All Forum Posts by: Debra R.

Do you have space to increase the width of the driveway?  So that one car can get in and out of the garage and the other can be parked in the drive off to the side? While the driveway space isn't covered, it's still closer to the front door than the street and the tenant never has to worry that they'll have to park down the street bc there's an unusual event going on in the the neighborhood. 

If I were a tenant with children the idea of trying to get them in the car, sweep snow/ice off the windshield and maybe have to shovel snow if I have to leave before the plow gets there, that would be a big negative.  A garage where the car stays free of ice and snow and is sheltered from the wind is just so much easier.  And with kids having more yard also helps.  

Hi everyone, 

I want to target my rental ads to San Francisco tech companies (yelp, google, twitter...).  Any suggestions for how to reach those employees?  I'm looking for something more targeted than Craigslist. 

Thanks in advance for your advice!

One more thing - check with your local SPCA and see if they have a dog friendly landlord list.  And if you have a local pit bull rescue organization ask if they have landlord lists.  

Get CGC certifications on both dogs.  And if possible get the advanced CGC as well.  CGC stands for canine good citizen.  This is a test that is conducted by an AKC certified evaluator.  You'll probably have to prepare for it but if your dogs know sit and down and are friendly with people and other dogs it won't take to long to prep for it.  Search for AKC CGC or go to the website which is either AKC.org or american kennel club.org.  

What does the file at the current vets office say the breeds are?  If it just says mixed breed, then get a copy of that for the landlord.  And give your vet a heads up that the landlord may call to confirm.  

One last possibility -if they look like different needs to different people, pick one of those breeds that isn't considered a pitty (lab ?) And get them registered as such with the AKC.  It's not for certain the AKC will register them as that breed but it's possible even without a history of parentage and even with being neutered or spayed.  

Feel free to pm me if you need more info. 

I'm planning to buy a fixer SFR to live in 2 - 3 years, rehab and then resell. What are some suggestions to make the offer sweeter to the seller other than offering a higher price? More earnest money? A bigger down payment? Somehow include in the offer that I won't ask for any discount in the price for any repairs found during inspection up to $X amount?

Thanks in advance to all your creative ideas!

Debra

Is the pattern something that some owner/renter stuck on it?  Or is it a nonslip coating that was factory applied?  I have the latter and it won't get as white as the tub no matter how much scrubbing/bleaching I do.  I think part of the problem may be minerals (rust) in the water that discolors it.  If it was just dirt, scrubbing and bleach would clean it up.

Where is the lead? In the paint? In the soil? Some where else? Here in CA if lead is in the paint you mask off the area, remove flaking chips, wet sand where needed, and paint over it.  The chips have to be bagged with the top of the bag sealed with duct tape, and everything HEPA vacuumed.  Here in  CA there is an 8  hire class to become lead certified.  If you can find such a class there then at least you'll know what needs done and how to get it done. 

Can he get someone with good credit to co sign for him?  

@Account Closed

It's a single building, Victorian, converted to 4 units.  In order to make enough room for me and my daughter I combined 2  1 bedroom units.  Before I rent them out I will convert them back to 2  1/1 units.  

Since you're in IL I'll assume that you're not familiar with  the rental market here.  Please forgive me if I'm mistaken. BTW, I'm originally from IL.  Went to UIUC.  Or is it UICU these days?  

Alameda is a good choice for commuting to SF.   Since SF rents are even higher than Alameda, people are moving over here.  We are just across the bay and many people take the ferry.  Others carpool, express bus or take the BART train.  To illustrate how Alameda rents have recently risen -  I have a 2/1 that I rented for $1500 in Nov. 2013.  That was a reasonable rent for that time.  That tenant recently moved out and now it rents for $2400.  I did do some renovating, but not nearly enough to justify $900/month extra.