All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

@Zach Wright

I have a list of the cheapest solutions with the best returns.

Aerators and shower heads. Replace all bathroom aerators with 1.0 -1.2 gpm bubble flow (not less though). Kitchen with 1.5 gpm.

Showerheads from Niagara 1.5-2.0 gpm. Advertise these to your tenants as NEW fixtures, not water saving or they will complain even if they are getting better water pressure than before. 

Attic insulation, this is typically the cheapest option to add insulation to your house because it is very easy to add and it is also one of the most effective. The more you add the more you will save (blow-in), don't skimp. 

Keep your home at a comfortable temperature if you have cheap natural gas, you don't want tenants electric space heaters running all the time.

Last thing would be toilets, and I'd do these only if you've already done everything else I've listed since they are either super cheap (aerators) or very effective (attic insulation). If you have the very old models upgrade these to 1.2-1.6 gallon flush toilets from Glacier bay at home depot. These are the best toilets and they are very cheap. Don't believe the $300 toilet scam.

bump 

Hi all

Does anyone have experience with using rubber carpet padding? I hear it is better at reducing noise between floors and can also be water proof which is a plus. I am mainly interested if anyone has used it for noise reduction, I've seen some reviews where users claim that the pad flattened out over a few short years; rubber padding costs more and should last longer than typical padding according to what I've read though.

Any advice would be appreciated.

@Lydia R. 50%? So if the home is 100k paid off he should get 50k for selling or "wholesaling" it? Is that a joke? If she doesn't know how much she wants he should decide to get 50%?? Man what did I just read. A realtor gets 5% for handling everything but if youre family you should rip off your grandmother and get an extra 45%. 

@Jordan Foster Please don't listen to the above advice. If the property is worth over 50k get a qualified person to show you the ropes and sell it for you for the MAXIMUM value to help your grandmother and uncles situation/family. Don't use this as an opportunity to be another person who overcharges a disadvantaged person, especially family. If she cannot get a lump sum get it for her in your name. That isn't a reason to take it like Lydia suggests.

"She didn’t do any work, didnt pay down any debt or build any equity, it hasn’t cost her anything. She got a bunch of property that she doesn’t want or know what to do with" That doesn't make it OK to STEAL! I hope your family does not treat you this way later in life Lydia.

@Dru Kenny You are buying plastic and glass put together the brand does not matter as long as it is "welded" which every brand is nowadays. Don't get fooled by the lo e or gas fills between panes that they upcharge for unless it costs a few bucks per window it isn't worth the cost. The biggest energy savings will be from using a casement window instead of sliding, and of course everything is double pane nowadays.

If you're replacing windows just make sure you don't have to meet new egress requirements if you change the type of window (from slider to casement or vice versa) usually you can replace them and be grandfathered if theyre the same type or not depending on your location.

@Max T. Hey Max, I understand how 2k/year sounds reasonable to you. It used to sound reasonable to me too. I used to have Fords, Chevys, VWs, MercS (the worst), and I was satisfied with my maintenance costs, hell I thought they were "reliable". It isn't until I bought a Toyota that I realized that it was a HUGE WASTE! Now I don't spend more than $100-200 a year for my Japs, triple my numbers for a "lemon"  jap and you're still doing great. I didn't believe those telling to me buy Toyota til I actually bought one, I could've bought a new Lexus with all those maintenance savings had I bought them earlier!

If you want a car that will last go Toyota or Honda. Don't believe advertising from any of the other brands on reliability. 

Look at any Ford/Chevy/USA car that is 10 years old and look at a 10 year old Jap, the Jap is worth 5 times more for a reason. (If you can find a 10 year old USA car that runs lol)

@Jim K.@Kenny Dahill @tim

I have to disagree on the LED integrated fixtures, never ever buy those. There are many good ones that do last a long time, but there are almost as many that dont, especially from online marketplaces. 

Even if they do last 5-10 years maintenance free, (big IF), it will cost you $80 to replace (labor) in addition to the fixture if you aren't doing it yourself. LED bulbs are great and last just as long as the fixtures so no need for the integration, and can be easily replaced.

One tip is not to enclose the LED bulbs since they wont last, heat rated or not.

 @Dave Holman

Never heard of it, are there options like this for central air conditioning/heating?

@Dave Holman

You do know your heat pumps aren't functioning as heat pump when its below 40 degrees outside right? You're basically using electric baseboard heat during cooler temps. AKA costly.