Terminology Tuesday (Tricks of the Trade) - How to Lay Brick

(Note: I think it's important to know the terminology and words used when learning any new business including mobile home investing. I came up with 'Terminology Tuesday' as a way to go over the terminology used in the mobile home business. It's important to know the terminology when talking to people in the business so you're all on the same page).

**** Tricks of the Trade is a new series I have started that will be included with "Terminology Tuesday" posts. The goal of this series is to share with you the "tricks of the trade" I have learned in the mobile home business.



A few weeks ago, I wrote a "Tricks of the Trade" post regarding the ins and outs of covering up a hitch. Well, guess what? I'm writing this post to add to it regarding how to lay brick. But, why?

As it turns out, last week I went to go visit the home on this deal. And, to my surprise here's what I found:



Can you spot what's wrong with this picture? I'll give you a hint, it used to look like this:



Yes, so the top rectangular 6 bricks on the top were gone. So, I immediately went to talk to the park manager who apologized and told me this could have been done by the kids. I suspected it, too.

The park manager told me a notice would be sent out to all the residents regarding this incident as a warning. And, furthermore I was advised by the park manager to go ahead and lay the bricks with mortar so this would not happen again.

Before I took a trip to the local hardware store, I went ahead and posted a notice on the home. It basically said the home was being watched by the local Sheriff's office. Personally, I know the Sheriff and learned this little trick due to this experience.

Afterwards, I took a trip to the local hardware store. I bought more bricks, mortar, a bucket and a trowel.

Then, I went back to the home and started on this little project. And, I have to tell you - it was definitely a learning experience. The handle of the trowel I bought broke (Note to self: Don't skimp on the tools). And, mixing up the mortar with a stick (the only thing in my car I had) is not a good idea - I really needed a shovel or professional tool to do the mixing.

In any case, it took me awhile to complete the project. But, I finally got it done. And, here are the results:



For those who are interested, here's a short video on how to lay brick:



Video Link

After I completed the project, I was really relieved just to get it done. Now, the bricks around the hitch are in place. And, I can honestly say this has definitely been another new and educational learning experience for me.

I hope this "Terminology Tuesday" post has been helpful and has given you some useful information to use - it definitely has for me.

Happy investing!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!

Terminology Tuesday (Tricks of the Trade) - How to Clean Mini Blinds

(Note: I think it's important to know the terminology and words used when learning any new business including mobile home investing. I came up with 'Terminology Tuesday' as a way to go over the terminology used in the mobile home business. It's important to know the terminology when talking to people in the business so you're all on the same page).

**** Tricks of the Trade is a new series I have started that will be included with "Terminology Tuesday" posts. The goal of this series is to share with you the "tricks of the trade" I have learned in the mobile home business.



When buying mobile homes and getting them ready before they are put on the market, one of the things that I constantly deal with are mini blinds.

(Note: This is where my style differs with Lonnie's - he usually sells "as-is" while I do not. Again, it's all a matter of personality - everyone has a different style and way of doing things).

Most homes come standard with mini blinds and most owners I deal with have also left the curtains with the blinds. Though, I usually encourage them to take the curtains but a lot of times they end up leaving them with the home. (Along with a few other items!)

But, I usually prefer to remove the curtains and just leave the blinds when getting homes ready. Why?

Well, the curtains are nice and all. But, I really treat this business like the property managers do - I try to make everything uniform. And, that includes the blinds inside the homes.

(Note: For those interested, when getting units ready in the property management business they refer to the process as a "make ready." Basically, this involves getting the unit cleaned and painted (if necessary) for the next occupant. In most cases, the units are uniform in the way they are presented).

Many times, having the existing curtains can add too much (i.e. darkness, decoration, etc) to a room. Also, people have different tastes - I don't want to turn off an existing buyer just because they don't like the curtains. So, I usually end up removing the curtains and then dealing with the existing blinds in the home.

Here are a few pics of the home on this deal with the curtains and without them with just the blinds:

With the curtains

(Note: Notice how dark the curtains make the room. If the room looks darker, to most folks it looks smaller).



Without the curtains and with just the mini blinds

(Note: Notice how the mini blinds make the home look lighter (rather than darker). If the room looks lighter, to most folks it looks bigger just like with this deal).



Regarding the process, once the curtains are removed than the next decision I have to make is whether or not to work with the existing blinds or purchase new ones. Usually, I will make the decision based on how the blinds look - if some panels are missing and/or really bent then I will go ahead and purchase new ones.

