All Forum Posts by: Diane Dib

Thanks Shannon! Do you remember the name of the ozone remover? The depth worries me, if it's been happening in the same place(s) for years it can certainly be deep and hit the beams below. And gotcha - carpet goes in the bed of the truck and to the dump immediately!

No cabinets currently! No lie. It's a very old sink unit with built in storage and there is a pantry. But there will  need to be outlets added and lines fished and cabinets installed, so yes, holes.

Thanks @Russell Gronsky. If the kitchen floor is not currently painted I think I will be OK. There is a wood floor under the linoleum but it is probably very worn and if that is the case I have the option of replacing it or just re-covering it. If it has a cat pee issue like the front rooms, I will need to treat and Kilz it, and then paint or re-cover (or replace). I don't plan on removing any walls. And I have not seen anywhere that you need to check for lead dust on rental turnover but will double check that - that would be a pain! I am really on the fence on it as a rental, the lure of a flip is tempting.

It's a 500 year flood zone, which is what my own house is in. It has not flooded since the 1930s hurricanes. So hopefully not again for a couple hundred years. Knock on wood

I could not even fathom spending 125K on a kitchen. I sure hope it cooks and cleans up for them!

OK, how do I get contractors estimates based on sf? Is that an estimate based on them knowing the area or do they need to physically be inside to look?

Floors will be painted which I will do. Kitchen to be painted or recovered based on condition when old linoleum is removed. 

aka I've got cold feet.....

SFH in pre-forclosure, not bank-owned

Owner is asking 55K

Roof is newer, foundation and house are in good shape. Needs a huge cleanup - see my cat pee post - and everything needs to be painted. This is a historic house and personally, I like to keep them as true to form as possible so I have no intent of making it open concept, exposing beams and all the "fad" stuff I see nowadays. That said, it is not in a historic district so it will not be subject to their regulations if I need to deviate somewhere. But it will be solid and clean.

Kitchen and bath need work. It will need all new appliances. Heating system works great but is old and I'd want to replace it. We don't need central air in this area so I don't think I'd go through that expense. Plumbing probably needs to be looked at and I'd probably re-do the kitchen layout anyway. Kitchen floor is linoleum and that and the plywood will need to be removed to make sure there isn't any cat pee on the original floor underneath. Yard is tidy, no trees need to come down.

I somehow blew away the spreadsheet I made last night based on a blog I read here but here's what I remember:

Appraisal from last year states a MV of $120K, which is supported by sales in the area in the past year. There are some slightly bigger houses on the street that have gone for over 200K. Good area, close to highway and shops, but a quiet street.

Monthly expenses:

Taxes $285

Insurance $125 (wild guess for non-owner occupied in CT, my own house is $75/mo)

MAY need flood insurance, it is on the edge of the zone and I haven't called to check on pricing. I had it on my own house for $400 but that was in 2011. River, not ocean.

Water $50

If this is a rental, I can probably get $1200 without a problem (have talked to landlords in the area). Tenants pay utilities except for water.

If I flip, I should be able to get 120K at a minimum.

To cover utilities while working or vacant, I'd estimate electric $40, gas heat/hw $75/mo winter, $35/mo summer.

I have 20K in a LOC

I have a CC with 35K and another with 25K but cash advance fees are crazy if I were to use part for purchase. 

I can do cleanup and paint myself but may need to sub out plumbing and electrical. I have run plenty of network wiring in my old life though, so maybe I can run it if I have an electrician finish it off at the panel? Oh and the heating, I'd definitely need someone to hook that up as I'd like to switch it to gas.

So, am I crazy? It's ok, I've been called that before! I don't know what's scaring me more, the money, cat pee or electrical and plumbing! Thanks!

<edit> I wonder if I can also use Historic Tax Credits. I know that program was restructured last year and will need to contact my state office for info.

When is the Manchester meet up typically held?

@Jeremy M. this is plaster and I didn't check the walls at all, but I expect to find some there. Thanks for the tip on Odaban - I'll check that out.  Have you gone through any warm humid weather yet?

@Rob Golob There ARE vents and I didn't even think about them! I'd be replacing the entire heating system anyway... wouldn't that be nice if it was a good source of the smell. Could I be so lucky?

I am looking at a property that smells of cat pee. I've seen it a couple of times, and it was obviously worse when the weather was warmer and it's barely warm at all right now. The house is still furnished and has one large throw rug. I think once the carpet and upholstered items are out, it will smell better but I don't think it will be smell-free.

I've read a number of posts here on this topic and see that some of you look for these places since others tend to run from them. I like that approach! But I still need to get rid of the smell. 

Most posters say to use oil based Kilz, but are you also using some sort of enzyme odor remover prior to this? I have had sick cats in the past and am familiar with black lights to find it, but the best results I had were when I re-shellacked my floors (which is what was originally on my floors anyway). That said, my house smelled like roses compared to this one so I know I'm dealing with a different beast!

Are there companies that are good at eradicating odors or am I better off doing it on my own. Any suggestions are appreciated as I need to factor this into my budget for purchase.