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. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Looking for a rug for the newly finished basement. Mostly going in between the couch and the tv and be somewhat covered by a coffee table. Young kids and a dog who may pee on it.

    Thinking about a Ruggable rug which can be washed. Anybody have experience with them? Regular vs. cushioned?

    Other rug recs?
     
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  2. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    Have a couple ruggable ones and like them a lot. Nice to be able to wash them as we have a 3 year old and a dog.
     
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  3. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    We have several Ruggables due to dogs and kid and love them. The tv room rug gets wash weekly due to usage and needing to keep it clean for Levi to play on and it looks just as good as when we bought it 4 months ago.

    I wholly endorse their product and am not a paid actor.
     
    #27003 a.tramp, Feb 13, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2021
  4. Boom TittyMilk

    Boom TittyMilk User Formerly known as Big R
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    Gonna have to look up this ruggable
     
  5. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Send me a free 8’x10’ sample when you can walk outside without your nipples freezing off
     
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  6. Imurhuckleberry

    Imurhuckleberry Avid spectator of windmill warriors
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    Anybody in here a builder or have any experience building on angled rock?

    We are moving away from the builder we expected to use but are struggling to find builders in the area with skills beyond building on flat ground.
     
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  7. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    I am a builder and have built on partial rock. You're going to need engineering. You already own the lot and have plans selected?

    Also, worst case, prepare for not being able to build there. Very rare, but I have seen sites refused. I've also seen houses move, so perhaps more should be refused. Building on rock can be tricky and expensive.
     
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  8. Degausser

    Degausser #NewProfilePic
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    They're dope. We have three of them. Here's our dog modeling one.

    IMG_13022021_164057_(800_x_1000_pixel).jpg
     
  9. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Two questions:

    1. How hard / how expensive is it to move a 4-foot retaining wall back 10 feet? See picture below.
    86ABAA6D-494C-4EF4-AA2B-0462B2A8E545.png
    2. How hard or expensive is it to level / grade a 1/8-1/4 acre of land that has some very small rolling hills. Example below, but there are no trees in the area.
    06C18446-8925-4B59-B6FC-0C493AA54B96.png
     
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  10. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    Retaining walls can get pretty pricey depending on size and area.

    I can't speak to grading that much land, but a lot will depend on what you're using the land for afterwards. Just grading it out with a bobcat probably wouldn't be that awful, but depending on the landscaping needs and how much dirt you'll need hauled in the price will rise.
     
  11. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    when you say dicey you mean cost wise or being able to actually do it?

    We’re thinking about pulling the trigger on that house, but wife is insisting on having a flat area for the kids. So not looking to anything crazy with the land.
     
  12. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    this looks expensive
     
  13. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    Well for starters, if you take that wall back that far you’re gonna be threatening the roots on those trees. If you do that you could have a tree on your house down the road. Idk the grade of that hill behind the wall, but that 4’ wall might end up being an 8’ wall before all is said and done. I just think that’s gonna be expensive as hell.
     
  14. Tommy Jefferson

    Tommy Jefferson Well-Known Member
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    My girlfriend casually told me there was no water coming out of one of our sinks this morning. Temperatures have been hovering around zero for about a week now. I immediately assumed the pipe was frozen and got to work with a space heater and hair dryer. Four hours later I was ready to give up and call a plumber.

    This is when my stubbornness kicked in. Drilled a hole through the base of the cabinet, filled the subfloor with some hot air, and had running water in 20 minutes.

    Damn it feels good to fix something just before calling the professionals.
     
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  15. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    Do you have PEX plumbing? If that’s PBU, prayers up.
     
  16. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    My backyard is at a big angle. I was playing soccer with my 4 year old today and I can tell it’s gonna suck when they are older. The previous owner had an old driveway ripped out and laid the sod himself. He did a pretty bad job overall as the yard is bumpy as hell with random holes. I’ve thought about having a crew come out and smooth it out but I have no clue how much it would cost.
     
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  17. Tommy Jefferson

    Tommy Jefferson Well-Known Member
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    As far as I know it’s PEX. I’m not sure what PBU is though...
     
  18. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    It’s shit. Polybutylene. I guess PB is the abbreviation.
     
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  19. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Got it. We’re just looking for a potential patio space, so that side may be a better option.

    we have a slanted yard right now and it’s my wife’s pet peeve. This place has 2 acres, so I’m trying to figure out if leveling out a small bit of it (possibly off to the side that is already decently flat) is even feasible. It checks all the other boxes and we will ideally be staying there for 20+ years so I’m fine dumping money in if that’s the case.
     
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  20. Imurhuckleberry

    Imurhuckleberry Avid spectator of windmill warriors
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    As someone who was once a kid hills are way more fun than flat areas.
     
    #27020 Imurhuckleberry, Feb 14, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2021
  21. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    I agree. Plus it’s 2 acres. If I can find a way to compromise it I will.
     
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  22. thunderstruck

    thunderstruck I'm a Boss

    Came to post this. No water upstairs, but all is fine down stairs.

    Is a space heater the best route? The googles advised against that.

    about to go crawl around the attic and see what I can find.
     
  23. Jake Barnes

    Jake Barnes Team Mac OG
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    Got a new Whirlpool fridge with a water dispenser...approximately how much water am I going to need to dump to clear out the valves?

    Probably done about two gallons so far.
     
  24. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    I think the recommendation is 2 gallons and 2 full loads of ice. At least that's what my fridge recommended.
     
