All Forum Posts by: Randy F.

If including dishwashers in lower end props youll likely find Frigidaire and Hotpoint the least expensive. I recomend staying away from frigidaire... I call them "dishRinsers"!
If rents justify a DW at all, I'd spend a bit more and go Whirlpool. Have had numerous Quiet Partner series DWs that have kept on ticking up to 10 years and counting.

It's a $value unknown Townhouse with a $12K rehab. Assume all you like but if we dont get in the habit of asking for sufficient info, we'll continue to offer up opinions that may not be as good as they could be. Just sayin'. :c)

As long as plaster is in decent shape, patch and paint it. If plaster is loose, meaning the plaster that mushrooms out behind the lathe has broken off, then it can be a big job. As Steve mentioned, you have base and trim to deal with. If you want to save the old trim, you generally need to strip walls and fir out studs so that once rock goes on it is at same finished level as plaster was. Its door and window trim that keeps you from being able to just go over top with rock or mounting it directly to studs.

The trick to patching cracks in plaster is to key them. You cut out the crack so that the crack is wider in the back than it is at the surface. Then, prefill the crack with hot mud. Silverset 20 is what I use as it sets rock hard. Fixall works too. Then mesh tape and float. If you take the time to prep cracks properly, patchwork holds up great. I like the character of plaster walls so saved them whenever possible.

It just isnt possible to provide an informed opinion because we arent informed. Front door could be a fancy shmancy $1000 door with double side lights where the opening has to be rebuilt and toilet seats with gold inlays.

If you want to know, ask contractor for a detail on material and labor costs.

If it were me, I would speak to management and ask them if their business is put on hold every time an employee goes on vacation. You're a customer. You paid them money. There is either an accounting error somewhere or they flat failed to meet their responsibility. You deserve answers NOW and they should be able to provide them. I'd haul my crankyness down to their office an demand answers.

Not only do you want to know what your investors want, you need to know your market. Its easy to complicate it when youre dealing with hypotheticals, but every house has a sweet spot. If the comps all have granite, estimate it with granite. You want to bring it up to, and a bit above, the comps.
If you have a 3/1, and 3/2s are where its at for end buyers, and the floor plan lends itself to adding a bath and the numbers work, estimate a bath. If you are selling to a rehabber/ flipper, think like one.
If youre selling to a landlord, think like one. Look at mechanical, roofs, appliances etc. to reduce potential for reoccuring repair & maintenance issues and making move-in ready.
If you provide a decent analysis of the property which peaks his interest, and he buys and finds you were spot on, whose properties is he gonna look at in the future?

At the least, do an annual cleaning of both refridgerator and dryer.

Refer... Pull back panel off at floor. Clean fan motor and blade. Ensure that all holes or slots in panel are open so proper air circulation is acheived. Vac out all dust and hair. Also pull toekick from front to access cooling coils. Refer is one of most neglected appliances and overheating of compressor significantly reduces its life expectancy. If dust is caked in cooling coils, refer may need to pulled outside and a hose used to remove the buildup. If pets live there, do it more often.

Dryer... Simply cleaning duct or vent doesnt cut it. Unplug, pull back panel, and vac all lint from element housing, from wiring and switches, and exhaust housing. Ive senn dryers that had small lint fires and noone even knew it happened. Seems to be more prevelent with gas dryers.

Wow! As others have said, I'd find a different place. Its possible that they are just clueless and think they are doing a good thing. But its also possible they know exactly what they are doing, and laying this burden on their daughter and new son in law is fine as long as it works for them. I wouldnt risk family problems. Dont walk away... Run away from this non-deal!

Not bad, Bill!

I got woke up by a phone call from a sub this morning telling me that he had just arrived at the rehab Im doing and fire trucks were there and smoke was pouring out of the place. I was like, "WHAT??" ... He said, "April fools"... I said, "you're fired!!"

No wonder Im not popular!! Do you suppose a hairy cleavage will work?