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. je ne suis pas ici

    je ne suis pas ici Well-Known Member
    Donor

    #1 je ne suis pas ici, May 4, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 29, 2021
  2. High Cotton

    High Cotton Where does this fall in our Christian walk?
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    Sounds high for retail, but my sense is a bit skewed since I have my sub-contractors and maintenance managers do things for me.

    That said, I'm about to buy my rental house and want to improve the landscaping. What are good bushes and shrubs for the front lawn? How about small trees which can provide more privacy in the back along the fence?

    double RL
     
  3. lhprop1

    lhprop1 Fullsterkur
    Staff Donor
    Minnesota Golden Gophers

    Depends on the model, the installer, and where you live. Shop it around and see how big of a difference in price there is.

    Home expenses for month of April:
    New Kinetico water softener: $4k
    New windows: $4500
    New lawn mower: $350
    Driveway resurfacing: $250
    Carpet cleaning: $250

    And we'll be dropping about $500 on annuals, mulch, and other lawn/landscaping miscellany in the next few weeks. We're fucking hemorrhaging money right now. Oof.
     
  4. lhprop1

    lhprop1 Fullsterkur
    Staff Donor
    Minnesota Golden Gophers

    Depends on your hardiness zone, soil type, the amount of sun each area receives, and how much space you have to work with.
     
  5. Cheshire Bridge

    Cheshire Bridge 2017 & 2019 National Champions - Clemson Tigers
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesTiger WoodsCollege Football Playoff

    Yep. That's pretty normal. I had mine replaced 3 months ago. Got a Rheem. I had a homeowners policy but still had to pay about 375 for non covered piping updates. $700 was what it would've cost without insurance and piping.
     
    dump, double RL and Swim Cantore like this.
  6. je ne suis pas ici

    je ne suis pas ici Well-Known Member
    Donor

    i figure might as well do it now, wanna resell the house in 6-7 years so it had to be done eventually, and since mine currently is so damn old i probably will recoup the savings in energy costs with a new unit over that same time period.
     
  7. Cheshire Bridge

    Cheshire Bridge 2017 & 2019 National Champions - Clemson Tigers
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesTiger WoodsCollege Football Playoff

    Bought the Congressional estate for $169k with $10k down. House is now worth about $180k. Yesssssssssss
     
  8. slogan119

    slogan119 Her?
    Donor TMB OG
    Florida State SeminolesChicago CubsReal Madrid

    One of our neighbors just put her house on the market. Size is approximately the same, but with 1 less BR, not on a corner lot, her garage is detached, and a few other things that make it less desirable than ours. She's asking $10K over what we paid 5 years ago, and I'm really hoping she gets it.
     
  9. shawnoc

    shawnoc My president is black, my logos are red...
    Donor TMB OG
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsNew Jersey DevilsNew York Red BullsLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim

    Garage, back stairs, and patio just got demolished.
    New garage going in later this summer.
    New patio and stairs going in next week.
     
    HuskerInMiami likes this.
  10. double RL

    double RL old school
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    If you are buying around Atlanta, crape myrtles are as easy as it gets for the back. In a rental stay away from any higher maintenance shrubs. Stick to boxwoods, Arborvitae, Indian Hawthorne, lorapetelum, and cleyera. Drift roses and knock outs are hardy and provide color w/o excessive maintenance. Besides crape myrtle, crabapple trees are nice and hardy. They grow fast, as do maples.
     
  11. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    Nest and automated LED lights are working awesome for both my peace of mind and costs while I'm gone. When I finally get some time home in June going to replace the mulch and plants on my back patio with some stone/crushed gravel combo to have a bigger area.

    Thought about going with a tankless water heater but I'm gone so much I'm not sure if it's worth it.
     
  12. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    My parents did some kind of fir trees for privacy along the side of their property line. Those fucking things grew like weeds and you have the benefit of no leaves to rake. I may be partial since they kind of look like over grown Christmas trees though.
     
    High Cotton likes this.
  13. double RL

    double RL old school
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    Leyland cypress?
     
    texasraider likes this.
  14. One Knight

    One Knight https://www.twitch.tv/thatrescueguy
    Donor
    UCF KnightsTampa Bay LightningBig 12 Conference

    has anyone done a gravel patio before? Do I need to put road base/leveling sand down before the gravel, like you would for a paver patio?
     
  15. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    Google image tells me those look very similar to what they have. Not the narrow kind though, the fuller looking ones.

