All Forum Posts by: George Paiva

Do you have a signed document stating the tenant's intent to vacate?  Check your local laws. You may have to move his things to a storage unit or to the local municipality.  You can't just throw their stuff to the curb.

As always great time everyone.  Can't wait for next month.

How handy are you?  Looks like a ton of cosmetic repairs with sheetrock patchwork.

Do you have any idea of square footage?

Doesn't seem like your analysis has any account of all the repairs needed to make rent ready.

Sheetrock:  $25 to hang a sheet, $25 to skim/patch a sheet, plus the cost of each sheet.

Paint: about $250 a room depending on how expensive you go with paint.

Flooring: $2 - $8 a sqft depending what you end up doing 

Get all the mechanicals checked out as well.  

I guess if I was just going to swag this I would say $5k for the studio and 10k for the 3bed unit.

I am a landlord in CT, typically we have to wait 10 days to file a "Notice to Quit" to have the tenant volunteerly move out in non payments of rent.  I've been through 5 evictions already and won each time so I understand the process.  Today I was studying all the literature found on various CT websites helping out tenants.  Mind you I do this to understand Landlord/Tenant law.  There unfortunately aren't any sites to help landlords ;)...  Anyway I was on one site that mentioned a KAPA NOTICE which is an informal letter sent to the tenant before you would submit a Notice to Quit. 

My question is do any other landlords write these up? Pros/Cons?

Here is the website I read this - http://ctlawhelp.org/self-help-guides/housing/evic...

AKapa Notice is an informal warning letter that:

• Explains what you did wrong, and
• Tells you to stop or to pay for damages caused within 15 days. If the problem is not solved within 15 days, your landlord may send you a Notice to Quit.

I second what everyone else has mentioned here but to add I would definitely get someone experienced to look at the structure of that old building.  A building that old who knows what surprises you may find.  Not saying you need a structural engineer but I would get a few contractors to walk the building with you to get an idea of condition.   Also pay close attention to mechanicals and lastly how easy/hard to separate out electric/gas etc...

Good luck and keep us posted.

Here's a good one I got today via text:

Tenant: George I have to babysit today but Jacob is here. The front burner had sparks come out of it this morning..just fyi. We had oil delivered yesterday and I applied to be on a plan w superior but we are cold again :/. Last fill up only lasted about 3 to 4 wks. It's been cold for a couple of days. 6:37 AM

Tenant: Also the light in oven stays on but oven is off.. 6:38 AM

Tenant: Disregard last msg..I was cleaning and must have hit the switch..:) 6:39 AM

I didn't even respond.... :)

The CO ones are typically the hallway ones leading to the bedrooms. Again the local fire marshall will tell you.

In your case I would definitely get the floors refinished.  Here in CT we pay about $2 sqft to refinish hardwoods.  Worth every penny.

I have done refinishing in the past and let me tell you its no easy task.  The pros can do a whole house in the time it will take you to do a room.  Not to mention how much better they will do than a DIY.  

Depending on the weather, I should be there!  

Like you said all depends on the market.  Here in Connecticut we have one of the highest electricity rates.  Most folks if they have no choice and have to decide between oil or electric.  Many are starting to install propane as the alternative.  I too thought it was expensive as well but many are doing so instead of electric.