All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

I wouldn't mind being banned for a while; this site can be very addictive!   :)

It's such a small house; how much could it possibly cost to paint it?  I don't care for the awning but can't think of an inexpensive alternative. Good luck with it!

@Thomas Shanley Interesting take...I find it more gratifying to work with homeowners because they are generally more invested in the finished product and always want a good job. That's not always true with investors. What did you mean when you wrote that it's harder to work for homeowners because their decisions are more emotion driven?  Can you expound on that?

In any event, investors seem starved for good contractors; it shouldn't be any problem finding them. 

@Ryan K. In Raleigh, it would cost no more than 8k-10k to re-wire a house like that, especially with good attic and crawl space access.  Also, the plaster does not add much extra work to the job. It's a bit more work to cut the holes for the boxes but they also don't have to staple all the wires inside the walls. As I said earlier, I would not remove the plaster solely to facilitate re-wiring. 

@Ryan K. There's no doubt that it would be easier and cheaper to leave the existing plaster and I would not remove it solely for the sake of making the electrical work easier.  

But there may be other good reasons to remove it, e.g. how are you planning to insulate, how are the insides of the walls (dust, droppings, etc)?  

Removing the plaster is a big commitment because its thickness affects everything, trim, windows, doors, etc.  All in all, I generally like to remove it and start with a clean slate.  I think this makes the finished product much better but each situation is different.

@Joe T.  I don't understand this.  By your own admission, she is asking for mostly minor cosmetic things; why not just take care of them for her and thereby create an atmosphere of good will?  Why become adversarial?  And why does it matter to you if her parents are there?  Being a landlord is largely a customer service business.  Why be so stingy and unreasonable with your customers?  You are the leader, the property owner, the boss.  As such, YOU set the tone for all interactions.  

I'm always very generous and kind to my tenants.  They sometimes ask for things that I might not think are strictly "necessary" but if they ask for it and I'm able to do it: Why not do it?  Sometimes I have to say "no" but because I have been good to them all along, they are able to accept it.  

When a landlord finds a good tenant, they want to keep them. In the same way, when a tenant finds a good landlord: they want to keep them.  Be a good landlord!

@Shannon S.  Always do the right thing!  :)

@Katie Neason Hi Katie, I used a Sherwin-Williams Porch & Deck enamel (2 coats) followed by 2 applications of 'clear-coat'.  Your results may depend on the wood used for your treads and the amount of traffic the stairs will get. It may not be the best option for all situations but for this particular stair, it seemed right!. Good luck!

 There would have to be a coroner's inquest...  :)

@Tiffany Ward This is largely a math question: if the numbers work, then sure.  But if you're inexperienced, it can be very hard to take on a major project like this, so be careful!