All Forum Posts by: Steve S.

As mentioned TSP and Killz are the two most effective... I've demo'ed homes from past smokers and you can SEE the yellowing deep into the sheetrock/drywall... Good luck

@Jason Stoltzfus

This might be a question to ask your parents first...

If they're okay with you staying at home then you really should! Give your parents 5-10% of your cheque... trust me you're still better than rent at that point... put the rest into blue chip investments that make a better ROI than current interest rates.

2 years down the road.. have the discussion again with your folks... stay at home or on your own... at 22 if they're still not sick of you.. than put all that cash you've saved up into a multi... but here's the kicker... still STAY AT HOME! If you purchase a duplex or quad plex and rent out all 4 units... stay at home and work your two jobs you'll be doing GREAT!!

By 25 you can get your first SFH, house hack it... hell rent out one room.. (get a decent starter near a college or university) Once you have over 50% of the house paid off in mortgage and you've done some decent renos.... refinance that and pick up another... rinse and repeat until life circumstances tell you otherwise... at 35 I started my family.. that was my last reno... and picked up a turn key unit for my family and now purchase fixers and rental units. You follow that formula you may be retired before 40!

copy down said number.......... make up approx 100 "free items for pick up" and list them on craig's list etc....  He want's people phoning him.... give him what he wants... lots and lots of phone calls.... 

I can't help you with that photo. .. maybe go to the place and get some decent street side shots...  The only thing I can think of is that you could construct either a "loop" or a carpark area

I may be going against the grain here.. but I'd look to find a really decent young carpenter/trades person that's just out of school and looking for work. Hire them hourly and put them under your wing... this is basically like the interview process... you groom the individual slowly giving them more and more responsibility over the next 2-5 years until they can run the job site on their own with minimal input from  you and can clearly communicate any issues that may arise.

No way would I allow anyone else access to the garage where I store my tools. I know you said you would "divide" it... but all they have to do is "accidentally" leave a door unlocked or open for too long and you can say good bye to your gear.

Build the garage... it adds value to your unit and will give you a reason to have higher rents later on. Since you're living on one side of the duplex, keep the garage for yourself for the next two years. You say you fix up bikes and cars on the side....  You can easily make way more than $125 a month just being a local guy doing oil changes and light work turning a few wrenches. 

I would build the garage for myself and enjoy the perks for the 2 years... you will probably increase the value in the current place for you to use a heloc for getting the next place.

White has a very "clean" look to it.. *cough* so long as it's clean... the one thing I actually don't like about white cabinets is that they discolour and stain pretty easy... This is for a house you're selling... what you want is to get the biggest "wow" factor for your money.

Go white.. it's very neutral... if the buyers don't like white it's very easy to repaint.

This would be illegal where I'm from and if the deal didn't work out and it went to court you'd be paying the $ back plus interest and court fees.

They only owe you the security up front... and the rent on the 1st day of possession. If something bothers you about them as a tenant it's simple. They don't meet your screening requirements, move on to the next tenant. You can't change your business practices from one client to another. Keep it consistent and keep it legal.

Professional tenants that take landlords to court START with making you try and bend the rules. It sets a precedent in the judges opinion and it doesn't look good on you. It's a slippery slope you're treading on. If you feel you need to protect your investment more, have higher standards of clients. If you're going to provide low income housing, you know the risks associated. There will be higher turnover, changes are greater that you will have to evict tenants. 

Yep you totally missed your chance. I would recommend that you give up and just watch "Dancing with the stars" ... Perhaps invite your friends over and entertain them with stories of how you could've been an independently wealthy real estate investor. Keep them hooked by telling them all the great adventures you would've had with your new found wealth. How you would've traveled, perhaps learned a new language or two, and just when you start to lose their attention. Tell them the stories of love that you would've acquired with your new wealth and being so well traveled. Point being make all your friends envy the "you" that you would've become... if only.

Get yourself a bit of self leveling compound. Work the floor with the slightest grade down towards the door way.

That should prevent the water from "pooling" on the inside. Check the bottom of the door. There should be some weather stripping that goes along the bottom. If it's absent or damaged replace the strip.