We should find out Monday if HUD accepted our bid on the cat pee house. The cat pee is mainly in the living room, though I know cats were at times locked in other rooms by the doors we will have to replace. So I have a few questions about this house. The good thing is that it is fairly solid. It has been treated well for most of its life. It is only in the last 5-7 years that there may have been problem tenants/owners. I won't go into the paint choices.
1. We were thinking of putting in tile in the kitchen. It is linoleum over hardwood floors. I know we will have to get the linoleum up. But with solid hardwood floors is much more prep needed? Also what are typical labor costs in the south for a basic simple square tile job? This house is in Arkansas and the kitchen dining area add up to about 180 to 220 square feet(I don't have the info right at hand). Is this a job you recommend for first timers?
2. Laminate or carpet for the living room? Which is going to be a better selling point in a working to middle class neighborhood.
3. On the cat pee, can it be sanded out?
4. I don't know the name of the gear, but what is a good source for hanging racks for pots, pans, and other utensils? One cabinet may have to go so we were thinking of putting this stuff in. My mom's kitchen just has screw in hooks next to her stove, but I was thinking maybe something a little fancier.
5. I know you would have to see the doors, but which is the better solution in terms of money and in terms of end results for the scratches: either just trying to putty up and paint the doors or new doors?
6. Home depot has a contractor pricing book, is this any use for me as a beginner? I was thinking it might help me make better estimates. I can do pretty good on supplies/materials by shopping around, but the prices for pro work is not something we can really know. One good thing in this area is I have a cousin who is a building contractor, mostly commercial work with a few houses, and he can refer us to contractors and related workers who should be pretty decent. And I also have access to a decent handy man who people I trust trust him.
7. The wiring is old, but not awful shape. It is just all old two prong wiring? Is it worth it, in terms of helping sell the house, to have them all replaced with modern 3 prong outlets? If it were only a matter of replacing outlets I could do that, but I would not trust myself to rewire the whole house. If not the whole house, would it be worth it to do any smaller portion of the house like say the kitchen?
8. In the master bedroom there is wall to wall wallpaper. It is placed over paneling. What is the best way to get a paintable surface? I do not know what is behind the wood paneling.
9. The half bath connects to the master bedroom with a hanging/folding "door". It is very old fashioned, maybe even original to the house(1968). The problem is that it is right next to the bedroom door. So what are the best door options? Maybe swing in to the bathroom even though it is tiny enough? Or swing out and possible have conflicts with the bedroom door? Since we most likely will be replacing the bedroom door we could have it swing from the opposite side of the frame.
I have more questions, but it is getting late.
