All Forum Posts by: Marelyn Valdes

https://frontrunner-mccc.s3.amazonaws.com/migrate/...

Give at least 15 days before the end of the month notice to vacate.  If she's not out by the end of the month, then you file this (put in your own county):   https://frontrunner-mccc.s3.amazonaws.com/migrate/Fillable_Complaint_to_evict30.pdf  

I have a great handyman (retired contractor) in Ocala.  He does a majority of my repairs/upgrades and if he can't do something, he usually knows someone good and inexpensive to do it.  Used him for over 10 years and he is very honest and has a helper who is also a hard worker.  Message me if you want his number and to get an estimate.  He has tiled floors and walls, installed kitchen and bath cabinets, replaced facia boards, replaced windows, painted, installed doors and drywall, etc.  He also knows most of the local companies, including Home Depot and Lowes, so gets discounts or great deals.

Before you spend all that money on furnishing it, consider checking out local online auctions or local auctions.  In Ocala, there are several local auction companies (some at auction house and some are estate auctions at a house/condo).  I can pick up nice appliances for $50 - $100 each and quality furniture (like Drexel) goes cheaply - so why buy new?  Box lots of linens, kitchenware, dishes - some for well under $10 per lot.  Most also take credit cards.  

I used to prefer Home Depot, but since they got so stingy on giving the veteran's discount, I now buy a lot more at Lowes.  I still get custom order windows, Behr paint, and a few other items at HD.  Just did a large ceramic tile order at Lowes, got $20 delivery and the pro desk gave a huge discount - then I got the 10% veterans discount on top of that with 24 months 0% interest promo.  HD does not like to stack any promos with their discounts....  My Home Depot is literally across the street from Lowes (who also ended up giving me all new stainless kitchen appliances at less than half price a few months ago - with free delivery and 18 months 0% interest promo).  You just have to shop around and a lot of times it's the store manager who makes the difference.

Welcome to investing in Ocala!  I have a few investment rentals in the area and there is always a large number of people looking to rent anything $1,000 or less, especially if you take a pet.  I do allow pets (require renter's liability on some breed dogs), since most tenants will sneak them in anyway.  

I moved to Ocala from Tampa in 2003 and you really have to know the neighborhoods before you invest.  One of my requirements is that I can visit the property by myself safely.  I try to stay away from the Springs and Marion Oaks areas in general, although there are some decent areas.  A few blocks can make a big difference in safety and the type of tenants you attract.  If you check out the Ocala rental groups on Facebook you see people begging for anything under $1,000 a month or that takes a pet, so it's an owner's market.  Building is going on everywhere in the area, which is good for investors, but it's also making it harder to find quality repair people who come when needed.  Levy County (just west of Ocala) also has a severe rental shortage.  Welcome to Ocala!

I use Lissette Duran-Martinez at Homerun Realty in Ocala to find investment properties and she emails me new listings fitting my criteria as they come onto the MLS. I am also listing a MH property with her to sell and she found financing.

Hello @Ryan Menard and welcome to BP.  I am also an investor in Ocala and Levy County.

@Carolyn Morales , have you reported it to the local Board of Realtors?  I would make screenshots and send them to the BOR.

I personally would pay the $500 deductible and get a release signed by them stating you are not admitting any liability, but paying it as an act of good will.  If there was any negligence on your part, the tenant's auto insurance company would sue you to recover whatever they paid the tenant.  I avoid having any claims filed, whether paid by insurance or not, unless they are large. The insurance company will list it as a claim and raise your rates or non-renew your policy, which is a much bigger hassle than paying the $500 and having a happy tenant.