All Forum Posts by: Ryan Haines

@Kami S. makes sense to do what you are comfortable with. Good luck! Keep us updated on how things are going for you!

@Nikolas Ferreira that is a great suggestion. It is something that is definitely on my to do list!

@Kami S. it sounds like we have read some of the same book and have a similar commute! Are you looking to take on a rehab project as your first investment? I wish I could help you with some recommendations, but I do not yet have experience with the type of people you are looking for. I am sure if you continue on BP and going to meetings, you will have no trouble finding some reliable people to work with. If you were up for it, once you have found the right people and completed you first rehab, you could write a post about your experience (finding a good CPA & rehabber as well as everything else that went into your first investment). I would definitely be interested in reading about your experiences. Doing that would not only allow you to share your story with other people who are at a similar step in the process as you are, but I would imagine you would also get a lot of great feedback from seasoned BP investors. For projects (non RE related) I have done in the past, I would sit down before bed every night and just write a quick summary of any project related things I did that day. I plan on doing that for RE as well. It makes it much easier to go back and write detailed, relevant content when sharing your experiences!

Does the house have carpet or wood floors? If it has carpet, it is possible that the smell is not only coming from there, but also whatever foundation is under the carpet. It is defiantly possible that urine could have soaked through the carpet and into whatever foundation lies beneath. 

If there are wood floors, it is possible urine has soaked into the floors. Unfortunately, I would imagine that either scenario would require new flooring. 

Hopefully it is something else that will be an easier fix. As a dog owner I make sure to always do a thorough cleanup if an accident happens in the house in order to avoid the very scenario I just described. 

Good luck with your flip! I hope eliminating the odors proves to be a cheap and stress free task for you!

Hi Kami!

Thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself. 

Have you read anything recently that you thought was particularly useful or interesting? I am always looking for new material.

If you have not checked out the BiggerPockets podcasts already, I would highly recommend doing that. There is some really great material on there. 

I am interested to see what the responses will be to this.

I cannot speak to this particular case, but in my experience (outside of real estate), you get what you pay for. I would be especially cautious when dealing with insurance given the nature of the business and the impact it can have on your finances/investment. Again, I have zero experience in purchasing insurance for the scenario you are describing, just my two cents from experiences in other industries. 

I hope someone is able to lead you towards a reputable insurance provider that has "good and cheap" coverage. 

Good luck on your first rehab! Hope all goes well.  

Hi All,

My name is Ryan Haines. I am 23 years old and recently graduated from Texas A&M in May of 2015. I am currently living in Houston, TX and working for a small software company in The Woodlands, TX. My commute to work is about 30 miles each way, which has given me an excellent opportunity to listen to the BiggerPockets podcast on an (almost) daily basis. Outside of my full time job, I make a little extra income doing digital media marketing and web design. I have been doing digital media marketing for the last 4.5 years and plan to incorporate that skill into the real estate world once I get the ball rolling. I am currently working on building a real estate related website which I will not promote here because I read the rules :)

My real estate experience is currently very limited. In August of 2015 I had an offer accepted on a condo in Houston, TX, but my inspector found water damage that was not originally disclosed by the seller which ultimately lead to me backing out of the deal. Other than that, I have read forums, blogs, books, etc. and have had discussions with people in real estate as well as those wanting to become involved in real estate.

Since I have not yet become fully emerged in the real estate industry, I cannot say with complete certainty what my investing interests will be. Currently, I would say I am most interested in buy-and-hold rentals and fix and flip properties. I am interested in investing in Houston, TX, The Woodlands, TX, and College Station, TX. I would like to have invested in my first property by the end of the year whether that be a property I rent or flip, or a new home for my family. 

I have already learned a ton from lurking in the BiggerPockets forums and am looking forward to contributing to posts and getting the chance to have discussions with seasoned real estate investors!