All Forum Posts by: Edward Kuk

Thanks for all the replies and support. This community is incredible. 

Luckily, the tenant left today and the place is empty. Left all the keys and garage openers. I'll replace every lock he had access too but after 10 months of skipping out on rent, this is the least he could have done.

Thank you all - this is incredibly helpful. This is a multi-unit so there isn't an open area but will let my attorney come back how long to store their stuff if needed. 

Appreciate it!

Hey BP,

Any tips for evictions in cook county? I have a 3 flat and have finally received eviction order from the judge after 6 months. 

If my tenant doesn’t leave, I can file for a tenant to kick them out and give me access to change the locks.

I can’t find anything that says my responsibility with their property? Do I have to hire someone to move it? Any services people know?

Other tips for people who have gone through this?

Thanks all - appreciate all the feedback. I think what I've decided to do is to use landscaping fabric and lava rocks for the back. And in the front I'll probably put down lawn to be consistent for curb appeal. Appreciate it!

Thanks @Hadar Orkibi. It is a multi-family, 3 units. Maybe a few evergreens is the answer.

Hi BiggerPocket community,

My wife and I purchased our first investment property 6 months ago in Chicago, IL. My goal for this property is to do small projects to reduce maintenance effort before we start looking for our next one. 

We gone through our first winter and things went thankfully smoothly! As summer is starting to hit, one project I have on my plate is to work on the garden. The previous owners (lived there for 30 years) put a lot of effort into the garden with lots of flowers. It looks really pretty but I have no intention to maintain. As sad as it is, I want to tear it all up and put something that will require no maintenance (like literally 0). Two questions:

1) I did some research and the one I'm thinking of is to dig up all the flowers and replace it with a bed of boring, but no maintenance rocks. Are there any other ideas people have done?

2) The front of the house also has a ton of flours and such. Can I replace this with rocks too? Do states have rules where you have to have grass or can I put put in a bunch of rocks so I don't have to deal with it?

Thanks for all your help!

Edward

@Colton Bowshier Hey Colton. I ended up deciding not to. For me I’m looking to hold it long term and wasn’t comfortable with the tenant having some leverage over me.

I ended up buying a legal 3 flat. We just got our lease signed with the third tenant!

Good luck!

Hi,

It's been ~4 months since my wife and I started our real estate journey. After scouring the MLS every day, checking out properties every weekend and 2 accepted offers that fell apart during inspection, we finally found our place. We are weeks from closing the property, though all major items have been agreed upon. There will be some cosmetic renovations but aim to start renting out the place around late September/ early October.

I'm currently putting our pre-screening criteria together and wanted to check with the experts on this forum if what I"m asking for is actually realistic/ reasonable. 

There are three units we are renting, the 2nd level we plan to rent for ~1200, 1st floor for ~1600 and garden unit for ~1000. This is in Irving Park Chicago Illinois, which I would classify as a B-level area that has been improving a lot in the last few years. I'm trying to see whether I would be able to find tenants that meet my criteria with those price points or am I out of my mind?

Criteria list:

Standard stuff - no eviction, criminal history, etc.

No pets

Credit score about 700+

Stable job with 3x gross income

No smoker

Am I shrinking my market too far or is this absolutely reasonable. This is our first time landlording so curious to get your perspectives.

Appreciate all the help this forum has provided so far! It is really instrumental in setting up new investors for success.

Thanks,

Ed

Thanks Jeff. This is incredibly helpful. I used that site and it does look like it's zoned as two flat. 

I did speak with my insurance agent and she said insurance companies don't really care about legality. They will insure as long as you are up front with the number of people living there. We are quoted that way so we should be ok.

I also have the same mentality that I wouldn't want someone living there without a window so plan to install that once I have ownership.

Not sure if you have experience here, but if I go through the legalization process and don't get it zoned, do they now come after me? haha. Could be troublesome to try to play it the proper way.

Thanks all. This is incredibly helpful. 

The unit does meet the height restriction but I think the biggest problem is the natural light rule. The windows would be at the side of the house and thus not face any courts, yards, public ways.

It's likely a very small risk from the sounds of it but I'm having a hard time getting over the risk where something may happen, insurance doesn't cover, and it will hit me hard financially. That's sorta not the point of my investments. 

Appreciate the help all.