Need some decorating advice for beachfront rental property.
Mandy Langford
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
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Dumb Question: Beachfront Property Values in NJ (Sandy)
Comments (8)Thanks all, your insights are very interesting. Makes sense too. I have a Fl waterfront story, about my husband's uncle. He and his father (husband's grandfather) were small-scale developers in Miami during the post war boom. In the very early 70s uncle and grandpa bought property in Key Largo and moved down there, building side by side modest stilt-style homes next door to each other. At the time the Keys were still remote-they had to dig their own wells for water for example. Uncle raised his family there, parents lived out the last decade of their lives next door. The uncle died a couple of years ago. However the land is going to be somebody's jackpot someday when the property is sold. Uncle (who inherited grandpa's share) owned *9 acres* of oceanfront property. It's actually one of the largest pieces of undeveloped land in the Fl keys, and he regularly got offers from hotels and resorts in the range of 10-15 million dollars. It was always a trip to go down for family parties. You would turn off the main road (US 1 for those who know the Keys) into the property which was just a bunch of scrub, nothing landscaped. Then down the looooooooong drive (crushed shells, never even paved) to the houses. They were small, not particularly well kept up but were directly facing the ocean. The area around the houses was always full of junk; old boats, cars/trucks that didn't run, rusting outdoor furniture etc. All of that next to the most glorious sea vista you could imagine. Amazing. As I said, it will be an interesting process when the property is eventually sold. Uncle had 4 daughters and one son and left everything to sonny. However, my husband's cousins are some pretty strong women and the uncle's plan that his only son inherit and keep everything is probably not going to fly once the big bucks start being offered. Oh, and many years ago my MIL TURNED DOWN a piece of waterfront property down there that her father offered her as a vacation spot. Crazy woman :). Ann...See MoreNeed expert advice - repainting interior of rental house
Comments (6)I am not a paint expert, but do have rental properties and really like to paint ;) You have my sympathies. Why some people trash the home they live in is beyond me (although it's not their 'house', it is their home while they are staying there.) Personally won't take Sec8 for a variety of reasons. We have rental property and for 7 years have been using Glidden Spred Ultra Satin, stock color "Off White" in them. They tout is as 'one coat' but we always do 2 coats (second flies because coverage of first is very good). Only comes in low sheen Satin finish. Not overly shiny, cleans very well. Holds up to higher than average abuse. Has enough 'depth' in the color that it will show a contrast against white. It's economical (on sale I've gotten it for as low as $12/gal at Menards). I checked Glidden site and don't see it, if I recall last can I bought they changed the label. (The Ultra always had a cream colored can with red band on the label.) Stock "Off White" is a good neutral, warm, cheery, will match most any flooring colors and easily adapts to tenants furnishings. I have not switched because it's a paint that has done well for us. If I were to switch, I'd go to Ace paint. I did use Pittsburgh mid-level paint on one house this summer that we did a major overhaul on. Just for a change. Probably won't make a habit of that. (Not slamming it, have Pittsburgh high end Manor Hall in my own home in a couple rooms and it's good paint. Just didn't care for Pburgh mid-level paint.) In that same house a tenant painted the bathroom with an Ace paint. She was a lousy painter ;) She moved (leaving a mess for me). There was half a can of the Ace paint left, so I gave the bath a good finish coat and hit the areas she missed, etc. Ace paint went on very well, I must say, and once dried felt 'tough'. So if I ever switch from Glidden at rentals, taking cost and performance into consideration, I'll probably go to Ace. (I use a preferred customer card, they regularly send me $5/$10 off coupons, so it helps.) As far as color, I have stuck with the "Off White" because of undertone issues in taupes/light tans. Haven't found one yet that will blend well with flooring and universally with various tenants furnishings. I have not had a single tenant complain about the color, most comment they like it. I tried with Pittsburgh this summer to switch to a taupe. Poster board samples looked good but once on all walls in certain rooms it takes on a greenish undertone. That's what I want to avoid, so stay with off white. I have used Glidden on trim, no issues. All houses are pre-1940 construction. 2 have all plaster walls, one has some plaster and some drywall. Only one house has paint on a door (interior of bathroom door) and Glidden has held well on that. As far as painting cabinets, I spent extra $ on Cabinet Coat. A royal pain for a rental, but longevity and durability does factor in. It's a much tougher enamel for cabinets. One house has cabinets painted 5 years ago with CC and they still look very good. (No abusive tenants there, though.) So far it does not need re-touched as often as a regular interior latex applied to cabinets. Cabinet Coat is a job that can't be rushed tho, so you might not be able to exercise CC as an option at this point. For scrubbing pre-paint I only use Soilax or Dirtex. Good stuff, gets off gunk. Mr Clean Magic Eraser on bad spots. For primer I use Zinsser Bullseye 123, also good stuff. If new tenants come in I generally give it a refresher coat, no primer. If damage has been done, or bad mess, I prime with Bullseye. Candle soot has become a problem. So much so that I had to put a clause in the lease about it. I ran into a situtation where tenants burned candles so frequently that the walls had soot that would not come off the paint. Even with heavy duty scrubbing it was a slick, gray, cloudy mess. My HVAC contractor said that scenario could really mess up the mainboard on the new furnace, I put a clause in leases now that any evidence of candle soot of any kind is automatic loss of security deposit. Soy, clean burning or candle warmers are acceptable alternatives. (You can tell if there's soot, can't miss it on the walls, there's either a black streak from the flame or gray 'cloud' if candle was near but not at wall.) Good luck, I've been where you're at and it's not fun....See MoreHelp Needed Renovating and Decorating my first Rental! Please!
