Home Buyin/Maintenance Thread - Where most of us are 30ish but act 47. Oh, and fuck home inspectors

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Swim Cantore, May 4, 2015.

  1. lechnerd

    lechnerd They say Monaco is a sunny place for shady people
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    Million times better.
     
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  2. Matt Foley

    Matt Foley RIP EARL
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    Thank you for posting this. We have been considering doing this as well, and your cabinets, backsplash, and countertops are all very similar to ours.
     
  3. lechnerd

    lechnerd They say Monaco is a sunny place for shady people
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    Couple things...

    1. I was going to recommend under cabinet lighting until I went back and read your post.
    2. I'd recommend caulking where the baseboards meet the tile all around the kitchen floor
    3. How are the electronic pest repellents working? Anecdotally there have been mixed reviews here on TMB. Me personally, they work very well in my house.
     
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  4. THF

    THF BITE THE NUTS, THUMB IN THE ASS!
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    Yea the under counter lights were put in before me but are a great accent. They had the old school light timers on them which weren't really dependable due to the changes in the sunset times, so I went out and got some smart outlets and plugged the lights into that so now as sunset changes, the time the lights come on change. Its also a great night light when I need to grab something out of the kitchen in the middle of the night.

    I need to go back and caulk everything and that's a great call.

    The electronic pest devices have worked pretty good to this point. I don't really see spiders or ants at all. I see a water bug (american cockroach) about once a quarter and the problem is they are tough to eliminate since they can come up the drains through the sewer. I went to a do it yourself pest company recently and they sold me this stuff.
    [​IMG]

    You can get it on Amazon for like 30 bucks. You mix 2 ounces of it with a gallon of water in a sprayer and it will kill all kinds of bugs. Its great for mosquito control, killing any roaches, ants, fleas, etc. Basically this stuff nukes any bugs. I sprayed it down and found a couple insects dead a couple days after. I haven't seen a single thing living inside since I sprayed. This jug will probably last me 2 to 3 years of spraying once a month or so.
     
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  5. kentucky_dawg

    kentucky_dawg Fan of: Georgia
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    Is it safe for pets?
     
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  6. THF

    THF BITE THE NUTS, THUMB IN THE ASS!
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    I believe so. I would check the Amazon comments. I think it’s suggested to let it dry first before letting pets near it. I think it takes about an hour to dry.

    I am going to spray my backyard with it in the spring as I hear that does wonders for keeping mosquitos away.
     
  7. MoJo

    MoJo It bees that way sometimes...
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    Looks great.

    We are going to be installing wood floors throughout the house soon and will need to paint the cabinets so we don't have wood on wood... too much wood.
     
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  8. Matt Foley

    Matt Foley RIP EARL
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    I would like to make a recommendation here.

    We have wood floors throughout most of our house but the are maintenance-heavy and the dogs scratch them up pretty bad. SO, we are putting in wood-look tile throughout, starting in the previously mentioned master bed/bath. We are pretty pumped about it.
     
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  9. kentucky_dawg

    kentucky_dawg Fan of: Georgia
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    Nice, I'll add it to my Amazon list. Any idea if the one you posted is any different from this one? This one was the first one to pop up when I searched and had the "Amazon's Choice" label above it. Looks to be the same, just a different label:

     
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  10. THF

    THF BITE THE NUTS, THUMB IN THE ASS!
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    Yea I saw that one as well. I don't really see a difference. As long as its the same strength I think you are good to go. This stuff should last a long time. I mean its 96 ounces. That means it creates around 48 gallons of treatment if you use 2 ounces at a time.
     
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  11. gocams

    gocams Well-Known Member
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    I use the same stuff for our residential and commercial properties. Branded. It is excellent for all the common bugs here in SC.
     
  12. arrdub

    arrdub Well-Known Member
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    20 year old package unit/HVAC is dead.

    Quote from our AC contractor/service tech for a Goodman unit to replace. They say it’s the brand they trust and fewer issues than Trane etc. Anyone have any positive or negative thoughts on that brand?
     
  13. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    Their warranty looks pretty stout
     
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  14. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    A good friend of mine who has been in HVAC for 30+ years goes with Goodman for his business work. He has basically said the same thing to me in the past when comparing to Trane, and he wasn't trying to sell it to me. So, yes, I'd be completely fine with a Goodman unit going into my house.
     
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  15. arrdub

    arrdub Well-Known Member
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    TMB Gold Seal of Approval (c)

    Thanks guys
     
  16. MoJo

    MoJo It bees that way sometimes...
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    I have a Goodman unit and our HVAC techs at work all recommend them.
     
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  17. Beachy Toast

    Beachy Toast He wants you too, Malachi.
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    Looks nice.
     
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  18. fish

    fish Impossible, Germany
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    Edging game needs improvement.
     
  19. pez

    pez Competent
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    Any thoughts as to expected costs (per square foot) to restain and refinish wood floors?
     
  20. BigReff73

    BigReff73 Well-Known Member
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    Any thoughts on cost to convert a wood burning fire place to a gas fireplace? We already have natural gas with a line that crosses right beside the fire place.
     
  21. Beachy Toast

    Beachy Toast He wants you too, Malachi.
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    My parents had that done at their new house last year, and like it so far.
     
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  22. Houndster

    Houndster Well-Known Member
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    Holy piss tree trimming is expensive
     
  23. Doc Louis

    Doc Louis Well-Known Member
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    The joys of HOA board membership. Come to find out someone is behind over $10k in association dues. Looking into filing lien and foreclosing.
     
