All Forum Posts by: Micah White

I’ve run into this exact situation before with property managers. It’s pretty common for them to avoid showings while a tenant is still in place (to avoid complaints, mess, or liability issues), but not advertising ahead of time is usually a red flag. Most good PMs will at least start marketing the unit 30–60 days before move-out so that by the time it’s vacant, you already have applications coming in.

In my own rentals, that overlap has made the difference between a smooth transition and sitting on a vacant unit for weeks. Every week a unit sits empty is money lost.

If it were me, I’d push back and ask them why they won’t at least put up a “coming soon” listing. If they stick to their policy, I’d definitely start interviewing other management companies — not necessarily to switch immediately, but to see what your options are. A good PM should be proactive about minimizing vacancy.

Check for running toilets!!!!

That’s awesome you’re diving into this at 20 — starting early gives you a huge advantage. Since you’re still in college, the best things you can work on right now are:

• Education & networking: Keep learning the fundamentals (financing, deal analysis, market cycles) and connect with investors in your area or online.

• Financial foundation: Focus on building credit, saving aggressively, and keeping your debt-to-income ratio clean. That’ll give you options for loans later.

• Market knowledge: Pick a few submarkets you’re interested in (industrial and multifamily are great) and start tracking rents, sale prices, and cap rates so you develop an eye for what’s a good deal.

• Skills: Since you’re already curious, try getting hands-on experience — internships with a brokerage, working for a property manager, or even shadowing investors can give you real-world reps.

What not to do early on:

• Don’t rush into a deal just to “get started” — bad deals can set you back years.

• Don’t assume appreciation will bail you out — always buy for cash flow and fundamentals.

• Don’t go it alone — mentors and peers will save you expensive mistakes.

Biggest beginner advice: treat this like a long game. The fact you’re starting the research in your early 20s means you can make small, smart moves now that compound massively by the time you’re 30.

Welcome, and thank you for your service! Exciting that you’re jumping into your first rental within the next few months — software engineers tend to have a great analytical approach to deal analysis, which will serve you well.

I’m also based in Chicago and focus on small multifamily and value-add deals. Happy to connect over coffee or a call to share what I’ve learned so far (the wins and the mistakes). BiggerPockets is a great place to find like-minded investors, and it sounds like you’re approaching this with the right mindset.

Tagging you here so we can stay in touch! @Jovany Espinoza

Welcome, Brandi! Always great to see more investor-friendly agents active here, especially in the Chicagoland market. Your background in marketing and ops is a big plus — that skill set is huge for finding and positioning deals.

I’m also focused on small multifamily and value-add opportunities in Chicago, so it’s great to connect with someone who knows the local market and has off-market access. Curious — are you seeing more investor interest right now in the city proper, or has most of the demand shifted toward the northwest suburbs?

Looking forward to learning from your insights and hopefully connecting on deals down the road.

Welcome back! Sounds like you’ve made a ton of progress since your first BiggerPockets run — congrats on scaling to 5 properties and branching into STRs, that’s huge. I’m also focused on small multifamily here in Chicago, so I can definitely relate to the “valuable (and expensive) lessons” part.

Would love to connect and trade notes, especially around deal analysis and financial planning — always good to sharpen the numbers with other investors. Out of curiosity, what’s been your biggest lesson from shifting into STRs compared to LTRs?

Great questions — happy to help. Typically, most general contractors will provide a free estimate for a rehab project, especially if it’s a straightforward walk-through and scope discussion. However, if you’re asking for a detailed line-item breakdown, some contractors may charge a small fee, which is usually credited back if you move forward with them.

A good estimate should include:

• Scope of work (what’s included vs. not included)

• Materials (whether they’re supplying builder-grade, mid-range, or custom finishes)

• Labor costs

• Timeline for completion

• Permits/inspections (if required)

• Payment schedule

When reviewing estimates, it’s important to make sure you’re comparing “apples to apples.” For example, one contractor might include demo, disposal, and permits while another might not, which can make the numbers look different.

Getting 3 estimates is definitely a smart approach — it gives you a good feel for the market pricing and helps you see how different contractors communicate. Beyond cost, I’d also pay attention to how thorough they are, how quickly they follow up, and what their references say about their work.

Happy to help the search where I can!

Definitely harder with SFH. I'd look into investing in a 2-4 unit to start, that way you have a higher chance of cashflowing post move.

Welcome to the BP Forums, Marques! Glad that you're here. I personally think there are profitable deals everywhere, you just have to know where to look! I'd be happy to help you iron out your strategy and answer any questions you may have!