The finishing touches are what sell a home. Here are the proposed finishings for 153 Houston St.
Master Bath Vanity. Double door with drawers. Custom vanity top. Polished chrome fixtures.
Seperating the kitchen from the dining area is a bar top counter with built in shelving for storage.
Recessed lighting will illuminate the kitchen.
I've come up with the modified floor plan for Clark St. No drastic changes, just suddle ones that will improve the storage in the home and adds a utility room.
In the bedrooms we are framing in a standard size closet with bifold doors. The small existing closets will be closed up on the bedroom side of the wall, and opened up on the bath side to create linen closets.
The bathroom window is in the way for a shower, so we are removing it and installing a small window. The bathroom window will be re-used in the kitchen.
The kitchen window on the North wall will be removed and replaced with the bathroom window. This will allow space to install a range under the window. The kitchen window will be installed in BR1 on the North wall.
The back porch area will be framed in. This will create a utility room.
We recently closed on a 2-1 in Southern Midtown that we plan on rehabbing and using as a rental property. The house needs a cosmetic remodel and could also use a Central Heat and Air system. Structurally the home is fine. Oh Yah, the pipes are missing. Copper is currently a hot commodity and someone has runoff with the copper pipes that were under this house. Some new plumbing is also required.
We've rehabbed a few homes in Mobile. Its a challenge when you do not live in the city to meet with contractors, build relationships and find good, reliable, trust worthy contractors that are not going to try and rape you of your hard earned dollars.
A few weeks ago a made the trip to Mobile to meet with a few contractors. Plumbers and electricians were the hardest to get a hold of. I had two AC companies meet me at the property. Both were professional. Early AC impressed me more. Their technician took the time to measure each room, draw up a floor plan and include window placements. They did this to size the home correctly for AC tonnage.
L and S Air Conditioning was also professional. Their proposal was not as detailed and well thought out as Early AC's. The pricing was similar, but Early AC was proving me with better equipment (13 SEER vs 10 SEER) and a more technicaly prepared proposal. Im a tech guy. I like technology and appreciate companies who use it to their advantage.Early will get the job.
The Remodelling contractor I met with, Mark, was all business. He seemed a bit in a hurry and was pressuring me to make decisions quickly. I didnt like that. I'm sure Mark has remodelled his fair share of properties, but I think Mark is used to working for customers who do not know how much a job should cost to have it completed, or he has too much business at this point and priced himself high. His pricing was way out line. The property we are rehabbing is not a large home. Less than 1100 sq ft. Two bedrooms, one bath, a living area, dining area and kitchen.
Here's what it needs:
Plumbing
Replace missing copper pipes with PEX
Replace tub valve with new tub/shower valve
Add drain and supply lines for Washer in new Utility Room
Install new bath and kitchen fixtures
Electrical
Upgrade panel to 200AMP
Install 220V outlet in new utility room
Install GFI's in kitchen and bath
HVAC
Install new Electric Heat Pump and AC unit
Framing
Enclose back porch to make new Utility Room
Expand Closets in both Bedrooms.
Frame wall at end of tub
Sheet rock
Replace mold covered sheet rock
Hang rock for new closets
Tape, float, repair any holes.
Flooring
Remove all carpet, vinyl
Refinish pine floors in all rooms except kitchen and bath.
Install Vinyl in Kitchen, bath, utility
Kitchen
Demo old cabinets.
Install new base and upper cabinets, counter tops
Install new gas range, dishwasher
Bath
Demo wall hung sink.
Install new Vanity, top and fixture
Paint
Paint walls, ceiling with latex eggshell sheen offwhite.
Paint trim, doors with oil-based semigloss
Lighting
Install new light fixtures in kitchen, bath, dining, bedrooms.
More to come ...
