Well, I have started advertising rooms today on CL. Upstairs just needs final touches on the floor, some door knobs installed, a shelf put in a closet. so pretty much ready & time to start showing. AC work starts Tuesday AM & appliances delivered Tue AM also.

I put internet in my personal name for now, just to get it going - but I plan to investigate what liability I could have for roomers' internet activities & exploring getting a business account (if that would protect me). I needed wi-fi in ASAP for the security cameras. I got 2 Nest outdoor cams. Along with light & motion-sensing exterior lights, I feel pretty good about security.

I'm advertising the rooms for between $485 - $530/month, based on room & closet size. That's a monthly price range, but will really be payday rent payment plans. Whenever you get your money, I have first dibs.

I've been told by my cleaning person about $50 to clean an empty, broom-clean room between tenants. So, I'll charge a $100 move-out cleaning fee before they move in. That way, it can absorb a little bit of trash & maybe a small hole/paint touch-up without itemizing.

I decided to install a regular washer & dryer in each unit. We'll see how it goes. If the water bill skyrockets, & they are doing laundry for all their friends, I can remove them or put in coin-op.

Lots of exciting times ahead! And right now (because I don't have enough excitement in my life?) I am changing employers. Couldn't resist a significant pay increase, Real health insurance, and better hours.

Making plans to attend the Nov bootcamp - hope to meet some of you in person one day!

Exciting times!

You were saying "a washer/dryer for each unit". Is that each floor, or each room, or is it a small complex..?

W/D on each floor of 2-story building. Each floor is separate from the other & each has 4 BR/1BA. It is a big old house built in 1891 that was already set up and zoned as a rooming house. The last owner rehabbed & updated it after purchase - 2006, then was foreclosed upon about a year ago. Already done were structural repairs, central heat/AC (that was vandalized before closing & needs replacing), vinyl windows & siding, Pex plumbing, electrical (rodents ate wires in the attic - more repairs needed than I had hoped for).

Go DJ!

Wi-fi: consider adding a multiplier (it has a different name I cannot recall - accepts extra hard lines) My wireless router can handle 12 users at one time, some wi-fi at a super high rate and several hard lines.

BRAD

Just seeing this DJ after I posted an update. Good luck to you and I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences and comparing notes. You got that for an excellent price and it's good to see you got a credit for the HVAC vandalism. Just to confirm, you've got 8 rooms also?

Ken: There is potential for another small room upstairs,possibly in the future.

Brad: I made plans for 2 routers (installed outlets & high shelves) but the Cox guy says this signal will reach everywhere, with 100 mbps. Claims that is good for 9-11 devices. We'll see once the place is full. Still have the set-up to easily add a booster or separate modem/router if needed.

Gkarl: I ended up going with a local insurance broker who was recommended by another local landlord. She got me a policy through American Modern.