A blank canvass is created for the painters

Now dust yourself off and go inside the house if everything has checked out so far. Now, let's use our heads here and I mean this! Before you enter a dark, supposedly uninhabited, infrequently entered, dark and restrictive to movement area, assess the situation. If you decide to buy it, use them to do the work that needs to be done.magicbullets. Odds are, you will rent it out, lease-option it or sell it to a young family when it does sell, and guess what? Yep, out come the tricycles and baby strollers and it starts all over again. More than half of your structural integrity check at this point is already complete as the roof and foundation are two of the most important components and those have been done.A blank canvass is created for the painters to perform the transformation. The one that is in essence, ripe for rehab. You won't hurt anything if there are no underlying deficiencies.How much more can there be than that, Dan? Well, let me tell you a few things that can bite you here.You may have to pull a permit as a homeowner but the savings is substantial.This is the whirlwind tour.This report is about taking a house and restoring it to an aesthetically pleasing dwelling that has reclaimed it's functional utility. Shingles can be replaced.I went to appraisal school and learned a lot. I used other people to do all the work and I pitched in to keep them organized. Don't rip them off. Its deficiencies were purely cosmetic.L.If you don't want to do it, hire a professional and I do mean a pro, not some Joe who says he is one.Light fixtures, vanities, toilets, sinks, doors, switch plates and outlet covers…wham, ten days are up and this house is either held out for rent, lease-optioned or sold for a whole heck of a lot more than the ten grand I put into it, if that much.It took me years to learn these tricks.In today's P. Negotiate lower for needed replacement of roof coverings if you can. It is a miracle formula that I am convinced could cover up bullet holes without any patching compound and it lasts forever. Scan the perimeter. Let's look at the rest of the house with respect to its structural integrity. By that I mean, plumbing, electrical, heating and air-conditioning, roof, foundation and overall good structural integrity. This does happen and mortar cracks maybe 10-years old.

 These are my cosmetology candidates. However, if I crawl into the attic and see that the plywood has become rotted and truss members are also affected, it's time to move on to my next potential deal. Order demolition man to throw out everything including the kitchen sink.Regardless, I have always done this and what I am saying is this: these guys most always work on the side and that means half price. I go through every room and look for signs of damage or concealment. If I know relatively no one in the area, I will ask a local appraiser to suggest who he would use if he were me. This is probably going on in the suburbs of the city, as new growth tends to radiate out at a pace of one mile per year from growing and prosperous cities.Phase 3 The kids are grown and gone with families of their own and now the parents are riding their own 3-wheel bicycles, trikes to the hip grannies.OK, you've made mental and physical notes.This report assumes that you have already or will soon acquire the proper house.Now, I'm not saying people would do that. (Assisted Living Facility). No doubt, you have outdated homes, deferred maintenance and some repairs to be made. So once again, I'm looking at the structural support of the floors.C. Usually I will use that old roof as a bargaining chip in negotiating the seller down to a lower price. Develop a network of these blue-collar geniuses. Where would you put new ductwork if you don't have attic space to house and route central heat and air? Once again, call in a pro if you need some advice. Now you are left with the interior spaces of the structure.Floor coverings fall under the label of cosmetics. So inspect the systems of your investment alternatives carefully, as they can be expensive to repair and replace, with minimum dollar return value being realized at the sale. Ten days later, it was done. They come in at this point and patch and paint. Let's say the structure overall is good. Here is the beauty of this whole thing. Friends and family usually can provide you with some serious leads. I bought a house for $55,000. By that, I mean you have a solid roof, a solid foundation and sturdy floors and walls. Now marketing time would take 45 days but I know how to do that too, and I will also show you how you can do it too. If you have to tear through a wall to get at plumbing, building code inspector-man will say, "Get a licensed plumber. One particular painful bite is finding out your wiring is not grounded or that the circuits are not properly protected.Any flat floor is a good candidate for my scientific marble test.What is behind those walls? The things that bite you aren't usually seen until you get bit. You need to investigate further. That's may be 3 times what it took me but I am experienced. They truly are experts at discerning quality and value. I will start by standing back from it and looking at it from a distance. You're looking for three-pronged outlets and modern plastic-encased wiring made of copper, not aluminum.One cautionary note here: Make absolutely sure that quality paint is used.inspectamerica. That's a simple test but I do want to know that the under-layer or sub-flooring is sound and firmly attached to all those joists, and beams and trimmers and blah, blah, blah. It may just be the termites have eaten everything but the exterior coating of the wood to conceal their activity whatever the case probe. Simply follow everything to its logical end, looking mainly at the condition of the different components. Does it look like a sway-backed horse, with the roof sagging in the middle? Does it have flat areas in its design that don't allow water to be drained away quickly?Water, dampness and rot are the equivalent of cancer to the human body when it concerns a structure. Don't take advantage, don't scrimp and for Pete's sake, do your best to do your level best. I don't care that the carpet is matted down or thread bare, and I don't mind if the finish is worn off of hardwood floors or tiles are loose.Can you see how much I actually lost? Here is a quick example.There is no doubt about it. Now you can go to the perimeter walls and inspect where the walls meet the foundation.

