All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

@Rachelle Alpern   Hi Rachelle,  Funny you should ask; I have one, that I just built, coming on the market next week...two streets over from this one. Feel free to contact me directly if you'd like more info. 

Regards,

Art

@Brandon V.  What kind of ceiling is it?  Why is it cracking?  I once had a plaster ceiling collapse on me in a house I was working in.  The chunks were very heavy and I could have been killed. 

There's more to being a landlord  than just collecting rent; you also have to maintain the property. Why not just fix it?  

What do you need?   I do a lot of work in Durham; Burlington, however, is a bit far. 

Feel free to contact me, if you think I might be of service.  

 You can do plumbing & electrical on your own personal residence but not on your 'non-owner occupied' [flipped] house.  I would encourage him to get his license; it will prove very useful if you continue in this business.  Good luck!

@Jennifer Ross  In North Carolina, a homeowner may not pull permits for work over $30K on a home he owns unless he intends to occupy the home for at least 12 months upon completion of the work.  Even so, plumbing, electrical and HVAC work must be performed by licensed tradesmen.  

It is also illegal in NC for a licensed GC to pull permits for you, as someone suggested, unless they are actively involved in and legally responsible for the project.  Any project manager is also required to hold a GC license to oversee work on a non-owner occupied house. 

I think these laws are a good thing for the buyer's protection. Too many houses are being renovated and 'flipped' by unqualified people and then purchased by unsuspecting buyers. I've seen many instances of shoddy work being performed on flipped houses, either deliberately or out of ignorance and the buyers are left holding the bag. It's a big problem. 

Why would your husband not simply become licensed in the state you move to?

 You can never go wrong following my lead...    :)

@Patrick M.    Best Tile is very expensive and I have not had good experience with them. For a bath floor in a rental, the tile at HD or Lowes is fine.  It's much more important that the installation be done properly for a lasting job. 

@Ricardo Meza  I agree with you that this should have been included in the scope of work, especially since you raised the question during your initial meeting.  It's a pity you didn't notice its omission in the contract.  Even so, if the contract includes the flooring installation in that area, I would consider the slab issue as 'floor prep'.  That's the ethical position in my mind.  Legally, may be another matter. 

@Eric F. Time is money.  Unless you really enjoy working on things, it usually best to just hire a professional.  They (we?) have the tools, experience and resources to handle these tasks easily and efficiently.  Skylights, especially should be professionally installed as it is tricky to detail the flashing properly and you don't want leaks.  If I was missing a cabinet door, and couldn't find a match, I'd just make one in my shop.  It's not that hard if you're set-up for it. 

I do understand the concept of things taking longer than one thinks though.  :)

@Patrick Moore  It is wise to get multiple estimates but it is generally considered poor manners to invite them all at once to view the job. 

It's analogous to inviting two potential love interests out on the same date.  It trivializes the relationship and impedes the ability for the two parties to get acquainted.  

I think it's better to carve a block of time and stagger the meetings.