  24. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    I understand filing a lien, but think it shouldn't be legal for an hoa to be able to foreclose on a home
     
  25. Bruce Bowen

    Bruce Bowen Well-Known Member
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    Our 2nd bath is a mess. Fucking carpet floors, thick ass play dough looking textured walls, popcorn ceiling. It's legit only used to give my son a bath but I'm ready to get it done. Any tips on what I can do to minimize costs on having someone do it? Wish I was handy enough to take it on myself but not confident at all.
     
  26. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    #1 thing you can do is demo
    Demo is easy and kinda fun
     
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  27. Bruce Bowen

    Bruce Bowen Well-Known Member
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    That's what I was thinking. I'm a bit scared of what's going to be underneath the carpet.
     
  28. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    Just get you a razor knife, some gloves and a dust mask
     
  29. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    Demo yourself and then get your materials. If you know the floors, shower stuff, shitter, sink, vanity etc......... price that stuff out and piece meal it. Then if you don’t know anyone you’d just basically need to get quotes for time and material (should be insignificant because you’ll have 90% of it). You’ll also learn a bit on how to do some of it because it will be part of your research.
     
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  30. Pharm

    Pharm Right Handed
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    Ecobee installed, Hue lighting installed, 3 pendant lights and outdoor lights installed, mounted a tv, filled in multiple holes in the yard from my dog. I need more tech gadgets.
     
  31. MoJo

    MoJo It bees that way sometimes...
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    If you can read, ask questions and watch youtube you can do it. You'll make mistakes because some things can be kind of hard to foresee when you're inexperienced, but you can get through it. I went from not knowing a damn thing to being pretty handy. I got determined when I did my first bathroom after I got estimates from contractors, no way could I pay for it, now I don't need them for the most part, except maybe to do finish work (coping crown molding, mudding drywall). My main obstacle now is a lack of time.
     
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  32. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    Budget 3-4 dollars sq/ft. Can vary geographically, I imagine. Other factors that might influence prices:
    -species of wood
    -shape of room
    -handwork (stairs are much more $)
    -removal of carpet staples, other fasteners, or old adhesives, should they exist

    Other notes: you probably don't want to sleep in a house with fresh coats of poly going on. Bad vapors, especially for kids. Contractor will need access to 30amp, 220V service for equipment. Usually a dryer plug.
     
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  33. BigReff73

    BigReff73 Well-Known Member
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    Any idea how much they spent on it?
     
  34. pez

    pez Competent
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    Definitely looking at a couple of those. Removing carpet from stairs. Handrails

    Main motivation is to remove carpet in one room that is surrounded by wood floors and probably no way to really match it without refinishing all of it, I fear

    But thank you for the ballpark

    And yeah the logistics of moving out for a week or however long is a bit of an issue
     
  35. The Banks

    The Banks TMB's Alaskan
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    Do it yourself, imo
     
  36. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    I have about 1000 sqft of hardwood that needs to be refinished. Going to get a few quotes, any general idea of what I should expect?
     
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  37. pez

    pez Competent
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    Look like 3 posts up
     
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  38. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    That post is what prompted me to ask. Unfortunately I was just skimming through and thought he was asking about installation.

    I'll see myself out.
     
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  39. pez

    pez Competent
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    It was me asking so no worries. I was asking about refinishing because that’s the largest part of the project
     
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  40. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    I was quoted $1800 from a white guy and $450 from a brown guy

    Went with the brown guy and they did a fantastic job
     
  41. Baron

    Baron Well-Known Member
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    Woo boy, had our realtor do a walk through of our house to prep for selling... Got a longer to-do list than I thought I would have had before we list it.
     
  42. PAHokie

    PAHokie Can't a bitch living say I bought her Michael Kors
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    Anyone added a smart thermostat to a two thermostat system? It should just work the same right?
     
  43. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    Fuck realtors
     
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  44. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    I know there is at least one person who has two zones with smart thermostats on both here. If you search the thread I’d imagine you could find it quickly.
     
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  45. lechnerd

    lechnerd They say Monaco is a sunny place for shady people
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    “Hey I need you to do a bunch of things that will make my job easier”
     
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  46. lechnerd

    lechnerd They say Monaco is a sunny place for shady people
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    Did they seal their cuts?
     
  47. MODEVIL

    MODEVIL Well-Known Member
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    My buddy is in a tough situation with the house he is buying. The seller is a trust and apparently a lady has been living in the house and paying a nominal rent. She was told she could live there until the house was sold.

    The sale was supposed to close 12/28 and it still hasn’t because she won’t move out. He won’t close until she is out. He told me she stopped paying rent a few months ago so the people running the trust cancelled her cable tv that they were paying.

    They gave her 30 day notice at the end of December. If they have to evict her, it could be a couple months before she is out.

    They offered my friend 10,000 this week to close and make the holdover tenant his problem. His rate lock expires 1/31 and he wants the house because he got it about 8% under ask and they have backup offers at full ask.

    I told him 10k wasn’t enough because his carry cost on the house is like 13k for two months. The seller recently offered the tenant 3k to move out and she countered 20k, which is comedy but shows they are going to have to evict and it’s not always quick in California. She's mad they cancelled the cable TV on her. I don't really know what I would do in this situation.
     
  48. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    no chance should he take that on. evictions get expensive fast.
     
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  49. Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all

    Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all Putting big balls in little holes, circa 1995
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    There is under no circumstances I would ever buy a house in California occupied by a squatter. Especially under the circumstances listed above.
     
  50. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    with fresh baby seal blood
     
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