All Forum Posts by: Mike B.

Felecia Brown that may be a good price but depends on how many units (assuming a duplex) and size of each unit. If all the wiring and piping is in the basement and easily accessible then it'll definitely make for an easy job

Anita Andrews water I paid myself but my rents were slightly higher to factor in the water cost. Shantaviae Wynn : PGW and PECO will install new meters for free. The plumbing or electrical feeding or leaving the meter to your units you pay for. For example in a recent home I renovated both of the meters were old and nonworking. After finishing my plumbing and electrical and other renovations I called PGW and PECO and have them come in and replace both meters with new ones. PGW meter is esp important as they have told me certain meters only allow a certain gas flow. So if you change your home from using minimal gas to using more gas with appliances, gas heat etc. this is an important step.

Anita Andrews if all the piping etc runs into basement you should be able to separately meter heating (if it's radiators/has forced heat), call PGW to add gas meters. Electric is more difficult as you would need to know which wires run where in the building. Assuming you can split the electric you would have to call peco to setup separate meters and accounts for each apt. Of note I'm unsure if pgw and peco would ask you for proof of multifamily zoning before coming out to install the meters. I've only been in situations where I've had them out to upgrade or replace their meter.

Hi all,

Wanted to see to what everyone's thoughts/experience is with closet organizers. 

I've done some high end rehabs for 3 of my rentals, put in closet organizers (the basic white shelving and rods you buy as a kit from home depot.. e.g. $70-100/kit).  Questions I have..

(1) What have you done for your rehabs (either rental or Flip)?  Just a basic rod and shelf or an actual kit from Home Depot like this one?

(2) If you install a kit (shelves, rods, etc) do you purchase a kit from HD or another retailer? Advice on this? Price range? I would think I could find better deals online, right?

I ask as I'll be flipping a home in South Philly (my first real Flip, but my 4th full rehab) and curious if I should put nicer organizers vs. basic ones from HD in the main (larger) bedrooms.

Thanks in advance for your advice/recs!

Looks great!  And the funny/small world story of this.. I went to school in Brooklyn.  Lived at Lafayette and Grant Ave, then at Fulton/Grand Ave.  Now i'm in Philly

I would be curious to see whom else does this. I've ran numbers before for condo sales and considering PITI, prop mgmt and condo fees it didn't seem reasonable to own a condo to rent out (unless you get it dirt cheap in crap condition). That's why I do the SFH rentals though

@John Hickey quite the story and looks like everything worked out in the end (easier said then done right).

Irfan Raza can you send me a PM with a contractor or two you recommend for basement dig downs? I have a property that is standing height but I would like to dig down another foot. There's currently no concrete floor just dirt Thanks

Hi Kyle,

Wood floors may be an issue as tenants will hear others walking around above them (and possibly here them talking as well if they're loud).  I would keep the floors and refinish them (tenants love hardwoods.. I think it's a great selling point).  

Here's some things you can do to control sound:

(1) If you need to install new drywall on the ceiling, remove the old, and insulate with Roxul between the joists to cut down on sound travel --> then install new drywall.  I did this in my duplex (it was 6 layers of plaster previously).

(2) Add 2nd layer of drywall for sound deadening.  I don't have expertise but have previously found great articles online which discuss adding a 2nd layer of drywall to mitigate sound from above apts. 

(3) Likely the easiest/cheapest thing to do: place in your lease that living and dining room requires carpet coverage (rug) over 75% of the area to "protect" the wood floors 

Hope this helps!

Thanks Alan G. For the info and everyone who responded. Will confirm with local HUD office if I can even adjust rent to market rate and if not I agree will pass on this as I may be inheriting more of a headache then I wanted. Thank you BP members!