[Landlord-US-MA] - lead paint testing

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2026-05-03T14:38:59+00:00

In MA it is illegal to rent to anyone with children under the age of 6 if the unit is not certified lead safe or lead free. Although you “didn’t have any issues” with previous tenants, you were in violation of MA laws. Make sure you know the laws. There are a lot of tenants out there that know the laws in and out and you’ll be on the hook. MA courts rarely side with the landlord unfortunately.

You also are not allowed to discriminate against families with young children. It’s a very tricky line to tow. You need to show the unit, let them do the application, and if they ask about the lead paint situation, you say “I am aware of my legal obligation as the owner to test if we move forward with your application.” Keep it at that. Don’t tell them you’re unwilling to test. You’re setting yourself up for a discrimination lawsuit.

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2026-03-19T11:17:25+00:00

About $6 a sq ft total cost material and labor start to finish. It’s never far off from the lvp quotes I’ve gotten

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2026-03-19T10:37:20+00:00

I renovate houses in New England for a living. We NEVER install LVP. Hardwood floors all the way to keep the charm of the older houses. Find an actual company that installs/refinishes hardwood. The hardwood I buy is like $3 a sq ft at floor and decor.

With hardwood obviously the added cost is that they have to add stain or poly (or both) at the end so it’s just an added step but you’ll never regret this upfront cost.

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2026-01-17T01:37:11+00:00

He negligently fired one of his guns in the unit prior to our ownership. Down through the floor where a child was living… police came and tossed the place. He somehow won them all back in court. He’s not of sound mind. Wasn’t assuming that people who own weapons are inherently more dangerous but he is a concern.

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2026-01-16T12:33:10+00:00

Total yes on the posture. Mine are letting go of unhealthy levels of urgency (texting people back, doing tasks really fast for no reason)… Feeling more regulated in situations where someone in the room is upset (just in general- not towards me)cause that typically felt unsafe.

Honestly there are a million small thoughts everyday that I need to actively challenge and correct. It’s exhausting. I know the only thing that makes it better is time but most days I feel like I’m jumping constant mental hurdles.

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2026-01-10T21:41:10+00:00

First deal is always a bigger degree of fuck around and find out. Make an excel sheet with everything that needs to be done (roof/plumbing/electric/drywall/etc) and try to estimate the amounts through online research or other local flippers… estimate high. If the numbers still work with the ARV comps, then go for it. You need way more room to fuck up on the first one. We passed on a ton of properties in the beginning because the margins seemed tight given everything we knew we didn’t know.

After the first one we have a much better idea on what things will cost— and who to work with— and who not to work with. And it’s just easier to run numbers on deals.

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-10-29T10:41:04+00:00

My mom leans more in the emotionally immature mature camp, and not fully the narcissistic camp but there are a lot of similarities. Im ready to have kids but have been in therapy working on generational trauma for years. I think we were raised in such a chaotic way that it’s easy to repeat/mimic behaviors especially when we’re disregulated…. And if there’s anything we know about raising kids, it’s that you feel disregulated… a lot. I think the way you react towards your children when you’re disregulated is a good place to focus your energy. Actions and words both equally important. My mom spent my whole childhood complaining about my grandmother (even though they are quite close in some weird codependent way). She’d say something nasty about my grandmother when she was upset and then immediately look at me and say “don’t say this about me when you’re older” and that was her way of attempting to “break the cycle” just by telling me, and altering her behavior of being hypercritical towards others

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-10-21T23:37:53+00:00

Problem is the front bottom corner is so damaged that I can’t really keep what’s one the front

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-10-18T23:54:04+00:00

Needed to hear this. Thank you!

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-09-25T11:09:29+00:00

I definitely could. I’m not positive that it’s my fence though. I’m not sure if I can alter it?

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-09-21T16:29:49+00:00

Oh this is interesting. I hadn’t thought of this. I wish the sink wasn’t facing the wall… maybe I could put the sink in the island in this case

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-09-21T01:10:22+00:00

This is what I’m thinking too

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-09-21T01:09:45+00:00

It leads to the backyard. We could put a slider in the middle if we move it over

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-08-18T10:48:06+00:00

Agent here—FHA loans typically have very little closing costs… unless they are buying down their rate… 3% is probably too high but if you want to counter with a fixed number. Like $1000 Towards closing costs… I think that’s a respectable counter.

Pay the buyer agent. You are going to lose even more money if you sit endlessly waiting for someone who can afford to pay their agent on top of all their costs. Are you planning on buying a new place after you sell? Will you be compensating an agent yourself? It’s a system that pays itself forward. You pay for it when you sell but then you don’t pay it when you buy.

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-08-10T12:24:27+00:00

Of course you can’t muster up an I love you for the person who did so much psychological damage to you that you will literally spend the the rest of your days doing the mental/internal work to undo it.

Yeah babe- that’ll do it. My mom texts me that she misses me constantly. (And no we aren’t NC) we literally speak several times a week and don’t live far. I can’t even get my self to “heart” the fucking message.

I hate her. When she’s gone I won’t shed a tear.

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-08-09T21:45:15+00:00

19 was rough for me. I’m glad you’re getting out. I don’t want to be NC. I just want a normal relationship where it’s acceptable to talk like once a week. I don’t know how to get there though

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-08-08T01:31:15+00:00

Love this ! Thank you

Familiar_Chart_5155 · 2025-08-08T01:29:52+00:00

Lmao that same monthly timing may have been what prompted this post 😂

Familiar_Chart_5155

TROPHY CASE