All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

Personally I like to analyze worst case scenario as I see it... if it cash flows at the apocalypse, I buy it. Never price yourself into being forced to self manage. There is no resource as valuable as your time.

Yes for one tenant I am. She has an extremely tight budget and I asked her if that would help, she was very appreciative. I had a 4 year history with her prior to her separation. Auto debit on pay day is really nice. You get paid right after they do which doesn’t give them much time to spend it. Doesn’t solve the problem of budget but it would help solve stupid (to a degree at least).

During high turnover seasons I use a VA to post ads for me. Saves me ~$10/ day from bumping ads and ~25 min daily for handling them. I’ve used fiverr and gone through a few (2 strike policy). Have them return your instructions email with their interpretation of what they will do before allowing them to start. If it’s off from what you need, reword your instructions and repeat. And expect quotes all over the map. And expect many amateurs (at best) before you find a competent VA through bargain sites such as upwork & fiverr

Set up an auto responder. Insisted this earlier last week but here it is again below. I hate when my phone rings. I’ve tested a google form for this but over the course of 15 months I had about 40 percent fewer responses when they had to click a link. Also make sure you are crystal-clear in your advertisement. The easiest way to make the phone ring is great pictures with info missing in the ad. I have ad copy written targeted so narrow it talks to folks undergoing a divorce currently... get targeted. 3-5 calls from people who want exactly what you have. That’s the goal. Thanks for your inquiry about our unit for rent. Please complete and return the questions below and we will contact you to arrange for a viewing. Please note: viewings are by appointment only and only those who fill in the following information will be contacted to schedule a time to view this property. 1. When are you looking for a place to rent? 2. How long do you want to rent for? 3. How long have you been living at your current residence? 4. Do you have any pets? (Describe) 5. How many people (adults & children) will be renting this suite? 6. Have you already given your current landlord notice? 7. Please tell me about your job(each adult). Details are useful 8. If you are offered the unit, do you have the deposit (1st months rent) immediately available? 9. Are you just starting your search or have you been looking for a while? 10. Please provide your name, phone number and preferred email address. I will most likely communicate via email for convenience. Thank you,

Thermal imaging camera should make that pipe easy to spot

If there’s any long curtains that hang over the baseboard radiators have them cut shorter. Cold air directly on a rad is a killer. Common for folks who are too lazy to operate the thermostat. Also more common on upper floors when the building itself is warmer. Your boiler capacity won’t decrease with a glycol solution, it will just have a higher specific heat capacity after creating the mix. Meaning it will require more energy to raise the temp. .. also meaning it will release more energy when the temp lowers.

Contact Barry Maguire out of Edmonton. You don’t need a local lawyer, you need one who has done dozens of rto deals across Canada.

I’ve got 3 refinances coming up (one closing Friday) by June which should free up plenty enough to go shopping with.

Lease reads no pets. Addendum reads pet X can stay as long as a host of things happen/ don’t happen. This allows eviction of the animal without absolving tenant of responsibilities. I currently charge: $100-$150 monthly added for a dog. $50-$75 monthly for a cat. And 9 of my 10 unit’s are pet Friendly currently. This is an undertapped source of income in most areas. Where I’m at fewer than 1% of rentals allow pets and The majority of those only allow cats. No animals under one year of age. Must be licensed at all time. Always prescreen the animal. Always add it straight to rent amount no “pet rent” even if allowed. This way the reduction in rent if Fido croaks (or try leave him on the highway) is your option, not your requirement. Monthly visits for the first 120 days. After that your regular quarterly should do it if your finger is still on the pulse. There’s a skill to this. Pets cause far less damage than a 2-5 year old does. And they earn way more income. If you’re on the fence about trying it, wait till your flooring is in need of replacing.

Not far from Estevan SK where I work! If you ever find yourself lost on this side of the border let me know.