in home inspections (by Adele [FL]) Sep 6, 2019 8:29 PM
in home inspections (by Frank [NJ]) Sep 6, 2019 8:54 PM
in home inspections (by AllyM [NJ]) Sep 6, 2019 9:00 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 6, 2019 9:01 PM
in home inspections (by David [MI]) Sep 6, 2019 9:17 PM
in home inspections (by Gene [OH]) Sep 6, 2019 9:26 PM
in home inspections (by Gene [OH]) Sep 6, 2019 9:28 PM
in home inspections (by Robert J [CA]) Sep 6, 2019 9:36 PM
in home inspections (by Patrick [VA]) Sep 7, 2019 7:08 AM
in home inspections (by David [NC]) Sep 7, 2019 8:15 AM
in home inspections (by Scott [IN]) Sep 7, 2019 9:55 AM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 7, 2019 11:17 AM
in home inspections (by pg [SC]) Sep 7, 2019 11:59 AM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 7, 2019 1:28 PM
in home inspections (by David [MI]) Sep 7, 2019 4:09 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 7, 2019 5:17 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 7, 2019 6:12 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 7, 2019 6:23 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 7, 2019 6:31 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 7, 2019 6:40 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 7, 2019 6:53 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 7, 2019 6:59 PM
in home inspections (by Hoosier [IN]) Sep 7, 2019 9:04 PM
in home inspections (by H [H]) Sep 8, 2019 10:44 PM
in home inspections (by Robin [WI]) Sep 9, 2019 7:58 AM
in home inspections (by S i d [MO]) Sep 9, 2019 2:07 PM
in home inspections (by LisaFL [FL]) Sep 10, 2019 8:07 AM
in home inspections (by In home inspectios [MD]) Sep 10, 2019 11:27 PM
in home inspections (by In home inspectios [MD]) Sep 10, 2019 11:27 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 11, 2019 8:36 AM
in home inspections (by MaryJo [MD]) Sep 11, 2019 6:02 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 11, 2019 6:19 PM
in home inspections (by LisaFL [FL]) Sep 12, 2019 12:36 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 12, 2019 1:19 PM
in home inspections (by JB [OR]) Sep 12, 2019 1:22 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 12, 2019 2:09 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 12, 2019 2:24 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 12, 2019 2:34 PM
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Sep 12, 2019 2:37 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 12, 2019 2:45 PM
in home inspections (by JB [OR]) Sep 12, 2019 2:49 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 12, 2019 2:58 PM
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Sep 12, 2019 3:48 PM
in home inspections (by JB [OR]) Sep 12, 2019 6:21 PM
in home inspections (by Gene [OH]) Sep 14, 2019 12:45 PM
in home inspections (by Adele [FL]) Posted on: Sep 6, 2019 8:29 PM Message:
What are your best rental selection criteria? And a side note: Does everyone do in home inspections- is that the norm for landlords now? Do apartment complex managers go to someone’s home for in home visits, as well? Is this just for class “c” rentals? What say ye? Thanks!
--76.242.xx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Frank [NJ]) Posted on: Sep 6, 2019 8:54 PM Message:
I think if you were to search this site you would find these FAQ's as topics. I did the in home visit as it made sense to me, even before I found this great site. I believe that this practice is great across all classes. Guy --174.225.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Sep 6, 2019 9:00 PM Message:
My best selection criteria is type of job the applicant has. If there is some math in the job, that's a smart one and that goes along with making a good salary. No I do not do home visits unless someone is trying to bring a dog. I take dogs under 20lbs. I had an applicant awhile ago who was recommended by another tenant who has made poor choices in life. I was tempted to go and make a home visit until the applicant said she was going to download a storage unit into the basement and I found out she also had a parrot along with the small dog. Also grown creepy son was smuggling cigarettes. --173.61.xxx.xx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 6, 2019 9:01 PM Message:
I do in home visits, I rent B+/A- units, started doing them about 6-8 months ago after reading it on this site. Very valuable tool as far as I’m concerned. --72.93.xxx.xx |
in home inspections (by David [MI]) Posted on: Sep 6, 2019 9:17 PM Message:
NO, big complexes absolutely do NOT do in home visits. It is a "neat trick" started by mom n pop LLs here for various screening reasons, but you're not going a property manager for a big complex drive around checking out applicants current residence. --50.4.xxx.x |
in home inspections (by Gene [OH]) Posted on: Sep 6, 2019 9:26 PM Message:
I just started doing the home inspections on the last vacancy over a year ago. I will be doing it on all vacancies in the future and my homes are solid B to low A class rentals. --99.165.xx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Gene [OH]) Posted on: Sep 6, 2019 9:28 PM Message:
I forgot to mention that the another great leasing criteria is the information you receive from their previous landlord, not their current landlord. Most previous landlords will give it to you straight especially if the tenants were a problem or caused damage. --99.165.xx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Sep 6, 2019 9:36 PM Message:
Since I'm the manager, owner, contractor and rent collector, I do as many inspections as I feel necessary. Some of my tenant keep a cleaner home than myself, not a speck of dust anywhere. Other tenants need reminding and encouragement to keep their place clean.
