All Forum Posts by: Dawn P.

I don't see how a power surge is the landlord's fault - they should have had renter's insurance. 

HGTV flip shows are only good for seeing what finishes and colors are currently popular. I pity anyone who thinks it's as easy as they show it to be...

I've been chewed out twice by coworkers after handing out bags of Christmas candy and making up a flyer for a department Christmas dinner - they were both Jehovah's Witnesses and were quite offended (I didn't know, was just trying to be nice). If you insist on giving your tenants gifts, I hope you know them better than I knew my coworkers, lol.

I don't do tenant gifts for many reasons, this being one of them. I just try to be a responsive, professional landlord and leave it at that.

I put those 2" faux-wood vinyl blinds in all the big windows, nobody has torn them up yet. I don't put up curtains, they can buy their own if they want (most of my younger tenants don't even bother). 

A few of my rentals have those little windows in the bathrooms - those get privacy window film and a small neutral curtain.

That's a colorful countertop! If you're doing a darker flooring I'd paint the cabinets white, and use a lighter stone/laminate countertop, depending on your budget and what's popular in your area. Maybe a tile backsplash since you wouldn't need a lot of it.

I'd also swap out the hardware for something more updated and make them vertical on the doors instead of horizontal. And put in maybe four recessed lights instead of those fluorescents. 

Yes, I love DIY. I do it partly to save money, mainly because I really just enjoy it. 

I'll sub out roofs, major plumbing/electrical, major tree work/landscaping, concrete, and ceiling drywall. Everything else I do myself...floors, doors, tiling, paint, windows, fixtures, trim, countertops, etc. 

Zillow is where I get the majority of my tenants.

I did this kitchen about five years ago the same way, the paint has held up great through toddlers, dogs, and a clean freak tenant who scrubbed the cabinets down with vinegar several times a week, lol.

@Colleen F. Yeah, I ripped down some 1/4" plywood into 2 1/4" strips and tacked it on with a bit of wood glue and brad nails. Fill any gaps with wood filler, sand/prime/paint. They're not true shakers, of course, but they have the same look and are a lot cheaper than buying new doors!

Paint! I use the SW Pro Classic also, and it cleans up very well. I agree with the other comments that it looks more modern and appeals to the HGTV crowd. Some before and afters: