Last week I received an influx of $'s from an investor friend and can now finish 505, the Palmyra house! Met Larry the carpet guy yesterday to give him deposit money and review condition of floor and baseboards, in preparation for him to do install.
Got the living room baseboards 90% done, patched gaps between rooms in the upstairs. ( seems like every time they did a room addition they did everything but connect the new piece to the existing structure... all these 6" wide thresholds that didn't line up... at least now the gaps are smoothed out ( or ramped up) so the carpet will make the transition... shouldda taked photos,,, drat!
Will be back there Friday to continue.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Finally,,, a house I couldn't love!
This looks like a loosing proposition. Slide Show
Located on a busy 4-lane, north of Hazleton. The community is known for rising prices and high taxes. Budding office park is 1/2 mile north, and if the strip took off a retail there'd be some potential for long term gain... unfortunately, that's gonna be a while.
This is the best looking image I have of the house, so open the slide show with caution. The interior floor plan is really squirrelly.
I think there must have been an addition made to create the living room, which is behind that first floor window on the left. The basement supports that thought also. That would explain how that room is accessible thru a corner door, and not more prominent when entering the house. Actually, when you step in thru the front door you're not even entering a room... not even a foyer... sorta like stepping into the middle of a hall.
The wall between the dining room and the living room needs to be opened up, or at least a BIG arch opened so you can get there from here.
The angular arch between the kitchen and dining room is really odd... with a 'pass thru' phone shelf right out of the 30's. The cabinets are older than dirt.
Upstairs things get worse. One bedroom is about the shape of a one-lane bowling alley, and is paneled with blank masonite. It's so wavy and warped it looks like it's padded.
The bath looks like an alcove in a tomb. There's nothing about the upstairs that I could find appealing. Somehow 'dormitory' sounds like too warm and cuddly a phrase for this place.
Big back yard, two car garage, nice trees. Houses to either side are OK. One house away looks like it's getting a makeover. Otherwise the section of highway is pretty dead looking.
Think I'll pass.
Jeff
Should I have done this?
About 5 or 6 years ago my buddy Mike introduced me to buying HUD foreclosures... most of these have done nicely,,, but there was this one little place I jumped on for $6,000 and it's still sitting. (or should I say 'sagging'?)
Here's the slide show from yesterday's tour... I didn't even take photos of the worst of it. This is the left end of a row house. Everything sags foward the end wall. Roof looks like old cow's back, complete with ribs showing. The addition our toward the back is kitchen.laundry/shower and furnace room... and a stiff breeze would level the whole addition.
Options:
- Remove the side porch and the back addition and make it a one-bedroom cottage. Would be cute, but don't know about that sagging wall.
- Tear the whole thing down and park a mobile home in its place. Water/sewer and electric are all there...
- How about I just show up there for a few days and pretend I'm going to fix it to rent... maybe the neighbor will appear with $10K and solve my problem...
Jeff
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Just the kitchen
One Day, One Project, One Kitchen...
Photos
Didn't put in much time on this place this week, but did get the kitchen cabinets done.
In the original photos you'll see the right end of the kitchen countertop was dropped about 5 inches to create a desk area. Lynn (Realtor) suggested I raise that countertop up and install a dishwasher. I just love it when a fresh mind gets their fingers into a project... lol
Picked up some matching materials at Lowes and boxed in a blank section above the short drawer section. Added a blank to the left of that 'box' and framed all around the area up to the level of the raised counter. Pulled the raised section against the existing part ( chiseled off the green trim strip from the end of the upper section.) andit came together pretty well. Have to cut a block from the removed greet trim strip to patch the space in the front between the two counters.
and then there's the "why haven't we closed in that hole yet?" issue in the laundry.
This ended up being a bit of a blessing... The kitchen vent fan came out of the box this week... easy to install,,, where to run wires?
Poked a hole ( a couple holes) thru the adjacent wall and dropped a piece of rope down thru the wall to the mysterious hole in the laundry room. This was originally an outside wall and there's at least one layer of plaster, maybe two, plus paneling on the kitchen side. With some struggling, managed to get the wire to make the bend downward and pulled to the laundry.
Will return next week with a duplex outlet box to install down at shin level and tie the vent fan in at the same time. Will have to pick up a circuit in the basement.
Other: remembered ( after 14 months) that the floor of the cabinet under the sink was decayed. Busted that out, added 1x2's around the perimeter for new floor and took dimensions home for a place of plywood next week. Got around to (because it was in the way of the raised countertop) raising the outlet on that wall about 4 inches and moving to a surface mount box. Patched the old opening. Measured (which I had done ages ago but lost) the two remaining windows and the back entry door... what a pain... the door is 74 inches tall... will have to cut down whatever door ends up going in there. TRIED to put office and laundry ceiling lights in place but have taken all electrical misc back home... will bring brackets next week...
