Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here
Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties. Try BiggerPockets PRO.
x
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: Ryan Watson

Ryan Watson has started 23 posts and replied 166 times.

Post: Well/Septic Newbie

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23
Originally posted by @Bryan L.:
I just recently finished up a rehab on a HUD home. Got into it and found tree roots in the tank and the field lines. Could have been 3K or so to totally re-do the system. Instead, the inspector/permitter told me to bypass the roots with a solid line and put some root-killer in the system. IF this works long term, I'm at about $600 for the repair. So, instead of flipping it, I decided to hold it as a rental for a few years to make sure that the root-killer does the job.

By the way, I've lived my whole life in areas that have lots of wells/springs for water supply and septic systems for waste. In my opinion, your odds of having major problems are not really that high in general. Unless there's something specific to your particular site. Such as a high water-table, or ground that doesn't perk very well, or a big old Maple tree planted right smack over the field lines.

I hear the old timers say you can put water softener salt in the ditch where the roots are before you backfill the repair and the root will stop growing in that spot.

Post: Gaining construction skills

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23

Want to build confidence with swinging a hammer? Get you some large chunks of concrete, a 3 or 5lb sledgehammer and a cold chisel and start breaking it up. I know it sounds ridiculous but seriously. You'll hit your hand and be saying things you probably dont usually say. But you'll learn where you're hitting when you swing a hammer. This will eventually lead you to being able to drive framing nails like a pro and not embarrass yourself. You get good at that? There's always driving nails for trim carpentry. If you slip you leave marks in your molding. There's always something to strive for.

P.S. Dont forget your safety glasses. You will eat some pebbles.

Eventually you will get to a point where you swing like me. If i miss im going to shatter my hand, because i swing that hard. But I dont miss, I never miss.

Post: Well/Septic Newbie

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23

Whatever you do DO NOT pump the septic tank! That destroys the bacteria and the septic tank will never digest right again. You'll have to keep pumping it year after year. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise. They are wrong.

Replacing a well and a septic system can both cost around 5k or more.

Post: DAST companies

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23

I was wondering who the DAST Foundation Inc, and DAST Enterprises LLC are and what do they do? A google search led me to one of the names showing up as a non profit orginization. Can anyone verify this and what is the scope of their operations?

Post: Pit Bulls, Horses, and Poor People

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23

This is a good thread. I do have to say people are mostly right. Ive been around a few losers in bad neighborhoods through friends, and they do have financial problems. House smells like dog ****, and the food stamp card is on the coffe table next to a pile of roaches and a sack of weed. Amung about 50 fountain pop cups that they burn 4.00 a gallon gas to go fill up at the gas station.

As far as singling out the breeds? Its all in how you raise them. Personally ive run into more mean German Shepards and chows, and have yet to meet a mean pitbull.

Post: New home cost impact of rocks, trees, stream, grade in land

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23

as long as you are not putting a machine into the stream bed and disturbing it directly its not a big deal unless there is some sort of fine print that the others are talking about that you need to get a wetlands agency envolved.

One thing that can help you determine what you're getting into is having a core sample taken of the property. it will tell you soil type, groundwater and rock depth.

if some rocks are big enough you might need controlled blasting. if your basement is below the stream bed grade wise, you would likely have to be pumping water 24/7 during the construction part. im not sure how well a poured concrete wall with the waterproofing on the outside will stand up to the water, but of course it would be better than a block basement. builders would reccomend under drains to drain the water. the best way to do this is mechanically, without a pump or you could still wind up pumping water 24/7 after construction is complete. Then if you have a power outage your basement will flood.

In reguards to flood plains and flood insurance. If its in the area then you may import good soil or clay to be compacted for a building pad. Have them build it up enough to get you above the elevation thats considered the floodplain, then all that is a null concept after that. Plus if the elevations work out, it could keep your basement out of the rock.

You dont know untill you get a core sample.

Post: Stud Mount Shower Stalls

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23

Im working on a stud mount type shower stall with 3 panels. These didnt come with directions and claim there is no calking required. Which i can tell on the corners where the panels come together there is a seal, but what about the bottom where it sits on the tub?

I can tell i need to brace the large panel because its spongy in the center. Will this allow water to go behind the panel and cause mold on the studs or does this evaporate? Do I need to run a seam of glue around the bottom where it sits on the tub? This is not usually my line of work so any help here would be appreciated.

Post: OTC Tax Deeds

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23

Whats OTC mean?

Post: Utility company responsibility

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23
Originally posted by Rob K:
I've been told that water jetting is a complete rip off. It would not have helped at all since your pipe was broken.

I would suggest using a plumber who DOES NOT own a backhoe. The guys with a backhoe want to use it as much as possible, since that's where the big money is. You might have a drain that doesn't need to be dug up, but they will want to dig. The plumbers who don't have a backhoe will do everything possible to open your drain. In the event that they can't, they will refer you to a reasonable plumber with a backhoe.

I hate it when plumbers try to turn a simple job into a cherry lemon. You could just tell them no? I had a plumber come out one time and they seen pipe that didnt meet code under the house, but the sewer worked fine. There was just a junction that was loose and needed redone. He wanted to dig everything up to the street. He was a little upset i shot him down, not this time haha.

Post: COMPS?

Ryan WatsonPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 170
  • Votes 23

dont feel dumb, im not clear on it myself.

Welcome to bp