All Forum Posts by: Dylan Long

Sorry, that wasn't $600 for the line and range. I reread my post and I wrote it wrong. $600 for the line install, THEN the additional cost of the range (anywhere from $700-3k depending on model). 

Here is a sample kitchen I put together quickly. Wife wanted her teal Kitchenaid in there . . . so there it is :). The clarity of the render is proportional to how long I let it compute. This was about 10 minutes. If I let them run a few hours they come out much crisper. 

As people are trying to explain, the contractor's "cut" is included in the SOW bid. The bid for the SOW generally consists of materials + (man hours X hourly rate). Their "cut" is built into that hourly rate. 

If they give you a bid based on the scope of work that's 10k . . . then 10k is what you pay. There is no additional "cut fee" or anything like that. 

If you could provide me with a rough overhead floorplan for the rooms with approximate dimensions and some photos I could try and assist. I'm trying to build my design portfolio, and while I am not an architect I have done a few designs for kitchens and bathrooms using my software. Not really looking for money, just would be nice to see some designs turned into real life projects.

If you're interested, feel free to contact me. Could also list the colors/finishes you have in mind, if any, or let me take a few stabs initially and modify from there. 

If you're in a hurry you may consider hiring someone local. I'm pretty quick, but do have real life commitments. 

Hey all,

Trying to steer my mom in the right direction on this one, but not sure what that is. She's been doing some tasteful upgrades to her 1880's Victorian home. She wants to replace her oven and ditch the microwave for a hood.

Her house has natural gas run to it, and it powers the tankless water heater and furnace, however the oven/range is currently electric only. 

Her house would be priced in the mid-upper range for homes in this city, so I mentioned that she might consider having a gas line run and switching to a gas range/electric oven, as when I was looking for a home I really wanted a gas cooktop. 

She asked if I thought she'd get her return back on the investment of the $600 gas line install and range, and I wasn't sure.

The comps in her area all seem to have electric, so in that sense I might say no. But, could it be a "leg up" should she go to sell, in that she has gas while others do not?

Sometimes I try and put myself into regular buyer shoes and think about what I'd rather have to finish to make the house as I want it. As a casual buyer, I might be a bit scared to tackle a basement finish whereas having a fence put in seems like a rather easy project to hire out. I think basement work scares a lot of people, and I'd rather say "oh you only have to put in a fence" rather than "oh you only have to finish the basement."

A bit of landscaping, perhaps a picket fence, and a pathway to the front door would go a long way to adding curb appeal to the property and attracting better renters.

Quick/cheap would be to lay it over.

Given that it's a basement, I'd be inclined to pull the paneling and use the opportunity to ensure nothing bad is going on behind those walls.

Hey all,

Next to a friend of mine is a house with a Realtor sign in the yard. The house has been vacant for 6 months, a sign in the yard for probably 4. In that time no information on the Realtor company's website has been posted regarding the house. Attempts to get info from the company don't get returned. We even have a Realtor friend in the same company, and the coworker won't get back to her about it.

Apparently this Realtor does this with many properties (puts a sign up, but doesn't actually list it). Is this illegal, or just stupid/immoral. The property is a foreclosure I believe.

$6,306 profit seems rather small given the risk. That could easily be eating away if you discover an electrical problem, dry rot, infestation, severe mold issue, etc. Your contingency isn't even 10%.

If it were me I'd pass based on the numbers. For one, the time spent on this may barely be worth $6k depending on what you value your time at. When you think about how easy that 6k could disappear, just doesn't seem like a good move.