All Forum Posts by: Valerie Hiscoe

Hi Tiffany 

I'd suggest starting with

www.Biggerpockets.com/StartHere

Then up to the top under the education tab you'll find 'Guides'. I'd start with the 'Ultimate Beginner's Guide'.

If you do a 'Search' for Real Estate License you'll get lots of interesting opinions on the benefits of having a license in the blog posts as well as the forums, the biggest drawback probably being that it might distract you from getting started investing. It's not necessary to have a license to be successful.

Welcome to Bigger Pockets.  Glad you found your way here!

Lights both dusk-to-dawn and motion detectors.

Adding a bathroom is great.  Losing a bedroom is very very bad. Don't do it.  Two bedroom condos are desireable,  two bedroom houses are not. I'm not from your area so I may be wrong but let a trusted realtor, familiar with the area, give you the input on that decision.

That being said, if you can steal a closet or some space from one, ideally on a wall that backs the plumbing-filled wall of your existing bathroom, to make a half bath either as a guest powder room or master 'ensuite', you're laughing.

Although the eviction would have felt very sad, it was probably the best thing for them. You've freed them from a weight that they would have been unlikely to able to escape from under themselves.

I saw a couple of posts this week from a designer giving tips, tricks, and lessons on what to put into a property - and although her photos were from an 80 unit new building in New York, I think yours are even better.  I especially like that you've taken the initiative to get good photographs.

What colour are your walls by the way?  The color isn't very accurate on my laptop or phone and I'm curious.

I have to seriously start learning about auctions and short sales, etc.  They don't really have that kind of thing here and I've got to figure out where to buy next.

Good luck with your close!

Especially if you have mature trees on the property, you'd want to inspect lines that were that age if you were keeping the property.

If sewer line problems were a common occurrence in the neighborhood and having had them checked could be used as a selling feature, great.

In other words, no, don't do it. If you find out there's a problem you'll be at least morally obligated to fix or disclose it, neither which will net you another penny.

Your plumber works with homeowners more than flippers so the advice, though good, doesn't apply to you.

There is always a 'range' of rental prices and the more you can keep your property at the top of that range, the more likely you are to have tenants who don't want to risk losing their place by missing their rent or other undesirable behaviour. Make sure that your rental ad includes highly marketable photos and charge just a little bit more than you think.  The worst that can happen is you have to drop the rent a bit.

Allende, your situation seems all too familiar.  I was in a similar position buying a property in Phoenix from Vancouver.  They used my inexperience as a means to intimidate me by being condescending and the fact that I was female made it all that much easier for them.  I went through tens of thousands of dollars and the work wasn't even DONE, never mind charged for correctly.

In the hope that you are not already contractually obligated to use this company, I would ask for bids from other contractors.  Even if you are obligated, I would get bids for an independent breakdown of pricing.  If you end up, for whatever reason, going with the company you have, then it is probably in your best interest to hire someone knowledgeable to check on your property weekly to see if progress is actually being made or just talked about.  I would absolutely follow up with @Zach Mitchell as well who so kindly offered to look at your property and who might have a referral or two to suggest.

The fact that they brought out the "we have doctors and lawyers..." line is a huge red flag to me. And that they even questioned you asking about a breakdown of YOUR money.  Who would even do that?  Not a trustworthy professional if you ask me.

I'm not sure what you mean. Does that mean you need a contractor in Copalis Beach? Does it mean you know one you'd like to refer? 

Your posting is so broad that it may not get a lot of response.

If you're new to Bigger Pockets then Welcome! Have you gone to the www.BiggerPockets.com/starthere ? 

Welcome Chelsea!

Sounds like you've got a great foundation to start living the lifestyle you plan.  Best of luck!