All Forum Posts by: Tim Kaminski

@Steve McGovern  It's an elevated property about 2' from street level.  I don't think it will drain perfectly but shouldn't be too big of a concern.  Maybe create a swale on the end that is still dirt.

The annoying thing about South Florida lawns are not water amounts, we get plenty during summer.  Its the amount of fertilizations and pest treatments you have to do on it throughout the year to keep diseases and such away.

@Dean H.Have any pictures of how this turned out?  Any estimate on cost?

@Matthew Paul Only thing is the cost of turning this back into a lawn.  I don't want to install irrigation and South Florida lawns are VERY intensive to keep DECENT

@JingJing He That was probably a bad idea, sure.  Just a lot of broken up slabs that make everything look worse.

Hard to understand what you're trying to say.  Are you saying to paint within the metal fence and plant vines on the metal fence?  That is interesting but I REALLY hate chain link fences.  Houses in neighborhood have wood fences that look nice and chain link just screams cheap.

@Steve McGovern great point.  Should be much more concerned with water drainage at this stage.  House has already been inspected but it rained a bit today and it pooled slightly towards middle of way but had nothing near foundation.  I think my best bet at this point would be to swing by for the next big rain as I can't really just show up and flood their yard with a hose.
So if I see any issues with water drainage, next step would be to possibly break up some of these areas and create a concrete swale for this area?  Thanks for feedback

Its an old google maps image.  All the weeds are gone and the ramp on the side is gone.  Removing all the concrete and putting in turf sounds expensive for the amount that I would do.

@Matthew Paul  I'd give a rough estimate at one long side of the yard being 20X50 and the "Front being around 15X8

@Dean H.So you are saying to pull it all out and turf it? and put 1' of rock in area around the house? 

Hello,

Did a quick search and didn't see anything like this similar so here we are.

I am currently under contract to purchase my first Duplex in Mid February.  Its a corner lot with both a shed and a carport.  The question I would like help with is what do do with the yard.  It is ALL concrete.  The old owners seemed to fill in the areas around the built pathways with concrete.  What is left is a multi color, rough, cracking concrete yard.

 Not just that but there is falling chainlink fencing surrounding the property, all in the concrete.  The chainlink needs to go regardless but I was wanting to go wood fence to make it look nicer.  Was hoping to get suggestions or feedback from investors who have dealt with similar properties. Area is probably C+/B- and headed up.  

I was thinking either:

• SawZall the metal pole frames as close to the concrete as I can and just try to throw some concrete on top to smooth over these spots.  Keep concrete yards but try to smooth it over with a thin coat over the rougher areas and give it one solid paint color.

OR

• Break up the concrete with jackhammer, leaving the concrete under the carport and cutting out pathways to the doors.  These gaps would be filled with some type of low maintenance, decent looking, gravel/turf.   Not sure how turf will look but if it looks halfway decent then it is worth it.

OR

(Your Suggestion Here)

Thanks!

Thomas S. Yes but with a term lease, if they leave early, you can take legal action against them. They signed a legal document saying they would stay until said date. Would think that with a M2M they would give you even less heads up as it is a flimsy lease. There is also the threat of unloading a tenant during winter when most landlords would rather not be signing tenants. Not a problem for myself in Florida but still.

Closing on my first property in February and this posts were very informational for me.

@Jennifer Jacobs Do recommend getting a CPA right off the bat for your first property or can I handle it via Quickbooks?

@George Skidis I haven't seen anyone mention your point about filing for a an owner occupied exemption before.  That is something that would be in most states? Would that just reduce Property Taxes for as long as you live there?

@Thomas S.  Are you concerned about tenants leaving prematurely though?  Would think that would give tenants opportunity to leave sooner.  At least with a term lease they are stuck with you for a bit and you can time your vacancies.