Originally Posted by Jingleberry

If you would use a stain blocker - like Kilz - you wouldn't have had to wash the walls or ceilings. kilz is used to cover water marks Etc. It seals stains so they won't bleed through the new paint. Grease Lightening should remove the grease, or the new Dawn Direct Foam or good ole ammonia.

Originally Posted by seamstome

First hubby and I had a couple rentals. Had a renter once that lived like that...you poor thing. He was some kind of mechanic and never cleaned the tub or toilet in the two years he lived in the place plus he smoked. The stove had to be thrown out...you could not clean it. I got sick from the chemicals when I first tried. It would have taken a commercial crew with industrial products to clean it.
Sounds like about the same deal. This one I think was there 2 yrs and left owing rent. Of course it was not my rent house. That's why my husband said I could have the house when we bought it. He has never wanted rent property. And talk about the stove. I don't think yours could have been any worse than this one. I just wish I had taken a picture of it before. I was going to throw it out but decided to clean it. It took a LOT of scrubbing but I did it. Looks pretty good now. I think it is still the old stove my neighbor had before she passed away. I used to go over and help her out after I quit work about 16 years ago. I think she would be glad I have her house now. Looks like I have posted in the middle of yours but I don't know how to fix it. Sorry, Carol
The house was about 800-900SF. We gutted the house and started from scratch rather than attempt to clean it. Of course, he never paid the last couple months rent and he acted like it was no big deal when you talked to him.

Never will I own a rental again.

I am not a super duper neat housekeeper but it is TRULY amazing how some people live.

Originally Posted by dar627742

i also have a small rental house on my proprty,& have had dreams of turning it into a sewing "house"i'm sure we could get together & compare horror tales about renters!!!unfortunately,i need the income ! FORTUNATELY i found a young couple about 31/2 yrs ago,& i'm thinking about adopting them!!! they do ALL the upkeep w/o being asked or told.i also have a larger house rented on the same property,they take care of it ,too![i do pay them ,of course,but just knowing i don't have to worry about anything is more than worth what little they charge me!]i swear if they ever have a baby,i'll put on an add. to keep them!
i've lived in the biggest house since 1972,& rented out the other 2.have NEVER had tenants like this couple!love them to death.
thanx for letting me vent,dar

Originally Posted by Gerbie

I feel the same way if our neighbors had been good neighbors, I would not have a problem. But partying, allowing the kids to run wild between that house and great grandmas, usually through our yard. Horrible language most of the time. no pride about anything. I do hope we can get the house, it is not as large as ours, but is a 3 bedroom, 1 bath. I would want to keep two of the bedrooms and the bath and take out the kitchen and wash room fixtures. I would use their living room for a den and convert my den into a dining room, so many possibilities. If it is meant to be we will be able to get the house. If I knew good neighbors would be buying it and moving in I would have no problem, but I can only imagine what type of neighbors we would be getting. Good luck on cleaning, and don't work too hard at it.

Originally Posted by CAKELSEY

I need to ask a couple of questions. I've just bought the small house next door to me to hopefully turn into my sewing craft house. The house was built in 1940, has no central heat or air. My first question is this... will having window air conditioners affect my fabric, sewing machine and serger? Will having an old Deerborn gas heater affect them? Also when I hopefully get organized I had planned on putting vinyl or a clear shower curtain liner on the front of my bookcases to keep the dust off my fabric. Would this be okay? I would appreciate any advice you ladies could give me. Thank you Carol