All Forum Posts by: Lorin K.

Tatiana, 

So the complex rehab would be ...full kitchen and bath rehab?, carpet, paint and fixtures thought the house? I have heard in one of your meetings, its hard to get a contractor to come in and make a estimate.

So three levels of repairs or rehab

First level - carpet, paint, inside doors perhaps some kitchen fixtures

Second level - All the above including full kitchen/bathroom tear out remodel

Third level- all the above including moving walls, removing lath and plaster , plumbing or electrical or both? Foundation could be included but that is a house I would generally avoid. 

I want to stick with level one or two for my first homes. Get them cleaned up and minimal rehabed and rented right away. 

Ohh..Does anyone have a inspection checklist?  

Are two bedrooms more difficult to rent, vs a three bedroom house?

I have heard they are more difficult to sell.

Anyway,

I have been looking for small starter homes under 120,000-150,000 in the Puget sound. They almost do not exist. What is the typical contractor rehab cost "cost per square foot" for homes in the Tacoma to Kent valley corridor? What about avoiding homes under x amount fo square footage?

Are two bedrooms more difficult to rent, vs a three bedroom house?

I have heard they are more difficult to sell.

Anyway,

I have been looking for small starter homes under 120,000-150,000 in the Puget sound. They almost do not exist. What is the typical contractor rehab cost for homes in the Tacoma to Kent coridor?

Aaron...foreign investors not allowed to buy US property...good! the same issue in Vancouver bc drove up prices to absolute insane levels. 1700 square foot 40 year old homes going for 2-3 million dollars! The Government of BC Canada slapped a 15% tax on foreign investment and now the 1/3 of the Chinese have left Vancouver to do the same crap in Redmond Washington. I like to see the trump administration ban Chinese and other forien investment. 

If its mold on the joist and you want it removes, go with dry ice blasting.

If I were you...pay off your mortgage. You cannot control your future should you get injured and are on perm disability. To often people who go on disability risk loosing there house because they can no longer afford the mortgage.

Nice to see some one from springfield on here. I have people I know in real life who live in the area. Tell me something, how is the economy? How many homes you see are borded up? One of the ways to know how well properties are selling, is find out the time on market. If several post sale comps are selling at 60-90 days, then something is wrong with the area. 

motion activated cameras pointing down each side of the house to detect activity. A German Sheppard that acts as a deterant. NEVER ever open the door...unless you can see the persons hands and back side "two cameras pointing at the door and one camera pointing at the backside of the suspect. If you must open the door...ask the person to step back 10 feet or more away from the door. But other wise, never open the door. 

talk to a attorney. It should be legal.

Market for homes made in the 70s and 80s. That way you know the house was built to code then, vs foundathounless houses with tube and knob. Finding houses that are vacant in a hot market like Seattle is almost impossible. They almost do not exist and if they did..would be torn down and a new larger house put in its place. Can anyone suggest calling the electric utility for a list of addresses with power shut off? That would speed things up. Or if the postal service has addresses that is does not send mail to, could that suggest the house is abandoned?