All Forum Posts by: Richard Chang

Hey BP'ers,

We are considering looking for a property in the San Gabriel Valley of LA for a family member to purchase and develop the lot with 3-6 units in a good but not overly high-priced area. This area has a very big Asian market and can be marketed to buyers from China etc.

Well, I guess this puts us in competition with local developer builders.

I'm seeking guidance on how Bp'ers would look for suitable properties that could be torn down ( or partially ) or rehabbed. I'm not a RE agent and have only basic investment experience.
Should I do my own research on zillow, truia, local MLS or work with
a Realtor ( for investors ).
How to find a very good Realtor/Investment firm who would have the knowledge of tear down, develop , sell skills.

My family member has resources to pay cash for the property so that should help.

Thanks, Rich C

Scott G - Thanks for the low cost tips on kitchen / bath tips.

Jon Holdman - Thanks for the photo / image embedding tips

Quick Update:

Turns out that after "cleaning up" the kitchen ( new faucet ) and bath ( new vanity faucet and new shower fixtures ) and the old hardwood floors were "OK As Is". My new tenants ( younger ) were happy with clean carpet / curtains and drapery rods ( instead of verticals/mini blinds ) and decent paint.

I still need to put a new wall heater in a few months ( another post talking about this ).

So, I was able to avoid some remodeling costs this time around.
I think is is partially due to providing a "reasonable" rent for the area and the lack of 3br 1bath small houses (so there was less competition) as opposed to apartment living.

Thanks to all,, Rich C :)

Hi there,

Still in the research phase on the options
Only need heat in Orange County a few months of the year.

1. Gas Wall Heater
Replacement wall heater ( on the interior wall ) using the original gas line should be in the same place as the original furnace
but will require the Vent Flue Pipe coming out of the wall heater
to go up thru the wall thru the studs and through the attic ( blocking mine ) and cut a hole in the roof for the pipe to vent.
What about ceiling / roof integrity ?

2. Ductless Mini Split A/C and Heat pump
Units should be installed on a "outside" wall and not an interior wall. Condensation water has to be vented. May need multiple units to cover the 3br / 1 bath house and more expensive than option 1. So, I can't put these 2 units in the right place.

3. Duct Heating System - most expensive but most effective
Install standard duct heating in the attic and provide heat to all rooms and then patch up the floor furnace on floor and wall.
Most expensive but the "best option" for even heating and to all rooms including bathroom ( total 6 or 7 vents ).
Duct system probably won't block my attic ( I think ).

Anybody ?

Thanks, LA Guy

Originally posted by Jon Holdman:

P1040396 kitchen counter sink dishwater by pceinc88, on Flickr

Like that?

Navigate to your picture on Flickr. Click "Share". Then click on the "Grab the HTML/BBCode". That gets you a long string that includes the extra info above. If you want just the picture, trim out everything except what's between [ img ] and [ /img ]. There won't be any spaces in what you see, but if I leave those out this post won't post correctly.

Jon Holdman

Yeah, I really like it !
NOTE: you have to choose the BBCode radio button and not the HTML option
to cut and paste

I got a photo on how to use the @mention feature here in a reply post
http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/25/topics/73995-is-the-mention-function-working-for-others?page=2

OK, here is a image showing the 5 steps to embed a photo from flckr.

Biggerpockets.com_Flckr_Photo_copy_paste_instructions by pceinc88, on Flickr

Thanks Jon ! Rich C

Leon Yang

Thanks, El Monte is nearby, I'll check it out.
I didn't know that, I thought granite was very expensive.
Do you measure and have them custom make it for you ?

Looking at craigslist now for used Appliances :)

Thanks, Rich C

Q. How to use the Image tags to show a picture inline in the Post ?

[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/83444344@N05/7645200970/in/set-72157630748832672[/img]

I tried to use [img] ... [/img] above but NO image, these tags are inserted when clicking the Image Button

I'm lost, please advise :)

NOTE: testing the @Mention for: @Jon Holdman ( when typing @J the list only shows Joshua so NOT all the posters in this thread show and the logic only finds the first poster with a @J ... )
The life of a Web Programmer is NOT so easy :)

Thanks, Rich C

@Joshua Dorkin

[b]Would love to see a How To video on using some of the features
as they are now[/b]

@mention

Doesn't show a popup of posters for me in IE9

Image Test with img tag surrounding link
[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/83444344@N05/7645200970/in/set-72157630748832672[/img]

Link Test with url tag surrounding link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83444344@N05/7645200970/in/set-72157630748832672

Thanks for a great site, Rich C

Well, it's a Class A area 1/3 mile from the beach and renters here want the proximity to the beach and functional features ( I guess ).
I saw a Rustoleum video on youtube , didn't know you could overlay countertop tile with it ?
With Tenants, it sounds like you predict that another bathtub and countertop refinish are needed after a few years ( or some kind of refinish touch up ) ?

The original floors are hardwood ( I think ) but have been covered with carpet for many many years. Don't know yet if it makes sense to change ( the current carpet is somewhat faded and I hope a good cleaning will get me a few more years ).

Thanks, Rich C

Hi,

Sorry for all the extra posts, I don't see how to delete posts :(

Testing with Advanced Reply ( not quick reply ), I see the ICONS for Image

Help !I can't seem to get a LINK to the photos on Flckr.com working.
Editor puts the same img tags around ( that didn't seem to do anything ) ?

[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/83444344@N05/sets/72157630748832672/[/img]

[link]http://www.flickr.com/photos/83444344@N05/sets/72157630748832672/[/link]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83444344@N05/sets/72157630748832672/" >photos</a>

Thanks, Rich C

Hi again,

IMAGE TESTING USING FLCKR

I know that image uploader is in progress, but @Karen M
asked before and was told to use flickr and so I tried it
and created a "Set" called Remodel Project for my 3 photos

Adding my own image tags before and after since I don't see the ICONS in the "enter your reply" dialog

P1040402 bathroom vanity and tub shower by pceinc88, on Flickr
Hope it works, Rich C