All Forum Posts by: Dumitru Anton

@Julie Marquez,

K.I.S.S. at it's finest...

why change simple and effective?

my most important rule would be for me (still a newbie):

-keep it professional, is just a business

@Matthew Paul,  I third what @Greg S. has said

i remember from your posts you had quite a ride a over the years as a landlord and as a contractor.

i would talk with your accountant/CPA and an 1031 exchange expert just to see your options, but more money in your pocket always seems nice....

P.S. if you decide Vegas is for you, please remember us from time to time. us newbies need more stories from the trenches to learn.

 @Michael Smathers, please read this one again. Why? you are dealing with gas and water, some of the most destructive forces for us landlords.

i would go as far as providing new SS connection lines (hot/cold water) and a gas connection kit just to make sure nothing old/cheap is used to connect appliances

myself i provided the appliances because it made the property more desirable. they are pretty simple and going on 3 years for now.

but if I where you, I would check my local market first.

also, about used appliances, some areas have pretty good local stores which also provide warranty and/or good appliances

yes, @James DeRoest,

we need a Humour section like crazy.

now seriously, you live on the land of the winter-birds and vacationers, have sun for a lot of months so what are you complaining about? :-P

and what about interior wall colors? nobody wants that fuchsia on their nails....

 @Ryan Collins,

+1 on what @Mike F. said. if you have a menards in your area, they are sold as california densshield at about the same price as regular cement board.

@Mark Ainley,

is local in Bartlett. He may know someone

 @Ryan Collins, for your own mind sake, cut the drywall above the backerboard for about 2-4 inches. this will give you the studs and any pipe/drains positions.

then use a big crowbar and break the backerboad with tiles between the studs. being from the 70's, i think is nailed in place not screwed in.

for the new backerboard be sure to use screws for cement board not regular drywall (they rust really easy)

most important: final result have to be nice, recommended nicer than competition but tenant-proof!

alternative approach (but you already break some of the tile): chic decorating... not dated but period appropriate. believe it or not, people search for this stuff.

@Ryan Collins,

first shut the water off to that bathroom

disconnect the bathroom fixtures and towel supports

protect the bathtub with some cardboard or old towels/blankets (hard to refinish smooth porcelain finish)

next you need tool (clicky-link) . basically a wide chisel. + a hammer + gloves + eye protection

and construction grade garbage bags

your multitool is useful if you cut trough the grout and backerboard to break it into smaller chunks, (preferred method of tile pro's) but YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IS INSIDE THE WALLS so you don't cut a pipe/drain/electric.

you put the tool/chisel at 30 or 45 degree by the edge of the tile and after 2-6 hits it should come off

after the first 10-20-30 you will get in a rhythm

check the lower edge of the backerboard for water damage. if yes, replace, they come standard in 3ft by 5ft sheets

do you want to replace the bathtub or just refinish (everything is in the prep work)?

this would be a good time to replace/change the water valve/cartridge

good luck and safety first

 source: i just demo 2 bathrooms

 @Robert Fountain,

dated and dated, clean and new paint smell are 2 different things...

i would check all competition for 0.5-1 mile radius then check all features for houses sold in the same radius.

you will then know:

-paint color/combination to use (neutral beige or the ever popular graige/grayish tones)

-appliances common or not/expected or not (all matchy matchy)

-houses features/commonality

change counter tops and fixtures

clean/rejuvenate the cabinets

check like crazy the mechanicals: those are the #2 money eating (#1 is bad tenant or vacant property)

some here on BP have removed carpet completely and refinished wood under/switched to vinyl click wood like planks

good luck

 @James DeRoest, you're close: it is the pad.... marinated in old cleaning solution (years of it) will make a stinky socks/gorilla fart/hwat is that smell!?!?!?  which disappears with lower humidity

source: 

-personal home: after old people carpet and pad original 70's, changed to wood

-rental: cleaned (6 times and made sure to vacuum multiple times) but still smelly; cured by changing carpet and pad.