Updated photos to finished album and headed home.
Happy Sunday,
Jeff
Photos
Didn't put in much time on this place this week, but did get the kitchen cabinets done.
In the original photos you'll see the right end of the kitchen countertop was dropped about 5 inches to create a desk area. Lynn (Realtor) suggested I raise that countertop up and install a dishwasher. I just love it when a fresh mind gets their fingers into a project... lol
Picked up some matching materials at Lowes and boxed in a blank section above the short drawer section. Added a blank to the left of that 'box' and framed all around the area up to the level of the raised counter. Pulled the raised section against the existing part ( chiseled off the green trim strip from the end of the upper section.) andit came together pretty well. Have to cut a block from the removed greet trim strip to patch the space in the front between the two counters.
and then there's the "why haven't we closed in that hole yet?" issue in the laundry.
This ended up being a bit of a blessing... The kitchen vent fan came out of the box this week... easy to install,,, where to run wires?
Poked a hole ( a couple holes) thru the adjacent wall and dropped a piece of rope down thru the wall to the mysterious hole in the laundry room. This was originally an outside wall and there's at least one layer of plaster, maybe two, plus paneling on the kitchen side. With some struggling, managed to get the wire to make the bend downward and pulled to the laundry.
Will return next week with a duplex outlet box to install down at shin level and tie the vent fan in at the same time. Will have to pick up a circuit in the basement.
Other: remembered ( after 14 months) that the floor of the cabinet under the sink was decayed. Busted that out, added 1x2's around the perimeter for new floor and took dimensions home for a place of plywood next week. Got around to (because it was in the way of the raised countertop) raising the outlet on that wall about 4 inches and moving to a surface mount box. Patched the old opening. Measured (which I had done ages ago but lost) the two remaining windows and the back entry door... what a pain... the door is 74 inches tall... will have to cut down whatever door ends up going in there. TRIED to put office and laundry ceiling lights in place but have taken all electrical misc back home... will bring brackets next week...
Updated photos to finished album and headed home.
Happy Sunday,
Jeff
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Back in the groove
OK, now Today I feel like things are coming back into alignment... Holidays, three day weeks,,, odd Mondays that wern't part of any week... ugh.
UP early. Loaded the AUDI with business brochures for calls today and layouts for noon meeting with a networking group. Here's the plan.
Head to Harrisburg to start business calls by 8:00 at east end of retail district. ( this is not house stuff,,, it's my 'day-business' ). Camp Hill by noon for post holiday lunch with networking group. Back into town to catch Farm Show and find a booth I missed this weekend about wind generators. ( generate electricity, not wind). Stop at Panera Bread to check the internet. Then to Palmyra for an evening and tomorrow of work.
The house is getting closer... only two glaring items are the kitchen cabinets and the tub surround. Will tackle tub this evening (allowing time to get to Lowes for parts, if needed) and kitchen in the AM.
Itemized what I need for those two projects... tools are starting to migrate home and I don't need to be left without something important... 1x4, adhesive, plumbing tools and misc fittings, drill, check credit cards for avail balances, jeans and work duds, shaving kit (seems like old times!).
Camera.
Will let you know tomorrow how well I did... Happy Thursday! Jeff
UP early. Loaded the AUDI with business brochures for calls today and layouts for noon meeting with a networking group. Here's the plan.
Head to Harrisburg to start business calls by 8:00 at east end of retail district. ( this is not house stuff,,, it's my 'day-business' ). Camp Hill by noon for post holiday lunch with networking group. Back into town to catch Farm Show and find a booth I missed this weekend about wind generators. ( generate electricity, not wind). Stop at Panera Bread to check the internet. Then to Palmyra for an evening and tomorrow of work.
The house is getting closer... only two glaring items are the kitchen cabinets and the tub surround. Will tackle tub this evening (allowing time to get to Lowes for parts, if needed) and kitchen in the AM.
Itemized what I need for those two projects... tools are starting to migrate home and I don't need to be left without something important... 1x4, adhesive, plumbing tools and misc fittings, drill, check credit cards for avail balances, jeans and work duds, shaving kit (seems like old times!).
Camera.
Will let you know tomorrow how well I did... Happy Thursday! Jeff
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Winter Blahs
Wow it's cold!
No fun to even feed the birds on days like this... much less think about oil prices over $3/gallon.
I actually shut down my largest unit for the winter... Cut the losses and overhead for a few months and refigure how to proceed.
The back building at Green St is a 4 unit that gets it's heat from the front building. Both buildings are on one deed and maybe that's something that can be changed. If I put 4 small gas furnaces in the back building, do a subdivision, then I could sell the buildings individually AND the tenants int he back building would be paying their own heat!!!! Wheeee!!
Will talk to plumber buddy on a joint venture to see if he'll fund the heating plants from proceeds of the sale of the building.
