All Forum Posts by: Ericka G.

Adrian Smalls can you PM me your GC’s info as well? I’d like to start exploring some other options. the guy I’ve been using always “forgets” to do something that we agreed upon in the original work order. He’ll go back and fix it after I catch it but I’m ready to start looking at other options...someone who actually does ALL of what we agreed to he first time.

Ned Jackson Alex Huang Thanks for the input and encouragement - I wanted to do the vinyl flooring as we have that in another property and I love it, but my handyman pushed for the laminate as it is easier to install...Prob need to find a new handyman :) What’s done is done so I will stop beating myself up and just roll with it. Really good lesson to always try a good cleaning before ripping up carpet, though, if you’re not dealing in super high end rentals.

Bernardino Graziano if the tree is damaged/dead but Hasn’t yet fallen AND the property owner is aware of the damaged/dead tree, then my understanding is that it would be the responsibility of the person who’s land it is on, even if it falls on someone else’s property. Take some pics, check the boundary lines and offer to pay a portion if the tree is on your property too. If it isn’t clearly on your property, you shouldn’t have to pay for it bit I’d also weigh the risk of having it fall and doing major damage versus just chipping in a bit to get it handled before any damage is done.

Brian Pulaski good point...we will likely go the furnished route as it not only is more profitable but also attracts a much better quality tenant. I’m just already self-managing 4 of our furnished rentals + 4 “regular” non furnished units + a demanding full time job and family, so the idea of taking on another furnished unit is a daunting. The work required in the first few weeks/months of setting up is hellish. BUT so far all signs point to that being the better route, so I may just have to suck it up and make it work.

Kyle M. Bought the property in May 2017... What other info should I be sharing/considering to evaluate if I over-improved?

Andrew Johnson Craig Curelop Marian Smith Thanks for your input and reassurance. I will try to let it go...hate feeling like I made the rookie mistake of over-improving, but will just need to shake it off. Place looks better and hopefully will fill quickly so I can start recouping what I put in. Tenant in unit B was inherited and a relative of the former owner so he had neither a lease nor a deposit. He is a decent person though and did write me a promissory note for $950 when he moved out and he paid $100 towards the mess he left last week...we’ll see if I see any more from him.

Bought a triplex for $179k in May 2017 with 3 inherited tenants who paid monthly and were pleasant. Mortgage + insurance is $1100. Gross Income has been $2,075.

Now I suddenly have two units vacant.  Unit C is a one bedroom that took <$1k to get ready for a new tenant. This unit will now rent for $700 (was $500)

Unit B is a 2 bedroom townhouse that was a mess. I spent $2200 to rip up carpet/ install wood laminate downstairs; $1200 to entire unit painted/rwalls epaired; $60 for upstairs carpet cleaning. It still needs a scrub down + a garage door repair. Unit B will rent for $950 unfurnished, $1,800+ furnished (was $750). 

My concern is that I over-spent to update unit B. I put in the wood laminate downstairs before shampooing the carpet upstairs. $60 shampoo today and the carpet looks brand new. I’m now beating myself up for spending $2200 on new floors when I could have shampoo’d all the carpet for <$100.  What do you think? How much do you generally spend to prep a unit between tenants?

Mitchlyn Davis I’ve had great luck buying used appliances from small mom/pop refurbishes that deliver,install, and provide some sort of warranty or assurance. Also have had great luck with appliances from Sears Outlet. Literally zero problems. However, I bought ONE all-in-one washer/dryer from a private owner on Craigslist and it has been a pain from pickup til now - I got sold a lemon. I do not recommend buying appliances private on CL unless you are very handy OR you are buying a very common model, well-known brand that will be inexpensive and easy to repair and find parts for if you do get sold a dud.

James Wise Thanks for sharing you POV. good to know that even in rougher areas - evictions are still a no-go. I have one unit in a B-area that we have been struggling to find a good tenant for this winter (it is in suburbs of Detroit) and was wavering a bit on a candidate who had great income but an eviction filing in 2014 - landlord didn’t actually evict her, just filed the initial paperwork. She also has a Rottweiler so we decided to pass. Trying to fill spots in the winter sucks.

James Wise you are spot on about bare mattresses and mattresses on floor being a HUGE red flag for nasty tenants. I got locked out of my first solo rental after college once taking out the trash (total craphole in C/D hood in upper Manhattan nyc) and went across the hall to ask my neighbor if I could use their phone. Their apartment looked worse than these pictures...a mound of trash with a path cleared through the center to walk, bare mattresses, etc. They had 2 adults, 2 kids, and a dog living in the same small (700 sq ft?) one bedroom floor plan I was living in as a just starting out young person. Totally shocking. The dad tried unsuccessfully to “help me out” by using a giant kitchen knife to attempt to break my door open so I didn’t have to wait for the locksmith. Lol. I should have called CPS but didn’t. They seemed to be a loving family - just totally unclean/disgusting. I think there are many people living in quiet filth and poverty in this country. I had lived across the hall from them for months and had no idea they were living like that. Saved my money and bought my own place ASAP - was so happy to get out of that s***hole. I wonder what becomes of kids who grow up in filth like this? Also, when you screen do you accept evictions in C/D areas or is it possible to find tenants willing to live in this area who have a clean rental history?