Renting a house in Iowa for a grassroots base of operations
- Thread starter Eric21ND
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thehighwaymanq
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I doubt we'll have 100 people at a given time. Probably 20-30 at most, and depending on if that works out efficiently we can tell Schelling people to come at better times.
ForLibertyFight
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How long will this house be rented for?
I'm definitely interested in going but I won't be able to go until December because of school.
I'm definitely interested in going but I won't be able to go until December because of school.
Who's going to be in charge of this whole thing, and can whoever you are please PM me your phone number? Once I get closer to buying my tickets, I'll want to talk on the phone with people about things like guaranteeing I"ll have a spot for when I can come; someone picking me up at the airport; cost of staying at the liberty house; etc.
thehighwaymanq
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One house wants us to rent for a year, but it would be most ideal for the summer.
KCIndy
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Maybe this is a dumb question, but has anyone talked to any realtors in the area? A lot of realty agencies also handle rental properties - even commercial ones - and at the very least might be able to recommend someone in the area who specializes in such rentals.
The poll that this is all leading up to happens on Aug 13,so December is too late. But, don't worry, there are lots of other ways you'll be able to help. (Especially in the general election against B.O.)
Dave Aiello
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There will be people in Iowa all the way until the caucus, so December is just fine. Also, it's looking like we may have some good leads with regard to being able to rent huge complexes (as in renting an entire high school sports complex), however there is an law that restricts us to just 48 hours of occupation. We may implement this for the 2 days directly leading up to the poll, with a few liberty houses for long term people.
You're right about December. My bad.
The stadium thing is a decent idea if we're going to have a huge mass of people swarming in during those few days. Before we reserve anything, we should find out the numbers of who's going to be there and when, to assess whether there's a need.
The stadium thing is a decent idea if we're going to have a huge mass of people swarming in during those few days. Before we reserve anything, we should find out the numbers of who's going to be there and when, to assess whether there's a need.
Roxi
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Weird I just saw this thread.
Anyhow, I was the house captain for a house like this in NH during the 08 campaign for a project called Operation: Live Free Or Die. My husband and I spent a month and a half there from Thanksgiving til a few days after the primary.
First, it is a crazy wonderful experience that I highly recommend. That being said, I feel like my insight would be valuable to those in charge of this project because we DID run into issues, and plenty of them.
First and foremost, the house captain, or the person in charge of the house, must live in the house the entire time, and have their name on the lease to avoid issues like we ran into.
2. There have to be ground rules, and everyone has to follow them. I repeat the rules HAVE to be followed. I personally broke ONE single rule and it caused the first problem we had. In regard to the rules, the house captain also needs to enforce them. You can be friends with the volunteers, just don't be afraid to be strict when it comes to the rules.
3. With so many different personalities in one house, at times it will feel like you are babysitting, and it will feel like a bad episode of "The Real World" There is bound to be drama, curb it early on.
4. There will be the possibility of someone "volunteering" who is only there to cause problems. When the same person repeatedly causes problems you have to be prepared to deal with this quickly before it gets out of hand.
5. Try to stay as close as possible to the areas you will be canvassing. It gets really expensive driving back and forth to events, especially with gas prices the way they are now. There should be more than one vehicle at the house.
6. Use the bedrooms for sleeping, don't waste space setting up a "computer room" instead use the livingroom or whatever common room there is for people to use their laptops etc.
7. People staying in the house should chip in to the house captain for expenses like food, toiletries, paper/plastic dishes, gas, transportation etc. You have no idea what you will spend money on til you do something like this, even if you have lived on your own for a long time. Don't count on people to contribute items, because issues will arise when some contribute more than others. Use a central fund for this and the house captain or someone he/she appoints should be responsible for shopping. Keep the list of necessities in the open, and put receipts for what was purchased out in the open.
8. Have fun, but don't let it turn into a party house. This happens easily, and right under your nose, and when it happens, it can be too late to fix it. If you allow drinking in the house, you can't have anyone under 21 living there. If you have people under 21 it is a good idea to not have alcohol anywhere in the house. The house captain does NOT want to be charged with contributing to a minor. You also don't want to deal with pissed off parents either.
