Q. I am looking to buy a property, mobile home on land. All it needs is new plumbing work, it used to have it but no longer does after its been sitting What all information do I need to call to get estimates on how much it will cost for plumbing? I cannot have somebody go out there since it is in the middle of no where and I do not own it yet..... I checked everything else it only needs plumbing

A. The first respondent is absolutely correct. If you can contact a local plumber, tell him / the company what you need to have installed, as in how many fixtures, drains, etc. You may be able to get a ball park price on the plumbing installation. Keep in mind however, that in order to install the plumbing (water supply) to all the fixtures, the walls and crawlspace will be torn apart all over the mobile home. The repair costs of these are rarely included in any plumbers' bids. If you want to have expensive repair costs, ALWAYS have your plumber do your sheetrock repair. The other consideration is the crawlspace repairs. In order to get access to all the water piping in the floor, the vapor barrier and insulation must be cut and removed for access. The resultant mess is repairable, but usually it takes somebody who really knows their stuff to put a vapor/ rodent barrier back correctly so that it protects the system and the house from freezing. I have seen more than a few cases that wasnt done, and I ended up chasing the frozen piping the full length of the house, repiping the whole house in the dead of winter. The cost of doing the plumbing work and repairs afterwards will probably cost nearly half the cost of moving another mobile home/manufactured house to the lot. I hope the PROPERTY purchase is a good one, at a great price for you. Good luck.

Q. I was told I have water damage to the subfloor under my toilet. I assume that means pipes and/or toilet fixtures that are leaking, which once located will need repairing, plus replacing the wood subfloor where damaged. Do I need a water damage specialist, plumbing contractor, wood floor contractor? I have no idea, but can't handle too many different contractors....

A. Get yourself a handy man that can do many jobs instead of paying 2 sometimes 3 diff contractors i suggest you do that but if your talking about fungus please be careful with that depending on the issue you have and depends on what Chems get into that fungus you might have to get an inspector to check that out... please don't keep inhaling that stuff it's no good.

Q. I would like to get some basic cost for sprayed insulation for under my home. I do not have a basement and would like to add a layer of insulation to the floor space. Is there a cost per sq ft. that i could get an idea before calling a local company. Sometimes a gal can get a bad deal.

A. Hi Just, Ranger is absolutely, dead-on-correct about the sprayed (closed cell) insulation. Anyone who thinks fiberglass is the best choice for a cellar-less home better get used to freezing floors, insects EVERYWHERE and sleeping with mice every night. No other choice can even come close to the advantages of a spray-applied, seamless insulation. There are always pro's and con's with any choice, so here's how I see it: PRO's: -Value of your home will remain high or even increase, and VERY attractive to any knowledgeable buyers. -"Wildlife" will be DRAMATICALLY reduced. -Your comfort level will SOAR. -Because it's not being applied in an area where it must be "screeted" level with the face of the floor joists (like studs when sheetrock will be applied over it), it will mean MUCH less work for the applicators. This means it will cost less. Make SURE you discuss this fact with the guy or gal that comes out to quote the job so everyone will visualize the same job! CON'S: -Once applied, it makes changes/updates of the mechanicals (electrical/plumbing/HVAC) more difficult. Keep in mind though, that you can re-insulate the area(s) you've worked on with Great Stuff Insulation in a can. -Inspecting anything against the bottom of the home will be nearly impossible once covered. I suggest taking LOTS of HIGH QUALITY digital pictures of the under side of the floor before doing it, and mark important mechanicals well with long plastic wire-ties (White for cold water lines, Red for hot water lines and Black for electric) that hang below the insulation to make them easy to find/repair if and when it's needed. -

Q. My father has requested me to repair two rental properties of his that were extensivly damaged inside & out. He has paid for 95% of Materials which is all good, However since i have completed the jobs one has been rented the other awaits to be occupied. he has paid me $1,100.00 for both rentals and there was never a set price. I was thinking another $1,000.00 would be a respectful amount for all the repairs, such as removing all left behind debri's, 100% Interior Painting, Sub Floor Patch work, Drywall, Plumbing fixture installation (Toilet), Vanitys, Vinyl Bath Floor covering(1), Water Heater installation(1), Electrical Fixture Installation (Several) and various Maintenance & other repairs. I asked him for a few hundred dollars & he said all the work is done and that he has allready paid me up to date. I am really upset with this and in my eyes another $1,000.00 is not unreasonable to say the least. what should i say or do, he is my father but..............???????

A. Even from relatives, get things in writing. Now learn by your mistake and don't let this happen again.

Q. Bathroom sink pipe sprung a major leak, 15 minutes worth of tap water soaked hardwood flooring, plaster walls and ceilings and ran into some duct work...also we are concerned about the electrical wiring behind ceiling and walls, what are some good characteristics to look for in hiring a contractor who specializes in this type of work? Also, is it typical for the homeowner's insurance to cover the plumbing work? So far, the adjuster says only work to repair damage is covered but not the plumbing that caused the problem...sound right?

