All Forum Posts by: Jay Garrison

Thanks everyone for the replies. I felt as though it were fishy and though (like everyone else) I am having trouble finding reliable contractors these days, I am going to take a pass on this one. 

@Caroline,

So far everything has been done by text message. He's sent me photos of this guys work, the guy's name but nothing else. Of course I don't know what these photos are from, and though I trust my carpenter from the work we've done together, I prefer to be more thorough.

Hi,

I am in talks with a masonry company to do some major repairs to my chimney. I have been sent an estimate already, but when I asked for the contractor's license info (they were referred to me by my carpenter) I was told I wouldn't be able to get that info until I signed a contract. Is this Standard Operating Procedure? I'd like to do my due diligence about the company, especially since this work involves some major coin. Thanks!

Hello,

Anyone have firsthand experience with a company that does masonry/chimney repair on the southwest side? Thanks!

@Kar Sun

What's the connection between the Fair Housing agencies and potential tenants flaking? I agree about staying away from group showings. 

I have tenants in both units now, I think I found them through Apartments.com? I won't use Facebook again, that's for sure. Definitely the "quantity over quality" adage applies to Facebook. One interesting thing is that I had more flexibility on the credit and it paid off, for the most part. I am curious about how people are doing now that much of the country has opened back up and we've kinda reached something like a middle-ground.

I try to gently let tenants know that each fall/winter, in an really old graystone, there are probably going to be some occasional incursions. Berwyn and Cicero have some great older buildings as well, and I am sure you get interlopers there!

I bought some off the shelf "charcoal" air fresheners from Big Box Outlet #589, and she seems happy, which translates to my happiness. When I told her it would be 10 days till the smell went away, she about fainted. I shortened it to "around 7" and she seemed happy with this sleight of hand. 

Hello,

I have a tenant who is overall a good one, but had a mouse infestation due to leaving a big bag of ramen noodles on the pantry floor for months... mice got in and caused a big infestation. I paid for the pest control to come out and handle it (this was last fall) but yesterday she complained of a sour smell. I went up and looked in the pantry, kitchen... no mouse carcass, and the smell is definitely not coming from the vent. 

Suggestions? I didn't put anything about pest control in the lease, but next time I will.

Update:

Thanks again everyone for the suggestions. I think Henry Lazerow is right; only a class action lawsuit will perhaps get the city in gear.

I was able to get in touch with a really helpful city employee at the Water Department who told me that yes, I could pay to have a private contractor do the work to the work... but it would involve laying new copper piping from the main, of course digging the trenches, and who knows what else. Basically a cost of between 10K and 20K. 

The guy I spoke with told me he saw my name on the waiting list for the suspended water meter, along with more than 8000 other names. Given the cost of copper piping and the dire finances of the city, this is going to be a fight. What a hot mess

Hi,

I got quite a few replies from listing my units on Facebook, but the people responding were the most likely to no-show as well. Facebook is good for empty calories. I liked using websites that let me screen people before they showed up. 

One good thing about Facebook is that you can go and have a quick glance at their profiles, which wow-oh-wow can be super instructive about their potential as tenants.