Archive for December, 2008

Purchasing Home (Can I Recover Improvement Costs)?

Saturday, December 6th, 2008
royhardin asked:


I am about to buy a home. It has over 10% equity based on a current appraisal than I am paying. I have sunk a lot of money into to fixing it up while I was living there and renting. (Much more than the 10% equity.) I am trying to see what options I have to get some of that back at closing. The seller won’t be any help. I am actually still paying (and to pay) some of the people doing the work. I was told that there may be a way to roll this cost into the purchase price. Is there someway that I could add to the price (still under appraisal value) and have that money go directly to the vendors who did the work? (For the ones I still have to pay, they are then paid. For the ones I already paid, could they reimburse my original payment and rebill me to get paid at closing?) Not going to do anything illegal. But if I don’t have to wait months for an equity loan, why should I? My credit is good (great if not for this improvement debt) and income/job excellent. Options? Thanks.

Need HOME IMPROVEMENT ADVICE - PLEASE?

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
SunnyGirl asked:


This is a followup question to my previous one. I have a basement bedroom ~200sq ft. that has a problem. My sister used to paint ceramics in that room and stupidly used to spray her sealants in the room as well. The room now smells like a toxic chemical factory. I believe that the sealant have permeated the underlay of the carpet.

NOW - I have removed the carpet and underlay and thrown them out. The smell is still there. I believe that it has soaked into the concrete.

QUESTION: Is there anything that I can do to stop the smell from coming out of the concrete or better yet can I rinse the concrete out with water several times & dry it? - suggestions please!!

I live in NJ and want to know if home improvements are tax deductible?

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
cmjn22 asked:


In 2005 I put a $30,000 pool, can I deduct this from my taxes

im applying for a home improvement liscence in ny?

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
mikul515 asked:


this is for a painting business.the thing is i have a small part of my past in which i wish everyone to forget. i was arrested for posession in 2005. ever since then ive been clean. this is how i make a living, , i really need this liscence, everyone makes mistakes. im probabally going to get denied. i have to disclose the arrest on the application. because i have to be honest.is there any chance they might approve my application? im a hard working guy who made 1 mistake.so does this mean i am going to have to suffer?