All Forum Posts by: Victor N.

I allow section 8 and I've been lucky so far with my section 8 tenants. If this is something you do not want, then can deny renting to a section 8 tenant based on your standard selection criteria.

or better yet, let the apt fail the section 8 inspection which in my area is very thorough. This way, your are out with no possible legal recourse against you. The inspection will fail for serious items like dead battery in a smoke detector or trivial items like missing 1 screw on a outlet or switch cover plate.

Faill the inspection and they will advise the tenant to move out! No one can come after you then!

@George C. thanks for the tip, specially the one regarding asking to use the neighbor's garden hose. The tank of water might also help in case there are no willing neighbors or their hose is not long enough. My plumber is great in that regard. He doesnt turn on the water until he is happy that there are no leaks. We use a compressor to test the plumbing and also to test the heating ( radiators) line.

@Bryan L. and @John M. , in the northeast or at least in CT, things are not easy. The electric company is easier to deal with because the meters are outside. So all you need to do is shut down the main breaker.

Gas is a different story, you must be present for at least 2 reasons. 1) let the technician in since the meters are usually in the basement ( there are a few meters outside now probably after renovations). 2) They do not want to turn on the gas without being able to test for gas leaks or carbon monoxide. They require someone over 18 be present. They will not go inside the house by themselves even if a key is provided.

For most bank owned properties I've seen, the city shuts down the water at the street and removes the meter. I assume they had been empty for a long time. Regarding the shut off valve, I usually replace the old compression valves ( proned to leaks) with a ball valve or add one if there's none.

@Matthew Paul and @Daniel Raposo , you guys are correct and this is why I usually do my own inspections. But this time, I chose a professional for a couple of reasons:

1) its a very old house ( built late 1800s) so I wanted to make sure I was not missing any major issues

2) this is the real reason I did the inspection... I wanted to use the inspection report to negotiate the price down!

Inspector found an old , no longer in use, underground oil tank ( I already knew about it when I checked the house with my realtor), foundation issue ( I also knew that) and collar ties issue ( in the attic... I knew something was not right but didnt know exactly what)

So based on those major issues, my options were to walk away or ask the bank to reduce the price. I asked for a price reduction. I should hear back from them very soon. The way I look at it is that the money I spent on the inspection is an investment and hopefully I will make a pretty hefty return on it ( price paid for inspection Vs discount from bank).

in CT, a contractor must be licensed to do any work worth more than $200. All jobs taken by a contractor require a contract. If something as simple as the start or end date of the job is missing, the contract cannot be enforced. If you were in CT, you could actually sue him and his license ( if he is licensed) could be suspended for not writing up a contract.

So as others have said, learn your state laws about mechanics lien but also learn the laws for GCs and home improvement contractors.

You will have to pay for the job he did. The question is how much? That number should be somewhere between what you think is right and what the contractor think you owe him.

I have a contract on a 2 family. I usually do the inspection myself but this time decided to pay a professional. No problem here. My problem is with the utility companies. Here in CT it is such a pain and monumental waist of time to have the electricity and gas turn on. They give you an all day appointment ( I mean all day!) so basically you "waist" an entire day waiting for them.

The inspection took place today but i need to wait a full week for the gas to be turned off and the account is under my name with all the potential liabilities of an empty house.

Do you guys/gals have a better strategy dealing with this situation?

If the LL did a gut reno as you say, then Im 99.9% sure that the place is insulated ( you need permits for gut reno and insulation is 1 thing that is checked). Now the quality of the insulation or soundproofing is a different issue.

The thing that you should keep in mind is that a family with kids is in a protective class and the LL could be in serious problems trying to give that family a hard time about their kids noise during day time. I dont see how a judge would be sympathetic to you and go against the family.

That being said, you should be able to enjoy your apt. Since your goal is to move to a quieter place, I suggest approaching the LL nicely but firmly and discussing your issues. You should probably break the lease but offer to look for someone to sublet the apt until the end of the lease.

If you move out without reaching an agreement, you will probably lose your security deposit and last month rent. The LL could also sue you to try to recoup lost rents ( to a certain extent) which could affect your credit. What im saying is that it is in your best interest to work things out with LL and then move out.

I agree with @Account Closed . 8-10 showings might not be a huge number but you should have received at least 1 call back... unless the prospective tenants did not like what they saw inside the apt. My guess is that the place doesnt show well! That is the difference between the empty apt you were able to rent right away and your unit.

Since you live in the apt, maybe the way its decorated, organized is not appealing to prospective tenants specially if there are other units available nearby. If you have bold colors, repaint in neutral colors, de-clutter the apt, clean the bath and kitchen, etc... Also, check your competition for price, condition and amenities. Finally, call back those who came and ask them nicely why they were not interested? You will hear it directly from them whether was the price, the condition, etc...

You can also post some flyers at the hospital ( in addition to the coffee shops etc). If its a teaching hospital, they will have new residents starting in June.

Good luck!

Welcome @Andrew Jambor , to the best real estate community where newbies and experienced investors come to learn or have their questions answered!

Im in the Meriden area so we are practically neighbors. Im closing on a deal soon. Stay in touch in case you would like to come by and learn a little bit about rehabbing...

You guys and gals are very lucky.

Prices are much higher in the northeast. I paid $3400 last year to replace the furnace of 1 apartment in a 2 family in CT. The quote was initially over $4k, then the contractor suggested going with a brand which was not one of the major brands. The other two quotes I received were over $5k.

I got lucky with the 2nd furnace because I signed up and paid for a service contract through the gas company ( cost $250) so they pretty much rebuilt the furnace for free when it wouldnt start.

Wanted to share a very recent experience ( a few days ago) with an unscrupulous listing broker.

A 2 family HUD home was listed by this agent who's office happened to be about an hour from the property and in a different county. The property showed active on the HUD website but showed "under deposit" on the mls ( / realtor.com). My agent who is very experienced with HUD properties contacted the listing broker who never returned his call. So my agent contacted the HUD office since he has worked with them on numerous occasions. Looks like HUD contacted the listing agent, then all of the sudden, the status of the property on the mls was changed to "active".

My agent believes that the listing agent might have had a client he was trying to hold the property for. So by showing the property as active, no one would show any interest. Also, the property taxes were exaggerated on the listing and finally, the listing agent noted in the description that the city had changed the zoning of the property from a 2 family to a single family ( asking - or scaring- buyers to do their due diligence).

Needless to say, all that didnt scare me and I just got the property under contract. Im curious to see if anyone has had similar experiences?