All Forum Posts by: Andrea Mas

@Manolo D.Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement!

@Manolo D.

utility room where the plumbing lines are visible 

ceiling of that utility room with hot and cold water pipes

I think the black pipe inside the utility room is for drainage? I really don't know much!

What would be the front door, leads to the back yard.

@Manolo D. wow, thanks for the wealth of knowledge you just dropped! Ill need to read through it all a few more times before I totally understand what you mean haha! I definitely plan to get several more bids, but unfortunately that gent I got the quote for 40k from WAS my brokers recommendation. She gave me a few others and I've found a couple of my own so the search continues! As far as permits go, I have some time and some money so I don't I plan to try and do the owner builder plans you mentioned if I can. 

When you mention doing the plumbing below any plumbing do you mean, the plumbing that's already existing in the home? The thing is the current property is situated as such that all the plumbing is up to the left of the property and the basement is below to the right of the property. But I can see the plumbing lines in ceiling of the basement and the sewage (I think) as well. I'll try to add pics to the original post.

And for the flooring I planned to do allure? I mentioned cement bc I figure that'll require some cement Removal and then repatching to get the plumbing lines put in.

Thanks for all the advice!

@Account Closed Hi Ken, thanks for the reply!  You sound very familir with the area! Do you live near here?

I don't think the pipes are galvanized, but I'm not entirely sure and should find out. There was somewhat of an issue with water seepage down into the foundation, but the previous owners installed 2 sump pumps that seem to be working just fine. And we are pretty close to the Des Moines beach park, so the area seems really safe to me. I didn't know Des Moines had a reputation for being a bad area...? Thanks for the permitting info, I'll be looking into it with the city rather than the county then?

Thanks again!

Hi All,

First of all I want to offer my profuse gratitude to this community, to BP for their podcasts and wealth of priceless information that got me to move out of my comfort zone in San Francisco to Seattle to get started in Real Estate investing. This website has been my biggest cheerleader, teacher and a profound inspiration. So thank you, thank you, thank you!

Now, on to the background story: I bought my first SFH in March of this year, in Des Moines, WA (just south of SeaTac airport). It's a 1900 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath home with a 2-car garage and a partially finished daylight basement. The house was built in 74' and is in pretty good condition, brand new roof, but bad siding. There some wood-rot here and there and could use a bit of a cosmetic face lift. Since we moved in April I have been getting adjusted; new city, job, pretty much new everything. I found a tenant to move in one of the extra rooms and have now refocused on getting the daylight basement converted into a studio apartment with an open layout. It's about 600 sq ft and it's all dry walled, with cement flooring. The plumbing seems pretty accessible, but all new plumbing infrastructure is needed and there's electricity, but we'll need to get a separate breaker box to sustain the kitchen appliances.

I am a total newbie (emphasis added) and my broker told me I could do the whole thing for around 10k. First quote came in at 40k. (YIKES!) I definitely don't have that kind of money laying around. So I'm thinking if I do it in pieces, maybe start with the big things first like plumbing and electrical, then move on to putting some walls in/kitchen cabinets and restroom features that way the cost will be easier to swallow. I'm a W2 employee so I have a steady stream of income and may try to borrow some cash from BOM (Bank of Mom), got that from one of the BP podcasts a long time ago (ha!). I'd really like the whole thing done by the end of the year, if possible. Anyways, here are my questions:

1- Do you know of a reliable plumber in the greater Seattle area who isn't tied up with bigger jobs? (I know, it's summer in Seattle...rehab central)

2- Do you know of a reliable electrician who can help me out?

3- Should I go about registering for permits for the work now? I heard its best to do so before the jobs start? Can you shed any light on the subject of permitting in King County? I guess it would be considered a MIL unit? I'm not really sure.

Any tips/advice would be so greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading this long post! 

Hilarious! Thanks for the good laugh! To each their own, I wouldn't call myself lazy at all, but I do see some similarities in your and my thought processes. I just keep trying to figure out how I can relive my study abroad year, but full time!

Good idea! I would be very interested in joining, downtown seems to make the most sense, but am open to other locations. Im available most days of the week M-Th after 6. 

Thanks everyone, you guys are great help!!! @Brian Gibbons this is a very insightful post! I was scratching my head wondering why a listing would expire in the first place, now it makes perfect sense.

@Jeff Keller thank you for the information, now that I understand it's likely an equity issue the seller is having, I understand why they might not want to pay the agent's commission. I'm going to speak to my broker and see what she's comfortable with.

Thank you both for your input! Appreciate it! If it turns out I'll write an update!

oh and I forgot to mention I don't have my real estate license.