All Forum Posts by: Daria B.

Hi all,

I have a rental townhouse (doing some much needed updating) that is 3 levels with the lower level walk out being the front-door, foyer-hall, garage, and a finished 13x13 room that has full bath and laundry space for w/d. 

My lease agent mentioned perhaps adding a closet to this space and marketing it as an additional bedroom. It's already a 3/2.5 from it's original building. 

While this room does have a window, it's not one that is a type of egress necessary for leaving through. The small window at the base of the ceiling looks out above ground though the entire room is only accessible from the door leading to the hall out the front door, the window is not something that can be used for exiting in emergency, which I believe egress means. And as I write this, does ceiling have to be a certain height as well?

Questions:

• If marketing as a rental (as I intend to continue doing), would adding a closet mean that "voila" I now have an additional bedroom and can market it as a 4/2.5?
• Just for grinds: If marketing for sale, same situation, can it be legally be marketed as 4/2.5?

I did call the permit office for Baltimore County and they said no permit would be required by just adding the closet. There is no electrical or plumbing so no permit is needed.

I don't want to spend money on something that won't really yield a good benefit.

@Ned Carey would you have any input on this since you are in the Maryland and know the pulse beat of the area.

Thank you much and Happy start to a new year!

@Andrew Harris thanks I was looking for something like this several months ago. I may see what I can do in my "spare" time now to play around with it and see what it yields.

I think I found my solution:

@Christine Swaidan 

Hi, this is a year old and unanswered. Did you find a viable solution?

I am about to pull up carpet on the rental floors and stairs. LVP on floors but the stairs..... one contractor bid has the stairs being scraped and painted. 

I was thinking the riser to be painted white but not sure about the run itself- I don’t want carpet again and want something that won’t be slip hazard. What did you settle on and how effective was the solution? 

Thanks @Linda Weygant I appreciate the info. There is a Miracle Method when I searched the MD area where my property is located.

This is a photo of the current state of the tub and tile. I don’t want to replace it because I think just getting it cleaned up will do wonders. I long since had the shower door removed - tenants were not caring for it so off it went. I am also going to have the faucet and other fixtures replaced with new chrome.

@Mark Fries what do you find is more resilient for shower heads - stationary or handheld? 

In all these years I only had one experience with a tenant who said the hand held had broken and was replaced by them and asked for reimbursement. 

For this other rental-rehab I am replacing the hand held with a stationary shower head.

@Bob H.

@Mark Fries

You know you mention light switch covers and outlet covers, something my leasing agent said to do and I was thinking, really is that going to look cheap even for a rental. I guess not!

Spraying will save $117, cost to replace.

Thanks guys it’s always good to hear what others do and how it worked now out.

...so has anyone done this to save money? It’s a rental.

The original 25 year old brown registers are rusted and some may be worn that would likely need replacing. I’m looking at those that are just rusted and still work.

Has anyone just spray painted with an appliance spray after sanding or chipping away any loose pieces?

I want to go with white since flooring color is changing.

I priced these and they are $7.48 per register. I did not look at paint cost but it might be that the 15 I need to buy would be more cost efficient.

Just wondering if anyone has painted them.

 Linda,

I know this post is 3 years old but I wanted to find out what your decision was in the end. I have a rental bathtub (white) with white subway tile surrounding the tub. It's the original install and over 25 years old and seen better days. My realtor, also an investor, suggested refinishing tub and surrounding tile by having a company do a spray epoxy. Searching BP to see what others did and what was effective and lasting.

@Evan Farren That was an impressive video. "why does it always look easier than it probably isn't". I was impressed though with the results. I am searching to figure out what to do with my rental tub, replace it, tub surround, or refinish (as suggested by my realtor). This will be an interesting journey.