All Forum Posts by: Julie Thevenow

My fb business page and fb buy, sell trade sites. 

@NaTarrio Jones

I've painted a few old wood floors. I use Sherwin Williams porch and floor paint. You will need to lightly sand, I did it by hand and make sure the floor is really clean. The paint needs to "cure" for about 30 days before any furniture is put on it. It will scratch if furniture it drug and not lifted. I always give my tenants the floor protectors that go under furniture legs. 

I'm not sure if I'm going to keep painting the floors. I like the look of stain and poly better. 

@Jeff B.

You are 100% right! 

I've found the tenants that say they love to work in the yard are the ones that have the highest grass. I the future I'm going to include lawncare in my rent and pay someone to do it. I get so tired of texting my tenants about mowing. 

This is the countertop I was talking about. I think the LED under cabinet light cost me $20.00

also I wouldn't paint the walls white. To me white is too sterile and shows dirt. Try a light gray. I use a either Skyline Steel or Repose Gray from Sherwin Williams. 

Lowes has a nice in stock countertop that looks like granite it's white, black and gray. Maybe pair that with classic white subway tile and white grout. Subway tile is about 23 cents a piece. 

Paint the can light trim white, that way they will blend in to the ceiling. 

I think if you clean up the cabinets, put on new hardware, new countertop it would look fine. I also agree with Gail about adding a backsplash. I found the 12"x12" glass  mosaic on clearance at Lowes for 2.69 each. I bought 2 boxes for future use. Renters will love it and it's so much easier to keep clean. 

Can you add some LED under cabinet lighting? I've found the cost is pretty reasonable. It's another thing my tenants always comment about liking. 

Apply the rent to the late fees first. Then the balance to the rent. Judges won't award you late fees owed but will award you past due rent. 

I agree with Scott about the laminate and the vinyl plank. I've used the Shaw brand from Lowes in 3 units now. I renter has been there since October, has 3 dogs and there's not a scratch on it. 

@Roy N.

I use to rent with naked windows but they would put up cartoon sheets with the biggest nails they could find. The sheets would never be replaced with blinds or curtains. So then I started buying the cheapest big box mini blinds I could get. Within one week of move in they would be damaged. So now I spend the extra money and go with the 2" wood look vinyl blinds, every window gets a double curtain rod. I stock up on curtains when they are on sale at the dollar general store or family dollar. It's in my rental agreement that they can hang curtains of their choosing or keep mine up. I get mine back when they hang theirs up and charge if mine are missing on move out.  So far it's been working much better. 

I agree with the no carpet. Have you ever had to rip up carpet wet from animal urine on a hot humid Midwest summer day? It smells horrid. I either refinish the hardwood, tile or put in the vinyl plank floor. It gets cold here too. They can buy throw rugs and slippers. I've never had anyone complain that there wasn't carpeting. Carpet is nasty after a few renters. Even when cleaned, not everything comes out.