When two of my tenants became semi-professional pack-rats, I set up a Rubber Maid shed for them to "store" junk. Every month I do an interior inspection. Many times I issue them a notice to perform or quit -- clean up the mess... or I will evict. --47.156.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by Patrick [VA]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 7:08 AM Message:
For those of you who do Home Inspections, How do you work it in to the conversation? Do you blurt out "I wont rent to slobs so I want to look at where you live now".
On the surface, I would think that the LL would like like a controlling jerk to say he wants to do an in home inspection. At the same time, this does look like a good idea to rule out hoarders and slobs. I am just wondering how to implement it and phrase it. --100.4.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by David [NC]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 8:15 AM Message:
I usually rent to pet owners so I say I'd like to meet their pet at their house to make sure they are friendly and social. Just takes 5 minutes and it gives them an opportunity to ask any questions about the leasing process. --65.188.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Scott [IN]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 9:55 AM Message:
Patrick,
Simply inform applicants that you will pick up the completed application in person at their current address. You must tell them that you will also be doing a brief inspection, or they will meet you in the driveway to hand over the documents. --107.141.xx.xxx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 11:17 AM Message:
Patrick, I just started doing them on my last vacancy, but after I show the unit, if their interested I give them an application and I told them “To let me know when it’s completed. and I’ll schedule with you to come pick it up and while I’m there I do a quick 2 minute check of your place” If they asked why I wanted to see their home I’d say “how your home looks now is how mine is going to look, right” Everyone didn’t really care, 1 lady said “fair warning my house isn’t spotless” and I told her that’s fine neither is mine. Another guy asked me what I was inspecting (he’s the 1 I am renting to now) and I told him the truth, damage, hoarding, general condition of the place, and he said ok. --72.93.xxx.xx |
in home inspections (by pg [SC]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 11:59 AM Message:
I ask this question "What would your previous LL say about you"? Also I request a written statement from previous LL.
Home inspection is absolutely essential these days - At least half of my tenants will do what ever they can get away with. Some thing as simple as visiting pets who stay for 2 or 3 weeks - occasional smoking in a No Smoking house and the list goes on and on. Policing tenants is part of the job. If you don't do Home inspections you will sustain damage that comes out of your pocket. --72.173.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 1:28 PM Message:
Professional landlords don't go to the house of a prospective tenant, if that's what you're asking.
No way would that happen. --76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by David [MI]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 4:09 PM Message:
Jeff, a "professional landlord" is the ->owner<- of hundreds or thousands of units. They outsource all the grunt work to "professional property managers" and they don't goto the house of prospective tenants.
I suspect what is happening is that people are renting to financially and credit-wise class C tenants and trying to separate the wheat from the chaff . --50.4.xxx.x |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 5:17 PM Message:
David, a professional landlord can own and/or manage one unit or 1000. The number means nothing. It has everything to do with using accepted best practices of the business, being diligent, responsive, impersonal, and many other things. --76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 6:12 PM Message:
So Jeff are you saying that a landlord that does in home visits prior to approving a prospective tenant is not professionally?? --72.93.xxx.xx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 6:23 PM Message:
That's exactly what I was saying. --76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 6:31 PM Message:
Out of curiosity, who declared you the official judge of professional landlord practices? I know of many, many LL’s on this site that do in home visits that are exceptionally professional. What is it about using how a prospective tenant currently maintains their rental as a screening criteria that is so unprofessional? Is it because you don’t agree with it? --72.93.xxx.xx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 6:40 PM Message:
Obviously I know more about the business than you do. Plenty of landlords accept late rent, don't do repairs until they are forced to, use verbal leases, etc. That doesn't make it right.
