Rehab tip of the day

Rehab tip of the day

Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes

Let’s start a list of issues with the property it self and how we fixed them:

1. Painted over wall paper - used a belt sander with 60 grit, then a skim coat mud, then normal paint prep.

2. Not enough matching doors - replace closet doors with bifold louvered doors, move other doors around.

3. Always paint before putting in new flooring, this saves covering the floor, and top down if more than one color.

4. Buy appliances from a used appliances store.

5. Change to a non key entrance system, maybe like a motel, this saves changing locks, and tenants making keys for all their buddies.

6. A security camera system outside can make you money by allowing you to charge for pets, prove someone was the party who did the damage, more people than on the lease. And you can list it as a feature.

7. Electric baseboard heat is a cheap way to replace an old furnace that feeds several units which you pay for.

8. Wainscot covers a lot of lower wall issues.

9. Acrylic tubs never rust.

10. Leak detector water shut offs can save a lot of damage that would not get reported.

11. New Plastic windows never need painted.

12. Remove old chimneys that leak, and repair roof, assuming they are used anymore.

13. Add coin op washer and dryer, it’s a feature and a money maker, first one I did returned my investment in less than a year.

14. Mini storage on same or close by property.

Please add all that you can here. Hopefully you learn on my dime, and I learn on yours.

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Rental Property Investor · Concord, NC · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 3k+ votes
5y

Ugly unframed bathroom sheet mirrors - Pick up enough trim to cover the border.  Notch trim around wall supports. Miter cut corners and attached trim to mirror with caulk. Paint.  Looks 10x times better

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  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    @Erik B. And others - i have just dry scrapped ceilings with a drywall knife, this removes 80%. It only takes about an hour per room, but that stuff goes everywhere. Then just paint, you could skim coat. But this makes it look pretty decent with way less work. A little texture helps hide less than perfect walls.

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    Ceiling pic

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    @Jaquetta T Ragland - 100% agreed, i used 100% water proof vinyl that looks like wood everywhere.

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y
  • Investor · Abilene, TX · Member since 2017 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    5y

    @Steven Westlake agreed, I did the wet scrape then a knockdown texture. Takes days and days. A Buddy did the dry scrape looked almost as good in fractions of the time. I’d imagine experimenting with some texture could really make it look amazing.

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    There is a company called plastipro that makes all plastic wainscoting, it even has a little gasket on the baseboard that kicks water out the front vs into your wall. Great for wet areas.

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    @Travis Fisher -thanks

  • Developer · Danville KY · Member since 2015 · 85 posts · 110 votes
    5y

    @Steven Westlake make sure to put door stoppers in or you’ll have holes in drywall!

  • Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    @Steven Westlake

    Plywood behind your sheet rock in the kitchen. Makes hanging cabinets easy.

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    @Lina Bibikov - absolutely, great reminder, somethings i just do on autopilot, see pic below.

    These are super easy to install.

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y
  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    @Max T. - another great tip, thanks

  • Burnaby, BC · Member since 2017 · 282 posts · 268 votes
    5y

    #5 is one I haven't done yet but have concerns about idiot tenants who won't replace the battery on the smart lock and then say they can't get into the home 

    #10 There are now water sensor IoT devices that can definitely help monitor floods and have been shown to be well worth their while for anyone who owns apartment buildings as they reduce insurance premiums and help prevent huge water damage claims

  • Realtor · Boulder, CO · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    5y

    Vintage mid-century crappers in cool colors sell for big bucks on ebay. This one sold for $1,500 (matching sink went for $400):

  • Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    5y

    Buy a lot of these if you renovate plastered houses.

    Learn how to use a block plane to shave down wooden doors.

    Don't ignore hearing and respiratory PPE. It's not just about safety. The more uncomfortable you are in the middle of doing a job, the more likely you are to rush it and botch it.

