Archive for January, 2008
Posted in January 29th, 2008
On the last post, Maria asked, “What made you pick this tenant over the other applicants?”
That’s fairly simple– if 5 tenants apply and all qualify, we pick the first who turned in the application. In this case, our new tenant applied and we continued to show the house and accept applications until the lease was signed. […]
Popularity: 14% [?]
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Posted in January 28th, 2008
The Magnolia House is Officially Done.
We know this is true as today is The Signing of the Lease Day (with the new tenants who seemed thrilled with everything that *is* finished.)Unofficially, closet poles still reside on the floor and the bathroom is missing a toilet paper holder and towel hooks. Oh, and a dryer vent […]
Popularity: 13% [?]
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Posted in January 27th, 2008
A few days back, Maria over at Rentals”R”Us shared her brother-in-law’s experience with holdover tenants in his newly purchased investment property. Her pictures are very cool and illustrate perfectly the type of unforeseen tenant issues that come up sometimes. Consequently, their dilemma was on my mind when I wrote for BiggerPockets this week.
The article’s posted over on […]
Popularity: 12% [?]
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Posted in January 24th, 2008
Too tired to write much–lots of running around rat-killing. The missing survey is now safely in possession and artistically arranged upon a mound of stuff.
Exhibit A:
Current state of mess in the office– note newly acquired survey in corner. Also note that surveys do not belong in piles atop dog crates.
Exhibit B:
Office Closet of Doom.
Exhibit C:
$200 […]
Popularity: 12% [?]
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Posted in January 23rd, 2008
Once upon a time I was organized. Then a mean ol’ tree landed on our home, rainwater spewed over my closing documents, the file cabinet from Walmart leaked and what do you know… no more organization.
During our refugee days, organization consisted of keeping papers in color-coded laundry baskets where wet papers were left to dry following […]
Popularity: 13% [?]
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Posted in January 22nd, 2008
This property is still on the market and I’ve been rolling ideas around, trying to come up with something to make the place profitable without depleting our cash reserves completely.
So I’m standing at the kitchen sink, washing the icky-ness from the breakfast dishes, see? Minding my own business, see? And like a dufus, I notice […]
Popularity: 15% [?]
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Posted in January 19th, 2008
Personally, I’m getting tired of all the sky-is-falling economic stuff we’re subjected to every day from every quarter.
This latest article for BiggerPockets takes a decidedly glass-half-full point of view, so if you’re interested, the article’s here.
Popularity: 12% [?]
Popularity: 12% [?]
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Posted in January 18th, 2008
Terry at Fixer Uppers and Rental Houses has written a great resource for new investors titled, “Fix ‘em Up, Rent ‘em Out.” I wrote up a full review here, but wanted to give it another mention is case anyone missed it during the holiday shuffle.
Most REI investment books are Fruit Loops for breakfast.
Terry’s book is […]
Popularity: 11% [?]
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Posted in January 17th, 2008
Photographic evidence that I did not eat all the chocolates…
Burp…
Popularity: 11% [?]
Popularity: 11% [?]
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Posted in January 17th, 2008
The mail brought a very pleasant treat today~
Clifford over at Changing My Direction spent New Years galavanting about France… guess who won the chocolate contest??
BWAHAHAHA~ The chocolates are MINE! (much evil chuckling… )
Time to find a child-proof hidey-spot
Popularity: 14% [?]
Popularity: 14% [?]
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Posted in January 16th, 2008
This is a bit hard to believe…
Two new houses on the market close by one of our other rent houses. A year ago, nothing in this area listed under 65K. We’re headed over for a quick drive-by this afternoon.
House #1
3/1/1, Asking price: 45K
From MLS:
General Description:
HUD Home SOLD AS-IS W/ALL FAULTS. All HUD Homes are sold on […]
Popularity: 16% [?]
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Posted in January 14th, 2008
If you’re interested in DIY projects and the rehab business, I’ve written an article on the subject for the blog over at BiggerPockets titled, “Rehab Pros: DIY or Hire it Out?”
Changes at BiggerPockets
While you’re there, check out all the changes to the website. Josh’s come up with some cool social networking features geared toward investors. Think […]
Popularity: 13% [?]
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Posted in January 13th, 2008
Am I the only person in America who’s never heard of Robert Allen?
During the recent Barnes and Noble or-gee, one book in particular caught in the bifocals– Creating Wealth, Retire in 10 Years or Less Using Allen’s Seven Principles of Wealth by Robert Allen. As a reformed book-hoarder and proud graduate of Book-a-Holics Anonymous, I’ll confess […]
Popularity: 10% [?]
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Posted in January 12th, 2008
January’s my favorite time of year to hit the bookstore and stock up on REI books. Something about leaving the excess of the holiday season behind just begs a trip to Barnes and Noble to stock up on hideously overpriced, over-hyped books that call my name with promises of wealth and happiness (in 60 days […]
Popularity: 16% [?]
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Posted in January 7th, 2008
When you’re a kid it feels like nothing will ever change. As adults, we know that isn’t the case. Change happens constantly but we’re usually just too stinkin’ busy to notice– until we pull out the wedding album and count the number of relatives that have gone on to Glory or revisit the home of our childhood and find that all […]
Popularity: 16% [?]
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Posted in January 6th, 2008
So exciting! We’re almost, possibly, very close to being done… how much fun is this?
Some pictures just for grins:
New Kohler toilet with 1 1/2 gallon flush, pedestal sink ($108 from Lowes), Price Pfister high-neck faucet in chrome, medicine cabinet with doors on two sides, chrome bar light with four round bulbs. Tub was too dirty […]
Popularity: 20% [?]
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Posted in January 2nd, 2008
The laminate installer made an appearance today, bringing us much closer to our goal of a Feb. 1st move-in. One more week of push, push, push and hopefully, the Magnolia house will be ready to rent. Ad goes in the paper Monday.
Cabinets Before: Stained, glazed and polyurethaned but sadly, counter-deficit.
And after: Wilsonart laminate installed on […]
Popularity: 20% [?]
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