A prospective tenant here would laugh if a landlord wanted to check out their current living situation - not to mention the creepiness and intrusiveness of that request.
A professional landlord is too busy working the business; doing repairs, marketing, searching for deals, etc., and wouldn't want to waste the time doing something as silly as that.
Only a low quality tenant would even consent to such nonsense - someone I wouldn't want.
But if you want to do that, go for it. I wish more landlords would! Stuff like that makes the rest of us look better! --76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 6:53 PM Message:
Funny, I don’t use verbal lease’s, I have a ZT policy on rent, I do regularly maintenance and repairs promptly. But just as I thought, YOU don’t use in home visits, therefore YOU think it’s unprofessional. I’m actually not going to bother having this discussion with you, if you were as professional as you THINK you are, then you’d know that what works for you in your area, may not be what works for everyone, in all areas. Why don’t you go ahead and type “in home visits” in the search bar on this site under the year 2018 and take a look at some of the LL’s that utilize this tool, you’ll see the names of some very respected LLs from this site. --72.93.xxx.xx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 6:59 PM Message:
By all means you should visit the homes of your prospective tenants. Maybe they'll even invite you to stay for dinner. Ya never know! --76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by Hoosier [IN]) Posted on: Sep 7, 2019 9:04 PM Message:
Patrick --- "For those of you who do Home Inspections, How do you work it in to the conversation? Do you blurt out "I wont rent to slobs so I want to look at where you live now".
On the surface, I would think that the LL would like like a controlling jerk to say he wants to do an in home inspection. At the same time, this does look like a good idea to rule out hoarders and slobs. I am just wondering how to implement it and phrase it. --100.4.xxx.xxx
What I do is tell tenants during the application process that we have maintenance visits about every 6-8 weeks and will be looking at various things while there. If they stay more than a year, we do a full inspection. This is to find problems before they occur or get serious...which is to the betterment of the tenant. Our inspections are not to "harass" the tenant but rather to keep the property in good condition. If this bothers them, they are not the right tenant for me. --99.92.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by H [H]) Posted on: Sep 8, 2019 10:44 PM Message:
in home inspections (by Robin [WI]) Posted on: Sep 9, 2019 7:58 AM Message:
For those who ask why, I smile and say, "It allows us to verify residency and ensure that there is no pot farm in the basement." I have fantastic tenants, and they were all fine with it. It does a nice job of screening out the paranoid and those who think the world is out to get them.
Jeff, I wonder if you have any data to back up your assertion that the in-home visit is unacceptably intrusive. How do you screen for hoarders, unauthorized pets, smoking inside, and slovenly housekeeping? --204.210.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Sep 9, 2019 2:07 PM Message:
I do them. They work. Whether it is "professional" or not is not of interest to me. The fact is, they work!
Professional management companies in my town also do not typical do inside inspections 3x per year. I do those. They work.
My job is to make my business as profitable as possible. One of the best parts about being a DIYer is we can be agile enough to develop policies and practices that larger entities can't figure out how to work in well with their existing business model. But I think they would be wise to consider doing it: think of all the evictions that could be avoided and needless turn over expenses!
I approach it very simply: "I want to see your animals in their home environment for insurance purposes." Very true. My insurance guy likes it when I can tell him I have personally vetted the animals where they live today.
For folks without pets, I simply says than we do it to help provide evidence that they will be the best tenant for us to select and it will expedite the process. That too is true! If I see a clean, decent smelling, quiet unit and can pair that with the current land lords' reference that there's no money owed, no lease violations or damages to the unit get a 100% rating in my land lord reference category. --107.216.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2019 8:07 AM Message:
Sorry Jeff, I respectfully disagree with you. There are different ways to do things and one doesn't mean you are more or less professional. It depends on what your goals are.
In home inspections show you value your property and are a great screening tool. If a prospective tenant feels otherwise they are not a good fit as far as many landlords are concerned.