  • Real Estate Investor · Williamson County, TX · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 961 votes
    5y

    @Travis Fisher Dry scrape should only be done after asbestos testing...wet is preferred because the texture just falls off so presumably a much lower chance of releasing asbestos fibers. And do not run hvac especially with dry scrape. My husband wet scraped a 2000 sq ft vacant house in a day. Mid 1980 or newer you should be fine (they allowed existing aesbestos containing materials to be used up after the ban).

  • Real Estate Investor · Williamson County, TX · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 961 votes
    5y

    @Max T. Whaaaat? Surely you'd absolutely want kitchen uppers attached directly to studs. Think about the weight of all that glass and china. Besides, do you plywood the entire wall? Some of the tips on this thread will make for an absolutely hideous property, aesthetically. Aesthetics are what brings the big bucks, ask the flippers.

  • Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    @Marian Smith

    Of course you want studs. But sometimes you can only hit one and a cabinet has 4 corners. Trust me several screws in 3/4 aren’t going anywhere. Way stronger. Not sure what you are talking about aesthetics. The plywood is behind the sheet rock. Nobody sees it. Plus it’s easier when installing solo. Get that 1st screw in anywhere, then do the rest.

  • Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    5y

    @Marian Smith

    @Max T.'s very short post was quite clear. The plywood goes behind the sheet rock. You can't have plywood as your wall surface in a kitchen. You need the fireblocking of sheetrock, drywall, plasterboard, gypsum wallboard, call it what you will.

    A more time-consuming way of doing this is to install 2x4 blocking between studs at the level of the cabinet backstrips or mounting rails. It takes much longer to do, but this is preferred when anchoring bathroom vanities to a wetwall. A lot of plastered houses only have a 1x4 mounting boards behind the plaster, you always have to watch that when installing a pedestal sink in an older home's small bathroom.

  • Investor · Thousand Oaks, CA · Member since 2017 · 302 posts · 123 votes
    5y
    number one sounds like a mess. I use water-based paints and most wallpaper would come to lose as you were painting. I also don't want to come back each year to Paint over peeling paint or wallpaper that's come lose. So would take the extra time to remove all wallpaper Wash, Repair, and Sand the drywall first before Painting. Cleaning and preparing to paint may also include Primer coat first especially in Bathrooms or Kitchens. number 2 is good always match the doors and hardware. number 4. I only buy new appliances as do not want to replace them every year with used ones. 5 have done keyless systems around Pools and Community Centers. but not in Apartments.
  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    James Ma-

    #5 is one I haven't done yet but have concerns about idiot tenants who won't replace the battery on the smart lock and then say they can't get into the home

    The batteries in these last 2 or 3 years, so they could be replaced during yearly inspection. or each time a tenant moves. Some come with real keys, but that would collecting those and hoping no one made copies for all their buddies.

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    Steve K. -

    Vintage mid-century crappers in cool colors sell for big bucks on ebay.

    I'd sell them and replace them with low flow new ones with nice fresh seals.

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Member since 2019 · 45 posts · 21 votes
    5y

    1/4 drywall over popcorn ceilings and wallpaper

    Mudjacking can be an alternative to replacing concrete in some cases.

    Resurface old tile, tubs, and countertops if they're in good shape

    Definitely vinyl plank in rentals

    New scratch and dent appliances, if you can find them.

    Amazon for pretty much all plumbing and electrical fixtures

    Rip down  3/8 plywood for cheap shiplap.

    Using contractors who are budget conscience can save a ton. They can provide ideas of how to do things cheaper, re-use materials where appropriate, etc.

    Proper planning and foresight of a project. Think ahead and shop around for what you need ahead of time to get the best deal. Don't get stuck needing something "today" and have to get whatever is available.

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    @Jim K. - I have had decent luck with new drywall over the top and long screws, the old stuff is really brittle

    Belt sanders work decent on doors too

  • Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 371 posts · 219 votes
    5y

    @Marian Smith - absolutely- that house was new in 1983, normally the cut off year for all the bad issues is 1978

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