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Peeling or alligatoring paint problems: How to fix them

Dave Farquhar DIY, Landlording June 26, 2018July 3, 2018 0 Comment

If you buy an old house, chances are you will run into alligatoring paint, cracking or peeling paint, or a combination of those three problems. It’s tempting to just slap another coat of paint on top of the bad paint, and if you do, it will look better for a while. But it only takes a couple of years, or even a few months, for alligatoring paint problems to start coming back.

I’ve had people tell me I needed to strip all the paint off one exterior wall of my house. I’ve had others tell me I needed to replace the siding entirely. Fortunately, there’s a better way. There’s plenty of advice out there on dealing with failing paint, but the problem is, nobody seems to mention where to buy the stuff you need.

Would you rent to someone with bad credit?

Dave Farquhar Landlording June 22, 2018July 4, 2018 1 Comment

A fellow landlord called me up the other day to ask about a prospective tenant. It led to a few different questions. The one that prompted the longest-winded answer from me was this: Would you rent to someone with bad credit?

Maybe. I’m not the type who lets credit be the deciding factor, necessarily. But if there are other red flags, bad credit certainly doesn’t help. I’ve given advice to would-be renters with bad credit, after all.

What is satin finish?

Dave Farquhar DIY, Landlording June 13, 2018May 28, 2018 0 Comment

What is satin finish? Satin can be a very versatile finish for renovating a home, whether you’re talking paint, polyurethane, or hardwood floors. It has some disadvantages but also has notable advantages in most cases. Let’s take a look at what satin finish has to offer.

And sometimes when people talk about satin finish, they’re talking about the screens on mobile devices or computer monitors. I’ll cover that too.

How much rent should I charge?

Dave Farquhar Landlording April 20, 2018April 8, 2018 0 Comment

Today let’s tackle the most fundamental question a new landlord might ask. Ideally, it would be one of the first questions to ask: How much rent should I charge?

The math is surprisingly easy. So I’ll tell you the math first, then I’ll tell you the reason.

Why my house didn’t pass inspection

Dave Farquhar Landlording November 1, 2017November 21, 2018 2 Comments

While getting a rental house ready for a new tenant, we had to get it reinspected. It failed, on several minor issues. Most failures are due to minor issues. Here’s why our house didn’t pass inspection, and what we did to fix it.

None of these issues ought to be showstoppers. If you’re not comfortable fixing it yourself, a competent handyman can fix these types of issues, and it probably won’t take more than a couple of hours.

Best brand of paint for rental property

Dave Farquhar Landlording October 10, 2017February 23, 2019 0 Comment

The best brand of paint for rental property depends on a couple of things. But you definitely can make your life easier by choosing the right paint, primer, and supplies. Here’s my experience with painting rental property.

I actually care a lot more about the brand of primer and the grade of supplies. Here’s why.

Rent a house with bad credit

Dave Farquhar Landlording August 28, 2017July 5, 2018being a landlord, debts, interest rates, IRS, kitchens, landlords, old windows, utility bills 0 Comment

If you need to know how to rent a house with bad credit, it’s possible. You have an uphill climb, but renting a home with bad credit isn’t a completely hopeless cause. Here are some tips from a landlord.

How do I know it’s an uphill climb? Other landlords ask me if I’d rent to someone with bad credit. But what I’d tell you is probably more valuable to you than what I tell them.

Cheap closet doors

Dave Farquhar DIY, Landlording June 21, 2017March 6, 2018baseboard 0 Comment

It’s not uncommon for fixer-upper houses to be missing closet doors, or have irreparable closet doors. I’m not sure why people beat up on their closet doors, but it seems to happen. I do know a legal bedroom has to have a closet with a door. If you need to fix a missing or busted door fast and cheap, here’s just the thing. I’m happy to share what I do when I need cheap closet doors.

How long do roofs last on houses?

Dave Farquhar DIY, Landlording May 24, 2017March 17, 2018extra money 1 Comment

How long do roofs last on houses? That’s an important question to ask when you’re buying a house, and an important thing to keep in mind if you own your home. A safe assumption is 20 years, though it varies depending on the roof type.

Your roof, air conditioner, and furnace are the big three expenses for a home. The roof lasts the longest of the three, but is also the most expensive.

How many properties can one person manage?

Dave Farquhar Landlording May 23, 2017August 1, 2017 0 Comment

How many properties can one person manage varies. It depends on your personality, whether you have a day job, and what your day job is. That said, I can give you some guidelines.

It may not be a hard question to answer. If you’re asking the question, there are really only two reasons. Either you are probably just starting out, or you’re close to your limit.

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