All Forum Posts by: Dawn P.

I put white faux-wood 2" horizontal blinds up (Walmart sells a decently priced one by Better Homes and Gardens). I keep a bucket full of the extra slats from when I shorten them to fit, just in case someone breaks one or a dog chews on one. It's been about five years and I've never had to replace or fix one, though.

For small bathroom windows or kitchen windows I put a cheap tension rod up with some curtains that match the room. If they have their own they're welcome to put those up. Every tenant I've had so far just uses what I have.

I use my Google voice number when I'm advertising, but vetted tenants get my personal cell. It hasn't been a problem, they prefer texting anyway. I also have my phone set on "do not disturb" at night.

Any opinions on wax rings vs. the newer wax-free gaskets/rings for toilets? I installed a wax-free ring in one of my rentals about a year ago...and had to replace it this week because it had started to leak a little. This totally could have been due to my installation, not sure.

Just wondering if anyone has used the wax-free rings long term and do you prefer them? 

I use Cozy also. I get an email when tenants schedule the payment and another when it deposits into my account. Super easy.

Cozy also has an option for Rent Reporting, tenants' rent payments get reported to Experian and could help them boost their credit (on time payments, of course).

Every time I see the following:

Investor's Dream!

Won't Last Long!!

Needs a Little TLC!

This One Will Go Fast!!

I know those are all dumps. But, dumps are what I look for! lol

I enjoy looking at bad listing photos more than anything. Yes, that awesome shot of the filthy kitchen in dim lighting really gets me interested in buying. So does that bathroom pic where it looks like they just kicked open the door and snapped a crooked shot, with the toilet lid up and empty toothpaste tubes on the sink. And oh yes, I really enjoy seeing five similar pics of the same small concrete patio that hasn't been pressure washed in fifteen years. Sheesh. Way to sell a house, people.

Not nearly as disgusting as the one @James Wise posted, but here ya go.  I should have taken the winterized sign off before taking the pic...or maybe not, lol.

We've had raccoon problems before - got a few live traps and put a piece of bread with grape jelly on it in each. For some reason they love the stuff, it's like raccoon crack, lol. Caught them and carried them off a few miles, haven't had any problems since. $1100 sounds a little pricey!

This isn't something I did, but I just found it in the shower I'm redoing. Some clown thought that a scrap of cardboard would do just fine when there wasn't any drywall left over...no wonder the shower leaked like a sieve. 

Dumb stuff I've done: ages ago when I bought my very first house, it needed exterior paint and shingle molding replaced. I had no idea what I was doing and put up interior door trim instead of proper shingle molding...yeah, it didn't last long. My very first tile job was my kitchen floor - used the wrong mortar and had tiles popping up a few months later. Super.

Then there were the subs I hired to install windows who thought it'd be just fine to smoke weed in the house I was rehabbing. Left me seeds and crumbs on my new counters as a present.

I've learned so much since then...lol.

It's not required in South Carolina, either:

SECTION 27-50-90. "Psychologically affected" property disclosure exceptions.

(A) An owner is not required to disclose the fact or suspicion that a property may be or is psychologically affected, as described in subsection (B).

(B) A cause of action may not arise against an owner of real estate in a covered transaction for failure to disclose:

(1) that the subject real estate is or was occupied by an individual who was infected with a virus or other disease which has been determined by medical evidence to be highly unlikely to be transmitted through his occupancy of a dwelling place; or

(2) that the death of an occupant of a property has occurred or the manner of the death; or

(3) public information from the sex offender registry as defined in Article 7, Title 23.

(C) Subsection (B) does not preclude an action against an owner of real estate who makes intentional misrepresentations in response to direct inquiry from a purchaser or prospective purchaser with regard to psychological effects or stigmas associated with the real estate.

HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 336, Section 2.

But like @Nathan Gesner said, they'll probably find out anyway. Sorry that this happened!

@Carloz Gil I haven't run across anything that scared me away from a house I liked - yet. One I bought last year was so nasty, my agent walked in, looked around, and walked out, telling me that he'd wait for me outside while I took a look, lol. It was full of filth, dead roaches, and fleas (stray cats had gotten in through broken windows). The neighbors were so happy I fixed up the place, they used to bring me stuff from their gardens when I was over there working. My renter loves the place.

My husband and I do a lot of the work ourselves - I enjoy it - but I do have a list of dependable guys for roofing, windows, HVAC, major landscaping, heavy plumbing, concrete...stuff I don't care to do. 

I agree with @Jeremy Taggart, pretty kitchens and baths are a big draw. I tile all bathtub surrounds, put a nice tile backsplash in the kitchen, get stainless steel appliances on sale...anything to make my house stand out.

I suppose a house with fire damage might give me pause, only because I've never rehabbed one. But if the price was right....