All Forum Posts by: Don Hines

I am 57 and started 5 years ago. I thought DYI was my path as well (as mentioned before). I found out that ain't so. Your knees start hurting and you can never find your glasses.
I know there is probably not enough time to retire from this business when I want to . But, I figure in anther or year or two, I can quit the JOB when I want too and continue working in something i like a lot better. The gubmint sez I am supposed to work till 67 anyway.
Don

While out driving for $$$$, I discovered a flip I sold Last year in May is on the market. Checking the listing,he is asking $15k more than I sold it for; plus is using my staging pictures in the listing. We both owned the property for the same length of time. I busted my rear every spare minuet for over a year and he lives in it for a year and a few months. He might make more off of it than I did!!
Not begrudging, just amused.
Don

Happy BDay. Joshua, success like you have built is the American way. Wishing you more years of success!!
Don

WOW
I don't get in here as often as I used to. I am shocked to see this thread is still alive and you are still batteling the situation. Stay after them!!
Don

What do you mean by "I will be doing it"? I have spent the last 3 years learning that real investors have crews that do the rehabs. I just completed a rehab on a house I now call my home. It was vacant for about 4 years. It was my first experience hiring contractors. I sure like that a whole lot better than working the JOB during the day and my rehab every evening, weekend, and holiday. I just spent some time in Seattle and agree it could be a gold mine for investors. Watch out for those yippies though. Don

The most recent house I have completed was robbed of all it's copper in the crawl space. After getting two quotes around $2500 each, I did it my self for under $500 using PEX and shark bite connections. I probably could have done it for less than half with crimp connections.
Before the permit cops get me, I am living in this one.
Don

If it is 50 year old galvanized, the days are numbered. If you are opening up any walls for any reason, replace any galvanize you see.
On my first flip, I was so proud to disclose that the house had "new upgraded" plumbing; pex. The whole house was redone except the galvanized line from the meter. Guess where the buyer's inspector found a leak?. It was really more embarrassing than expensive.
Don

I watched my crew do some bathroom cabinets I decided to paint. They used a small hopper type of sprayer with oil base paint. Turned out great. Were you thinking about using an airless? I gathered that since you mentioned your ceiling. I wouldn't try that on cabinets installed.
Don

And it sounds like you didn't replace any recepticals with new ones? Not digging; I was just wondering.
Who did your inspection when you purchased the place? My jury is still out about inspectors for flips. I have hired two to help me in my purchasing decisions. Both of them pretty well just wrote the place up as "needing up grades". I knew that already. What is broke?
You can buy a handy dandy tester at the box stores that will simply plug into an outlet and will tell you a lot about the electrical system.
Don

Thanks for the report Rich. It has been boring without your imput on BP.
Don