Selling two good size buildings could be a lot easier than selling one monstersize building. Will probably yield faster and higher prices also. Will keep you informed.
Happy three day week!
Jeff
No fun to even feed the birds on days like this... much less think about oil prices over $3/gallon.
I actually shut down my largest unit for the winter... Cut the losses and overhead for a few months and refigure how to proceed.
The back building at Green St is a 4 unit that gets it's heat from the front building. Both buildings are on one deed and maybe that's something that can be changed. If I put 4 small gas furnaces in the back building, do a subdivision, then I could sell the buildings individually AND the tenants int he back building would be paying their own heat!!!! Wheeee!!
Will talk to plumber buddy on a joint venture to see if he'll fund the heating plants from proceeds of the sale of the building.
Selling two good size buildings could be a lot easier than selling one monstersize building. Will probably yield faster and higher prices also. Will keep you informed.
Happy three day week!
Jeff
Sunday, December 30, 2007
210
OK,,, so helpp me out here. PHOTOS: http://picasaweb.google.com/kurtzinpa/210NGilbertStShenandoah/photo#s5148996565951122498
On a snow day I stayed home to work on paying bills and organizing stuff... did some prospecting for an alternate venture. 9 AM head to Redners for TP. (tissue) which seemed to have reached it's last leaf.
Thru the store, not crowded due to snow. After checkout I roll over to the postit board to see whao's got junk for sale and what treasure I might stumble across in Shendoah, PA. Down on the right was a fresh zerox copy of FISBO with pic of little 2-BR "renovated ready-to-rent" row house for $12,900. I tear off the phone # and figure I'll drive by.
By the time I reached gilbert St I had lost the phone # and couldn't renember the address, so I just headed north (it's only 4 blocks long) to find the place with a FISBO sign.
#28 looked pretty abandoned, the door was ajar on a frosty morning, so ipulled over to investigate. No one answered the door and I could see tons of junk/personal belongings/pizza boxes strewen throughout the living room... A likely candidate for the one that was advertised. I know... trash does not fit the 'ready to rent' item, but it's all in the eye of the beholder.
Back in the car and head north. #125 had FISBO sign in window and looks pretty nice... looks too nice to be $12,900 but I jotted down the phone # and continued. no other prospects. OK, resort to embarasment... called the grocery store and begged for them to retrieve the phone #. They did and I called and left a message.
Called Mike and he gave me his typical "you're gonna make me come up there" speach and promised to call the other FISBO.
Next day the seller called and identified the address as #210 and they are putting ad in the paper tomorrow. Called g/f Sally and asked her to pick up a check at my place ( the signed check under a magnet on the back of the refrigerator) and visit the house to make a deposit.
That went well and she said the house looked great. I'm out of town till Fri PM so we set appt to visit then.
Skip to now... house is a cutie. Should rent for $400+ and I need $12,900 in 10 days...
Where's the line-of-credit now that I could use it??? Maxed!
Happy Sunday,
Jeff
On a snow day I stayed home to work on paying bills and organizing stuff... did some prospecting for an alternate venture. 9 AM head to Redners for TP. (tissue) which seemed to have reached it's last leaf.
Thru the store, not crowded due to snow. After checkout I roll over to the postit board to see whao's got junk for sale and what treasure I might stumble across in Shendoah, PA. Down on the right was a fresh zerox copy of FISBO with pic of little 2-BR "renovated ready-to-rent" row house for $12,900. I tear off the phone # and figure I'll drive by.
By the time I reached gilbert St I had lost the phone # and couldn't renember the address, so I just headed north (it's only 4 blocks long) to find the place with a FISBO sign.
#28 looked pretty abandoned, the door was ajar on a frosty morning, so ipulled over to investigate. No one answered the door and I could see tons of junk/personal belongings/pizza boxes strewen throughout the living room... A likely candidate for the one that was advertised. I know... trash does not fit the 'ready to rent' item, but it's all in the eye of the beholder.
Back in the car and head north. #125 had FISBO sign in window and looks pretty nice... looks too nice to be $12,900 but I jotted down the phone # and continued. no other prospects. OK, resort to embarasment... called the grocery store and begged for them to retrieve the phone #. They did and I called and left a message.
Called Mike and he gave me his typical "you're gonna make me come up there" speach and promised to call the other FISBO.
Next day the seller called and identified the address as #210 and they are putting ad in the paper tomorrow. Called g/f Sally and asked her to pick up a check at my place ( the signed check under a magnet on the back of the refrigerator) and visit the house to make a deposit.
That went well and she said the house looked great. I'm out of town till Fri PM so we set appt to visit then.
Skip to now... house is a cutie. Should rent for $400+ and I need $12,900 in 10 days...
Where's the line-of-credit now that I could use it??? Maxed!
Happy Sunday,
Jeff
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