  25. Tommy Jefferson

    Tommy Jefferson Well-Known Member
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    We used a space heater and a hair dryer. The hair dryer definitely was more efficient if you can get to the pipe but the space heater isn’t going to hurt, especially if you can close doors in the bathroom to keep heat concentrated.

    My biggest tip is start closer to the faucet and work back from there.

    Good luck
     
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  26. Duck70

    Duck70 Let's just do it and be legends, man
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    Spend your time and money on the retaining wall. Grating out that much land will cost thousands and you lawn will be completely torn up for at least a year
     
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  27. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    anyone have experience with American Family Insurance for homeowners? they're who does our buildings master policy and seems like lots of people go through them for their personal policies as well

    went through the process with USAA but trying to get theirs to match what the HOA recommends through the master policy is not easy, seems very paint by numbers and the person I spoke to from them didn't seem to understand everything or even be able to make the adjustments I wanted.
     
  28. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    I actually have my Home and Auto through American Family Insurance via Costco. I haven't had to file any claims as of yet, but the bundled price of the policies I have is about as low as I've seen for our area, and customer service has been fantastic anytime I have had questions.
     
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  29. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    It's not always the cheapest, (but it's still pretty competitive) but Cincinnati Insurance is by far the best I've seen as far as handling you when you have a claim. They have essentially determined that it's cheaper for them to just pay claims than it is to fight them like some of the big name insurance companies. And yes they're called Cincinnati Insurance but you can get it nationwide.
     
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  30. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    yeah this guy halved my homeowners quote (in reality part of that is my fault for being unable to get USAA's policy to match our HOA's master policy, but still a huge discount on top of that fix)

    think i'll end up doing home/auto/umbrella through this outfit, the combo discounts are a lot higher than USAA's. maybe one day i'll be able to extricate myself from USAA banking now.

    this insurance stuff seems unnecessarily complicated
     
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  31. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    do you use Know Your Drive?

    seems suspect but 10% discount is good bait
     
  32. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    I bundle home/auto through USAA and they are fantastic. THey have been very easy to deal with through my bathroom pipe claim and sent the money almost immediately. they aren't the cheapest but it's well worth it.

    The current project is almost done. this weather has held them up, but i'm looking forward to posting pictures of my new (almost free) bathroom remodel.
     
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  33. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Not that particular one, but I've used similar apps previously with different insurance companies. There's essentially no downside, but prepared to be pissed when the app tells you about all the "hard stops" you have, and cuts your discount.
     
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  34. Barves2125

    Barves2125 "Ready to drive the Ferarri" - Reuben Foster
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    Be advised! Interest rates are getting worse and worse. Moving back towards where they used to be before COVID possibly. If you're shopping rates right now and can still lock something you're comfortable with then you should probably do it immediately.
     
    #27035 Barves2125, Feb 16, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2021
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  35. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    After an hour on the phone and three people they figured out my concern, the loss assessment coverage was really low in the contract, but was amended like 60 pages later. Cool method USAA.

    Sticking with USAA it seems, Amfams reviews are horrendous about being cheap and cutting corners.
     
  36. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    My wife has actually checked that one out, I want more land though.

    We went and saw the one I really want again yesterday. She axed it saying the living room is too small (her original issue was the land). We have now looked at every house available in the greater Salem area so we're just sitting around waiting for houses to hit the market while prices rise. It sucks.
     
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  37. Simon Templar

    Simon Templar Well-Known Member
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    Thanks again for your help
     
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  38. Barves2125

    Barves2125 "Ready to drive the Ferarri" - Reuben Foster
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    Anytime. Hope you locked it in already!
     
  39. THF

    THF BITE THE NUTS, THUMB IN THE ASS!
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    Anyone have any solid recommendations for portable generators???
     
  40. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    No, but i have advice for a whole home generator if you go that route.
     
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  41. THF

    THF BITE THE NUTS, THUMB IN THE ASS!
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    It probably depends on how cold it gets tonight which direction I go...

    For damn sure going to wire up a transfer switch once everything in Texas calms down at least for a portable one.
     
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  42. Simon Templar

    Simon Templar Well-Known Member
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    We did. Appreciated all the insight
     
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  43. Duck70

    Duck70 Let's just do it and be legends, man
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    Get yourself a pen and paper and propose knocking down some walls to make that living room bigger. If you really want it, show her how it could work.
     
  44. Duck70

    Duck70 Let's just do it and be legends, man
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    We just got one a few days ago, its pretty great tbh. The dog loves it.

    Screen Shot 2021-02-16 at 8.26.18 PM.png
     
  45. lfriend

    lfriend Well-Known Member
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    I went with a cheap Blackmax one from Sam's Club.

    Bought it for like $200 on BF years ago and it works well enough to provide some heat and run the fridge.
     
  46. NC Wolfpack

    NC Wolfpack Go Pack Go
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    We bought one a few months back and 30 days in one of our dogs nails caught the side and pulled up some of the fabric. Sent a picture to ruggable and they sent us a brand new cover and we got to keep the original. Our ruggable is under furniture which makes washing it a pain, but we are big fans of the rug and their customer service.
     
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  47. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    You may be able to just have it top dressed and that would smooth it out nicely
     
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  48. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    if I did that she would find something else wrong with it.
     
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  49. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
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    I got stuck in the driveway today, had to shovel my way out. I now want a snow blower. Two-Stage sounds like the way to go, but I like cheap options.

    Edit: I should add that our driveway is gravel, so Two-Stage is a must so I can adjust the auger height.
     
    #27050 ButchCassidy, Feb 17, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2021
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