All Forum Posts by: Marc Desrosiers

@Jared Ferguson

Congrats on your first deal.

Sometimes it gets crazy man but you just gotta keep pushing forward and trust your evaluation of the property. Or more specifically trust in yourself.

Don’t look at the whole scope of work all at one time. Instead focus on what you want to get done in a week, make a plan, and get it done.

@Jay Styles

It depends on what type of investment and/or your own ability to find houses.

I’m a licensed agent but not associated with any brokerage. I like the knowledge I got but I’d rather have someone else sell it. I’m not a sales person type.

With that said I’ve been contacting listing agents directly. Little extra motivation for them since they aren’t splitting the commission with a buyers agent.

When selling a house I like agents that can sell ice to an Eskimo or a ketchup popsicle to a woman wearing white gloves.

@Devin Thomas

I like using realtor.com for specific info like price history and taxes etc., Redfin for comps, and google earth for location with a little bit of Zillow thrown in.

The best email list would probably be Redfin for you, put in a search that would be entry level homes in your area. That way you’ll get emails when a property is updated. Gives you an idea of what finished houses go for and also for the few that slip through what you can expect to buy a fixer for.

@Devin Thomas

Just start slow. Get to know your market. Sign up for emails on new properties on home websites. Doesn't have to be the MLS to get started. This way you'll be familiar with what sells fast, for how much, in what style, and location.

@Ray T.

Is it just leaking from the flange at the base of the toilet or in the 3 or 4” pipe?

If it’s just leaking from the base just pull the toilet yourself and install a new wax ring. If flange is at finished floor height use a standard wax ring. If tile was laid down after flange was installed use an extra thick one. Easy.

@Jordan Lockaby

If you google search “(city/town) gis maps” you should find what your looking for. They’re called property cards.

Yeah it’s true.

Standard 2-3 bed septic systems with leaching fields I pay around 15k. I’ve heard bottomless sand filter systems run close to and over 30k.

Have you made sure there isn’t a sewer line right at the street and they aren’t tied in yet? I’m dealing with this on my next house.

It’s hard to know what kind of system you’ll need without a perk test. Or if there just isn’t enough room for a standard system.

This is in Rhode Island but what I usually do to try and make an educated guess at it is check the DEM website. In RI all the OWTS compliance certificates are available online. So I can look at who has a system already installed on the street. Then I literally drive by and look in peoples back yards. Or maybe google earth. This will give you an idea if there’s good perk tests in the area or a bunch of ledge or something  

Mass should have something very similar to the RI DEM website. Google “ri septic lookup” to check it out.

You would need proof of funds from the HM lender. 
In Rhode Island it's a Purchase and Sales agreement with the proof of funds letter for the paperwork. I'm not sure what the equivalent to the P&S would be in California though.

I worked full time plus commute while fixing my first house. Took a little over a year. It was always the plan to leave the job but about 2 weeks before I was done I got fed up and never came back from lunch.

That was almost 5 years ago.

I noticed a lot of people on here are more towards the investor side. While I do finance a large chunk of each project I also do almost all the work.

Any others like me?

I know this isn't sustainable for the long term. I need to start taking steps for an exit strategy. I really like the idea of a BRRRR. Instead of doing single family houses to be able to do unit by unit and renting as I go. Cash out and move on until I get to a point I wont have to do anymore.