All Forum Posts by: Shaun C.

There's no way I would be paying probably 1/3 of what it costs to reside the entire house for a product that will last 5 years you say? Wait a few years and paint if you want, that should be around the same price and will yield the same benefit, as well as cosmetic updating. Post pictures, your siding may have faded more than we realize.

Power wash it every 10 years? Man I would not be renting any of your properties! It's all market dependent but where I rent my properties, that would not fly unless I was at the bottom of the barrel for my housing stock and tenant pool. I strive to offer my tenants places that I would also want to rent. I might not make as much as others that forego preventative maintenance and cleaning, but I am certainly more proud of what I have to offer than if I only fixed things when they break.

I'm not sure why you are even considering changing YOUR lease, not the applicants lease, when you say there are people lining up to rent this unit from you?

I would expect a medium/low grade engineered hardwood can be had for around $5/ft installed in your area for a B+ rental. You could go cheap with LVP but you'll be replacing it twice as often probably. For CapEx I just take the anticipated costs, divided by a conservative estimate for life expectancy and make sure it makes sense as far as the increased rental rate.

Please refer to the list below of the most common things that should NOT be flushed down a toilet.

1. Band-Aids – Made out of non-biodegradable plastic. Toss them in the trash.
2. Condoms
3. Cotton Balls & Q-Tips – They gather together, eventually clogging pipes.
4. Food – Compost or trash it. Food can clump together and cause clogs.
5. Facial Cleaning Pads – Thicker than toilet paper and thus can cause problems.
6. Dental Floss – NOT biodegradable
7. Hair – Clogs pipes in no time.
8. Dirt – Dump it outside, not in the toilet.
9. Dryer Sheets – Made out of synthetic materials, not biodegradable.
10. Prescription Medicines – Destroys bacteria and contaminates groundwater. Bring meds back to pharmacies for disposal.
11. Grease & Fat – Congeals once it cools down, filling pipes with a solid mass that blocks pipes.
12. Pesticides – Destroys the good bacteria used to break down waste at treatment
13. Cat Litter
14. Tampons and Pads –These items are too thick for toilet pipes.
15. Cigarette Butts – Full of toxic chemicals that can pollute waterways.
16. Chewing Gum – Can literally gum up the works.
17. Nail Polish & Remover – Toxic.
18. Dead Pet Goldfish – Not necessarily bad, but can cause problems with clogging or could introduce disease into septic system.
19. Cosmetics
20. Paper Towels – Do not break down like toilet paper; Too thick for plumbing pipes.

Tenant(s) have inspected and tested all drains, faucets, and sinks to ensure that there are no problems with the plumbing upon taking possession of the unit.

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I have my tenants read and sign the following after being in the same situation but only on the hook for $250. In the end, it's probably impossible to enforce but it's better than nothing, and it at least makes them aware that they shouldn't be flushing things like 'flush able wipes'. If I find the clog before the duplex lines meet up, I know who is responsible and they get the bill.

I am in the same boat as you, although not enjoying the same benefit of having a tenant offering to foot the bill. I would be all over it. I am having injection foam installed on Monday and can conservatively estimate that it will reduce the overall utilities on my unit by $40 a month. This is in addition to the hybrid water heater I installed in December that also saves me $40 a month. Total investment = $2500. Considering the water heater will hopefully last 12 years, and the insulation for many more, and I will be able to charge at least $80 more a month in gross rents received; I will be making money in no time. All the while reducing the load on energy plants, and my rental's carbon footprint. 

Making your rentals energy efficient IS worth it, not only for your bank account and your tenants enjoyment of your space, but also for the earth. Think of the baby seals and polar bears Greg! For the record I am not a hippy at all, just an architect landlord.

I'm sorry but a $5 window treatment made in China is going to break a lot sooner than something more expensive made in America. Also, why would I care what they cost if I'm not the one paying to replace them? If nicer shades allow me to charge a little bit more money, I'm going to put in nicer stuff, and attract a nicer tenant too. But to each his own.

I will echo the others decisions to put something up, but cheap mini blinds are garbage. Have you guys ever lived in a place with those? They break so easily and are in the trash in no time. If you are A/B/C+ you can afford to put in 2" faux white wood blinds for $40-$50/window. I will also say that if you have blinds with cords, to have them initial a clause in your lease that says you are not responsible for infant deaths that can occur. My dad owns the largest blind manufacturing company in Michigan and he was sued a number of years ago even though every blind he sells has a safety pamphlet and child safe cords.

Yikes. At that price I would pull the trigger on tankless for sure.

$6K for a water heater?