All Forum Posts by: Robert Hernandez

I househack a quadplex in a "C" class area. The area is quiet for the most part. We have teachers, groceries employees, and handyman, etc. But, there is one house in the neighborhood where a drug dealer lives. They play loud music in their car and have shady people park there all the time. People are coming and going at all hours of the day. I want to get rid of them.

How can I go about doing that safely?

Also, are there drug dealers in "C" and "B" class area?

@Lawrence Bowers I am thinking about getting a wireless indoor camera that notify via smartphone for motion sensor. What are your thoughts. Or would I need an outdoor too?

@Nathan Gesner when you say security camera with motion is that like a ring type device? 

@John Underwood I'm getting rid of the for rent sign. I like the motion sensor idea.

Also, for simplysafe do I have to arm it every time? What is a system good for vacant unit and inexpensive? I want to install something that can detect break-in but doesn't alarm when I have a unit showing from my property manager/agents.

Also, the unit doesn't have internet what is a good option?

Hello BP family,

I just had a vacant unit broken into by some homeless people. They were in the unit for about a day and saw people in the unit and called the cops. They left before the cops arrived. The damage was low a broken window (on the door) and the smoked cigarette smell. The window that they broken into was in a dark ally on the back.

So I will likely replace the entire door with one without a window. So now the unit (quadplex) will have two doors (no window) and a main front entrance window. I am hoping adding a windowless door gets rid of an entry point and makes it more secure.

What advice do you have from having it broken into again. Just talked to my PM about lowering the rent.

To make it more secure what advice do you have?

What I've done so far:

Install dummy camera at the front, got rid of the door with a window, and turned on the lights to the upstairs and closed all the blinds. I have a for rent sign that I will get rid of, but there is still a lockbox on the door.

@John Warren That is a great point, it isn't terrible and not everywhere. But definitely noticeable i'm going to try level it somehow or add vinyl plank on top. As long as it is rentable and in good condition.

@Anthony Rosa I don't know why I didn't think about that. Only some of the wood is cupped and swollen so I can try that. Thanks for the advice!

@Russ B. It appears that the house is just stelled and that may be it. The house is pretty old.

 In cases like this do you tackle it and fix it or just level it out. What have you done before?

@John Warren Sorry, the wood floor is Vinyl not actual hard wood. It seems when it was installed there wasn't expansion joints so when the Unit went Vacant without AC the wood is all warped and cupped. So I'm not sure if I can salvage it. But, the floor is uneven and you can feel it. But, that could be because the wood is warped.

When you say "In instances where the hard woods are not salvageable, I have used vinyl plank to go over the top. You can still feel bumps and uneven spots, but the floors look great.

You keep the hardwood in place, did you level it before that or add like tar paper or anything?

@Jim Goebel This is on the second story of the house. I cannot go under and see if there is a joist system. It's just one spot in particular that feels wavy.

Hello BP family

Recently bought a quadplex. And one of the units I went into has an issue on the second floor where one of the room hardwood floor is wavy and I can feel like a speed bump in one spot in the room, is that like a foundation beam? Visually it is kinda hard to see. The bottom floor looks and feels good no alarms of major foundation damage or anything. Doors and window close fine. That room has raised hardwood, AC went out in the summer and was vacant. So I am thinking that the hardwood is buckled due to lack of expansion. So I plan to replace the wood anyways, but the floor may be uneven.

I plan to install vinly again. Bt would the speed bump be an issue? Or can I level the wood somehow? Also, since it is on the second floor is a self leveler concrete very bad or can damage the property since its heavy and will be upstairs? 

Anyone have experience with using shingles for levelers, i heard about this options and it looks like a good alternative? Thank you

The house is built on a slab and the bottom floor is even. Just the upstairs kinda concerns me.