Comments (16)whatever has been said..your landlord sounds like a real nice guy..:) unless of course you have agreement that your improvements hugely lower your rent? what I'd do though..if I was as handy and as eager as you.. -the mosaic in the kitchen where the backsplash is-hard to see whether a real backsplash or wallpaper? if wallpaper-get rid of it and repaint. if real mosaics-just repaint. ETA-ok reread your post..real mosaics. I love peel and stick options that do exist, but I'm not sure I'd go for them here..it's not so much mosaic as its placement..countertop backsplash plus mosaics plus wrap around..too much. And it won't be easy to find something that will work. But. Check your options. Etsy has pages upon pages of tile decals, for example. https://www.etsy.com/search?q=tile%20decals&ref=auto1&as_prefix=tile%20decals -you seem to have no space next to the stove..I know IKEA carries these narrow tables you know? or something of the kind..that you can put in between the stove and the fridge, have some landing surface, spot to place a pot you know -is the floor in the kitchen real tile or linoleum/vinyl? you can try and cover it with something if it irritates you of course(to me it's actually the worst offender. along with the blinds that I'd take out and put on curtains. but you're going to do that anyway). it can be tile decals, it can be floor cloth, it can be big inexpensive rug.. the rest of the kitchen, just deep clean and let be. new paint will make a huge difference -your door is fine..hard to see the living to make helpful furniture placement suggestion, but generally I find that sofa plus two chairs is the most versatile in most cases -the bathroom is cute and blue in cabinets picks up the flooring. Wallpaper is best to go though since it clashes with flooring. Clean the grout..and ask your landlord to change faucets etc if they're problematic. If they're not but you hate them-well maybe you can split the price. New paint, shower curtain that you love-and you're good. What's your style preference? I'm crazy about shower curtains so can look them up and suggest for you, and would be my pleasure:) you do need some "landing strip" as they call it..and I can't see whether youn can fit small dining table in the corner of the kitchen? .. if you want more suggestions about colors, furnishings, furniture layout and such, I recommend cross posting in Home Decorating forum. They(ok, us. lol) will ask you a bit more about dimensions, layout, preferences in style, budget, needs, etc. Congratulations on your first renting place, it's exciting..and good luck!...See MoreIn need of some help with my new rental
Comments (12)Unfortunately, the loveseat was a mistake, as they generally are. Now you have a room full of sofas and no room for much more than that. If you can, return the love for a pair of small scale armchairs. If you can't return the love, sell your bar stools and old sofas on Craig's List and put the love in the spare room. It can become a man cave with his Alabama memorabilia and boozy dorm decor. Put the TV left of the FP and turn the sofa to face that wall. I hope your rug is at least two feet wider than the large sofa. If so, slip it under the front 1/3 of the sofa. Runners are for hallways or galley kitchens. Get a round glass and brass coffee table. Place the bar cart right of the FP, maybe even in front of the window there. Center the other piece of furniture on the back wall and hang one piece of art above it. The art should be no wider than 75% of the furniture's width. No heavy velvet curtains here. I would change out the current blinds for some texture; try bamboo shades from Lowes or Home Depot....See Moreeverdebz
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2 years ago
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