All Forum Posts by: Kathleen Leary

Many times (although not always!), areas that start becoming "gentrified" with coffee shops, boutiques, restaurants, etc., plus housing that caters to families, couples, etc. will tend to eliminate businesses like porn shops, strip clubs, pawn/we-buy-gold, etc. It may take a while & will depend on the economic growth of the whole area, but it could be a decent property in the long run. You might check with the city planning department & see if there's any long-term strategy for the area that might influence your decision.

I hate to bring this up, but before you go on vacation, you might box up some of your personal stuff (electronics, jewelry, cash, etc.) & stash it somewhere else. If she gets access to the property (legally or not), or if a realtor starts showing the property, stuff tends to "disappear." Just a CYA move - plus it's one less thing to worry about while you're gone.

If you're going to tape the corners, you need to scrape off the texture so you can get the tape to lie down flat. Otherwise, you get lumpy corners. Popcorn is virtually impossible to match, but it's not hard to scrape off. (I just finished taking popcorn off a kitchen ceiling.) I'd definitely re-do the ceiling from scratch & try to match the walls as closely as possible. You're going to have the sprayer going anyway!

Just my opinion - dark stain looks great in a large, open space or when the floors are damaged & it's needed to cover water/pee stains, etc. I like the lighter look in smaller areas & with more modern (like, post-1940!) architecture. Slap that poly down - it'll look great!

I'm rehabbing a 2/1 old SFR in a C+ area (doing most of the work myself), which means I'm there every day. Anyhow, got some help replacing the roof over the back addition & ended up with a big pile of rotten wood stacked by the shed for future removal. I was planning to take a little bit at a time home to put in my burn pile (I live out in the sticks) & was just starting to put the first load in my Honda hatchback. The neighbor popped home for lunch & said, "Is all that trash?" I said, yes, yes, I'm so sorry, I'm getting rid of it, etc. He then said, "Just put it on my trailer & I'll take it to the dump the next time I go." Whaaaaat?!? How great is that guy? He'll be getting a couple of steaks & some homemade cookies, guaranteed.

I'm not too far from you (just south of Ottawa), so welcome to investing in the Land of Oz.

I have a metal roof on my own home - I had a roofing guy do it. The type I have is called a "standing seam" & each course (containing screws) is covered by the lip of the next panel, so they're covered. The ends of the roof are wrapped in metal edging & then the panels overhang that slightly. You need to be ultra-careful with the flashing installation, as well. This is probably the most common type in these parts, although there are others. I will tell you that walking on those panels is like skating on a greased mirror - be extremely careful if you DIY!

STAY OUT of it! You cannot win, no matter what. Collect the rent, evict them, whatever you need to do as a business owner - you're not their friend, you're their landlord. Unless there's damage to the property, run the other way - pronto.

Word-of-mouth is the most reliable advertising in my universe (which is a small town, granted!). ASK! Find other landlords & just ask them who they use & if they're satisfied with the work/cost. You'll get all the references you need, good or bad - equally valuable. And that property had better be in imminent danger of collapse for tenants to be calling in the middle of the night!

I have lead paint at my currently-being-rehabbed property (built 1910). At this point, it's exposed on the front porch - everything inside has been painted over so many times it will NEVER see the light of day. The way it was explained to me, as long as you don't sand it & dispose of the chips properly (assuming you're scraping it off), you're okay. You must disclose anything you know about it, plus give them a copy of the EPA pamphlet (they must sign that they received it) & tell them not to let the kids gnaw on the porch. The house I grew up in was covered in multiple layers of peeling lead paint (fun to pick off!) & amazingly, my mother didn't let us eat it. Go figure.