All Forum Posts by: Michael Geoffroy

I have had it with GfH, about to dump them. I have had messaging problems, calendar sync problems(literally the most basic thing they are supposed to do), and now it will not save notes on the calendar so I cannot recall why I blocked times as unavailable. 

What platform do folks recommend as an improvement from GfH and what should I know before I leave the platform?

I am onboarding my 3rd STR next month and refuse to be held hostage by GfH any longer.

I feel kidnapped.

1st year, but my North Georgia mountain house is set for my best 2 months in October and November, exceeding July. We have a big leaf chaser season and is proving true. December is lighter but already booked late December to New Year's at a big premium. I have been using Pricelabs and have a 3-day minimum. Great topic, I love hearing the feedback. 

Spot on advise. This can't be emphasized enough. I speak with alot of closing attorneys and hear of a near miss catastrophes related to wire fraud all the time. The amount of fraud is increasing exponentially.  I believe the wiring system will have to be replaced in coming years.

Go meet the folks at your bank and your closing attorneys office. Smile and shake a hand. Put a face with a name. Then, when it is time to close sit with one party and call the other to triple check everything. In the age of deep fake, do more than recognize a voice. Give someone a nickname or tell a funny story you can ask about later. Haven't tried the last part yet, just a thought. 

Michael Geoffroy

All of this is just my opinion, not legal advise.

You have 3 options:

a. Continue to run improperly zoned duplex and hope you don't get caught,

b. Contact a real estate attorney and attempt to rezone,

c. Sell it.

I would at least get an estimate from the attorney and see how difficult the rezone would be. If there are lots of rentals and/or other duplexes in the neighborhood,  you may be able to rezone fairly easily.

Michael 

PS. You can't sue a real estate agent in Georgia for anything under agency law, they owe you almost no duty of honesty or work quality.

I opened my mountain vacation STR in April 2023 using PL and Guesty management software. I like PL and agree with @Brooklyn McCarty that it takes some tinkering. I also pay alot of attention to Podcasts and Youtube that is data based from folks like PL and AirDNA. So many factors go into success, hard to see what are your kees to better efficiency and higher revenue. Get into the weeds of pricing. I just finished using Intellihost after hearing about it on a Podcast to improve my listing. Changed minimum night booking over time, cleaning fee and listing language as a result. About to consider allowing dogs or dogs and cats, what is pet fee, etc. Utilizing the enemy method hearing and reading/listening to everything I can on this point. I recommend you start with the enemy method, find your successful competitors and mimick their best strategies.

Not a book but Robuilt series on YouTube by Rob Abasolo and AirDNA Podcast are great.

I am a Georgia attorney/investor. If you need a referral to understand your legal options, I can give you some names. The advice about visiting is good. The builder may also have committed a crime you can report to the police, https://law.justia.com/codes/g... OCGA § 16-8-15. Conversion of Payments for Real Property Improvements. This post is not legal advice as I do not practice in this area and we do not have an attorney-client relationship. Good luck.

Mandy Moyer (678) 855-0880. She specializes in estate planning and probate. I have known her professionally for years.

White. But you knew that already ;)

Strict underwriting is key, stick to your guns. I use RELATIVE VALUE in markets when values are changing rapidly(now moving up) is to consider relative value, that is would you trade 2 of these properties for 1 of that property. Makes you break down typical factors like income, FMV, expense, cost of replacement. But also lets you look at less tangible factors such as location, potential appreciation, aesthetics in a way that is separate from the changing dollar value.

I recently had an opportunity to buy a property for $250k, but it was difficult to value One thing I realized was that I would have happily traded 2 (easier to value) properties I owned worth $150k apiece for the new one. This was not my entire underwriting, but relative value is a great tool.