Here is the blog I kept from the time we decided to go until the day we left hopefully will provide more insight. http://tulsatonewhampshire.blogspot.com/ (It is in reverse chron order so you need to click older posts several times to get to the start)
If you have any questions let me know, and I may add more to this as I think of it.
Anyhow, I was the house captain for a house like this in NH during the 08 campaign for a project called Operation: Live Free Or Die. My husband and I spent a month and a half there from Thanksgiving til a few days after the primary.
First, it is a crazy wonderful experience that I highly recommend. That being said, I feel like my insight would be valuable to those in charge of this project because we DID run into issues, and plenty of them.
First and foremost, the house captain, or the person in charge of the house, must live in the house the entire time, and have their name on the lease to avoid issues like we ran into.
2. There have to be ground rules, and everyone has to follow them. I repeat the rules HAVE to be followed. I personally broke ONE single rule and it caused the first problem we had. In regard to the rules, the house captain also needs to enforce them. You can be friends with the volunteers, just don't be afraid to be strict when it comes to the rules.
3. With so many different personalities in one house, at times it will feel like you are babysitting, and it will feel like a bad episode of "The Real World" There is bound to be drama, curb it early on.
4. There will be the possibility of someone "volunteering" who is only there to cause problems. When the same person repeatedly causes problems you have to be prepared to deal with this quickly before it gets out of hand.
5. Try to stay as close as possible to the areas you will be canvassing. It gets really expensive driving back and forth to events, especially with gas prices the way they are now. There should be more than one vehicle at the house.
6. Use the bedrooms for sleeping, don't waste space setting up a "computer room" instead use the livingroom or whatever common room there is for people to use their laptops etc.
7. People staying in the house should chip in to the house captain for expenses like food, toiletries, paper/plastic dishes, gas, transportation etc. You have no idea what you will spend money on til you do something like this, even if you have lived on your own for a long time. Don't count on people to contribute items, because issues will arise when some contribute more than others. Use a central fund for this and the house captain or someone he/she appoints should be responsible for shopping. Keep the list of necessities in the open, and put receipts for what was purchased out in the open.
8. Have fun, but don't let it turn into a party house. This happens easily, and right under your nose, and when it happens, it can be too late to fix it. If you allow drinking in the house, you can't have anyone under 21 living there. If you have people under 21 it is a good idea to not have alcohol anywhere in the house. The house captain does NOT want to be charged with contributing to a minor. You also don't want to deal with pissed off parents either.
Here is the blog I kept from the time we decided to go until the day we left hopefully will provide more insight. http://tulsatonewhampshire.blogspot.com/ (It is in reverse chron order so you need to click older posts several times to get to the start)
If you have any questions let me know, and I may add more to this as I think of it.
Last edited:
Roxi
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Keep in mind, this was the first time anyone had done anything like this, so we didn't have advice from many on how to pull it off.
The house came with a few of its own rules since it was a summer beach rental. I am a really laid back person so I didn't have many rules. Mostly be respectful of others, no vandalizing other candidates property or signs (it happened anyway) No breaking laws (happened anyway) No drugs (it happened anyway) No underage drinking (I didn't witness it happen, but judging from some of the things that did happen, I know this went on anyway) Don't make other people pick up your crap.... etc. (Dishes were a serious issue at times)
I recommend everyone bringing their own plate, cup, bowl and silverware and having paper stuff to compensate that people can pitch in on.
At times we only had 5 or 6 and other times we had up to 18 IIR. People slept on sleeping bags and air mattresses all over the dining room and living room but there were typically only 1 or 2 people in each bedroom because it came fully furnished and had beds and we didn't want to ask people to share beds. If I did it over, I would prefer only partially furnished to avoid this issue.
That I don't remember exactly. We did have one guy drive from somewhere and donate TONS of toilet paper to us. We had people pitching in for food and random people would go shopping for general stuff. Some people had their own money, some came with almost nothing to contribute and some people pitched in more than their fair share. We had the HUGE advantage of having the Free State Project people who lived in NH and were willing to help the houses out where they could (If I remember correctly Vijay rented 6 or 7 houses total, some would hold up to 40 people) We had an issue though because some of the houses were SUPER awesome and some weren't so awesome so people started to get picky about which house they stayed in, Despite our best attempts at assigning houses for volunteers.
