All Forum Posts by: Ryan R.

To echo Cal. C, don't worry about reaching a number of properties by a ceratin date. Set your goals based on metrics that indicate the value of a deal; how much equity it will hold, how much it will cash flow, how long you can hold it and anticipated appreciation.

When a prospective property meets the metrics, go for it. But don't buy a deal just because it's time to buy another house. 

Ian, this is easy. Go to your doctor and get a note for an EST (Emotional Support Tenant). Just like the tenant, you have rights to have a renter who supports and comforts your emotions. Any tenant who attempts to cause emotional harm to their landlord can be sued; even just writting about it on the internet is cause for legal damages!! 

Some of you folks need to get a life.

I second the BuildDirect.com. I order through them and pick it up at their Dallas warehouse for free. 

I'm not too familiar with furnaces but I had a similar issue with a heat-pump system. 

Everything seemed to be working except the air handler would not cycle and blow air. 

"VERY CAREFULLY" you can try spinning the fan motor with your hand to start it up. This requires taking the cover off your unit if you know how to do that. You have to spin it in the correct direction so try both ways if you are unsure. If the fan motor starts spinning, then it is a bad capacitor. 

The capacitor stores energy and helps supply enough power when the fan is called to engage. With the filter in, there may not be enough power for the fan to start, where as with the filter removed it doesnt require as much energy and it is starting. 

An indication of a failed capacitor is it will be bulged out on the sides. They are around $20 for a new one. The Capacitor is normally right near the fan motor and wires will run from it to the motor. 

Here is an example. The little square box with wires is the Cap. 

*As with any electrical repair, make sure you cut power at the panel before replacing the capactor. 

The key to getting results from cold calling are simple; make lots and lots of calls. You seem to already have that figured out. Your calls/meetings/closing ratio looks pretty good in my opinion. 

You definitely need to follow-up with the non-contacted targets and those you left messages for but never received a call-back. I would keep going through my list until every target was contacted. 

Keep hitting the elusive ones every 3 months or so until you make contact. If you are leaving messages, change the intent of your message each time you contact them. The second message you leave them may be to ask if they would be interested in buying one of your properties that is nearby. Maybe one of your messages is to ask if they have contractor recommendations or if they too are experiencing vacancy. 

Just keep softly hitting them a few times a year; phone call or letter etc. Things change, they may not be interested in selling now, but when they have to spend $10,000 on a new roof in 6 months, they may have wished they had that gentlemans number that called them asking to buy that property.

Oh, how many times I've run this scenario through my head. There are lots of variables to consider; size of room, percent of walls covered by cabinets, baseboard and flooring transition. 

In a perfect world, I prefer paint as the very last trade. 

 It's even more mesmerizing seeing it come up so easy after you've spent hours on your hands and knees trying methods such as heating it with a torch and pouring boiling water on it.

You don't have to heat it up. You just need one of these. It vibrates back and forth and you push it. It takes some heft to push it along but I did a 20'x14' room in about an hour. I rented it for around $30.

Here's a video: Scraper

 Capricious and arbitrary, indeed. 

I'll raise my hand. My first one was a complete gut and the second floor was so bad it had to be completely removed and rebuilt. I did a ton of the work myself and it was a great learning experience; but yeah, there were plenty of times I thought to myself "what did I get myself into". http://youtu.be/gwfjHS60SC0

This looks like a great opportunity to show members how it's done. Keep us updated as you progress.