Property Rehab: Fixer-Upper and Construction Talk

As you build your Power Team you may want to have several questions that you ask each potential member. There is not an exact script to interview your Surveyor, but here are several questions you can consider asking your Surveyor:

1. What types of surveys does your company offer?

TIP: The types of surveys include the following:
- Urban Property Survey
- Rural Property survey.
- Location survey for a lenders purpose when providing funds and a mortgage.
- Subdivision survey: dividing a parcel of land into two or more land parcels.
- Topographic survey: determine the physical features of the land and man- made improvements.
- Construction layout survey for buildings and public utilities.
- Right-of-way surveys for highways and public utilities.

The kitchen is the heart of today’s home. It is where you spend time with friends and family, so you’ll want your kitchen to look its best. Kitchen upgrades topped the list of renovation projects in 2013, and the trend doesn't seem to be slowing. What are the big kitchen trends that we are seeing this year?

Neutral Colors

If you just purchased a home in less than optimal condition to flip or rent as an investment, you’re probably ready to start swinging the hammer. FREEZE!

Did you know that these 5 home “improvements” actually devalue a home?

Even if you don’t plan to sell the home for a profit, they’ll hurt your chances of getting the home rented out sooner rather than later…

A Bad Coat of Paint:
Fresh paint is a must, but not bold paint. Bold color choices are suited for certain personality types and will limit your audience of potential tenants. Not everyone loves a bright yellow kitchen! Stick to neutrals, as tenants will more easily be able to match their furniture and belongings.
Cheap Fixtures:

As you build your Power Team you may want to have several questions that you ask each potential member. There is not an exact script to interview your Locksmith, but here are several questions you can consider asking your Locksmith:

1. How would you define a quality safe lock?

2. A hardware store made a duplicate key for me and they do not work, can you explain why?

3. What are High Security Locks and why should I consider putting them on my property?
Tip: High security locks are much more expensive but have restricted keys that are designed to restrict duplicating keys, pick proof and drill resistant.

4. I owned multiple properties so can you create a master key for myself as well as different locks for each unit I own?

As you build your Power Team you may want to have several questions that you ask each potential member. There is not an exact script to interview your Fencing Company, but here are several questions you can consider asking your Fencing Company:

1. Will you contact all utilities companies before you begin to dig on my property?

2. Are you members of the American Fence Association - AFA?

3. How do you handle your waste removal and cleanup for your projects?

4. What types of fencing do you normally install?

5. What size fences do you currently install?

6. How deep will you set the posts for my fencing? Do you use concrete to firmly set the posts?

7. How will you handle the slope of the property?

As you build your Power Team you may want to have several questions that you ask each potential member. There is not an exact script to interview your Chimney Sweep.

----------------------------
...Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be

Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Good luck will rub off when
I shake hands with you..............
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From the Disney Classic - Mary Poppins

Oh, back to the questions - here are several questions you can consider asking your Chimney Sweep:

1. How will you go about cleaning my chimney?

2. Is there just soot in the chimney or is there creosote, too?
Tip: Even gas burning fireplaces may need to be cleaned and inspected

DG Fam... I have been gathering as much info asking other DG members about how they go about calculating rehab costs quickly before making an offer, and thank you all. So I would like to hear more insight from more of you as to how you calculate rehab costs. I know you can use a general contractor to walk through with you and learn to get rehab estimates, but I want to hear your strategies when you do it yourself. (And by the way, calculating per square feet and figuring out the costs per sq/ft...confusing.. Is that sq/ft per room or the entire house?? How do you know how much it is per sq/ft?? Yikes!! I'm all ears DG Fam

n my time spent as an appraiser, I was often asked the question; how do I increase the value of my home? Being an appraiser, homeowners expected me to give a quick-fix-sure-fire answer that would instantly double their investment. Most expected an answer like "finish your basement" or "add a bathroom" or "turn the garage into living space". In

some instances, an additional bathroom will significantly increase your home's value. And yes, in some instances, finishing a basement will significantly increase your home's value.

first property under contract!!!

As a home owner or buyer, you have made one of the investments into a personal asset that you could make. Next to putting money into owning your own home, there is another worthwhile investment you can make and it is making energy efficient home improvements. The following 7 upgrades will lower your domestic energy consumption and costs of the same.

(1) More efficient water heating