Usually cash in a jar, a couple through paypal. Some just brought stuff or bought stuff for everyone to use. The paypal part sucked though when one volunteer got pissed at us for not kicking someone out she didn't like and launched a complaint with paypal saying she "never got the product she ordered" Luckily it got cleared up and we got that money back.
The house came with a few of its own rules since it was a summer beach rental. I am a really laid back person so I didn't have many rules. Mostly be respectful of others, no vandalizing other candidates property or signs (it happened anyway) No breaking laws (happened anyway) No drugs (it happened anyway) No underage drinking (I didn't witness it happen, but judging from some of the things that did happen, I know this went on anyway) Don't make other people pick up your crap.... etc. (Dishes were a serious issue at times)
I recommend everyone bringing their own plate, cup, bowl and silverware and having paper stuff to compensate that people can pitch in on.
At times we only had 5 or 6 and other times we had up to 18 IIR. People slept on sleeping bags and air mattresses all over the dining room and living room but there were typically only 1 or 2 people in each bedroom because it came fully furnished and had beds and we didn't want to ask people to share beds. If I did it over, I would prefer only partially furnished to avoid this issue.
That I don't remember exactly. We did have one guy drive from somewhere and donate TONS of toilet paper to us. We had people pitching in for food and random people would go shopping for general stuff. Some people had their own money, some came with almost nothing to contribute and some people pitched in more than their fair share. We had the HUGE advantage of having the Free State Project people who lived in NH and were willing to help the houses out where they could (If I remember correctly Vijay rented 6 or 7 houses total, some would hold up to 40 people) We had an issue though because some of the houses were SUPER awesome and some weren't so awesome so people started to get picky about which house they stayed in, Despite our best attempts at assigning houses for volunteers.
Usually cash in a jar, a couple through paypal. Some just brought stuff or bought stuff for everyone to use. The paypal part sucked though when one volunteer got pissed at us for not kicking someone out she didn't like and launched a complaint with paypal saying she "never got the product she ordered" Luckily it got cleared up and we got that money back.
IDefendThePlatform
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I'd like to encourage any out of staters who are thinking about coming to Iowa to consider coming down for a week or weekend and setting up a booth at one of the 95 Iowa county fairs that will be happening this summer. More info in this thread:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?292872-RP-Booths-at-Iowa-County-Fairs
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?292872-RP-Booths-at-Iowa-County-Fairs
I was up north, can't remember the name of the town. About an hour from Concord. Where will the hq be? You'd want some near there.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1004-Enos-Ave_Des-Moines_IA_50314_M77433-47888
Buy this house, in Des Moines. $13K. 4 bedroom. This is a business opportunity for someone. Someone buys the houses
we want, and then takes rent from the grassroots. One 4 bedroom house in Des Moines from now until the Iowa caucuses. How much would
we want to rent that for $1000 a month. 7 months, $7000, or buy it for $13000?
Create an event that brings people to Ames. Get those people to that event, and then to the straw poll.
Free music festival, paid for by Ron Paul Grassroots. At The Warehouse, in Ames. The people living in the house could be working on that event (or working for the campaign doing phone calls or something).
Free music festival, paid for by Ron Paul Grassroots. At The Warehouse, in Ames. The people living in the house could be working on that event (or working for the campaign doing phone calls or something).
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17096756/1416-GILBERTST-HWY-18-Charles-City-IA/
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/15728051/1203-White-Pole-Rd-Anita-IA/
bed and breakfast
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/16838753/1012-Baldwin-Harlan-IA/
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1004-Enos-Ave_Des-Moines_IA_50314_M77433-47888
4 bedroom for 13K - $100 a month - 1824 sq ft.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1102-19th-St_Des-Moines_IA_50314_M81371-21847
a 6 unit multifamily house in Des Moines for $54K 3 efficiencies, 1 2 bed, 2 1 bed.
a $3000 down payment, and a monthly mortgage of $260.
