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. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    Hire a real go getter like this guy.
     
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  2. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    My old neighbor had at most 0.3 acres, and had a swimming pool with a pretty large stamped concrete patio and a deck. He bought a zero turn riding mower. He spent more time turning that thing around than he did mowing.
     
  3. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    $35 a cut and I don't have to sweat my balls off. Money well worth it.
     
  4. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    I'm not lawn shaming anyone. Just pointing out that it shouldn't be a surprise that some people value their time more than others
     
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  5. Doc Louis

    Doc Louis Well-Known Member
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    Plus what if there's hills.
     
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  6. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    one of you guys who has made the jump to mesh systems should write up (or dig up an old post ITT) and pin it in the OP.
     
  7. BasementCrew22

    BasementCrew22 Well-Known Member
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    Just seems like a very basic expectation for homeowners to keep up with their walks and driveways during the winter. But hey, if an hour-ish a week (on average last year; I live in generally the same area as Nole) is too much, Hire it out.
     
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  8. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    I wouldn’t pay someone to mow my lawn, just because I do enjoy it. I can’t say the same about snow. I also don’t have 1/4 of the snow that you guys get.
     
  9. blind dog

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    We have ~1.25 acre lot and I love mowing it. I'm starting to get close to paying someone to weedeat tho fuck that noise
     
  10. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    Weedeating is something I too have considered farming out
     
  11. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    When picking a lot for our new house, my wife inquired about a corner lot. I was like "DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH EXTRA I WOULD HAVE TO WEED EAT??"
     
  12. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    What kind do you have? I know it wont work for everyone but best thing I ever bought was a black and decker electric. The battery does suck, but I have a few now so I just throw one in my pocket. Long story short, never fuck with it to start or have issues with string. Not that it's fun, but not dealing with those two things makes it tolerable for me.
     
  13. blind dog

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    I have a Stihl. It works fine I just loathe doing it. Also have an edger I should use more for driveway & sidewalk

    Usually make my son do it but he sucks at it and I'm always having to restring it no matter what string I buy
     
  14. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    My neighbor across the street has a commercial grade zero turn mower. I laugh every time I see him mowing because 1. It's at most 3,000 square feet of yard and 2. It's 100% weeds, not one blade of actual grass.
     
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  15. 20/20/20/20

    20/20/20/20 running thru the house with a pickle in my mouth
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    I have Google WiFi mesh network and it was a fucking breeze to set up. Literally anyone could probably do it.

    I have also had no issues having WiFi access anywhere in either of my homes since purchasing (previously had issues in my old house). Been about 4 years. Current house is ~3,400 sq ft including finished basement and two stories. Signal is good anywhere.

    So I would recommend that as an option if the set up challenges intimidate anyone.
     
  16. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    Anyone here have a cleaning lady? We never have, but I want one. First person I spoke to, who was a referral from a neighbor, charged $200 for the initial deep clean and $130 per visit (two visits per month). That seems reasonable, but I’m curious what everyone else pays. For reference, our house is 2,700 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths.
     
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  17. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    We do. It is great. We pay $130 weekly, 4100 sq ft, 5 beds, 3.5 baths (3 kids under 6).

    On the conversation above, I have also outsourced the mowing & snow because it got to hard with the aforementioned kids as well work hours and (formerly) work travel for my wife and I. Now I am enjoying the extra space in the garage and may not go back to doing it myself.
     
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  18. blind dog

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    Yes. Kinda felt bad not doing it ourselves but we have 3 messy ass kids and we both work. 3 ladies come every other week and clean about 1.5 -2 hours. We pay them $150 cash and give them Thanksgiving & Christmas bonuses (plus give them a shit ton of clothes). 3500 sq ft, 4 beds 3.5 baths. It would be cheaper if they cleaned every week but that's too much $ for us
     
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  19. 20/20/20/20

    20/20/20/20 running thru the house with a pickle in my mouth
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    What type of cleaning are they doing?
     
  20. kentucky_dawg

    kentucky_dawg Fan of: Georgia
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    So, 1 router and how many access points did you go with? Going to have to cover roughly the same square footage at my next place.
     
  21. kentucky_dawg

    kentucky_dawg Fan of: Georgia
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    Also, what modem do you use with your mesh system?
     
  22. blind dog

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    sweep, mop, vacuum, dust, counters, bathrooms, etc.
     
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  23. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    Basically everything, floor to ceiling. No laundry but just about everything else was included.
     
    #25123 Boo MFer!, Sep 18, 2020
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2020
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  24. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    Do you pre-clean before they come because you don’t want them to think you’re a pig (no pun intended)?
     
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  25. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    that's about what it is for us. similar size house.
     
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  26. blind dog

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    Absolutely. I will admit we are a p messy family and it keeps us in check (me & bae included but especially kids)
     
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  27. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    Also, there's nothing wrong with farming out lawncare, maids etc if you can afford it. I have two young kids and my wife and I both work. I don't mind paying people to do that shit so we can actually enjoy our weekends.

