All Forum Posts by: Scott P.

@Anthony Wick I haven't had one break but I did have one start to wobble and the are more more thing to have to clean between tenants.  

My response to the OP though does say that I'd allow it under the conditions I listed.

I would want to approve the make/model of the fan so that I could decide if I though the quality was okay and not cause me a long term problem, and then I'd get the license # (and I'd probably look it up on my state website), and the I'd ask for a receipt saying they are paid in full including the receipt for the fans, and then...believe it or not...I might actually reimburse the tenant for them if I like them and think other tenants would like them.  The license would be very important to me.  

Believe it or not, this is my standard response to good tenants who want screen doors, etc.  

I would not give a rent reduction for this.

I haven't had any problem with this approach.

I have had problems with tenants who wanted to paint though.  They tend to paint things like doorknobs along with everything else.  

@Joseph Weisenbloom, if you have time, could you tell us how the situation turned out?

I mostly agree w/the other posters.  I'll add that a house tends to get a family w/children because of space needs while a duplex will tend to get seniors and singles and couples - if it's 2 bedrooms.  If it's 2 baths and 2 beds you'll attract roommates.  

In my area a duplex rents for more $ total than a typical SFR.

I wish I would have kept data through they years on turnover.  I feel like a duplex would have more turnover but I can't say for sure.

I'm happy with Sherwin Williams.  (I have no connection or interest in the company.)

My advice would be:

1. If you don't choose exterior painters often, choose someone reputable using references you trust and/or online ratings.  Choose a more expensive person who's known for quality and learn from them.  Then in the future you could use that knowledge and perhaps try someone different.

2. Spend the $ to prepare the surfaces according to the manufacturer's directions and the contractor's recommendations.

3.  Use the highest quality caulk and paint you can afford.  The key is to spend money on this as rarely as possible.  So do use good quality the first time on exteriors.

Good luck!

@Patrick Snyder  I may have given a confusing response...I've never been a landlord in a jurisdiction that requires rental properties to be registered.  So, I've never incurred a cost to register one, or have it inspected, etc.

I've had multiple units 2.5-3 hours away.  I NEVER showed without an application - but I didn't charge a fee for those applications either.  I politely explained that I'd never had a no show for a showing from anyone who took time to fill out the application.  

I might take a 3 pronged approach:

1. I'd respond only to neighbors who contacted me directly.  I'd listen, then talk the background check, agree I don't want to own in a neighborhood w/crime, assure them I feel terrible for them (plus my own finances) and basically tell them I don't want this to happen again.

2. I'd ask them to refer someone.

3.  I might pick a top dollar price that would make it worth my while to sell and verbally give than to anyone who asked but I wouldn't list w/a realtor.  I'd sell for that price "as is" if I got an offer.  

Otherwise, as long as the neighborhood allows rentals and there's "good cash flow" I'd carry on.

Yuck! I'm sorry to hear you're having these problems.

If I was in this situation, I suppose I'd go with my gut feeling on whether or not the PM got fooled legitimately somehow, or not.  If not, or if I had standards that I didn't think the PM was meeting, then I'd end the relationship and get a new one.  It comes down to whether or not you want to give them another chance.

@Sophia Berry "Buildable" means different things...

1st, take the name of the subdivision and the address of the nearest home to whoever has jurisdiction for Planning and Zoning. If you're unsure who this is, call the County Government. They should be able to tell you if it is them or some City, like maybe the City of Lithonia. You might call that City also to be sure they agree. Planning/Zoning can tell you what the lot is zoned for, for example they may say "R1" which probably means a SFR. Ask them if the Lot is "buildable" and if it is a flood plain.

2nd call the Building Department that has Jurisdiction.  The PLanning/Zoning folks can tell you who that is.  Ask them if the Lot is "buildable."

I suspect both of these will say "yes."

3rd Ask the seller of the lots for copies of the "Setbacks" and the "Covenants and Restrictions" for the neighborhood.  The Setbacks are shown on a drawing and should show the boundaries of the lots and things like an "easements" which is an area you can build a house on - but you can probably put a driveway on.  There may be an easement for drainage in a "swale" that you would not be allowed to build on.  I would suspect that a drainage easement would be the likely risk in my area.  Water will flow through that easement area during heavy rains.

The Seller and your realtor should be able to give you some sense of why those lots are leftover.  It could be for financial reasons.  Or maybe there is something about them, like these easements, that make them undesirable.

I suspect these lots are buildable as far as the parties above are concerned or they would not have been platted as homesites in a subdivision.

The 4th thing to check is sewer.  If there is a sewer system in the subdivision it's likely that all is fine; however, if people there have septic systems then you'll need to check with whoever has jurisdiction for that, probably a Health Department in the County.  Those folks will tell you the soil requirements.  Normally there is a way to get a septic systems for most soils but some are much more expensive than others.

The 5th thing to check is driveway access permit at the County Highway Dept or City Street dept.  I suspect getting a driveway permit will be easy or it would not have been platted as a subdivision.

AT that point you'll probably have an answer.

You could also as a Builder/General Contractor about considerations for building there.  A Builder is the first stop for most people as the Builder typically pulls the building permit and takes care of all this stuff.  Your main concern before buying is that the buildable space on the lot will allow you to fit the home you want, plus a driveway, septic system if needed, etc.

In my area an Architect would be optional and an Engineer (Professional licensed Engineer) would likely not have a role, his work already being done when the subdivision was originally platted.

A surveyor's role would typically only be to use the subdivision setbacks/easement drawings which are on file at the City or County to determine the actual physical lot boundaries - and those all important easements - and set out stakes or flags so that you can visually see where your boundaries area.  He would be responsible for getting those in the right place.