The rentals
Two of our rentals were vacated at the end of 2017. We discovered that people don’t move at the beginning of the year. They were both vacant until the middle of March. One moved in last Saturday and one moved in today.
I had eight weeks to make them pretty again. Both needed plenty of TLC. I was up to the challenge...or so I thought.
Floors were sanded and recoated ...and I learned something in the process. Stir well or it’s not pretty.
Walls are easier to wash than to paint. I washed a LOT of walls.
Kitchen cabinets can be restored with liquid gold...lots of it. I learned to throw all those rags away!
Bathtubs and surrounds love ammonia. My lungs were not to happy. Shower scum that builds up over the years (even though you can’t really see it) is only removed by strong ammonia and a magic eraser. I do love a shiny clean shower. I now leave a spray bottle of “daily shower” with my new tenants.
Plugged bathtub drains! Both rentals have sloooooow drains. I’m trying to work them with lots of Liquid Plummer. Next time that’s the project I’ll start with. No one likes a shower that turns into a bath and I don’t like dealing with the issue after tenants have moved in.
Window coverings are a real challenge. Mini blinds are easy but do not last as long as cloth curtains. I used all the curtains I had ...but had to hem etc to make them fit.
That’s only two windows of many. Unfortunately the pictures don’t do them justice.
Locks are important. I decided to add back door dead bolts at both places. I hired Joe. Haha.
I am glad they are done. I am glad I did 90% of the work myself. They both look great. They both need new linoleum in the kitchen and bathrooms. One needs paint soon. One needs a new kitchen counter next. They both need the windows outside washed. I know what both need, what they both should have done. They feel like mine. I also saved a ton of money by doing it myself. Once they are in good condition like this, I can hire out the cleaning next time.
When people ask me why I do this...it’s a hobby and I enjoy it. It also motivates me to move. I could easily become a couch potato.
I had eight weeks to make them pretty again. Both needed plenty of TLC. I was up to the challenge...or so I thought.
Floors were sanded and recoated ...and I learned something in the process. Stir well or it’s not pretty.
Walls are easier to wash than to paint. I washed a LOT of walls.
Kitchen cabinets can be restored with liquid gold...lots of it. I learned to throw all those rags away!
Bathtubs and surrounds love ammonia. My lungs were not to happy. Shower scum that builds up over the years (even though you can’t really see it) is only removed by strong ammonia and a magic eraser. I do love a shiny clean shower. I now leave a spray bottle of “daily shower” with my new tenants.
Plugged bathtub drains! Both rentals have sloooooow drains. I’m trying to work them with lots of Liquid Plummer. Next time that’s the project I’ll start with. No one likes a shower that turns into a bath and I don’t like dealing with the issue after tenants have moved in.
Window coverings are a real challenge. Mini blinds are easy but do not last as long as cloth curtains. I used all the curtains I had ...but had to hem etc to make them fit.
That’s only two windows of many. Unfortunately the pictures don’t do them justice.
Locks are important. I decided to add back door dead bolts at both places. I hired Joe. Haha.
I am glad they are done. I am glad I did 90% of the work myself. They both look great. They both need new linoleum in the kitchen and bathrooms. One needs paint soon. One needs a new kitchen counter next. They both need the windows outside washed. I know what both need, what they both should have done. They feel like mine. I also saved a ton of money by doing it myself. Once they are in good condition like this, I can hire out the cleaning next time.
When people ask me why I do this...it’s a hobby and I enjoy it. It also motivates me to move. I could easily become a couch potato.
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