Saturday, January 17, 2009

Trashed Rental Transformation

Ok, time is up. Here are the before and after pictures of my rental house. I spent all day fixing little things like adding curtain tie-backs and shining faucets. I just tried out the DVD player and found out it was broken. My short-term renters called me tonight and want to meet at the house tomorrow so I will bring my own DVD player for them to use. I don't watch that many DVDs anyway and it's only for 30 days.

What the house looked like last Friday:










What the house looks like tonight:









Quite a difference huh? I still need new carpet and new flooring in the kitchen, probably tile. That will have to wait. I stuck an air freshener in each closet to make them smell a little better without being too obvious. The pet odor neutralizer worked well but I should have shampooed the entire carpet with it. I was pouring it straight on to the carpet for some of the bad areas. The carpet looks ok now but the stains are coming back already. I have a rug in the living room to cover the big pink stain ($14 at Ross!) and another little rug between the master bedroom and bath where the red stain went in to the bedroom. The new linoleum tile in the master bath got rid of most of the stain.

My neighbor who has been helping me clean is interested in renting the house unfurnished after my tenants leave. She is tired of her landlord because she says he won't reimburse her for repairs such as when tree roots backed up her plumbing and it cost her $300. I told her I would consider it.

The initial total for this overhaul is $3300. Utilities for this month will cost around $350. My profit will be $350. Not a great reward for a whole lot of stress and work plus new flooring will cost a lot more. But at least I have my house back.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, good job. You have your house back - that really is the important thing. Your neighbor sounds like she might be a good prospect. Have you seen what her place looks like?

I hope your new tenants don't know about your blog!!!!

I think you deserve to veg now!

Lizzie @ her homeworld said...

Be proud! You did so well.

Once you have recoverd a bit think about a few ways you can regain the ground you have lost in your race aginst your mortgage.

Pursue the wrecking tenants through the courts - They shouldnt be allowed to get away with this.
COnsider the neighbours offer to rent from you - but after you have checked out the inside of her current house!
If you are renting it empty then sell some of your new bargains, hopefully at a small profit because you brought well.

All may not be lost and best of all you have your house back.

Lizzie

Anonymous said...

Great job Daizy, you must be worn out.

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

Way to go. The difference in those pictures is amazing! Tackling your mobile home rehab will now be a piece of cake :)

If you end up finding a good long term renter that would be great. After she helped you out, it sounds like she would at least respect your property. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Money Minder said...

Wow, good job.

You should do one of those TV makeover shows on TLC...you could help landlords who have had their rental units trashed by disrespectful, deadbeat tenants!

You have earned a well-deserved break!

Sallie's Niece said...

Wow, what a transformation, congrats. I'm glad this nightmare is behind you!

Anonymous said...

God, what slobs they were! Good job on the restoration.

Lucy said...

I'm so sorry you are out so much money, but you did a *fantastic* job.

DogAteMyFinances said...

Ahhhh, the toilet. Nasty!

Anonymous said...

The place looks fantastic! Wow!

I really hoped you are very blessed in the future with wonderful tenants. :)

MW said...

Hurray!!! Awesome job Daisy!!!

Anonymous said...

Truly amazing. You've done such a great job in such a small amount of time.

Anonymous said...

That was an awesome transformation. Hopefully, you can relax now that you have this behind you.

Anonymous said...

Um, can you tackle my place next? I'm not saying my place is trashed, but my daughter WAS home for holidays...

Great job! I love the pictures!

Anonymous said...

Wow. I think you did a wonderful job. it's been rough for you and I hope that things improve in the near future, whatever you end up deciding about the house.

Daizy said...

Thanks everyone! I do wish I had some time off now. I'm trying not to think about the giant pile of junk in my garage and the mess in my mobile home. I certainly won't run out of things to do for a very long time.