Archive for the ‘Renting & Real Estate’ Category

For landlords.would you allow a tenant to do this home improvement?

Monday, January 12th, 2009
Moira D asked:


I rent a little townhouse. When I first walked through the house the front room had parquet flooring. After I signed the lease the manager decided to carpet it so he wouldn’t have to worry with the hassel of refinishing it. He has a lot of work to do as it is, I know. The thing I’m running into is this - I have 2 very active boys running in and out of the house into that room and we eat in it as well. The carpet is quickly showing wear, even though I take good care of it.

So my question is this - if I would be willing to pay for it, would I be out of line to ask my manager if I could have pergo flooring installed? I would be willing to save the carpeting to reinstall later if he would like it back when I leave. I am a single mother and am very happy to rent and stay put for a few years -I don’t have to fix anything or worry about yard work or snow or emergencies. The money I would put into the floor is well worth the increased appeal and functionality for me.

Thanks for your time
My goodness, budhah, there were a lot of gross assumptions in there…
1. We do not eat ON the carpet. It is considered the dining room…all of the tenants use the front room for the dining room. The only spaces that are not carpeted are the kitchen and the bathrooms…and the kitchen floor area is about 4′ x 5′….hardly enough for 2 people to stand in let alone place a table. And I refuse to eat in the bathroom.
2. We do not wear our shoes on the carpet. Ever. They are taken off the moment we come in the house as well. Assuming that we do not do the same as you is just idiotic and arrogant.
3. Active means exactly that. Active. Moreso than adults. Running. Playing. Things kids do when they’re not chained to the couch.
4. Understandably….it IS a cheap carpet. Maybe you are the one who has a bad opinion of tenants. I think you are projecting.

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.

If you have a lien on your house can you get a home improvement loan on the property?

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008
juju b asked:


The property is financed through a private party, not a bank or mortgage co. Can you get a home equity loan to fix it up? Or a home improvement loan? even though there is a lien on the property?

what are some of the details of a mortgage with a home home improvement loan?

Sunday, October 26th, 2008
Fordie_ounces asked:


Im looking to buy a house that needs a good amount of work. I dont have extra money to pay for the remodeling. But I have read that i can possibly get some sort of home improvement mortgage that will give me extra money to fix up the house. Rather than buying the house and then having to get a reappraisal and then a home equity loan.

Should I make home improvements on my town home?

Thursday, July 24th, 2008
Dadof4Kiddies asked:


I have a town house in southern California. It is 1650 square feet, 3bd/2.5 ba, has a yard and 2 car garage.

I want to do some light remodeling: new kitchen cabinets, granite countertops in kitchen and bathrooms, update bathroom tubs, and other things. My whole project will cost about $27,000 for materials. No labor costs.

My wife and I plan to remain living in the town home for at least another 5 years because starting a family. We will have our place paid off (& will be debt free) in a few months and may possibly sell it one day if our neighborhood gets bad. But we may never move because real estate is SUPER expensive near the beach where we live.

Is $27,000 too much to invest in my town house? My reason for the updates is not for resell but to make our home more custom.
I want us to be happy with what we have so we don’t go house poor buying a fancier house.

Also, should we save our money for 18 months to pay for the project in full, or should we get a loan?

what US funded grants are there for home improvements?

Thursday, July 17th, 2008
chrisbb98 asked:


and you dont have to pay the monies back to the government

Can I deduct home improvement expenses if I am reporting rental income from renting a room in my home?

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
sunfish024 asked:


I have a 3-bedroom house and I rent out one of the rooms for extra income. I have also invested several thousand dollars in home improvement last year, much of it on repairs to the extra bathroom used by the roommate-tenant.
Does anyone know the rules on reporting the rent obtained from the roommate, and also the deductions I would be allowed on the improvements because of this partial rental space in the house?

My parents put a manufactured home on a piece of property which is owned by a family company?

Sunday, April 6th, 2008
CCG asked:


They have never lived here. I am the only occupant who has ever lived here for almost 10 years. Is there any way of transferring ownership to me without raising red flags or getting murdered by taxes? I want to be able to get a home equity loan to purchase the property, do some home improvements and debt consolidations but it needs to be in my name. Any suggestions??

What programs in the Stark County area help with assistance for home improvements. Preferably grants, no money

Monday, February 4th, 2008
Roberta B asked:


What programs or grants that help with home improvements in the Stark County area.