All Forum Posts by: Matt Kauffman

Actually they are opting to move out. They'll be out in less than a month. We'll update a few things and get it rented quickly I'm sure. all my other units like this one don't last very long. Thanks for checking in though. 

Thanks @Deanna McCormick for the input. 

Hey Akron Canton investors. I'm looking for a handyman to do some rehab work on one of my units. Any suggestions for guys who do good work at a reasonable rate? needs to be able to paint, lay vinyl plank flooring, set tile, install tubs and do some minor plumbing and minor electrical work.

@Ethan Cooke I've thought about contacting other owners about their rentals inquire, but was uncomfortable with inquiring through the websites that book their spaces only to ask them questions about their occupancy and such. guess I'll give it a shot.

@Bob Woelfel I've been kicking around the attached/detached garage thing. I need to see how it would look both ways. I don't and wife doesn't want to have to walk outside of our garage to get into our house. So the question is can you make it an attached/detached garage for privacy. We do need to think through the outside space of my property and how much they'll have access too. this is not so much that we'll feel intruded on, but I have 4 young kids and I know my youngest two will want to play 20 questions with everyone. My wife is definitely on board with this idea. Which is why i'm so excited about it. I need to do some more market research and see which places locally are fuller with more regularity, the smaller, single room places to the entire house places. 

@Ethan Cooke Thanks for the suggestions. I have some looking to do from a zoning standpoint for sure. I am guessing, but my new house is in a no zoning township in my county, so I don't think I'm going to have any issues with zoning restrictions. I have a waterfall out back of the house, so they would have access to sit out back and listen to the waterfall. I think that's kinda cool and unique. 

@Michael Greenberg I am not a Real Estate agent, but I do own several rental properties. I've been wanting to figure out how well short term rentals do in my area and haven't figured it out. I'm hoping your website suggestion is right on. My garage will be at least 30x30 - so I've got a little less than 900sqft due to dormers, that I can build to, however I'm going to use some of that space for my office. I'm a salesman that travels several states for work and I am thinking that I can tap into traveling business men and women who need a place to stay. The HOF is going to be a bigger draw in a few years, but not quite yet. However, I think for the cost of the build vs what I think I can rent it for, my money will be best used for a 1 or 2  bedroom apartment. More market research will tell me if it's worth the extra money for the second bedroom. The plan would be to have outside entrance to the unit, separate from the main house. The garage will be attached, but I think if I put my office next to it and insulate it well, we'll have several rooms including the office between the rental unit and the rest of the main house. I'd like to be both an active and passive host, if I'm not there, then they can access the place without needing me, but if I'm around I like meeting people. I am not a fan of having to hand off keys, so giving them lock codes would be preferred.

Hey all, my wife and I are in the planning phase of building a new house for our family. I'm firmly convinced we can build an apartment above the garage and rent it out short term - airbnb, vrbo, etc... Any suggestions on what I should and shouldn't do in planning this? 

We live 20 minutes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (They're spending $500 million dollars to expand the HOF so that it's a major destination). My property is secluded, in the woods, it overlooks a waterfall and yet is only 5 minutes from the downtown area. It's also within 20 minutes of Smucker's and Goodyear headquarters. 

Initially we're planning to add a 1 bedroom apartment above the garage. If all goes well, we could build another short term rental next to our garage or put one in our pole barn/garage area. 

I'll take any suggestions, but I'm assuming there'll be more questions for me than suggestions initially. Thanks. 

@Jeffery Waicak I'll eventually make one of these. I have stuff going on next week and I'll be out of town the following wednesday. Keep it going. 

Appreciate all the feedback. I offered them several things if they increased the rent. One of them was an upgrade in electric service and breaker box since their lights were flickering when they run certain appliances. The whole building is bad and needs upgraded. They also needed some things done in the bathroom that needs addressed asap anyhow that I offered to do and will do regardless. I also offered to paint her place to a color she liked as well. So I didn't demand anything without offering something. I'm with you, you need to offer something so they feel like they're getting something in return. 

@Marcia Maynard Thank you for your advice. There's tons out there on raising rent on current tenants that you have history with but not much in regards to how to deal with inherited tenants and raising rents. This is an area that I've struggled with. I've had some accept large increases realizing they were getting a huge deal for years. Maybe giving someone a chance to prove it to me and themselves is worth it. Besides it'll be an 8 month term to get me back to the time of year i like my leases to end and begin. 

They are month to month on their lease. I can rent it quite quickly and easily before October. I wouldn't sit more than 10 days I'd imagine and that'd be because the tenants would be out the 20th of September.