All Forum Posts by: Johann Jells

There's a lot of Indian H-1B workers here, and I've rented to them before and they've been fine (except for the couple who walked above our heads VERY heavily). But this applicant just got here and even has no SS# yet. Any advice on how to do the usual due diligence with no credit history? He can provide plenty of employment documentation.

 Most of the laminate I've installed was from Costco. If you can catch a sale it's well under $1.50/ft.  Last buy was from Lumber liquidators, $1.30/ft,  because I wanted to try the kind with edge bevels but Costco's version was darker than I wanted. But now Costco has that too. I like laminate that looks like oak, when people see that they don't wonder why someone put brazilian cherry or some such in a rental and look closer.

The thing about a floating floor is it's repairable. You just disassemble it back to the damage and replace it. I've had laminate in kitchens with no real problems, but I prefer to put vinyl plank or porcelain tile now. I just had a tenant move after 10 years and the laminate looks great. The crappy tile on plywood the kitchen came with is another story. But I'm not renting section 8, although that tenancy started out as 3 young men, not know for taking care of stuff. (Ended as 1 man with wife and baby)

 As I said, it's best to paint it semi gloss, easy job. Nice and cleanable. If somehow it was damaged (on the ceiling?) I would think it would be easy to cut a clean line, strip out the damage and put up a new piece cut to match. I've matched cuts a couple of times installing. 

Thanks all for the comments. Actually the photo is from the vendor site, my install of this product looks even better IMO, as I used semigloss, this looks flatter, maybe unpainted.  Actually, I used this particular type of raised foam paper for the 1st time about 8 years ago for my kitchen. The product I used 16 years ago was slightly different, it was actually embossed heavy paper, you could see the pattern from the back. It was way more difficult to use and a bear to strip the time I needed to, though it has held up like iron. 

Here's my living room

As I ordered more of this stuff, though I'd share here.  If you have old rooms with many layers of paint and cracks you know it will peel no matter what you do, especially on the ceiling. I wallpapered my living room ceiling 16 years ago and it looks as good as the day I did it, while the room next to it I spackled and painted peeled.  I get compliments all the time. 

Comes out to $0.45/sq ft. Way easier to work with than standard paper. Paint it Semi-gloss.

https://www.grahambrown.com/us/product/12011/small...

This is on my Amazon shopping list for my current reno, is a single box switch with no sensor. Seems most foolproof solution, especially if you also want to clear, um, non-humid but undesirable air from the bathroom.

Air King AKDT60 Delay Timer Switch

• Turns your fan and light on simultaneously
• Allows you to turn the light off while the fan continues to operate for an additional preset time
• Operation time for the fan can be adjusted from 1 to 60-minutes

I would not consider saving the existing floor unless you know why the tiles are coming loose. You would just be repairing it forever otherwise. I like quality laminate, and have used the click vinyl planks too.  But I'm in the north where no one would tile the whole house.

Thanks. Got her to sign the lease today, and hopefully by the time we next turn over a unit the properties will have been transferred into our LLC and it will not be an issue.

Another awesome tenant, BTW. We want to adopt her!

Dont forget to credit & eviction search applicants.

Our first property is still solely in my wife's name.  I do all the management of our rentals, and the others are in both our names.  Can I sign a lease, or what do I have to do to be able to sign?