    I don't mind mowing but I absolutely loathe weed eating and leaf pickup. I used to handle it and I would spend 3-4 hours on a weekend handling all the leaves in the fall. Then I come inside and my wife is annoyed that she's been chasing the kids around all morning. No thanks. I pay $100 a month to not even have to think about that shit and I would pay more if I needed to.
     
  28. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    We generally pick things up so that her time isn’t wasted putting toys, utensils, etc away. It’s also better that way because if I forget things get put in places where I can’t find them.
     
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  29. 20/20/20/20

    20/20/20/20 running thru the house with a pickle in my mouth
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    I have 3 total units (router + 2 AP). My router is on our main floor (plugged into the modem) and I have an access point in the 2nd story and one in the basement.

    Modem was provided by CenturyLink (we have fiber internet through them).
     
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  30. blind dog

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    The cleaner we have it the better job they are able to do and you can tell. Every other Wednesday I usually spend my lunch break speed cleaning little shit so they have time to really clean

    Nothing makes me happier than coming home to a clean house :ahh:
     
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  31. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    Recently hired new house cleaners who cleaned the outside windows they could reach. Is amazing.
     
  32. gilstein21

    gilstein21 Tight Rip 26 Seal Right
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    Same and it has been great
     
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  33. momux

    momux AFAM Scholar
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    Anyone have advice on accepting an offer backed by a VA loan? I’ve heard horror stories but also read online things maybe aren’t as bad as they used to be.
     
  34. comrade static

    comrade static i love french fries
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    If you need to sell quick (35ish days or less) and have a non va loan offer, I would take that offer if it is close.
     
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  35. Johnny Utah

    Johnny Utah Vaya con Dios, Brah
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    We just sold our house to a VA loan and it was not the best experience. If you have other options I would explore them.
     
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  36. momux

    momux AFAM Scholar
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    had a very competitive VA loan come in D1 on market and rejected it because of the stigma but haven’t had much traction since.

    Appreciate both the feedback.
     
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  37. Slim

    Slim Well-Known Member
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    Ripped out the drop ceiling in my basement with the intention of putting in drywall and new lights. Probably a dumb question, but should I bring in the electrician first to look at it before I get a drywall guy? Or just rock it and have the electrician run wires after?
     
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  38. Matt Foley

    Matt Foley RIP EARL
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    Bring in an electrician. It'll be easier/cheaper to run everything before the ceiling goes up.

    Also, with a drop ceiling, you can put junction boxes wherever you want because everything is accessible. But if you leave any boxes up there and rock over it, that's a code violation.
     
  39. BasementCrew22

    BasementCrew22 Well-Known Member
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    Okay boys, installing trim in the basement before carpet is laid. How much space do you leave between the baseboard and the flooring for the carpet and pad to be tucked into/under? Internet seems pretty split between a half inch and inch.
     
  40. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    I've always thought 1/2 inch was standard
     
  41. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    I think an inch if it were 1980. Half inch for 2020.
     
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  42. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, half inch is standard
     
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  43. NineteenNine

    NineteenNine Divers are, in fact, wankers. It's science.
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    it's awesome and super easy to set up. love it.
     
  44. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    this is your reminder to take apart your dryer and vacuum out all the lint and dust once a year. my samsung quit heating and it's because the inside was caked in lint. seriously filled up my whole trash bag with lint/dust that were all over the fan and drum. the dryer came with the house and we only moved in a few months ago, but i guarantee it had never been cleaned.
     
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  45. Imurhuckleberry

    Imurhuckleberry Avid spectator of windmill warriors
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    Looking at prices on cabinets and I'm just trying to figure out how these fancy bookcases cost so fucking much?
     
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  46. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    it’s not that bad, tougher on appraisals
     
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  47. 20/20/20/20

    20/20/20/20 running thru the house with a pickle in my mouth
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    What do you mean by take apart? Where was the extra lint and dust? Did you actually take it all down to parts?
     
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  48. southlick

    southlick "Better Than You"
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    I did this several months ago and there is a cover on the back of the dryer that you take off to access the lint trap.

    edit: this was for an older whirlpool. Not sure on newer models.

    That big silver thing she's pointing at was similar to mine.
    [​IMG]
     
    #25148 southlick, Sep 21, 2020
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2020
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  49. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    it depends on the brand but just google "your brand+dryer deep clean" and a million videos will show up of people removing just mounds and mounds of dust/lint/hair etc. It's pretty gross, especially when it's mostly not your family's mess.

    It's a fairly simple job of just removing the front or back metal panel on your machine. You can get the job done completely in less than 30 minutes with a screwdriver and a vacuum.
     
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  50. 20/20/20/20

    20/20/20/20 running thru the house with a pickle in my mouth
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    Ok, thanks. Ours are only 2 years old and we bought them brand new when we moved in so at least it will all be ours.
     
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