All Forum Posts by: Tim Kaminski

@John Sortore What exactly do you mean by a clear shutter?  Do you mean like a plastic film that goes over the glass?

Are you saying operable shutters that open and shut?

Would I have any problem finding the aluminum frame and tempered glass together or would I have to purchase separately?

Any tips to best place to find these?  Online?

Regarding the insert windows, I guess I have to do more research as the installation videos I saw don't have any screws going into the frame so was wondering how secure they are

@Andrew Kerr  Thank for reply.  Have heard to stay away from the big box stores as they are more pricey but that price isn't bad at all. Will look into it.

@Matt R.  Appreciate the info.  Will be sure to measure everything out prior to making the trip.  Yes I've been watching a few youtube videos of the replacement process and doesn't seem terrible but who knows what you'll find when you remove the window.  Don't think any of them are leaking which is why I'm not scrambling to get the job done.

For the vinyl windows, are you saying the replacement windows will not come with the flange?  So when I remove the window I have to be sure there is either a flange in place I can use or that my replacement window will come with one.

BP,

Looking to replace the majority of my duplexes windows sometime in the future.  This is a 1920's stick house located in Tampa, Fl and there are about 20-25 windows that are just single pane glass or low grade aluminum framed windows that will need to be replaced at some point in my rehabbing.  This is a long term buy and hold for me and I just had central AC installed so was looking for something that held some type of insulation value but was also concerned about hurricane protection as I don't want to be running around to all of my properties in the future putting up plywood.

I wont be paying for heat but the bottom line is these windows will have to be replaced sooner or later.  Am open to the idea of slowly replacing them so I can get quality windows installed.  It is a rental so don't need anything high grade but I don't want to stay up at night thinking my windows are going to shatter next year when Irma 2.0 comes rolling through.

Have been receiving a few quotes from window companies but they are asking $25-40k for removing and installing.  Am somewhat handy  so would rather install myself and save a buck. The rental is in Tampa Heights and around the $900-1,000/Mo range.

• Do those investing in areas prone to hurricanes invest in impact windows or storm shutters?
  • Or do you put in cheap windows and just run around and board up the windows prior to a storm?
• Do you have any suggestions on where to find solid windows that I can install?  Have heard of Habitat Restore for cheap material and will definitely look into that.
• Any tips to installing these windows that I need to be aware of?
• Any advice on insert/pocket windows?  They seem inexpensive but not sure if that is what I would want as they may be less secure for larger storms.

I know I am asking a lot of questions so I appreciate any help you guys can give to a new investor!

Thanks! 

I like the idea of just bumping his rent up to market rent or slightly below and letting that work itself out.  If he leaves, great.  If he stays, he is paying what I want and I can use his deposit to paint the unit.

  Will still talk to him about smoking in the vicinity of the home but as I said before, right now the smoke doesn't carry over into the home.

@Henri Meli  I've walked his unit many times.  Very clean for the most part.  Only downside of this tenant, so far, is that he smokes.

@Thomas S.  You would remove the No Smoking clause?  I would think that would give him free range to smoke inside the house all he wanted.

@Henri MeliYou aren't wrong.  I'm concerned that if I tell him not to be smoking then he is just going to try and hide it by smoking inside and really causing damage to the unit.  I do need to talk to him about it and maybe setup an area away from the house but at that point I am just enabling.

@Nathan Gesner  Great advice.  May end up doing just that.  I just think the process of kicking someone out who is going to be living right next to me doesn't sound too appealing so I'm reluctant.  Was hoping the price bump would drive him away.

 @Andrew B. I figured it was something as simple as that.  Of course that makes sense.  Will keep that in my memory banks.  One less silly question to ask.  Thank you.

Back Story: House hacking a duplex for the first time.  Have an inherited tenant (who smokes!) paying under market rent and has inherited lease agreement ending at end of June.  Tenant is very clean and does not bother me with little things BUT he smokes right outside front door even though it is in his lease that "smoking is not permitted on premises".

Question: Is there a way to have him sign MY lease but only as M2M?  I want to bump the price up to better reflect the market and improvements made to the house(central AC, paint, etc).  I like the idea of giving him options of M2M/8-12 mo lease, but would make the M2M option cheaper than long term solely due to the smoking. 

There is no carpet in the home so the smoke is not holding as much as it could. Also I plan to paint his unit anyway BUT smoke is still going to find a way back in and the area where he smokes has a very strong odor.

This is my first rental and while I am familiar with Long term leases, I wasn't sure if there was a way to have him sign MY lease but only as a M2M.  Typically the leases are worded as "Starting on____and ending on ____ with M2M option after end of lease term"

Let me know your thoughts or if I'm being too confusing with what I need to accomplish!

Thanks BP

Hello,

Interested in sub metering the water in my duplex remotely.  

There are plenty of relatively cheap options online but curious if investors have recommendations of products to look at or stay away from.

Thanks!

Tim

@Nicholas W. That's what I thought.  Are there not flow meters that can be looked at digitally?  Have a hard time believing all of them have to be read by physically being there.

@John Underwood Yes there is only 1 water meter.  I believe you are thinking of the flow meters that can be installed in the plumbing where the water enters the other unit.  That is what I'm suggesting and am confident there is one out there that you don't physically have to be there to read it.  I agree, setting up a whole new water heater for the other unit and then having to maintain and replace these sounds expensive.

I think at this time I am planning on a flow meter that I can read remotely.  I'll have to hold onto the single gas WH, and keep it in gas(vs electric as you cannot put the bill all on one unit), and phase out the other gas appliances being used there.

Hello!

My Duplex currently has 1 gas tank WH serving both units.  Owner paying for water AND gas.  I'm trying to cut costs and looking for best solution.

• Is it possible to wire an electric WH to both units?  I don't believe so but I don't claim to know everything
  • IF NOT- Should I just leave the gas water heater and instead install a flow reader on the plumbing so I can get rid of the water expense instead?
• Another option is turning to electric WH for each unit but then I would also be paying for electric+plumbing+additional WH to get that all setup.

Is there something I'm not seeing or a better solution?  Right now I think the flow meter would be the best option.

Appreciate any insight!

Thanks,

Tim