All Forum Posts by: Kathleen Leary

My home inspector (who knows everything!) has encountered toxic black mold ONCE in 30-plus years & many thousands of inspections. Just because it's moldy & black doesn't make it "THE" black mold. Odds are in your favor it isn't.

Obviously, first repair the plumbing & make sure the roof, windows, doors & foundation are water-tight. Assuming the mold is just the regular stuff, your repair budget will go toward fixing the cause.

Depending on the extent of the damage, you may not need a remediation service. It's a matter of replacing the drywall, maybe baseboards & painting once you remove the cause. Check with your local authorities.

FYI - not as a result of plumbing leaks, but I've had entire walls mold caused by people piling boxes/trash bags against walls or in closets. Ventilation is super-important!

I'm just looking at the photos, but I'd sure get somebody reputable  to look at the foundation. If there's repair work there, it may bump things out of range, dollar-wise. It looks to me like a new roof is in order, too. 

Can't really tell, but are those asbestos shingles on the exterior? That can be a problem.

And $4500 for a total HVAC re-do is exactly what I just paid this spring & around here, that's not a bad price at all.

Only speaking from my experience, but when you buy a $6000 house, you get what you pay for. Good luck!

Sorry - Nicole.

I like Mike Holmes - he focuses on the structure, not the lipstick. Expensive crown molding won't keep the ceiling from caving in!

Rant & Rave about Rehab Addict:

I really like the fact that she tries to re-use materials & keep the original look & feel of the homes she works on. I (only my opinion!) think modern interiors in old houses are just wrong. BUT - I wish she would learn to do the jobs properly. She either is ignorant of how to correctly do tasks (like staining wood, replacing glass, etc.) or else she no pride of workmanship. I have seen her do things in the name of "rehab" that are total crap. If I were looking to purchase, I'd want a price reduction for her bad finish work.

No, I'm not a perfectionist or a master craftsman, but I do try to do a good job. If I can't, I get somebody who can. Sorry, Nichole!

@Marcia Maynard  Note that I used the past tense - there may have been a complaint to the city about an unlicensed daycare business. She now only has her own kid there.

As for clean-up, I don't know for sure. I suspect there was some action taken there, too. But I still feel sorry for whoever gets that unit next!

I do everyone. No exceptions. I don't have high-dollar properties by anybody's definition!

Keep in mind, you've got to keep your application process equal for everyone - if you credit check one person, you must check everyone. Or not. Otherwise, you are running into a potentially discriminatory situation, which may not go well for you in the long run.

I change the HVAC filters twice yearly, plus I provide & install the smoke detector batteries. (That way I know it got done.) My lease includes a housekeeping clause, just in case. I also schedule quarterly "maintenance checks" - it's an old, old house, y'know.

I make it a point to give tenants several "Repairs Needed" forms & I try to respond promptly - it has been my experience that if tenants feel they have some control over the upkeep of the property, they are a bit more responsible. A HUGE variable, I'll admit! 

The property I have in town has a wonderful neighbor (huge plus!), plus I do the yard maintenance. Other ways to keep eyes on the place.

I don't have a lot of choices in contractors around here - there's like two or three of everything & that's it. But I only contact those who are recommended to me by people I know. I've had great work & great service, every time.

If I know someone who's getting work done on their home, I always ask them who they're using & what they think about pricing, reliability, quality, etc. I've gotten good & bad reviews this way & frankly, word-of-mouth is the best information you can get.

It may not be feasible for you up there in "the big city," but I'd sure start looking for the folks with the checkbook. Introduce yourself & start talking!

Thankfully, this woman is not my tenant, but lives in the next-door building. Not my problem!

She doesn't work (disability) but is able to walk the half-mile to the convenience store twice a day for a giant soda . . . . . oooops, that's a different story.

Anyway, she provided "daycare" for three toddlers & apparently never threw away the diapers. They are piled up about waist-high throughout most of the 3-room apartment (have seen this with my own eyes!). If you go up to the front door, it just reeks of urine & general "ick." I guess she's too busy to clean, with all the trips for sodas. (Lordy, I am such a bee-atch!)

That's just fine - makes my place look all the nicer!

Nope. If they were willing to pay six months' total rent up front, I'd write them a six-month lease & put the money in escrow, taking out each month as it came along.

If you don't have the cash in your hand right now, you may never get it. Don't risk it.