A quick view of their living conditions is a small price to pay when you consider you're accepting a paltry amount of money in exchange for giving them possession of an asset worth upwards of 98% more. --75.89.xx.xxx |
in home inspections (by In home inspectios [MD]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2019 11:27 PM Message:
I am a profession property manage (also a landlord) I have been doing Home inspections for at least 10 years. I manage almost 100 single family homes. My owners love that I inspect the current property of the applicant. It's on my application "may I inspect your home". If they say no, I move onto the next application. My experience is that good tenants are more than welcome to invite you in. The ones who are insulted just shows me that they will probably be difficult as tenants and are hiding something. I am looking to see how clean is the kitchen? A years worth of grease on the stove does not work for me. How clean is the bathroom especially the tub? Are there holes in the walls? Is there damage on the bedroom doors showing possible signs of someone forcing their way into the room? Does the house smell of pet urin? There are so many things this visit will tell you. We are renting out our investments, why not go that extra step to protect it? How that house is kept is how your house will look!! --73.133.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by In home inspectios [MD]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2019 11:27 PM Message:
I am a profession property manage (also a landlord) I have been doing Home inspections for at least 10 years. I manage almost 100 single family homes. My owners love that I inspect the current property of the applicant. It's on my application "may I inspect your home". If they say no, I move onto the next application. My experience is that good tenants are more than welcome to invite you in. The ones who are insulted just shows me that they will probably be difficult as tenants and are hiding something. I am looking to see how clean is the kitchen? A years worth of grease on the stove does not work for me. How clean is the bathroom especially the tub? Are there holes in the walls? Is there damage on the bedroom doors showing possible signs of someone forcing their way into the room? Does the house smell of pet urin? There are so many things this visit will tell you. We are renting out our investments, why not go that extra step to protect it? How that house is kept is how your house will look!! --73.133.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 11, 2019 8:36 AM Message:
I saw this article online:
We often receive emails from readers asking for help in navigating their own real estate crises. In Realty Bites, we try to get them answers.
THE PROBLEM:
We've heard a lot of out-there landlord demands, but this one's a puzzler: a Brooklynite on the hunt for a new rental ran into a building owner who wanted to see her current digs before offering up a lease.
"She asked a lot of super specific questions about my apartment's location, and eventually, if she could set up a time to come by my place to 'see how I live,'" say the renter. "I understand that she's a small landlord who wants to know who will be living with her in the building, but is this standard, or legal?"
THE SOLUTION:
Legal? Yes. Standard? No way.
"The first reaction I had was ‘this landlord is a creep,'" says Sam Himmelstein, a tenants' rights lawyer with Himmelstein, McConnell, Gribben, Donoghue, & Joseph, who notes that advocates do sometimes perform home visits for potential public housing candidates. "But it's perfectly legal. You’re free to say no, and they’re free to say they’re not renting the apartment to you."
Your would-be landlord will only land on the wrong side of the law if she's applying the home visit policy in a discriminatory way against certain groups of renters. But even this would be hard to prove, and you'd be better off focusing on whether or not this is a person you want controlling your living situation, say our experts.
Besides being invasive, the landlord's request is also just plain inefficient, says a small landlord who has written for BrickUnderground under the pseudonym Craig Roche."I'd imagine that any tenant with an iota of intelligence would clean the place up before an 'inspection,'" he says, and that any red flags about disruptive or irresponsible behavior would come across in interviews with the renter's previous landlords. "So the inspection would do nothing except delay the process and waste time," he adds.
That said, if you're looking to rent from a small landlord rather than a faceless management company, you can expect they'll want a certain level of personal detail before giving you free run of an apartment. "I've never heard of a landlord taking the time to visit someone's apartment, but some do insist on meeting prospective tenants face-to-face, especially in smaller buildings," says broker Gus Waite, managing director of Daniel Baum & Co's Manhattan office.
If you do face an in-person meeting, remember that this is a time for you to suss out the landlord, too, not just the other way around. "I've seen things blow up at the lease signing with the landlord screaming at the prospective tenant to get the hell out—maybe they asked too many questions or copped an attitude," says Waite. "Kind of a 'Soup Nazi' situation." Much like dating—or the search for roommates—pay attention to potential red flags. After all, most people don't get less crazy the longer you know them, landlords included. So if they start in with outrageous demands early on? "No tenant for you!" --76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by MaryJo [MD]) Posted on: Sep 11, 2019 6:02 PM Message:
Hello Jeff, I appreciate that you posted the article. The beauty of this business is that we all run our business they way that works best for us. This part of my process works for me and my owners definitely appreciate the extra mile that I go to get a good quality long term tenant in place. I have the home visit on my application. I have it listed in my tenant criteria, which my lawyer has reviewed and approved. We tell them from the start that we do a home visit so they are fully aware. I always treat the applicants professionally and with respect. I have only gotten push back in over 10 years on a very small number of people. And those applicants we passed on. For the most part my response from them has been very positive. They are happy to invite me into their home. As for them being able to clean up for the inspection, the fact is that if the stove, oven and bathtub have not been cleaned in a long time they won't be able to create a miracle. If there are holes in the walls and other tenant neglect and damage they will not be fixing those problems. Etc. --73.133.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 11, 2019 6:19 PM Message:
You're right, everyone needs to run their business the way that works best for them. I wish more landlords would do home inspections and crazy stuff like that. It makes the rest of us look better! --73.95.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 12:36 PM Message:
Yes Jeff. It will make you look better in the eyes of the folks who wouldn't qualify with the others. There are enough different types of tenants for everyone.
