House hack update: Aurora, CO

[Kenneth Westervelt]

I bought a 3/1.5 last year in Aurora, Colorado. Currently, both spare rooms are rented out at 75% of the mortgage.  My house is not the worst on the block, but I'm working on making improvements to get up to par.  

Internally, the back of the house leaks air like a sieve. Getting a proper climate control environment is priority #1. Had a contractor come out to take a look at the attic today, and got some really bad news: the HVAC piping is taped with asbestos, and they will not begin work unless it's mitigated somehow. Debating whether or not to cover it with duct tape or hire a certified removal tech. Advice is encouraged. 

Externally, I'm working on replacing existing some old cypress bushes with a raised bed garden.  It'll cost a slightly higher water bill, but having better curb appeal will matter in a lot of ways. Probably likely to get higher-quality roommates as well when the current ones feel ready to move on.