    And one Magnolia tree that has to be the slowest growing thing on the planet lol.
     
    dump, Swim Cantore and double RL like this.
  16. Festus McBadass

    Festus McBadass Cool ass dog and 5 star recruit
    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsAtlanta United

    Bought my house in September for $210k. Put $45k down. House is now worth $275k after my renovations and increases in the housing market. $100k equity after 8 months is pretty sweet.
     
  17. The Banks

    The Banks TMB's Alaskan
    Donor TMB OG
    Oregon DucksGreen Bay PackersDetroit Red WingsBayern Munich

    Glad this thread was rebooted
     
    Caga palo and Rabid like this.
  18. High Cotton

    High Cotton Where does this fall in our Christian walk?
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    Boxwoods and crepe myrtles were the two I had in mind. After I move out, I'll keep the house as a rental.
     
  19. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    I'm pretty jealous of you right now. I have no idea what my house is worth right now.

    And I'm still gonna hire you to do renovations lol.
     
  20. One Knight

    One Knight https://www.twitch.tv/thatrescueguy
    Donor
    UCF KnightsTampa Bay LightningBig 12 Conference

    we bought ours at 172, thinking its worth between 190 and 200 right now.
    we put a new roof on, turned the garage back to working status, took down a wall to open the kitchen to the living room, etc.
     
  21. Frank Martin

    Frank Martin tough love makes better posters
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksBaltimore OriolesBaltimore RavensLiverpool

    I may be wrong but I thought a tankless would be better if you're gone a lot. Wouldn't a tank constantly be heating water you're not using?
     
    HuskerInMiami likes this.
  22. JohnnyChimpo

    JohnnyChimpo This man, Lenny Pepperidge, AKA Lenny the Pep...
    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersCleveland BrownsCrystal PalaceCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansPGAGrateful DeadNebraska Cornhuskers alt

    Just buying a house right now... looking to close on Friday. What home insurance do you guys use/recommend?
     
  23. Festus McBadass

    Festus McBadass Cool ass dog and 5 star recruit
    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsAtlanta United

    I'm too old for this shit
     
  24. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    Normally I would guess so but since it's just me in the house I shut off the valve to the hot water heater and the main shut off to the house when I leave. There shouldn't be any water heating going on. But I'm no plumber so that may be wrong.

    A tankless would be more about convenience and resale for me.
     
    HuskerInMiami likes this.
  25. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    I'll provide liquor though.
     
  26. Big Meech

    Big Meech I like turtles
    Donor
    Clemson TigersJacksonville Jaguars

    Got back our appraisal for our refi. We are up about 50% of our purchase price from seven years ago.
     
  27. Cheshire Bridge

    Cheshire Bridge 2017 & 2019 National Champions - Clemson Tigers
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesTiger WoodsCollege Football Playoff

    Cheapest of the big name brand ones.
     
    Rumpus StillStiff likes this.
  28. JohnnyChimpo

    JohnnyChimpo This man, Lenny Pepperidge, AKA Lenny the Pep...
    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersCleveland BrownsCrystal PalaceCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansPGAGrateful DeadNebraska Cornhuskers alt

    Checking Progressive, All State, State Farm, Esurance and Nationwide
     
  29. CUAngler

    CUAngler Royale with Cheese
    Donor TMB OG
    Clemson TigersAtlanta Braves

    If you are shutting off the water valve to the hot water heater, then the heating elements are still going to be running. You should either go tankless or you can turn the thermostats on the elements down so the water isn't getting as hot.
     
    Jax Teller likes this.
  30. Ironmike

    Ironmike If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong
    Donor

    This is a good spot for this question. Last summer I paid off a condo I own in MI, which is great because if all hell breaks loose I figure I'll at least have a place to crash. After 15+ years I'm moving out of Florida back to MI and my thought was to sell my home here and either buy outright or put 75% down on a townhouse or something. Has anyone done metrics on using the banks money vs. just owning outright?
     
  31. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    Sounds like tankless is what I need to do then.
     
  32. CUAngler

    CUAngler Royale with Cheese
    Donor TMB OG
    Clemson TigersAtlanta Braves

    Anyone know anything about propane/natural gas dryers? The reading I've done says that the cost of having a gas line run to the utility room can offset the savings gained in efficiency. I've already got a gas line running to my hot water heater about 5 feet over, so there shouldn't be much cost involved in hooking it up. Is there a noticeable benefit to having one?
     
    ramszoolander likes this.
  33. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    So now I'm looking at tankless ones. Speak to me of what specs I should be looking at. Both showers are upstairs while the water heater is downstairs, and I despise running out of hot water when I'm home.
     
