All Forum Posts by: Don Hines

We include miniblinds in bedrooms, mudrooms, and garages with windows. They are down but open when showing.
Living rooms/dens, dining rooms, and kitchens windows are not staged. They do have furniture and pictures.
Don

I allow the neighbors reactions to dictate my final price (after studying current comps; for sale and sold). As example, my current rehab that is on the market at a price I derived from visiting with the neighbors. My open house comments from visitors has reaffirmed my price. Even the realtors that are looking out for buyers for us have said it is priced fair. I will leave it there until it stops getting attention. You never know...
If I was doing this for my meat and taters, I would price it to move quickly.
Don

I bought some of the cheaper "Guru" courses and got some basic knowledge. I have learned more from Bigger Pockets though.
Justin made some good points. I will add if you are married, make sure your spouse is on board. I lost mine's support after loosing on my first rehab. It cost me about 2 years to get her back on board.
Don

Got a Tip....
We reinstalled some of the cabinets we pulled from the kitchen into the laundry room and garage after painting them and replacing hardware. Everyone really loves them.
Don

I can give you a pointer I have just learned....
I hope some one kicks me in the south end if I tackel another major rehab DYI. I figured my contingencies at 10% and I think I would have been OK with 20%. I tried to put some goodie in the budget to pay me or a contractor to do the job. I think I would have came in just about right with contractors because....
1. They don't have to stop and think as long as I do about a situation.
2. They have all of the little agrevating screws, bolts, nuts, gaskets, fittings, ETC on their truck. Each little peice does not require a trip to Home Depot.
3. In reference to #2, you will not have a bunch of stuff "for the next project" to keep up with because you bought the wrong stuff in the first place.

I got off on a different subject than what you asked for just thinking about how different my last project was from the one before it. Seasoned rehabbers use the same paint, flooring, appliances, cabinets etc. and probably have an automatic number to apply to a project. Stuff like that is good to know so you can make a better guesstimate for the other stuff that happens to you in a rehab. Takes time and experience to know what works for you.

Don

I appreciate the help Steve. Do you think you could come by my house to take a look at my TV? It takes three remotes to operate it.
Don

I appreciate the compliment Bryan. The wife and I know the end results we want. We just need to figure out a quicker way to get there.
Don

http://www.biggerpockets.com/galleries/show/15079

Thanks Steve and Jon

I will give this picture attaching a whirl here....

Still trying. I am technologically challanged. Probably spelling too.
Don

For now I am only interested in rehabbing and selling. I might do some hard money lending in slack times. It makes more sense when you say it. Thanks.
Don

The guy I am talking to at Guidant has told me basically the same thing about setting my SDIRA up to have a checking account that I control. But, we need to set it up as a C corp to avoid the UBIT that Jon has mentioned so many times before. Anyone with experience on that?
Don