All Forum Posts by: Mona V.

Due to heavy rainfall the crawlspace of the house has water now and a contractor suggested exterior waterproofing for around $4K. This is causing me a lot of problems (mold etc) so I don't mind fixing it, just not expert enough to know this would fix the problem.

Tried to get educated online (interior waterproofin vs exterior waterproofing, etc etc), but still not sure if the proposal below would solve the problem. Any advise is highly appreciated, thanks!

 

Video of the crawlspace

Proposal from the contractor :

Below grade waterproofing:
Installation of below grade waterproofing around the home. We will dig around the perimeter of
the home from 1 to 2 ft., inspect the mortar joints and bricks, if any deficiencies (holes) are
found we will patch the hole with hydraulic cement. Clean up the wall and apply fluid
waterproofing. Also, install a drain pipe all around the home with fabric sleeve and gravel on
top, and back fill.

They have already done this to pump water out :

Installed sum pump at crawlspace, dug out a 1’ foot hole at lower spot of the house and drained

the water away to avoid the formation of mold at the inside of the house.

Hi,

I had sent a handyman to repair, he came back and had to order parts but fell sick right around the time. He recovered, quarantined for 14 days, got the covid test done and test came back negative.

I have to send him back to complete the repair. Since he is fine now, should I still provide all this information to the tenant?

One of house's exterior got damaged because a dump truck pulled a hanging wire on the street, and also damaged the whole electrical connection to the house from the street. Electrical company came and repaired the broken power line but they wouldn't repair the fascia damage. I have high deductible so I am thinking of getting the repairs done myself, but wanted to know if I have any option to file a claim with the garbage company myself. It's a private company. Any insight into the matter would be helpful, thanks!!

Hi,

Question for rent-to-own pros - Who pays the HOA fee in such an arrangement, the tenant or the seller?

Thanks!

wow, Thank you all for advise!!. I finally decided to go in with the flooring first because my flooring wouldn't be floating, easy to install, avoids a sandwiched dishwasher, hopefully will protect the subfloor from leaks. 

Thanks all for your inputs. Cabinets first would save some sq ft cost, is there any other reason to go in with cabinets first for glued vinyl planks?

I am working on one of my rentals and need to do the flooring and the kitchen cabinets. I am thinking vinyl planks for flooring, ones which glue, not the floating ones. What do you put first - cabinets or flooring? I think its cleaner if I get the flooring complete and put cabinets on it but I have never worked with vinyl planks before. Any advise from experienced members here would be helpful. Thanks!

Hear your pain. Don't worry, its more common than you think. I have worked on two houses and can already write a book on contractor experiences - not showing up for weeks, or not doing what said, or demanding more money in-between or anything else you can think of. Plumbers drilling through floor joists, carpenters drilling through plumbing pipes, using cheaper/different material than agreed upon. I have had a landscaper cut all the trees and create a mess in the yard, refused to take them out when we had already agreed on it and demanding more money because he knew I had to leave the country next day. Even the good ones you find, pay them their price in time, and you might think you have developed a good relationship with them for future work, will disappear when you try to contact them for a future job in a good market. I don't give anyone huge work now unless I have seen their work on a smaller fix, I don't give all the work to one person even if I think they are as good and might be cheaper, since if one leaves you have someone else doing the other job. I have also learnt to fire fast and hire slowly. I have had good/bad experiences with people from craigslist and through referrals, so wouldn't say one is better than the other. I wish they all could say "NO" if they really didn't want to do the job, instead of wasting time for both of us involved. I do have huge respect for the ethical contractors who work hard and take it through. If I find a good contractor now I enjoy working with them till it lasts, with complete understanding it might be short-lived.

@Roger S. Its true for if owner is not using a  broker and owns less than 4(3 or 4 I frogot) units. I am licenced real estate agent, even if I am the owner, FH laws are applicable for my rentals. 

Just changed everything related to "animal":), will mention no animals allowed in the yard, thanks all!

@Lynn McGeein  I have not formed any statement yet, I didn't know if I could tell them that. I'll try telling them upfront and hopefully they understand.