All Forum Posts by: Laurie Clarkston

Getting a 2 bed 2 bath condo ready to rent on the Plaza. Anyone have recommendations for a cleaner or cleaning service that does a great job?

@Sean Robertson   I had to replace all the windows.  The upstairs windows were huge and we had to slightly decrease the size to find a non-custom window that fit.  We also had to make the bedroom windows a little smaller so that the bedrooms would work well with furniture.  They were originally glass with metal frames, many were broken and frosted.  I am just finishing the first 2 up.  If it is legal to post a link on here, this is the cozy listing for the first 2 units.  The basement units will hopefully be finished in about 6 weeks.

  https://home.cozy.co/apply/#!/540588  

 This apt was originally 1/2 of the sanctuary - so completely an large open room with a cathedral ceiling - so we built this unit from scratch.

https://home.cozy.co/apply/#!/540589

This apt was originally the other 1/2 of the sanctuary - so a large open room with a big metal baptistry and stage where the kitchen is.  The bedrooms in this unit were the 3 original Sunday school rooms.

I am renovating a church into a 4 plex. (Purchase price $47,500)  Building as purchased was basically just a shell.  I have had to redo everything.  6000sf - New electric (separately metered), plumbing (all plumbing has to be redone to separate the units - also decided to separately meter) $15000, new sewer line $5000 , cabinets, all bathrooms totally from scratch (no one wants a bathroom with multiple urinals)  $3500, sunday school rooms are converted to bedrooms in 2 units - but still had to add closets.  Added laundry rooms x 4.  All appliances ($10000),  New HVAC x 4 - as old furnaces used for church are not efficient and were huge.  ($18500).  Backhoe work ($3500)  4 kitchens ($20000 for cabinets).  This doesn't include paying my contractor and his guys.  I'm not sure from your post if this church was previously turned into living units - but if not I would guess the cost would be quite a bit higher than your estimates.  If it is already done and just needs updating - then congratulations - those rents are amazing.  I could never get that much here!  BTW, although this project is kind of a money pit, it has been really fun to do and I have gotten lots of positive feedback utilizing a previously abandoned building and turning into something useful and needed.  

Thanks @ Max T.  I didn't think about comparing Amazon.

@Bob Jaeger @Mike McCarthy   Thanks for the advice.  I am not going high end, so I will head over to Home Depot.

I am turning an empty building into a four plex.  I need to buy all the plumbing fixtures and sinks.  I had previously been told by a contractor that Lowe's and Home Depot don't have the same quality fixtures as plumbing stores.  Is this true?   What's the best place to buy these?  Big Box, local hardware, plumbing supply?  I am located near Springfield, MO if anyone has specific local suggestions. 

I am renovating an old (church) building into 4 units - 2 up and 2 down.  I am installing HVAC into all 4 and the quotes I got for all units together was $18,500 - 20,000 ( or about $5000/unit including units and ductwork for 1300-1400 sf each)   They are running all of the ductwork through the rafters upstairs and in the basement apartments - I assume they will install in the ceiling somehow - They will not have to do anything to the slab (I know because I just spent a ton to replace the sewer line and put water, plumbing, and electric for the islands into the slab.)  So I don't know how the slab would adversely affect anything.

I use Smartmove - very easy.

I have used Smartmove and it worked great.  I paid for it the last couple times, but it's easy to have the applicants pay online themselves so you don't have to collect an app fee.  Usually get a result within the hour.  

@Natalie Kolodij, @Lesley Resnick  - Thanks, I appreciate the advice!