I initially planned for $60k in repairs and it ended being $80kLessons learned?

Out of desperation, I cobbled together my own way of staying on top of tenants, leases, and repairs.

They have had repairs through the years including roof replacements, AC replacements and one having foundation repairs.

It’s definitely a balancing act — owners want to protect their investment, but holding too tightly to outdated assumptions (like 2021 rent levels or tenant demand) can end up costing more in the long run.I’ve found the best approach is setting clear expectations upfront with a manager: define thresholds where the manager can act without approval (like minor repairs or small rent adjustments) and bigger decisions that require owner sign-off.

Turns out there are some low spots, and now I’m dealing with costly repairs.

That way if there’s turnover, a bad tenant, or an unexpected repair, you’re not scrambling.

We decided to keep that tenant.After we took ownership, the remaining tenant started making multiple repair requests—bathroom, windows, and also suspected mold.

Whether it be Taxes or property repairs, maintenance, capex, reserves are crucial to ensure your property stays afloat. 

And I didn’t even see it coming.One of my rentals had an urgent repair.

We teach real skills, create job opportunities, and even help families with low-income or free repairs when possible.