Once about 15 years ago I helped the most darling 80+ year old lady get out from under her "pastor" friend who was systematically draining her bank account -- the BAST_RD!

Unfortunately I have little to no experience in this field and I would really like to become a little more knowledgeable and gain some experience before I start a rehab project.From all the stories I've heard of contractors overcharging for exorbitant amounts of money/stalling projects and draining money I feel as if the one thing I'm really lacking is knowledge in construction.

James I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth.I had very tough times where things were lean growing up.It builds character and makes you remember where you came from.Having said that you can't let emotions make business decisions for you.This woman has allowed her kids to invade her life and mooch off of her.She has ultimately made that decision.I can see where that high payment without assistance is strapping her.I can't tell you the number of kids who are draining their parents dry and using them.It makes me sick to think of these types taking advantage.I am not talking about a temporary blip where someone is down on there luck but a continous pattern of doing the minimal only and getting the rest from the parents.I have tons of tenants with my apartments and I hear it all.When you have apartments they all talk.If you are soft with one they will take advantage.If you are hard with all they will leave because they can't manipulate and the other ones will pay on time knowing they will be gone if they don't.

I am trying to figure on costs of rehab as well as what to offer on home - ( I would reside in Home there after as owner occupant ) it needs the following from what i can see.. x2 for two floors/ apts- 43 replacement windows- 43 Square of Roof- a Rather Large Tree Limbs Hanging over roof cut- 4 Exterior Doors with storm doors- 6 Exterior doors with no storm doors- Raise Porch Rails to code ( another ft or so ) Porch in front is 50 ft & rear Porches 30 ft- Fix Front wooden stairs @ 5-6 ft wide- Fix Water entering basement thru Bull Ked ( add a drain or pour concrete )- Pour Concrete in Three car garage floor ( is dirt now )- Needs Heating & Hot water, and baseboard heat up two floors ( two new furnaces and FHW baseboard brought up two stories )- Electrical service upgrade from 60 amps old knob and tub to breakers and also bring up two floors adding new elec service in whole building adding plugs in all rooms plus washer and dryer hookups - 2 Panels, and move it to outside from basement..- New sub floors in Kitchens where needed , and then Linoleum floors in kitchen- Total Cleanout 3-4 Roll Off Dumpsters for left behind junk- Linoleum in pantry 4x8- 2 Bathrooms - Needs new linoleum and 1 needs Sub floor- Bathroom walls - rip off old plastic tile in one and make drywall and paint - Ba 2 Needs Rip off wall paper and skim and paint2 - Living room Kitchen & (2) Dining Room and 3 (6)Bed rooms Refinish Hardwood floors on ea floor so x22- Living rooms, kitchen and dining rooms, remove wall paper and skim coat, and paint all walls and ceilings2 - Living Rooms and windows remove all trim and replace with new and paint ( lead Paint )2 - Repair Bathroom Ceilings and Pantry Ceilings and then paint6 Bedrooms Fix Drywall, paint walls and ceilings2 Bathrooms install bathtub wall panels2 - Install Kitchen Cabinets , and countertops, and Sink in both pantrys2- Install Dishwashers including pipe, drains and elec in two pantries2 - Over stove - More cabinets in Kitchen @ 6 ft top and bottom with countertops2 Install washer and dryer hookups after bringing power to locationApprox 150-200 ft of Asbestos removal in basementalso what is the lead time to do all this..?

It seems to me that the time you are wasting not wanting to pay an agent, is money down the drain.

Okay so I move a new tenant into a unit.They call the next day and say the tubs are not draining well.We go and inspect and the tubs are slow draining.We put drain-o and others down the line and it does nothing.Then we call our plumber and he snakes the line.The problem is someone put in a T line from the 2 tubs instead of a Y line so the line is clear from tub to tub but the snake cannot turn a corner to go further into the pipe.So the plumber suggest we use CLOBBER from a specialty store which is straight concentrated sulfuric acid.This does not clear the line.Plumber comes out and then installs a Y line fixing the T-line.Puts a camera down the line from the kitchen which is downstairs and the bath plumbing is in the ceiling.He sees a drink cap and what looks like a bottle but can't tell.We are thinking from a roof put on years ago a roofer dropped a drink down the plumbing vent and it is stuck.So the plumber opens up the wall above the kitchen sink and VOILA the problem is found!

I figure HOA dues property taxes, interest and insurance are money down the drain from an investing standpoint, but if we're going to be here anyway for at least three years, at what point do we say enough is enough with the renting and try to get into something that probably would never sell for less?

Water heater installed 1987 with no temperature/pressure relief valve and drain line.6.

You have to consider where the pipes will go for both water supply and drain, where the shut-off valves will be located, whether a window or skylight is present or whether exhaust fan is needed, where the vent for the waste will go through the roof, whether you have electric wiring that can accept a GFCI (old house might only have two conductors on many circuits, lacking ground wire).

This cause water to leak out of the connections and causes water damage to the ceiling.The washer/dryer is in the hall upstairs on our units.We have also found tenants will use the cheap rubber hoses instead of the steel braided ones or not have a washer fitting inside the connection which causes a leak.Also if it is an older washer or connections at the wall the threading is older and even if you tighten it will leak.This is why we use Teflon tape when putting the steel lines on.It fills the imperfections of the threading and stops any leaks at the connection.Another area of leakage is at the discharge hose.If it is not properly clamped at the washer,has an old hose,or where the discharge hose goes into the drain line could cause a leak.