All Forum Posts by: Sean McKenna

You won’t make your money back. Your options are limited.
1. Rip all the ceilings out, install furring strips and drywall. It’s incredibly messy and time consuming. I would only ever consider this if the ceilings are already falling down or damaged.  

2. Realize that you need to design around it.  Install low profile LED lights or wall sconces.

If this is an investment property you need to be thinking about returns. I have never lost a deal because a property didn’t have recessed lights.  

Call and discuss this with your attorney.  Sounds like a small claims court situation. 
keep track of all expenses.  
Do what it takes to immediately get the unit in excellent condition for renting at top dollar.  
losing money can put you in a tough mental space. Renting the unit to someone qualified helps tremendously to get your head back in the right place. Focus your energy on moving forward. 
if you need help with people to get the space ready again to rent let us know. I have a lot of contacts. 

I really can’t comment on sizing like this on a public forum without knowing the history and size of the property.  I don’t know the layout of the dwellings. Does the land meet the requirements for this number of bedrooms and units. The septic information on the existing property is public record. 
look up the property on NHDES website.  
The size of the tank is only part of the equation.  NHDES also has the rules published on their website.  

Simple answer to your question is no.  Not sufficient to add any additional bedrooms to.  
bathroom count doesn’t matter. I don’t feel like it’s necessary to elaborate on the math because it’s also going to be necessary to calculate leech-field size. 
This would require a new design. Speak to a septic designer if you are serious about this.  

Inexpensive and plumber do not belong in the same sentence. 

I have a list of 4 plumbers that I use depending on the type and size of the project.

Send me a PM with a little more detail about the project and I will give you some names. 
advertising for a company on an open forum is not something that I do. 

Heat pump is the way to go.  It’s pretty much the same as running AC.

@Tim Richter

3800 is crazy. I would probably call them back and ask if they made a mistake typing that number. Ask if they typed to many zeros. I think the guy I delt with at pest end was called Dennis.

Definitely get some other quotes. Don’t go dropping thousands on this problem. Should only be hundreds. I frequently work in Haverhill. If you want me to stop by and see how bad the building is let me know. Send me a PM and I’ll give you my personal number.

As far as dealing with the tenant. You need to be a boss of the business here. Document an action plan, what does the tenant need to do to help make this business run better. Keep a tidy house as per MA state sanitary code XYZ.

@Tim Richter

Have you tried Pest End Extermination out of Plaistow NH. I have used them in the past and found them to be reasonable.

I work for LL’s in Haverhill performing HVAC work and mice are not usually a problem in that area.

Have someone seal the building and get some traps in the basement. It never hurts to have an ongoing pest service but it’s generally unnecessary in our area. I prefer to put down glue boards in the basement. It also catches other bugs that like to crawl around the rim joists.

Send me a PM with the info. I’m licensed and insured. I support many landlords in the southern NH and MA and I give solid discounts to BP members. 

Well done Joshua. Keep up the hard work. Keep pushing forward.