All Forum Posts by: Gregory Zanolini

Interesting.  Great post, thanks for sharing.  How true.

Your picture does not really show the condition of the shingle itself.  I'm pretty sure that is not a roof original to the home (more than 35 years old).   You can see the deflection in the roof framing system.  That is very common in homes of that era.  If it were me, I would figure on new roofing shingles.  Roofing varies around the country but in my area it goes for about $3.70/SQFT. That will get you a tare off with disposal and what the manufactures consider a lifetime shingle.    

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  By far my favorite holiday of the year.  Take a moment to give thanks for your friends and family.  Enjoy your day.

You're going to cash flow $300/month on this buy and hold deal and you wouldn't budge the last $500.?   Way to stick to the plan.  I'm too soft.  Congratulations on a great deal. 

As a contractor it is common for me to receive a inspection report from buyers. Typically I supply a proposal with costs for all items specified. Then I am usually asked to supply a proposal for any rehabs planned.

As a contractor for the past 26 years I have never charged (until recently) any fees for project quotes. I was getting pretty tiered of writing proposals for tire kicker investors or any RE purchaser for that matter. If a property requires 25K worth of repairs or renovations, it's pretty common for me to spend 4 hours or more meeting with and estimating the project. All for free.

My phone used to ring off the hook with agents looking for free estimates. Our company policy now is to only supply free estimates to the current property owner. If you do not own the property there will be charges applied that will be credited back if we end up with the contract.

It's great to live in Pennsylvania.  We can both open carry or conceal carry with  a License To Carry Firearms (LTCF).   In PA only the state can pass firearms laws.  That way you do not have to familiarize yourself with laws written in every little municipality you travel through.  Both my wife and I have our LTCF. 

Where we invest there are no local police.  You need to call the state police in which case you will probably be waiting a half hour for one to show up.  Cell service can be spotty also.  I have been carrying various firearm for more than 20 years.  Currently there is a Ruger LCR .357 in my right front pocket at all times.   Could I actually use it you ask, definitely if my or my families life was threatened.    God forbid I hope I never have to.  I believe it would be a life altering moment for myself which I prefer not to have to deal with. 

I thank god every day that I live in a free society that allows me to protect myself and family as I see necessary. 

It's good you realize the amount of work that a contractor might put in to his free price quote/proposals.  I certainly do not get all the jobs I bid.  Some of which I want and others I might not.  A simple email stating you have decided to use another contractor is sufficient.  I really appreciate that and will be happy to quote your next project.  It's pretty common for me to spend 6 hours figuring and writing a detailed proposal only to never hear from the person again.  Not even a "thanks, I'll get back to you".

I have two properties 25 min. north of E. Stroudsburg in Pike County. I'm a buy and hold guy. The county and school taxes are 3.5 times higher in E. Stroudsburg than in the Wallenpaupack Area School District. A much better district accouding to average GPA and other numbers too.

I recenty looked at two homes in E. Stroudsburg with an ARV of about 78,000-82,000 and their annual county and school tax bill was $6,550. That's way too high for this part of PA.

This area sure did change since 9/11 when everyone decided to commute to NYC rather than live there. I think it's about 90 miles. Both RE and taxes skyrocketed. After the crash taxes stayed the same while values dropped and have not recovered at the same rate as some other areas.

It is not common to give your contractor free range with your account.

I'm a GC and I always supply my customers with written proposals that include all labor and materials. If you worked out a deal to supply building material than you should purchase and deliver them yourself.

If I were you I would want to be reimbursed for these tools. They may be of no use to you in the future.