's a C property now. 

Your targeting a different market than the average person will.    How about those B type properties that have 3-4 enlisted and several girlfriends?  Or the A type that get turned into B's?      I do hvac service on these houses in Killeen and they are pretty consistent.   Pit bull or 2, a couple of cars that are nice, car parts in garage and tires, yard not mowed consistently, never trimmed.   Lots of beer cans, carpet usually ruined (by pit bulls and beer spills)   Furniture torn up if even existent, mattresses on floors, surrounded by unwashed clothes.   My views of the military are that they are brave people that serve our country and overall are good people.   But they aren't always so nice on houses, but usually have nice cars.  

I was in Killeen today.   The area is booming, lots of new houses being built.   So I think any deals will be short lived.   Problem with rentals is that soldiers are soldiers.   They will tear up a place and leave.   They can break a lease with you if they get deployed and you can do nothing about it.   The call I did in Killeen today was on a house a military guy tore up, costing the landlord around $4000.   It got fixed up.  New tenant for about 2 months now, he got deployed to Kuwait, so he's leaving and breaking the lease.  House not torn up, but now owner has to find new tenant again.