how to renovate my home?

Question

I own a four family home with little equity and no help except my income which is not enough, how can i find ways to renovate my home that needs a complete roof, and all four bathrooms that are in very bad shape because of the bad roof. I had estimates for $15,000 which I cannot afford right now, very bad credit and not much equity in the property. I am a single mom with no help, I will act on all the advice I will get. I am desperate.

Answer 1

I have rehabbed many houses, mostly on my and with my own money.

Far too many people get into the business without any appreciation of the true costs involved.

Is the roof leaking? If not, don't bother with it right now. If it is, that takes priority.

Bathrooms and kitchens are the most expensive part to rehab, but need not cost much.

If the tub is not broken or badly worn, it is still usable. I've had to take razor blade scrapers to remove the soap scum, but they cleaned up well.

If the toilet isn't broken, it can cheaply be repaired, same goes for the sinks, though you can get a cheap pedestal for under $100.

If the wall around the bath is bad, you will need to tear it out and replace it. Use tile backer around the tub, and green drywall in the rest of the toilet. You can texture the walls with a sponge and joint compound and paint them for very little costs.

Put a tub surround around the tub, but I've come across a bathroom panel that has a beaded texture, and is about 1/8" thick plastic. You can glue it right up. The cost is around $35 a sheet. 4 Sheets does a tub and then some.

Don't use the corner and splice material. Just silicone caulk the corners. Mask both sides of the splices that abut, draw a bead of caulk and using your finger run it smooth. Then remove the tape. It looks great and lasts. You can put an over the shower hanger for a soap dish.

The linoleum will cost you, but you can purchase these place a press tiles. You will have to put down some underlayment for them to stick well in a toilet though. An alternative is to have carpet installed. Tell them to loose lay it.

With carpet, you can get by for less than $500 per bath.

Because you have 4 places, pick the one that is liveable and you live in it. As you fix the others up, rent them out and you will then have the money to get the rest done.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at at time.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Mom, it's time to head to the library. You need to learn a lot about renovation and quickly because there is a lot you can do for little $. A roof requires a professional and get a letter from him for your insurance company. When I got into rental property or as I was starting to look I bought the Time Life Series and it's really good about teaching you how to fix most things. I bought a beaut of an old house and the renovation started. My bf was a big help and one day in the middle of major plumbing renovation he decided to pick a fight and I ended up with no running water. I went down to the local watering hole and sat down next to this gorgeous guy(something I don't normally do) but I needed an ego fix. He turned out to be a pipe fitter and in no time we were sitting outside on the sidewalk and he was teaching me to sweat pipes. Nothing to it, just needed some help to get started. Another friend was pretty good with wiring and now I can fix most anything. The only cheap way to do anything is do it yourself. Read, read, read. . .Go to Home Depot, Lowe's or any other store that can give you advice. Pick one thing and ask at several stores how to fix it. Then go for it. Be sure you have read the books so you know where to start. Go to some yard sales and buy those great old tools. I got some lovely large pipe wrenches for very very little. Remember you need leverage to make up for lack of strength. Always start a repair when the parts place will be open later. You will always need something else or something will always go wrong when you first start. And last if someone gives you advice and you screw it up, go to a different store and find out what you need to do. When the first guy asks you how your project turned out, you can say just fine. Lots of luck. . .

Answer 3

Yikes, that's a tough one mom but here are some links that might have some information that can help you.
US Government Housing assistance grants all areas:
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/catalo...
US Government Grants page: http://www.grants.gov/
US Federal Domestic Assistance catalog for all Federal Programs available to State & Local Governments & the Public
http://12.46.245.173/cfda/cfda.html
All government Benefit Programs http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal
Low income housing assistance (private) Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/
List of all available Federal programs http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal;jsessionid=FX2KrmkSYpQNWvJT5M5bCT8d6NfrbMGL2kWh01jgmGKD5HYmGYyj!-1747634320?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=gbcc_page_locate_federal&_nfls=false
Finding out what benefits you are eligible for with the US Government
http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=gbcc_page_questionnaire&_nfls=false
Buena Suerte

Answer 4

Is it possible your credit score might not be as bad as you think? Is it possible your home might appraise for a bit more than you think. My sister just got a loan to add on to her house. After her "renovations", the home was worth considerably more. I recommend you take 30 seconds and fill out the free evaluation form at

www.totaldebtsolutionsllc.com

and a loan officer from their nationwide network will contact you within 24 hours.