All Forum Posts by: Maimouna Sow

@Jermell Shavers

Yea i wondered the same thing

So I just had a an electrician visit my property cause one of my outlets tripped.

This is in my house hack in Newark.

This is the first time this one outlet tripped, because I am plugin g my microwave in there since the dedicated microwave outlet doesn’t Work.

He comes in, he tells me the panel needs to be changed, because the panel is over loaded.

So we’ll change it from at 16 slot panel to a 24 slot. He said 900$ (is this a good price or Newark?)

Then I ask him to run some new lines for me, he said 475$ each. He doesn’t have to open up the walls or anything? It would a total of 2400$

I tell him that’s too high, so he said how mich do I want to pay? I said 2000$.

He said okay. Without a fight really.

I still think that’s high, so I tell him I’ll speak to my brother and call him later.

Later on after he check all of my out let, I asked him how much I owe him for the visit, he said 180$. Before he showed up, (he was late) I decided to flip the switch board and the outlet that tripped was now on.. before he showed up.

I asked him what is the 180 for?

He said for the fact that he looked at all of my outlet and diagnosed it, I was like aight. I paid him.

Then I told him 2000 is still to high to replace the panel, and run 3 new lines for the outlets. Really he’s probably just gonna plug the out let lines to the new panel switches, right? If u know about this please explain.

Then he said what’s my budget, I said 1500$. He said okay, this time he was getting annoyed. I still think this might be the price after all.

Then he wanted a deposit so he can come fix it, he said he wants half, I told him I’m not about to give money to a stranger, I just met him.

He was revered by DC electric. But still. He has all of my info, but I don’t have his. He kept saying he is licensed, but when I ask him for an ID or credentials he keeps redirecting. I dotn really care if he is licensed as long as he can do it right. He seems like he knows what he was doing.

But I still wasn’t gonna give him 750$ on the spot.

So he was really offended. But I knew if I held out he would do it, he wrote me a bill and I told him first thing in the morning when he comes in with materials I will pay him half. What do u think? Am I wrong? Was he just playing anoyed? Or is it really rude of me to offer him no deposit. He seems old school, maybe that was really a thing back then.

They have a lot is hoops and turns. U could have good credit and they still wouldn’t be able to do much for u.

And after doing my research I think it’s something u can do on ur own... and I don’t really think it’s ideal for real estate. 

@Joleene Armbruster

When are the meetings?

@Vanessa Regalado

Thank you

@Calvin Thomas

😂😂😂 thanks

@Jason H.

Exactly.

Though to be clear my family isn’t “STARVING”

I meant as an immigrant there are certain things expected of you, and one of those things is to actually make money when u come to America. It’s not enough just to have a cool job. U gotta be able to come home with something to show for.

@Samuel Pavlovcik

To be fair the low outcome for the call for “architects” compared to the call for “engineers” could also be because “engineer” is a much more broad term... everyone from data architects to civil engineers was on that other post.

Thought I do recognize that like most creative fields, architects don’t think much about money, and most of us are not in it for the money... vying to save money and just designing for the most income producing properties is not really as sexy as a working for a START-Architectural firm for a fraction of our worth compared to other professionals in the field of design and building.

@Jason H.

I’m currently an architectural designer.

I got interested in Real Estate after I realized I can’t make as much as I want o make an as architect.

There’s this understanding ( the architecture profession is for affluent ppl) as an immigrant, I actually need to make money to survive and to send back home in forms of gifts as well in the form of leading development in my home villages.

The goal is to Brr until I can replace my income,

Once my income is replaced I can then quit my job and design the projects I actually want to design. Which is institutional infrastructure/ buildings that will further my ppl... I

Comunity centers, schools, water wells, energy farms.... it might be a bit too ambitious, but even if I just accomplish portion of my goals, it’ll still be a victory.

SO, in the end, THE COMBO OF REAL ESTATE AND BUILDING DESIGN AND PLACE MAKING IS JUST WHAT I NEED.

@Chris Seveney

Thanks you. That’s also very helpful