A. Your adjuster is correct. Your insurance policy owes for access to get to the plumbing leak and to repair it but NOT for the part itself. Start by making sure your house is dried out properly by a certified water damage restoration company (i.e. ServiceMaster). They will find out where the water damage starts and ends, take moisture reading of your flooring and walls & may place fans/dehumidifiers to dry out your home. After the place is dried out, then address rebuild. If you need paint, drywall, flooring or baseboards...ask your adjuster if they have a "preferred" general contractor that is on the company's preferred program. Go with one of them if they do. Good luck.

A. American Home Shield They have an excellent plan for under $500/yr. Service calls are $55 each to repair or replace. Some items have a 30 day waiting period for new customers. They cover not only appliances, but electrical, and plumbing as well. I have used them for years. In one year they replaced my 38 year old (orig. to the house) hot water heater, 38 year old (orig. to the house) dishwasher, and 38 year old (org. to the house) paper duct work. Each time it only cost me the service call. All work is guaranteed by the contractor for 90 days. We recently moved, and they warranty my new house as well.

Q. I want to get my earnest money back, and I want ALL OF IT !! I made an offer on a house with the intentions of living in it not rehabbing it. The offer was accepted, and we had the home inspected. There are a lot of things wrong with the house. It costs more money to repair these things than I can afford, and besides I'd rather buy something worth the money I would have to spend, rrather than put money into the house for major things. The house needs new windows, tuckpointing all around and a new roof. Here is a letter I wrote to the seller, tell me what u think. HELP !!!! All these problems need to be remedied before this transaction can go any further. If the issues are not addressed we will continue on our search for a home. FURNACE The furnace/central air needs to be properly and completely installed and functioning. The furnace needs a shut off valve, and a plastic exhaust pipe. Debris in the "clean out" area at the base of the chimney should be removed as part of system service. PLUMBING The old steel piping is subject to corrosion on the interior of the pipe. As corrosion builds up, the inside diameter of the pipe becomes constricted, resulting in a loss of water pressure. This piping is typically replaced when the loss of pressure can no longer be tolerated. ELECTRICAL Extension cords should not be used as permanent wiring. This wiring should be removed through out the house. Poor connections between newer wiring and the old-knob-and-tube wiring were observed. All connections of this type should be performed within junction boxes, fitted with cover plates. The installation of a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is required in the kitchen and bathroom. GFCI offers increased protection from shock or electrocution. STRUCTURE Evidence of termite damage was observed and there is risk of additional hidden damage since termites can do a substantial amount of damage. If the property hasn't already been treated, a licensed pest control specialist should be engaged to eliminate further termite activity within the home. All damaged wood should be repaired or replaced. ROOFING The downspout should discharge water at least 5 feet from the house. Storm water should be encouraged to flow away from the building at the point of discharged. Install downspout at left rear section of house. Stairs leading to basement need hand rails. Drop ceiling in same area needs to be repaired. The fireplace needs a damper. All appliances must stay.

A. Well did you make your offer based on it passing inspection or your obtaining financing? Those are two very common terms when putting down earnest money. Did you understand what Earnest Money was? The earnest money is an amount of money that the buyer puts up to show he or she is serious about purchasing the property. The money represents the buyer's commitment to buy and acts as an unofficial option on the property. After receiving an earnest money check, the seller will usually stop showing the property, and wait to see if the buyer can get a mortgage. Earnest money is important to the transaction because it shows the seller that the buyer is operating in good faith (hence the name, "earnest"). The bigger the deposit, the more reassuring it is to the seller, who thinks, "This buyer is serious.'' It also ties the buyer to the property and keeps him or her from looking for additional properties. When Do I Get The Earnest Money Back? If the sale goes through, the earnest money is used as part of the cash down payment and is paid to the seller. If the sale does not go through because of a reason covered by a contingency in the contract (if, for example, the buyer could not get a mortgage), the seller should sign a release of escrow and the earnest money will be refunded to the buyer. The earnest money should also be refunded to the buyer if the sale does not go through because of a problem on the seller's side. If, however, the buyer backs out of the deal for no reason at all, or for a reason that is not covered by a contingency, return of the earnest money may go to the seller. FSBO (For Sale By Owner) Earnest Money If negotiating directly with the seller without the assistance of a Realtor®, never give the earnest money directly to the seller. If you are dealing with a for-sale-by-owner seller who insists upon earnest money before a contract can be executed, write the check to their lawyer or closing attorney or your lawyer or closing attorney, and write fiduciary agent after the lawyers name. This money will then go into a trust, or escrow, account until the negotiations are completed, the contract signed, and all contingencies met. If the deal falls apart, you'll get it back. But if you give the earnest money directly to the seller, you may never see it again, or you may have to go to court to get it back. Good Luck to you.

Q. I specialize in kitchen and bathroom remodeling and I'm always looking for more business. I'm hoping to partner with some of the local plumbing companies in order to generate more leads (esp. bath remodels). Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I've tried print advertising but all I get is telemarketer calls.

A. Word of mouth is your biggest friend. Have you a builders association to join? Other trades can recommend other trades. Is there a BNI close by? It s a business network that tries to to business within their own network. Join any Lions or Kiwanis clubs and stay fairly active.. GL