Going Back To Kindergarten: My Experiences In A New Market & New Climate Zone You may have heard: Son in law has been hired at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia.... Starting August 13th. Google it. So... We will be “following the grandbabies”. The team in Fresno will continue and I will start a new team in Virginia. This will cause me to go back to Kindergarten and learn the basics in several areas. I’ll be sharing the learning curve here. G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
© 2010
Saving The Planet One House At A Time
Things Are Different 1. The Market. 2. The Climate Zone 3. The Laws & Business Practices It’s not a problem, It’s just different and I have to learn the differences to hit the ground running and thrive in the new environment. Hopefully my learning curve will be helpful to others in the If you dont maintain it Army of Energy Wise Nature will take it back! House Flipping Investors G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
© 2010
Saving The Planet One House At A Time
Get The Books: These Two Books from Building Science Corporation will help keep me out of trouble. Fortunately there are a lot of experts here at Affordable Comfort that I can learn from also. BTW Next year it’s in San Francisco. Dont miss it. G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
© 2010
Saving The Planet One House At A Time
Putting Together A Team Realtor Interview Questions: Do you invest? Successfully? Do you flip? Do you like REO’s? How about low offers? Are you digitally accomplished? With a few referrals and these questions plus some showings, I have found the first member of my Eastern Team. G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
© 2010
Saving The Planet One House At A Time
Putting Together A Team Project Manager - General Contractor Questions Here I will start with an old friend who lives in Virginia about 45 minutes away. The Realtor also has a team of contractors ready to go. (that he uses on his own flips)
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
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Saving The Planet One House At A Time
They All Have Basements! How to make them not leak How to finish them and heat and cool them. Egress and counting the square footage Making sure it’s healthy down there. Asbestos and Lead. My first Radon Pump G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
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Saving The Planet One House At A Time
Oil Furnaces? Oil Furnaces used to be the standard. Many are still in use. Most Tanks are still there = Eco hazard Some are buried and rusting thru = bad news.
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
Š 2010
Saving The Planet One House At A Time
Engineered Septic Systems & Perc Tests: Land cannot be developed without percolation tests. One 14 acre parcel I looked at could only handle one homesite. They go by the number of bedrooms.
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
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Saving The Planet One House At A Time
Land Use
One realtor acknowledged that the County has come to some land use restrictions but “Too little, too late” Much of Loudoun County has been chopped up into 3 acre parcels and a Mc Mansion placed in the middle of it. Not the best stewardship of the planet...most would agree. Interestingly, my wife would like to live in one of them! I sense some marriage counselling ahead. I’ll keep you posted.
G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
© 2010
Saving The Planet One House At A Time
It’s a BYOHP Party (Bring Your Own HOME PERFORMANCE Party) All the vendors are interested and anxious to learn about Green Renovation. They sense it is the idea who’s time has come. But know little or nothing about it. I am looked at as an expert, which is humbling because I know nothing about building in that market and climate. The saving grace is that it’s science & is there to be learned. But if it’s to be... I must bring Home Performance to the party. I suspect it’s the same for you. G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
© 2010
Saving The Planet One House At A Time
Next Week: On the ground reporting from Affordable Comfort In Austin Texas. BTW Kudos to Harold Guild. Harold will finish his first Energy Wise Flip in Phoenix this week. Harold used the model of working on the job (and paying himself) and is still earning a tidy profit at the end. Way to go Harold! G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m
Š 2010
Saving The Planet One House At A Time