  34. George Costanza

    George Costanza It's not a lie if you believe it
    Florida GatorsPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia 76'ersPhiladelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Flyers

    Bought my ATL condo for $152K in foreclosure. Closing in under 3 weeks at $220K. Heck of an investment for straight out of college.

    Moving to Colorado and I'm sure I am going to feel poor really quick with how hot the housing market is out there compared to Atlanta.
     
    dump and High Cotton like this.
  35. Rejuvenal

    Rejuvenal Member
    Donor TMB OG
    Nebraska CornhuskersUtah JazzNew Orleans Saints

    Check out Amica. They are nearly half the price of the more we'll known companies for me. One of the better companies to deal with as well. When you bundle, car insurance is also pretty reasonable.
     
  36. tigr2ndbase

    tigr2ndbase Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Mississippi State Bulldogs

    Just put the down payment on a lot in viera, fl. First time building. Looking forward to the process. Expected move in is April 2016. Going either this weekend or next to pick out colors, cabinets, granite, etc. I'll try to post pics along the process.
     
    HuskerInMiami and Rabid like this.
  37. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    Man I'm not sure if I could wait that long. The anticipation would kill me.
     
  38. tigr2ndbase

    tigr2ndbase Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Mississippi State Bulldogs

    It will. I'm hoping as involved in the process as we'll be along with seeing it slowly come together will help. Also, I'm looking at it as the longer it takes them to build, the more money I can save.
     
  39. Cheshire Bridge

    Cheshire Bridge 2017 & 2019 National Champions - Clemson Tigers
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesTiger WoodsCollege Football Playoff

    I was considering tankless, but got an efficient showerhead. Doubled the length of shower time.
     
  40. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    I wonder can a tankless force more hot water out. I'd like more pressure out of my shower head.

    And bigger toilets, the seats on the ones with the house are for midgets I swear.
     
  41. Frank Martin

    Frank Martin tough love makes better posters
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksBaltimore OriolesBaltimore RavensLiverpool

    Buying when the marker collapsed was the best possible scenario. That's a great return.
     
    GatorGuy822 likes this.
  42. 3NolesFan3

    3NolesFan3 There's no cure for being a cunt
    Donor TMB OG

    Closing this week or next week on our new home. The appraisal came back $12,000 more than what we are paying so that's nice.

    Just went and bought a new washer and dryer, dropped $4,000 on a zero turn Hustler, and then went and got new living room furniture and new kitchen table/dinging room set.

    Going to have to finish the basement. Can't decide if I want to drywall it or not though. Going to put a wood dropped ceiling in. Think those white tiles you see in stores and what not, but instead they are wood tiles. Looks pretty bad ass.

    Landscaping will be ridiculous. I'm a nazi about my grass and plants. And having 3.0 acres is going to kill me not doing treatment on all of it like I am accostumed to doing in town. I measured it out. If I wanted to do Scotts, it would be $500 per treatment. Not a chance in hell. Going to have to focus on just the front area and around the house and say fuck it with the rest.

    Hopefully we sell ours soon. Would like to not have to sit on it for too long.
     
    HuskerInMiami likes this.
  43. slogan119

    slogan119 Her?
    Donor TMB OG
    Florida State SeminolesChicago CubsReal Madrid

    No. Call an independent agent and check his options. Those companies charge you for their ads, in addition to your coverage.
     
  44. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
    Donor
    Texas RangersKansas City ChiefsDallas Mavericks altTexas Tech Red Raiders alt

    I planted three Leyland Cypress trees and one little gem magnolia about a month ago. Just compared pictures and the Leyland's have already grown at least 6" and filled out tremendously
     
  45. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsNashville SC

    Yea my parents planted all of them at the same time. The Cyprus are 20ft at least I bet now and full. The magnolia might be 10ft if it's lucky lol.
     
  46. Irish226

    Irish226 Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Are you doing some of the work yourself?
     
  47. tigr2ndbase

    tigr2ndbase Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Mississippi State Bulldogs

    No. I helped my brother build his house and got enough of the process during that time. Just picking everything out and someone else is taking care of it all.
     
  48. BobLoblaw

    BobLoblaw I'm not here to talk nonsense
    Donor
    Florida GatorsMiami Marlins

    closing on my first house this week or next. Appraised for more than purchase price feelsgood.
     
  49. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
    Donor
    Florida GatorsTampa Bay RaysJacksonville JaguarsTampa Bay Buccaneers

    Anyone ever purchase a home and get a home equity line of credit at purchase to use for remodeling?
     
  50. arrdub

    arrdub Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Speak to me of this. Asphalt? Concrete? What condition? What did you do?
     
    HuskerInMiami likes this.