All Forum Posts by: Kyle Strouse

I would suggest the fiberglass door. Steel doors dent.

@Bernard Sims Ah ok. Yeah every city is different on whether or not they will need a permit, but generally if you are not altering the structure you don't need a permit.

Did you pull a permit when you did the conversion? It doesn’t sound like you did (otherwise the city would know about the conversion).

Does the “new” bedroom have an egress window? If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t qualify as a bedroom and could open you up to big liability issues if you are renting it as such. 

What kind of work do you need done on the property? Does it only need interior cosmetic work (sheetrock, painting, tile, etc.)? Does it need exterior work (landscaping, windows, siding, roofing, etc)? Does it need MEP work (HVAC, electrical, plumbing,etc)? Does it need flatwork/concrete? Do you need all of these? Narrowing down what you are looking for will help you determine the right GC to work with/find.

There is a general saying in the construction business: Good, fast, cheap...pick 2.

Did the previous owner's have any exemptions (Homestead, senior citizen, etc)?

Very common issue in DFW. Our soil is predominantly clay so it goes through a lot of expand/contract cycles when it rains. Foundation repair is big business here, there are a ton of companies.

If you try to avoid houses with foundation issues in DFW, you’re going to be avoiding most of the houses on the market. Homes in DFW without foundation issues are rare...the exception to the rule.

Like Tammy said, as long as the foundation is repaired by a reputable company (most provide a transferable warranty) then it shouldn’t be an issue when you eventually sell. 

I think JD is on to something there.

The cheapest/quickest option would be to mix up some Quickcrete and pour it onto the existing sidewalk in an attempt to "level" the uneven surface. This is a band-aid fix. It'll start cracking in weeks and flaking off in months. That's what kind of work will get done if you hire some handyman to come fix it for $30/hr. The proper fix would be to remove the uneven section of sidewalk, level/grade the dirt, and then pour a new piece of sidewalk. Even though the job may appear small to you, fixing it is something that could potentially take half or a full day. Why would a contractor want to spend a day fixing your sidewalk for a few hundred dollars when instead he can go pour a slab for someone else and make a few thousand in a day? This is why everyone is telling you they have a minimum or that your job is too small.

I would look into changing the water bill...if you want this fixed correctly it is not going to be under $100. I'd be surprised if you are able to find a reputable contractor to come out and fix it for under $1,000.

When you go to that site don’t just look at the price per kWh, you need to look at the “Energy Facts Label” or the “Facts Sheet.” A lot of times the really cheap rates are only that cheap if you use a small amount of electricity, once you go over 1,000 kWh the rate goes up....or if you don’t use a certain amount of energy per month you pay a more expensive rate (the cheap price quoted is the price you get if you use over 1,000 kWh per month, use less and you pay a higher rate). 

The amount of info can be overwhelming. I usually just call in and they’ll recommend which plan is best for me depending on my historical usage. I always filter the search results to only show 1year contracts or longer. The 3 month plans may be cheaper now, but come summer they will likely be more expensive/there may not be any 3 month plans offered in summmer so you could potentially have to be locked in to a more expensive 1 year contract (more expensive compared to the 1 year rates right now). 

@Mitchell Benson Thanks for the reply. All of the lenders I have contacted have more-or-less given me the same response. They will give a loan on a mobile home if it is already attached to a piece of land since they can attach their loan to the deed. In talking with them I didn't even mention the "tiny home", just that I was looking for a loan on a mobile home.

@Kevin Dang Yes we would hook up to existing lines. The lot already has underground utilities...they just simply need to be hooked up from the pipe/pole to the mobile home.