If they still look ok and just look like they need a good cleaning (and most do but just have a lot of dust), then I keep them. But, then you may be asking - how do you clean them?

Well, in the early days I would just give them a light dusting. But, this was very time consuming trying to get the dust out of every panel and every mini blind in every room. Then, I learned a really neat trick from one of my cleaning crews.

(Note: I have a few cleaning crews on hand for homes that need more than a light cleaning (i.e. smokers, pets, etc). If the home just needs a light cleaning, then I do the job myself. (And, have been mistaken for a cleaning lady driving around the park with my cleaning supplies and all!)

Basically, I learned a quicker and faster way to clean mini blinds - dipping them in the bathtub using Purple Power.

Here's a snapshot



I let them sit there for a bit (while cleaning the rest of the home) and then rinse them off and wipe them down with water. (The dirt should come right off). And, you know what? It really works!

I really do learn something new everyday in this business. And, most of the time what I learn are from other folks just like with this experience!

I hope this "Terminology Tuesday" post has been helpful and has given you some useful information to use both in your business as well as your personal life - it definitely has for me.

Happy investing!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!

Terminology Tuesday (Tricks of the Trade) - Covering Up a Hitch

(Note: I think it's important to know the terminology and words used when learning any new business including mobile home investing. I came up with 'Terminology Tuesday' as a way to go over the terminology used in the mobile home business. It's important to know the terminology when talking to people in the business so you're all on the same page).

**** Tricks of the Trade is a new series I have started that will be included with "Terminology Tuesday" posts. The goal of this series is to share with you the "tricks of the trade" I have learned in the mobile home business.



Recently, I've had to deal with an issue on this deal - covering up a hitch.

Since I only deal with high end parks now due to this experience, the majority of these parks have strict regulations regarding hitches - they are prohibited from being seen. Usually, in the more low end parks - hitches are allowed to be in plain view. And, in most cases - there are many hitches to be seen in these type parks.

In all honesty, I think it is more an aesthetic issue than anything. Having the hitches not in view just makes the park and the overall community look nicer (in my opinion). So, I can see why hitches are prohibited from being seen in most high end parks.

Since I have a good relationship with the park manager for this deal, I was allowed to cover the hitch. Now, the park manager did tell me in their rules and regulations that it states all hitches in the parks must be removed and placed underneath the homes. Though, the park manager told me I wouldn't be made to do this as it costs quite a bit of money just to raise the home and remove the hitch. This is the power of building strong relationships.

So, you may be asking yourself - why do I have to deal with this issue and not the previous owner?

Well, when I negotiated this deal with the previous owner the hitch was actually covered. Awhile back, the previous management had planted bushes in the park which had covered up the hitch. Though, this bush really grew out of control. And, I didn't like it one bit. Here's a snapshot:



(Note: In addition, I had to also find someone to cut this bush down. (Talk about major stress issues!) Went through a bit of drama interviewing and getting bids from a few contractors but finally found a guy who could do it. And, he did a great job!)

Once the bushes were removed and cut down, then the hitch was exposed and the home looked like this:



Once the hitch was exposed, I took some measurements. I measured 12 inches off the ground (which was great as it wasn't too high) and 50 inches across for the sides and height of the hitch.

(Note: For those who are new to the mobile home business, in most cases the length of the hitch is standard - usually 4 feet long. And, this 4 feet gets added to the overall length of the home. For example, a 16x76 foot long home with a hitch would actually be 16x80 foot long (if you count the hitch).

In any case, I asked the park manager for a few ideas to cover the hitch. The park manager told me there are several things that I could do, but all that mattered was that it looked nice. Ok, but that is so subjective! Something that looks nice to one person may not look nice to another. I was really stressing about this!

Though, the park manager assured me this was not a big issue. The park manager told me to go around the park and get ideas by looking at what others have done. A few suggestions were to cover up the hitch in lattice, build a box around it, or use some bricks to cover it up. So, I went around the park to get a few ideas. (Talk about ridiculous!)

Here's what I found:

Good



Better



Not that great



After checking out what others had done in the park, I took a trip to the local hardware store (aka Home Depot and Lowe's). And, after much deliberation came up with this:



Now, here's what the home looks like with the newly covered hitch:



After I completed the project, I was really relieved just to get it done. Now, the hitch is covered (per park regulations). And, I can honestly say this has definitely been another new and educational learning experience for me.

I hope this "Terminology Tuesday" post has been helpful and has given you some useful information to use - it definitely has for me.

Happy investing!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!