All Forum Posts by: Matthew Paul

 Materials are more like $185 a sq . Labor is not cheap , workers comp for roofers is crazy high , add in dump fees .   Profit to the company after all that is around 20% .   Not 450 a sq

 Boy things are cheap where you are . roof is $450 to $600 a sq depending on pitch here in Maryland 

The contractor usually provides the customer with a contract 

 Thats what insurance is for .  i have 2 properties that had wind damage , Both were covered , both same insurance company and this was 4 years ago and rates didnt go up much at all .  If you are not making claims all the time , you are fine .

DO NOT sign a contract with the roofer until its approved . 

If you have shingles missing , thats probably from wind or storm damage . Have a roofer give you their opinion , and make a claim on insurance . 

 Thats exactly what they all say , that they bring " Value"  to the table . Well at the end of the day its all about the $$$ . The first time you hear it , it sounds great , when you hear it 80 times , its a BS  sales pitch . A sign of being desperate . 

I now believe things are much slower for agents than I thought . First , there are only 3 houses for sale under $700K in my zip code  21146 . I am still getting 10 calls a day from agents , even as far away as 75 miles . They all are willing to be my savior . Tops in the industry . And all have buyers looking for a house in my neighborhood . 

So I tell them good , bring your buyer by and I will kick in 1% for a full price cash non contingent contract .  Then the explanation of ALL the HARD work they have to do and they need at least 2 % . So I tell them then tell the person you represent , who hired you to pay you . You work for them not me .  1% of something is better than 3% of nothing . And if things are so great go show your buyer the other 3 houses for sale , especially the 1 on the main highway , or the other thats a foreclosure and needs a full renovation . 

Sure I get it , Agents are in sales , and you have to get a deal to close . But I have had no less than 85 different agents try to get my listing .  Too many agents going for  too little inventory . This puts a seller in the driver seat . 

When they ask "  Is this about the commission ? "   I tell them straight up , " Of course it is at 6% of $670k  thats close to 40 Grand . Sorry but thats not happening . You or any other agent isnt worth that , especially in a market with no inventory .   Yes its  about  money , you wouldnt be calling me if it wasnt would you ? 

If its constantly rented , then keep renting it , keep the cash rolling in . Do the repairs nessary to keep it going . There will be a point in time when it is beneficial to tear it down and go better . When is that ?  You will figure that out , but now is a bit risky .  I had a similar situation , I kept the house clean , neat and liveable for 10 years , when the last tenant moved out , full gut down to the studs rehab , everything new .  Those 10 years of rent more than paid for the improvements 

Bite the bullet and just replace it . get it done and over .  Tenants will plug in what ever they want .

Odd that its not selling . There is little inventory in Anne Arundel county in the nice areas . You say Annapolis , but Annapolis zip codes go out very far into the county , like Cape St Clair is an Annapolis zip . If its not selling its , location , price , or condition or a combination of all 3