 So things were kind of looked after in that manner. It takes time to recruit your cosmetologists, but you will run across them in your travels.So what's left to do? Call in your army of carpenter ants, from painters to carpenters and flooring installers, yard maintenance and tree trimmers, and handymen of all sorts. TricyclesBicycles3-wheel bikes (buy here!)RevitalizationDetermine what cycle different neighborhoods are in! Follow cycle China Custom Bearing anti-friction parts Powder Metal Parts Factory. You would think they use gold for soldering your pipes with the prices they charge. Now I can check that the walls are square because they are attached to that floor, and then I can check that the doors all operate properly and are square too. I insist on Sherwin Williams Super Paint. With a little digging, it can be done. Check this stuff's condition. It rots sill plates and your walls are no longer firmly attached to a base. I feel my main concern is whether the decking or the roof support structure has been undermined by water, insects, rodents, poor materials, poor design or craftsmanship, a lack of fasteners, strapping, etc. It's truly another world in some cases. Buy here!Phase 4 Revitalization - That's what happens as a result of you buying your ripe- for-rehab fixer-upper in Phase 3 neighborhoods. In all honesty, it may take you 30 days to achieve a completed house.Phase 2 The same neighborhood now 10-15 years later has aged a bit and now you see basketball hoops and 2-wheel bikes, as the kids are older and want more mobility.Some other conditions, such as sagging eves, wavy roof surface, rotten fascia and trim pieces, and insect infestations can be deal killers too, if severe. This is the biggest dollar-for-dollar return you can make. I stand at the front door with a checklist in hand (www. Does this place look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Or are the seams coming apart? Do the windows and doors look square? Are porches, stairs and additions on firm ground as well?Block homes can tell you very quickly if they are stressed out just by the appearance of the mortar joints. Believe me, appraisers are underrated and treated poorly. I don't care that the cheap, yellowed vinyl is coming up at the seams.Plumbers are a breed apart. Here's why! The formally elder owners lived there and they needed everything to work.Solution: Get into the structural members with a long, sharp, sturdy, standard flat-tip screwdriver and attempt to penetrate structural components that are made of wood. However, if someone has freshly painted over or patched it, that screwdriver is one heck of a lie detector! Use it.I wouldn't call these guys that to their face but these are normally men adding residential make-up to the bricks and mortar. Make friends with a competent appraiser and the lenders that accept their appraisals.Isn't that a beautiful story; isn't that the truth? Think about your own parents and your own childhood. That won't necessarily stop me from buying. It is called Magic Bullets In Real Estate.PlumbingHeatingElectricalThese are things that are expensive to correct in relation to the value they return to you upon resale. In effect, it is the anti-aging medication for bricks and mortar. Life is too short and I will never rehab it in 10 days if I have to rip the roof off and rebuild it too. 

