All Forum Posts by: Sean Ridlon

Degreaser and TSP are pretty cheap. You'll also need six mil plastic to cover the floor. Eye protection and coveralls. Use extension poles to save yourself time going up and down ladders.

TSP is going to "etch" the paint and prep for new paint. If you can see the yellow/orange residue from the smoke, a degreaser will be needed as well. Heavy textures can be a real bear. I recommend using a "truck brush" to apply the solutions and a pump sprayer to rinse.

I'm not trying to be a "downer" here, but years of cigarette smoke can be as bad has having an actual fire in a home. Not removing the source of odors will allow odors to return. If you cut corners, you will being doing the work twice which will definitely be worse as in more time/money. 

My qualifications are that I am a certified in Fire and Smoke Restoration (#148547) by the IICRC and have been in the biz for 14 years.

Have an "Open House" on the first one, walk around the neighborhood and personally hand an invitation to the folks that live there. Have a little barbecue in the front yard with balloons and all. 

You're letting them know you are going to turn these houses around and when they see your signs in the yard, it's going to be better then it was.

Have him bid it with PEX instead of copper and that will lower the material costs. My clients are always in charge of the selections of fixtures- this can have a major impact on the overall cost of the project.

Second, as a contractor I mark up my subcontractor bids by 20%- this is O&P (overhead and profit). O&P helps the GC cover the possibility of a warranty occuring. For instance, a leaky fixture that requires the GC to replace sheet rock or flooring. I don't recommend going around your GC, but you could expect a 20% savings by going directly to the subcontractor.

Of course, going around your GC may cause your GC to balk at the entire project.

Are you planning on replacing the flooring as well? Your best bet is going to be a degreaser of some kind, rinse, apply TSP (trisodium phosphate), rinse, and paint.

Contractor here: I agree with @Wendy Forbes. If you like the price, he doesn't set off any alarms, you discuss a "change order agreement" upfront and add it to the contract, I'd say to the deal.

We've got a lot of clients in the real estate sector who use us and only us time after time. Since this is a new relationship with this contractor, just leave nothing to chance with your up-front agreements.

Good luck!

Hey glad to see more Valley people on here. I think there is much to debate about the future of AK and the real estate market. I wish you all the best!

@Kevin Stearns glad to see fellow Alaskan here on BP! Sounds like you're well on your way to success. 

As most Alaskans know the KP is primed for growth!

I'm just starting out in my REI path- getting educated, meeting new people, and asking a lot of questions.

Glad to see more AK folks on here! Welcome to @Cheryl Eluska!

Hey, @Rashaun Townsend I'm up in Wasilla! Glad to see another AK newbie here. Shoot me a PM and let's talk!

@Caroline Apostolos Hey, I'm a Florida native living in AK as well. Welcome!