All Forum Posts by: Val J.

@Max Tanenbaum thanks for the suggestion and your vote of confidence in my diy skills. But , I know my limits. And, I'm EXTREMELY limited with all things diy which is why I seek the help of others. The guy told me it would take about 5 hours one day to do the porch and 5 the next to redo the ramp. I calculated this to be about $260 @ hour. Which IMO is somewhat steep. I'm having the windows replaced (over 2 days) at this same place and it's way more labor intensive than framing a porch to make a room. I'm in Texas and I don't believe new construction houses in this neighborhood (low B, C) is costing this much. And don't forget the $2600 was labor only! 

@Wayne Brooks. It would require the contractor to frame the porch with 2x4s, add insulation and siding to the exterior.  It's just a small porch that is has aluminum screens and I'm wanting to enclose it so that it can  function as a small bedroom or office. The porch's floor is concrete and so is one of the walls. So the contractor would really just be framing 3 of the 4 walls with sheetrock and insulation. 

I need some advice. I own a tudor style home that has a porch with screens. The porch is of course not very wide. It's mostly long. Maybe 8ft wide 12ft long. I'm wanting to enclose the porch so that it can be used as a functional room.  I also have a ramp that was built on the house before I bought it. It's needing minor repairs but the contractor wants to replace and/or redo it with new green wood. He is asking for $2600 in labor cost only and I will buy my own materials. Tell me what you think fellow BPers.   Am I being cheap to question this charge or am I being robbed by this contractor who may be thinking that I'm not too bright and won't check and get other bids. 

@Lynsey Dreis, thanks for the tip. I will do as you've suggested.

I'm thinking of having windows installed in a rental property. The contractor has quoted me a price of $5500. He's asking me to pay 50% up front and the balance when the job is finished. He told me he wants the 50% up front to purchase the windows and he wants me to make the check out to him & not the window company. When hiring a contractor for a job, do you ask for a break down of material and labor cost or do you just pay for ask my guy has requested without a break down?

@Derek E. The house currently has a tenant that's been there  since October 2016.   The windows are old and not energy efficient.

I have a property that was built in 1939 that I purchased nearly 2 years ago. I'm wanting to put new windows in the house and I would like advice from my fellow BPers. First, I'd like to know if you were in my shoes would you put new windows or just keep what's there (original windows)? Second, I've contacted a contractor who has given me a bid of $5500 for double pane single hung windows.  This contractor is asking for 1/2 down and the balance after the job. The payment would be made out to him as well and not directly to whoever his window supplier is.

I got another quote from a Universal Windows who can also do the job for about $6800. With this company I would be allowed to pay a % down & the rest in payments

Either choice would of course cut into the budget. This is my first major purchase for this property so I would like input on the best way to proceed.   Tell me how you would handle this.

@Alfred Litton I'm turned off about that property only. I've decided to take some of the advice given by fellow BPers and pause and get armed with more research. I've purchased a book suggested someone here on the form so that I can read and gain a better understanding of how to purchase outside of my local market.

@Ken Breeze Thanks so much this is sound advice. I've been so very afraid of venturing outside of my local market. I'm still intrepid but with advice, tips and suggestions from the BP family I now have smarter not harder ways of getting steps closer to fulfilling my goal

@Don Spafford Thanks for the book tip. I'll be following up on all the advice I received.  

I recently viewed a property I was considering buying that was out of my area. I'm in DFW area and prices are so high here. Even in the  C & D areas where house used to be bought for prices akin to those in Detroit and Memphis markets are now unheard of or I just don't have the right connections. So back to my viewing a potential property out of my area. I'm trying to get over my fear of  buying/testing the waters out of my area or my state. I'm proud of myself for at least putting my toe in the water and driving to Wichita Falls (over 2 hour drive) to view a property I won't buy. I know it's probably been asked many times and many ways. But how do/did those of you who have properties out of your area or state get the confidence to try other markets?   Do you ALWAYS travel to these places?  In other words how do you  SUCCESSFULLY spend money in unknown territory?