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...King-J-Pkwy_Des-Moines_IA_50314_M76413-03037#
for $60K, 4 large 2 bedroom apartments. Nice architecture. 3000 down, $410 a month 15 yr fixed.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2325-Carpenter-Ave_Des-Moines_IA_50311_M78321-37373
6 units, near drake, $74.9 - $520 a month
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1650-S-15_Newton_IA_50308_M72777-98438
Here's something that would be great. 48 unit apartment complex. 20 miles outside of des moines.
$600K, $4200 a month. 9 One-Bedroom Unit(s), 15 Two-Bedroom Unit(s), 24 Efficiency Unit(s)
Assuming 1 per bedroom, one per living room (on the couch), that's 45 + 18 + 24 - 87 people in one central location, ready to
move as a group in buses. 80 quality Ron Paul supporters, with skills, working together on projects, from official
campaign work, to any number of other things. All in the same place. One of the 48 units could be a tv studio of sorts.
with that many people, there's bound to be computer experts, video experts, etc., and youtube clips, of extremely high quality,
could be cranked out easily. Extremely high speed internet would be brought in. It would be a cool place to live.
The cost per person, at low occupancy (87) is $48 a month per person. At high occupancy - 2 people per sleeping room - 174 people,
is $24 per person per month. Obviously there are other costs involved, but that's cheap. And because these are apartments, there
are no real bathroom problems.
Space 20 miles from Des Moines for 87 to 174 people for $4200 a month. Probably a parking lot big enough to fit buses.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1537-Des-Moines-St_Des-Moines_IA_50316_M78253-03492
3 units 5 total bedrooms, 240/mo $35K.
ames seems more expensive - here's one
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/915-Clark-Ave_Ames_IA_50010_M82443-86008
this is interesting
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/217-Ash_Ames_IA_50014_M79093-92821
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/15728051/1203-White-Pole-Rd-Anita-IA/
bed and breakfast
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/16838753/1012-Baldwin-Harlan-IA/
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1004-Enos-Ave_Des-Moines_IA_50314_M77433-47888
4 bedroom for 13K - $100 a month - 1824 sq ft.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1102-19th-St_Des-Moines_IA_50314_M81371-21847
a 6 unit multifamily house in Des Moines for $54K 3 efficiencies, 1 2 bed, 2 1 bed.
a $3000 down payment, and a monthly mortgage of $260.
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...King-J-Pkwy_Des-Moines_IA_50314_M76413-03037#
for $60K, 4 large 2 bedroom apartments. Nice architecture. 3000 down, $410 a month 15 yr fixed.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2325-Carpenter-Ave_Des-Moines_IA_50311_M78321-37373
6 units, near drake, $74.9 - $520 a month
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1650-S-15_Newton_IA_50308_M72777-98438
Here's something that would be great. 48 unit apartment complex. 20 miles outside of des moines.
$600K, $4200 a month. 9 One-Bedroom Unit(s), 15 Two-Bedroom Unit(s), 24 Efficiency Unit(s)
Assuming 1 per bedroom, one per living room (on the couch), that's 45 + 18 + 24 - 87 people in one central location, ready to
move as a group in buses. 80 quality Ron Paul supporters, with skills, working together on projects, from official
campaign work, to any number of other things. All in the same place. One of the 48 units could be a tv studio of sorts.
with that many people, there's bound to be computer experts, video experts, etc., and youtube clips, of extremely high quality,
could be cranked out easily. Extremely high speed internet would be brought in. It would be a cool place to live.
The cost per person, at low occupancy (87) is $48 a month per person. At high occupancy - 2 people per sleeping room - 174 people,
is $24 per person per month. Obviously there are other costs involved, but that's cheap. And because these are apartments, there
are no real bathroom problems.
Space 20 miles from Des Moines for 87 to 174 people for $4200 a month. Probably a parking lot big enough to fit buses.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1537-Des-Moines-St_Des-Moines_IA_50316_M78253-03492
3 units 5 total bedrooms, 240/mo $35K.
ames seems more expensive - here's one
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/915-Clark-Ave_Ames_IA_50010_M82443-86008
this is interesting
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/217-Ash_Ames_IA_50014_M79093-92821
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