Finding my Tenant

My timing today was extremely ideal. A couple of weeks ago I had filed a complaint against my tenant for failure to pay rent (since Dec). Hearing is scheduled in 3 weeks.

I decided to give my tenant a visit, even tho, he hasn't answered the door over a half dozen times Ive visited him since December

When I arrived, another condo owner, Labous, was doing some work.  I asked him if he had seen my tenant. He told me that  a police officer had arrived earlier doing a welfare check.  Someone from his family or work was concerned 

It then dawned on me that Ty could be deceased. I asked Labous if he could help me break down the lock. There was a deadbolt and I didn't have the tools to do this, but thankfully Labous and his contractor did.

After 15 mins of drilling we finally broke in and we could immediately smell the stench of rot.

I went straight into the bedroom and found tenant lying face down on the floor. I immediately called the Police.

One of the neighbors said he had seen my tenant about 2-3 weeks ago taking out the trash and he seemed in good health and well being.

The decomposition of the body was in advanced decay and his face was unrecognizable. The Police determined that he could have been dead for over a month.

I had initially served my tenant the 30 days notice to quit on Jan 12 by posting on his door. When I returned the paperwork was gone meaning my tenant had taken it.  So he was alive in early/mid January.

Due to his illness, my tenant had not been working.  But he did not appear anywhere near death.

I had simply thought that since he wasn't working, he couldn't afford the rent and was thus ignoring me (quite unusual since he had been may tenant since 2004). I had already accepted the fact that the Landlord Tenant hearing would be long and painful. Never in a million years did I think my tenant had just died.

The Attic

Bruce Trundle Bedroom New Paint

Miter Saw

Bruce Master Bedroom Blue

Painted one wall light blue and touched up the other 3 walls

The ceiling had a small leak that gets worse when it rains hard.  So I cut into the ceiling 21 x 21 and bought an access panel.

I installed the panel and used a bungee cord to shut the door open. The door is ajar by a mm but that's good in case it leaks, any water will drain out.

I used leftover laminate flooring and laid it on the plyboard. Didn't use glue, just put them together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Recaulked bathroom and toilet

Added rug where carpet used to be. Installed laminate flooring

Repainted walk in closet

Great paint from Benjamin Moore that hides stains in white walls.

Bruce Place Basement Wood

Work was done by James at Super Floors LLC. He installed vinyl COREtec Pro 7 Biscayne (5 boxes).  Wood was purchased from Lynnwood in Beltsville MD

We chose this waterproof, natural-wood look for the basement and high traffic area. We may consider installing same type in the kitchen.

Painting was also done in the bedroom, Rec room and bathroom

Atlantic Street Kitchen & Floor

We ripped up the kitchen floor all the way to the sub floor and installed a new kitchen countertop and cabinets.

Previously the last contractor had installed concrete and tile (not even self-leveling compound). The floor was level but the excess weight was causing stress on the joists.

Kam demoed the floor, sub floor and  underlayment. To her surprise she found vinyl tile underneath the underlayment

Kam then installed OSD directly over the old vinyl and then poured self-leveling compound.

For the floor moulding, she chose 8" moulding and then installed quarter rounds around the moulding.  She chose 8" because the floor was not completely level.  This helped tremendously.

Then she installed the subfloor and the roll-out vinyl -- be careful with the vinyl -- it's easy to scratch (especially when moving the fridge).

If there are any nicks or scratches, use clear silicon sealant.  Kam used silicon sealant also for the moulding and trim.

Kam prepping to install new gas stove

The new Whirlpool range from Home Depot works great.  Decided not to get 5 year warranty

Kam installing 8" wide moulding and quarter rounds

Kam building a deck at North American Trade Schools

We installed laminate countertop over three cabinets we purchased from Home Depot

Final product looks amazing and the tile matches the countertop.