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Articles by Mary Pastoral
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Hey BP community, I'm new to multifamily investing and currently analyzing my first 5/6-unit property. I want to make sure I'm approaching due diligence correctly before making an offer. I have only done single family homes so far, so this is new to me. My question: Is it standard practice to request a trailing 12-month rent roll and detailed financial documentation — utility bills, expense history, lease agreements, and repair receipts — from the listing agent before making an offer?
STR /MTR in Columbus, OH - Screening & Contract Advice?
Hi everyone, We launched our first STR in Columbus, Ohio back in December 2025 on Airbnb and VRBO. It's been going well, but we've recently seen a surge in inquiries for month-to-month stays (30-90 days). Because of this, we've decided to "dip our toes" into the mid-term rental (MTR) space and listed on Furnished Finder. However, coming from the LTR and STR world, we've always relied on the platform's "Instant Book" or built-in protections.
Re-finance questions and looking for kitchen remodeler in Akron
Hi, We own a property that is fully paid. Currently held within our LLC, operates as a short term rental. We are looking to do a 75% LTV cash-out refinance. A couple of questions. How accurate are Zillow, Redfin, realtor.com estimates? We have updated the house, new windows, flooring, basement waterproofing etc, but we are thinking of changing the countertop from laminate to quartz. Would this renovation typically improve appraisal numbers?
Guests smoked in non smoking house
It's only our third guest in our second STR and the home smells strongly of cigarette smoke. It's clear on our listing that no smoking is allowed. We made the mistake of listing this property at Booking.com and allowed instant booking. By the time we noticed that it’s a local person who booked the house, it has already been booked. We were not able to copy the detail in our Airbnb listing that says we have the right to refuse local guests.
Getting bids while working with a GC-okay?
Hi! We just bought a property to use as an STR. Before closing, our GC did a walkthrough, but once his HVAC and electrical teams came out, they found more issues than expected and more than the home inspector noted. My question is—can I still get bids directly from other pros (HVAC, electrician, etc.) even though I’m already working with a GC? This is my first time working with a general contractor since our previous rentals were managed by property management companies.
VRBO charges 10% commission for direct booking outside of their platform
Quote from @Kristi K.: Quote from @Lauren Kormylo: Yeah, no way am I paying Vrbo 10% for bookings elsewhere. Especially when they only charge me 8% for bookings through them. Where does it say this in their terms of service? If it's not in there, they can't charge it. How are you only getting 8% VRBO charges? Our average for almost 1.5 years is about 18%.
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