All Forum Posts by: Kathleen Leary

I shop all three (HD, Lowe's, Menard's) & have had fairly good luck with Menard's lower-end power tools - nothing's broken yet. If you shop the sale items, you can do pretty well. The best deals are during grand opening sales for new units - there's another one opening in a few months about 40 miles from here. Menard's carries things the others don't (marine plywood, mobile home skirting, etc.), so they can be a good resource. Not too impressed with their lumber - I buy mine at the local small-town supplier & it is bee-yoo-ti-ful, same price.

Just a quick idea - you might consider a built-in bench (with lid for storage underneath) to create an eat-in area for the kitchen. It doesn't take up the footprint of multiple chairs, plus you get a little extra storage space. Easy to build & it can be fitted to an otherwise awkward space that table/chairs don't fit into. Might be a way to maximize your space.

Scott's book is very helpful, if for no other reason than that it helps you put repairs into an organized progression. It also points out things you may have overlooked, which will have to be fixed & paid for.

My first advice would be to check out other properties in the area - don't put in a jetted soaker tub & tile surround when all the other places have acrylic tubs & glue-up surrounds. You just won't get your money out of it. It can still be nice-looking, but if the rent won't support it, you've wasted money on that improvement.

Whatever estimates you come up with, add 20% to it. Trust me. If you don't need it, bonus for you. But factor it in so you don't get caught with your (financial) pants down.

Spent 35-plus years as a graphic designer/advertising/marketing flunky - got laid off after 23 years at one place. Now I'm bouncing around doing housecleaning, elder care & freelance writing while I'm rehabbing my first rental. Also worked as a florist, restaurant cook & phone solicitor (ugh!).

One of the other landlords here in town gave me an hour-long tour of her property (in between tenants), showing me all the repairs, improvements, etc. I also have some "flipper friends" who insisted I take a very nice, large piece of unused carpet for one of my rental bedrooms. Maybe it's because this is a small town, but I find that folks are very happy to have someone to share war stories with, and very forthcoming with information about their properties, as long as you're upfront about your own position.