 This can be done and you can do it. You also will want to look at all that plumbing and electrical that is there as well.com) and I begin to scan the walls, ceiling and floors. Hint: You'll get very fair evaluations and their lender approves them.You must be somewhat of an appraiser and deal finder.. What I am out to do at this point is to clear the decks. When it comes to painting, it's the labor that kills you, not the material.Soft spongy floors are of concern, creaky floors are annoying and rotten floors are another story. Give them 3 days and you have just added a huge improvement to your investment. A plumber may or may not give you a free estimate. They are the guys who will transform your investment fast!So now you have a solid house. That's my criteria. You can inspect for general condition. My grandfather was a plumber and I was on the truck with him at nine years old. Everything up to this point has been inspection and appraisal of the situation. You need education and help from others to achieve these heights of excellence.F. You want circuit breakers, not fuses.You should have a strong flashlight, your trusty screwdriver, maybe some insect repellent and a safety observer standing at the access entry to give you piece of mind. Be selective and sure of the house's potential to allow for a profit after all the hard work is done. Does it look original? Is it structurally sound? Or are there some discrepancies that need further investigation? Take a good look and smell!Don't leave yet.Very few buyers are going to give you an extra $15,000-$20,000 in your asking price because you have replaced things that they can't see and already take for granted as just a basic component that is buried in the structure. By getting into this type of situation, you'll learn a lot more about every part of the homes you inspect. Look for rot, misalignment, cracks, separations, water damage or any other condition that doesn't appear normal. Others are just hanging in and some are moving in with the kids or going to an A. I'll drop my marble; if it rolls to a corner, that floor ain't level, Buckwheat. Just know what is underneath. Here in Phase 3, you're looking at 25-35 year old homes, where some people are passing away. Start networking and talking to tradesmen. They didn't update it. After all, it is mandatory in most, if not all states that you fill out a disclosure form that tells the buyer of every defect that exists or ever has to your knowledge. Find a good one and make it a point to shower him or her with praise, attention and money well spent. You may also encounter bees, wasps, ants, spiders, snakes, slugs, mosquitoes, rats, mice and a host of other inhabitants.I have seen more than one Joe Homeowner rehab go up in flames because of a lack of respect for electricity. They know whom does quality work.Along these # same lines, you should also pay close attention to the following cash vacuums:RoofFoundationStructural IntegrityHere are a few ways to quickly gage a home from its appearance:Stand across the street from it.Here's what I do once inside. Order a dumpster for the next ten days.With plumbers, the only time you're going to need one is if you are doing major system work or the once every ten year hot water heater job. Let's say you have a flat roof home in a hot climate with window unit air-conditioners, and you intend on bringing this house up to what a modern day home dweller expects. Also, they assume these components to be warranted against defects by you.They will give you free estimates, so use them as a preliminary inspector with you..So the floors pass my test for sub-flooring and structural integrity is great.There are 4 phases, or lifecycles, to real estate and here is how it often goes. Let the demolition guy in first. I will help you find your house or houses. The same thing applies to the foundation. It's worth every penny; insist on it!So my idea of finding the ideal fixer upper is to find those where the structure and systems are fine but it still needs demolition man and the paint brigade. What you really need here is a licensed electrician to do this more in-depth and professionally licensed review of the system. Beware and be prepared. Visit us starting July 2004 at www.If you have a crawl space, it's time to get your coveralls on and get in there. They just fixed things that needed repair in order to maintain a level of comfort.Marketing, hunting, finding and capturing the "ripe for rehab houses" is another book entirely.There are also tile roofs, metal roofs, cedar shake roofs, hot-rolled roofing, tar and gravel roofs and always a few new high-tech roof coatings.This is an intelligent way to ask that question.Here's a pretty neat way I figured out how to find good cosmetologists (tradesmen). Do you see any sunlight coming in from where it shouldn't be? That might be a hole that needs repair. Most often, people cannot see the inner workings of these systems and they take them for granted. Here is an excerpt from my other book.The harder and smarter you work, the better quality and value you can provide to others.You may have a problem. Be on the lookout for those trucks if they are your neighbors; go say "Hello" and introduce yourself. They do give free estimates!Here's a point for you to follow up on: the plumbing, heating and air-conditioning guys all drive service trucks."Heating and cooling: the air conditioning system, if the house you're inspecting doesn't have adequate heating and cooling, that can become expensive. Just give them the work if indeed you do buy the house. I dwell on roofs because it protects everything else!Next on the list of deal killers is the foundation. Once I'm satisfied that it is a cosmetic rehab and not the expensive money pit, I send in my cosmetologists. Let them blast the place with their airless paint-spraying arsenal inside and out.Shingles and coatings can be replaced. However, don't lose faith because I have written that book for you as well. I ask it in this form: "If you were me, who would you use?" Now that triggers a self-preservation mechanism in their brain and they give me excellent people, who are very good at what they do! Try it; it works. I'm looking for water stains on all three surfaces, as well as patches that were used to repair or conceal damage.