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All Forum Posts by: Maya V.

Maya V. has started 11 posts and replied 46 times.

Post: What would you do?

Maya V.Posted
  • Oakland, CA
  • Posts 48
  • Votes 5

Howdy all,

Relatively new to this site but have been at the landlord gig for about 12 years now. My tenants have been pretty good in the past but my last two tenants on a couple properties left me pretty sour. So I am in the process of being way more diligent about screening and interviewing potential tenants.

I have been getting some cooky and plot twisters this time around. Today I got a message from a male who claims he just inherited $100k and just left his job. He wants to know if he can sign a one year lease under these circumstances or if he needs a job for a reference. He has a credit score of 775 and if the aforementioned is not good enough he wants to know if it is okay to pay the year up front. He claims he has the $100k in the bank.

I have not spoken to him yet and know that I need to check for references, however, something about this makes me just sigh. Can a girl just get some regular hard working folks looking for a nice place to stay?!

Let me know what you would do.

Cheers,

Maya

Post: Help choosing countertops

Maya V.Posted
  • Oakland, CA
  • Posts 48
  • Votes 5

Thanks folks for replies. I'm going with Granite for the rental and Quartz or Acrylic for me. :)

Post: Help choosing countertops

Maya V.Posted
  • Oakland, CA
  • Posts 48
  • Votes 5

Hey Amit,

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I'm really over Granite. I actually had black in my house I just sold. When I redo my personal kitchen, I'm going with Quartz. I think though just for poops and giggles, I will price out some stone tomorrow. There is a big granite place in Emeryville.

Post: Help choosing countertops

Maya V.Posted
  • Oakland, CA
  • Posts 48
  • Votes 5

Hey Jerry,

Thanks for your reply. It is only at the lower end because it is so darn small. The more I thought about it today, I just decided to put the darn Ikea cheapy in.

Post: Help choosing countertops

Maya V.Posted
  • Oakland, CA
  • Posts 48
  • Votes 5

Hey Karen,

Thanks for the reply. It really is small @ about 300 sq. feet and I was getting $1,100/mo. before remodel but now I'm renting for $1,200 after the kitchen update. I've been to both Home Depot and Ikea numerous times and really uninformed about the wearability of laminate. I would love to just slap that laminate counter from Ikea (that I already bought) in but don't want to have to do another install 5 years from now. Any thoughts on that or something more specific? Thanks

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10208783/#/30208782

Post: Help choosing countertops

Maya V.Posted
  • Oakland, CA
  • Posts 48
  • Votes 5

Hi folks, I've replaced the old musty cabinets in my cottage rental. It is a small unit that sits on the same property of my house that I live in. I put in Ikea cabinets and was going to put in the cheap laminate Pragel countertops they sell for $69...I actually bought it and it is still unboxed. However, after reading mixed reviews about the questionable durability of that countertop, I now have reservations about putting it in. I initially liked it because it is black and looks great. I am now starting to wonder if I should just put something like quartz in and spend a bit more money so that I know I don't have to worry about the durability. The butcher block countertops at Ikea were a thought because although you do have to seal them about every 6 mos., if they stain, you can just lightly sand them out and reseal to a new looking counter.

My brain is fried at this point and any and all thoughts are appreciated. Also, the fact that this place is on the property that I live in, I can keep a closer eye on it currently but who knows if my living situation will be the same in a couple of years. Countertops take a beating and I just want something that will go for a while. I've read about folks using formica but not sure where I can find them in the east bay area, Oakland, CA. Sorry if this is too wordy but wanted to explain my situation.

Thanks,

Maya