Real Estate for Real People
them someplace to stay, but also that you care about their safety and your investment. If you allow a problem to escape unresolved, you will demonstrate to your tenants that these things are of little importance.
**Something to think about How do the rich stay rich? They keep it in the family! I have found that my most reliable contractor happens to be my cousin, Kevin. He is simply a jack-of-all-trades and has mastered a fair share of them. I rely on Kevin as needed to ensure my properties in South Carolina are taken care of. I know some people tend to trust family the least, as they perhaps could be prone to take advantage of you at the family’s expense. However, I’ve been fortunate to not have any problems with Kevin’s superior-quality work and timeliness. Thanks a million, Kevin! Contractors. Selecting contractors is an area where you have to proceed with caution. As with any investment team, you will work with people who will make your life either a lot easier or a lot harder. If you own one property nearby and you are handy at fixing things, then you may not experience much trouble when things go awry. However, if you own multiple properties and are constantly out making deals, you should probably choose a good contractor to work for you. A good contractor can keep you in business a long time if you have developed a relationship that you can count on. They can be your eyes and ears, which leads to business longevity. They can alert you of upcoming problems long before they arise and can reduce late-night phone calls. Because contractors are knowledgeable about many of the products and services related to property repairs, they can explain the logistics behind problems when they arise. This information will help you know in future situations whether other contractors are giving you good information. Many contractors can get deals on building materials. Contractors have more experience dealing with hardware stores than the average person. The larger stores will even have a contractor checkout line. During peak business hours, it is probably better to allow the contractor to get any needed parts than to go yourself, as larger stores, although they offer many products, can be very short on time for customer service. I can’t think of too many things more exciting than being hit with an unexpected $500 repair cost because something you’ve never heard of broke down, then spending two hours in a hardware store just trying to find help to buy your part and check out. This sort 88