All Forum Posts by: Dale Stevens

There is a company local to the western burbs. Met the guy at a networking meeting recently. Believe Naperville is where they are based.

Want to say it is Top Letters

Welcome not only to this site, but to investing as well! Lots of people doing business in that area. It is becoming a hot bed of investor activity as of late. 

I too invest in the area.

Monday night i will hopefully be having dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings in Hammond (Kennedy Ave exit of i-80).. 7pm

The 2nd group, as @Adrien C. is a small offshoot of a larger one. I know I never go the change to be at the Hammond location when you were there Adrien, but I know I never saw you at the larger meeting that is really powerful and useful. I do my best to never miss the main meeting.

As to the one in Hammond at the BWW, (I think it is 2nd mondays) it is just more of a chill and share meeting of investors. Sometimes there are 3 people sometimes 10+. Last month, it was myself and one other. Of course, it was the national college football championship game and it snowed like 5" that night. So many didn't make the trip. However, I was able to discuss specifics of a deal and from that meeting go in on a 3 unit deal.

Wow.. anointing yourself the King? So happy for you, I was worried you might have some self confidence or EGO issues. 

But hey, way to come here, attempt to ask people to contact you for an e-book, rather than contributing to the conversation in some way first. I do suggest you take some time to actually peruse the site and find out what Bigger Pockets is all about.

I found a mentor, he didn't contact me, I found him. When I found him, he had tons of people asking him for his help. Seems if you did that many properties, you would have the same going on and wouldn't need to "crown yourself". Just my opinion. Good Luck to you sir.

As to the tile, when I lay that "Porcelain fake wood" I don't lay it as a tile, as I see they have done in your photo, @Aaron Mazzrillo. I have it laid like hardwoods. Meaning, the edge lines are random. I can see the "Tile" pattern in your floor (which looks perfectly fine to me by the way), and I suggest doing it more random to truly mirror hardwood installations which are completely random.

When installing any sort of flooring you may need some leveling of the slab first. Carpet and pad can cover some of the cracking and sloping that may be underneath. 

Yes a moisture barrier is for sure needed as concrete tends to sweat with change of temperatures. I also suggest "sealing" the slab before putting that barrier down, just my $.02 worth on that.

I agree that the cheap PERGO crap is just that, CRAP! Engineered flooring or the newer Vinyl tile is where I would go.

Agreed, they will spread and quickly. So treat it, IMMEDIATELY. Do not delay, because they spread.

I was told a single bug can lay up to 5 eggs each day for weeks. So they multiply quickly.

Most states feel it is the responsibility of the landlord as there is no real way to prove where the bugs came from. But act quickly and decisively to end the infestation quickly.

You could always push it onto the street and let the local authorities deal with it. Without up to date registrations they would have to be ticketed then towed away. Eventually it might wind up in a local police auction.

Welcome @Catherine Dickerson as a fellow Chicago area investor! There is a ton of great advice, information and even good people here on BP, but with everything, trust your gut. Ask questions and do not just believe everything posted on the Internet.

Education is important, extremely important, but also the education needed to have a fully functional "BS" detector. 

Get out in person and do things. In the end, that is what must be done for real estate to be successful. 

Wishing you luck and success in your endeavors!