Your method works best for you just like other methods work best for others. Neither is better or worse- all depends on what your goals are and who you aim to attract. My waiting list tells me my methods are working well for me and my tenants. And I still don't feel compelled to refer to those who do things differently as crazy. Some people are bigger risk takers. --75.89.xx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 1:19 PM Message:
Nancy, where I live, and in most good markets, tenants have never heard of in-home inspections. If that were to come up, they would laugh and go to the next landlord who wouldn't be so creepy and intrusive. Successful and busy landlords wouldn't have the time on inclination to go to a prospect's house.
But I guess that landlords who are in a downmarket situation have to do what they have to so. I get it.
One could even have prospects recite the alphabet or put 'em through an IQ test.
Whatever works! --76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JB [OR]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 1:22 PM Message:
Jeff, I'm not at my laptop to check on the article you posted but I imagine that it is from a very pro-tenant/anti-LL source. You didn't post the source. If that's who you refer to when making a business decision then go for it. --24.20.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 2:09 PM Message:
Jeff being the professional landlord you say you are, and based on the fact that you previously stated that “ a professional landlord is too busy working the business; doing repairs, marketing, searching for deals, etc., and wouldn't want to waste the time doing something as silly as that.“ I would have thought you would be busy being a professional landlord instead of arguing with other landlords trying to prove your right. Thats odd that you have the time, being a professional landlord and all. Can’t imagine why even though you have units in A+++ shape, and your in one of the “hottest markets in the country” you’ve had 16 turnovers in a year, weird Wonder if you interact with your tenants in the same know-it-all manner you display here? Fuel for thought. --174.242.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 2:24 PM Message:
JKJ,
I have three monitors. I can monitor the stock market, keep on on e-mail, etc., and have a web page up.
Yes, I am very rough on my tenants. That's why one who left gave me a $100 Nordstroms gift card. 6 tenants have relocated out of town, four have bought houses, 2 moved in with their BF, etc.
I wonder if I have drove them to drink, also! :)
--76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 2:34 PM Message:
I don’t Jeff, you tell me, your the 1 that posted the question about all your turnovers not me. --174.242.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by Jeff [CO]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 2:37 PM Message:
I'm not going to educate you other than to say that the word you're looking for is "you're," Not "your," as you keep saying.
You're dismissed. --76.120.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 2:45 PM Message:
That’s funny Jeff, must be because your a professional. --174.242.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JB [OR]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 2:49 PM Message:
Darn. I haven't been dismissed yet... --24.20.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 2:58 PM Message:
JB, just type a grammatical error, apparently in addition to being the official judge of professional landlord practices he’s the official spell checker. --174.242.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 3:48 PM Message:
JB, the article quoted was on “Brick Underground” they had other interesting related articles as well, such as “Help, my neighbor is poisoning me threw the vents”, “Sabotaging a landlord during a showing, can you get sued”, Want cheaper rent? Master the art of bartering with your landlord” and “The inside scoop on security deposits and how to get yours back” --174.242.xx.xx |
in home inspections (by JB [OR]) Posted on: Sep 12, 2019 6:21 PM Message:
Yep. That's what I figured. Thanks JKJ. --24.20.xxx.xxx |
in home inspections (by Gene [OH]) Posted on: Sep 14, 2019 12:45 PM Message:
Jeff [CO], the most recent Mr. Landlord newsletter (Volume 34, #4) just came out. In it Jeffrey Taylor (Mr. Landlord) states on Page 27 what he looks for in prospective residents is"
"1. Present address. The condition of this dwelling is perhaps the number one indicator of how well they will take care of your property."
--99.165.xx.xxx |
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