All Forum Posts by: NA Jones

howdy neighbor! Welcome to BP!

We have a family of 4, and I was told a family of 4-6 should have the tank pumped annually.  Every 2 years max.

There are a lot of things they should be doing to maintain your system that as tenants they are likely not doing.   Dumping coffee grounds or grease down the drain, using powdered detergents (both laundry and dish) and flushing feminine hygiene products are killer on your septic system.  

Here is the tax records for Maryland.  Choose Harford (or whatever) county, and search by street address.  Then put in the house number and first part of the street name.  

http://sdat.resiusa.org/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx

I'll have a go at this.  Disclaimer:  KW holds my license ;)

The number one complaint I'm used to hearing is about communication.  "My agent never calls me back."   Buying or selling, whoever the agent is, the client is always pissing and moaning about never getting called back.  

Now that I'm licensed, I realize there's a fine line between wasting time communicating with unmotivated clients and being available when the clients become motivated.  I almost lost clients once because I didn't want to seem pushy or waste my time when they weren't ready to list yet, but then when they were ready they decided I was the non-communicative type.  The reality couldn't be further from the truth.  I've also realized that the people complaining about agents not calling them back were 9 times out 10 unqualified buyers.

I have a listing coming very soon in Edgewood, Maryland - gorgeous turn key detached rancher 3/2.  

If you want more details, let me know :)

If I had to throw an estimate out there, I'd say around 25-35 - on top of my 40 hour a week non REI job. I spend 5 hours a week on BP (it's probably closer to 10, but we'll go 5) 10 or so hours in MLS looking for deals, looking at deals, data mining and doing market research, 5+ hours a week previewing potential buy, rehab, hold/sell properties and another 15 hours or so a week providing buyer and seller service as an agent to build capital and gain experience.

I think about REI 24/7 though! ;)

Hi @Toshia T.  - welcome to Bigger Pockets!  We're practically neighbors :)  I actually have a listing coming to market in the next few weeks in Edgewood.  

Sorry to hear you are underwater on your mortgage, but depending on when you bought and what your payment is, this area has a pretty decent rental market.  A good property manager is essential though and I can't stress how important it will be for you to properly vet your tenants.  This area is not one that you can get away with slacking in that department.  :)

Best of luck to you! :)

Howdy neighbor, and welcome to BP! :)

I had no intention of telling my full time employer about my real estate endeavors.  Then I downloaded an app that hijacked all of my contacts and sent them unsolicited spam email about how I was a licensed Realtor and to contact me for all of their needs.  I spent the next three days explaining to my boss, my team and colleagues, and all of our customers that yes, I was newly licensed but no, I had no intention of leaving my current position to pursue a new career and that while I was open to helping them if they wanted to buy or sell a house, the email was unintentional.  A lot of my colleagues thought it was deliberate and had no qualms about telling me how inappropriate and unprofessional they thought I was for me to "market" my new "business" to them.  It was a NIGHTMARE.  

Thankfully, the dust from all that mess has settled. The fact that I am licensed is in the back of everyones mind. One coworker comes to me to talk about his homeowning aspirations. I share our endeavors with another coworker, because we talk a lot and he sees me post RE related things on the Book of Face. Other than that, no one knows about our latest REI stuff because no one cares. My boss is in another country, and no one else in my office gives two craps about what I do outside of work :)