All Forum Posts by: Marco Martinetti

New flooring throughout the house definitely adds value and appeal to the home. Taking advantage of installing while the house is empty is huge and will make this process easier for you and who ever installs it- they will thank you. As for cost it can easily range from 1.50-5.00 a square foot for material and here in Florida usually $3.00 minimum for install. The install also depends on the material and amount of steps I.e vinyl, laminate with under layment or tile. That being said the time to install it - before or after painting or cabinets is up to you. Doing it earlier in the process will make it susceptible to damage and wear and tear. I highly recommend Ram board for protection over any visible areas, not just the brown paper. Paper will rip and tear and  sand and loose screws will get underneath it and still cause damage.  Doing it towards the end allows you to be messier with paint and a little more rough with other installations but you will have more cuts for installation and may require additional material such as quarter round to finish off in some areas- which adds costs to your square foot flooring number. I have done it both ways and both can be successful a lot of times it just comes down to timing and what can and needs to be done at that moment. Good luck!

@Eugene Khoruzhenko

Hey Eugene, I am not familiar with the by the room rentals. I have been in a business partnership for over 12 years though. Everyone told us not to go into business with friends. However it has been the best thing for me and very benefial. One thing we learned is make arrangements and contracts while things are good and everyone is happy. This way you will think fairly if/when a situation arises ( death, unhappiness, moving, etc). They may claim that one will cover the other or they are meant for each other and can’t live with out the other, but let’s be real about marriage and relationships in this world. They don’t always turn out the way we expect them to. If they believe in their relationship, then they should have no problem putting additional addendums to the contract that not only protect you but them as well- “just in case”. 

Good luck!

@Gia S. it sounds like you have some tough decisions ahead of you. There is a lot to account for in that big remodel. Make sure to vet  your contractor really well. Also in my experiences with remodels/additions, they always take longer and cost more than expected. There are always so many unknowns hidden behind walls. However they are exciting to do and the finished product is always worth it. 

Check zoning future first before anything. This could be your answer with out getting to involved. 

What is your plan with the house at this time? Change to a MFR or house hack or keep for your own living? Would you be able to live in the house while all the Reno is being done? If it is a rental, are your rents going to add enough return to account for the large investment?

It might be worth looking into other homes near by that you could purchase and pour some of that renovation money into to. It could net you the same or better monthly returns and save you a lot of time and headache from doing the addition. 

Could you possibly do a smaller ADU and still purchase another home? Live in one of the locations and have two doors to rent out?

Good luck in your choices. Sounds fun either way you go. 

Welcome to BP. Would be very interested in following your story on your property. Keep us updated. Good luck 😁

@Alejandro Patino I would shop around for sure. Down here I Florida an electrician I know says the prices for wiring have gone up 4x. He also is so busy he is throwing such high numbers out with the idea he doesn’t want the work and people are still accepting them. It’s a hard time to find reasonable deals but they are still there if you have the time to wait and shop around. 

Good on ya for looking at this so early in life. I look back 20 years ago and wish I would have been thinking the same way. House hacking may be a good way for to get into REI. I had a lot of friends at that time that were more than happy to rent a room in a house at an affordable rate. You could live with a couple buddies and have them pay your mortgage. Look into first time home buyer options. Or possibly a duplex/triplex situation where you live in one and rent the others. You are on the right path, be patient and be thankful you have family around to help you out. Do as much around your parents house to show appreciation for letting you live rent free.

I agree with all the other posts. Start there. If that doesn’t solve the problem the turn the breaker off and remove the cover plate. If the plate is chipped or broken, there is a chance it has been bumped or hit hard. It’s possible that one of the wires was knocked loose. It could just be a simple re attachment and tighten. If still not working then maybe replace the outlet completely. Very simple to do,  watch a you tube if you are not familiar or hire a handyman if you are not comfortable with electric. 

Not sure about the rental aspect but the area is beautifully quaint. I visited for a friends wedding a few years back and really enjoyed it. 

Great fun read. Love the inspiration and education for your kids. You are teaching them very valuable life lessons. I hope to impart some of this with my kids. Nice work!