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. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    I’m sorry to say it appears your inspection missed the major issue.
     
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  2. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Right now our laundry/storage room is in the back of our house. It’s approximately 250sf, so we’re looking at adding a 150sf to the space and create a separate laundry room and another living room area (no plumbing additions/moves).

    We have three contractors coming out for bids, but trying to get an idea of what I’m looking at cost wise. Google says additions run anywhere from $80-200/sf but does anyone have any experience with doing something similar?
     
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  3. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    Sight unseen I'd guess you'll be well closer to $200/sq/ft than $80 (ridiculously low, imo). Decide which contractor you like the best, and have a conversation with them about how to maximize your efficiency. It can be as simple (depending on your parameters) as adjusting the size of the addition to something that works better with materials (increments of 4', typically). Again, much of this is based on your specific situation. Happy to try and help if you have questions along the way.
     
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  4. Lip

    Lip Maybe fuck yourself
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    Would you expect similar pricing for rebuilding a 3 or 4 season sun room?

    a guy came out and suggested tearing out the 14 casement windows and the existing plastic roof and basically rebuilding everything from the concrete below the windows with new double sliding windows and an aluminum panel roof. He said one option he priced out is about $29k.

    Here’s photos for reference

    E1C1A2F1-E854-4596-920F-3F8730B157FA.jpeg
    ED58BFC9-9424-4CC9-8104-36B21750C69E.jpeg
     
  5. Funshot Residue

    Funshot Residue Mammoth Stabber
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    Could be. I have zero experience with either the windows or roofing system you referenced. Windows and doors make up a larger and larger portion of the total cost of a project these days, and you'd have 50% or more of that quote in windows using what I am familiar with.
     
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  6. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    Auburn TigersAtlanta Braves

    My neighbor’s home got broken into a few weeks ago. It appears they are having a normal healthy reaction by building a ten foot tall fence to cut off access to the back of their yard from the front of the house. City ordinance is a front facing fence can’t be taller than 6 feet so I cannot wait for an inspector to come across this
     
  7. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    There is probably a phone number you can call to help speed that inspection up
     
  8. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    Auburn TigersAtlanta Braves

    It’s not going to negatively impact me apart from looking hilarious. I thought about saying something but think anything this stupid needs to reach completion
     
  9. dump

    dump The Revolution Will Be Televised
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    No one likes a snitch
     
  10. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    I'm trying to imagine how mad I'd be about paying for a big ass fence and then being forced to tear it down. Maybe an all-timer
     
  11. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    Yeah for sure let him spend the money and time first before you watch him tear it down.
     
  12. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    K
     
  13. goblue31602

    goblue31602 Well-Known Member
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    I was serious. If he's going to do something that hilariously against code he deserves it.
     
    One Two likes this.
  14. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    Ha! Yeah it’s funny they just texted me unprovoked and said “did not realize the fence was going to be this tall” to which I replied “did your guy pull a permit?” and they just said “no”

    :laugh:
     
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  15. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    My cheap ass would be out there with a reciprocating saw to trim that puppy up
     
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  16. Tommy Jefferson

    Tommy Jefferson Well-Known Member
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    If they didn’t pull a permit, they likely weren’t especially reputable in the first place but I’d point some blame at the installer for not knowing what code is in a given area.
     
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  17. Stone Cold Steve Austin

    Stone Cold Steve Austin Tickler Extraordinaire
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    Didn’t realize how tall 10’ is.
     
  18. B-Boy $P1

    B-Boy $P1 Ball-knower, Poster, Trusted Agent
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    Just put basketball hoops up all around it
     
  19. Carl Brutananadilewski

    Carl Brutananadilewski do what now?
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    Maybe he knew the code and didn’t give a shit because he wanted the work?
     
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  20. Imurhuckleberry

    Imurhuckleberry Avid spectator of windmill warriors
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    I believe it’s 1.800.imkaren.
     
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  21. Imurhuckleberry

    Imurhuckleberry Avid spectator of windmill warriors
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    Is this shit regulation?
    upload_2023-6-20_6-13-19.png

    Talk about getting lemons and making lemonade. Back yard hoops for summer 23!
     
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  22. ramszoolander

    ramszoolander Guess what? Vulcan butt!
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    This is amazing. Tell him to put it up on Nextdoor and do nearby neighborhoods so that I can laugh. Also...

    [​IMG]
     
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  23. Jigga

    Jigga Ty Webb is a mean person
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    Noticed our water heater leaking and the top starting to rust.

    Got 2 quotes and it’s roughly $2000 more to do a natural gas tankless heater. Based on the math it should save $250ish a year.

    Has anyone made the switch before? Does it make sense?
     
    One Two likes this.
  24. ramszoolander

    ramszoolander Guess what? Vulcan butt!
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    I got gunshy because we don't have a generator, and if the power goes out, I want hot water. Otherwise they make a lot of sense if you're OK with the up-front investment. Just don't buy the weird hybrid ones. Plumbers tell me those are a nightmare and not reliable.
     
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  25. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    Ran into 2 dealbreakers when I researched the switch, but I do have an older home that may not create the same problem for you.
    • I needed 2 (have 2 tanked now).
    • It was going to require running new electrical to both locations.
    It was going to run me $10k or so, when I could get 2 50 gallon tanks installed for like a 3rd of the price.
     
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  26. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    Don’t forget that you move into a new house every 6 months so it is pretty fucking hard for you to reap any long term benefits that require initially higher buy-ins.
     
  27. Duck70

    Duck70 Let's just do it and be legends, man
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    Oregon Ducks

    I looked at switching to NG tankless but didnt pull the trigger because
    1. The upfront cost was substantial
    2. The newer electric ones are much more efficient than the older ones, thus minimizing potential yearly energy savings by switching to NG
    3. Co2 and methane Emissions played a role in my decisions as well. 85% of my electricity is clean hydro power.
     
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  28. ramszoolander

    ramszoolander Guess what? Vulcan butt!
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    Jigga I meant to mention this. You might see about incentives and if the power company is subsidizing things to the point that the electric is a better choice.
     
  29. Jigga

    Jigga Ty Webb is a mean person
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    The only thing we’ve found is $675 to switch to tankless
     
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  30. DriveByBBQ

    DriveByBBQ Well-Known Member
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    There was literally a bucket collecting rain water in my attic that wasn’t flagged.
     
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  31. One Two

    One Two Hot Dog Vibes
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    Bucket was doing its job no problems there
     
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  32. ramszoolander

    ramszoolander Guess what? Vulcan butt!
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    This is why I've always insisted on going along, even when it was something that scared me. I'm not hovering, but yeah, I'm there.
     
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  33. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    What do you have against rain collection systems? Hate the environment or something?
     
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  34. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    we just had to replace our water heater. We got raked because ours went out and we needed it done ASAP, but the quote for installing propane tankless was almost 5k more than the already outrageous electric tank.
     
  35. g8r

    g8r Well-Known Member
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    Just wait until you get out on a three part power bill and you get billed for demand.
     
  36. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also a robot
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    Who knows how to size an AC capacitor
     
  37. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    I'd just read the stamps on the existing one
     
  38. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also a robot
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    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    It’s 70+10uF 440V.

    problem is that ace hardware doesn’t carry that so I’m wanting to figure out how to double check. I’ve already called an HVAC repair place so I’m just fucked I think.
     
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  39. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    You got a grainger near by?

    Or
    70 + 10 x 370/440 VAC Round Dual Run Capacitor by Jard # 12869 https://a.co/d/9jZVuWQ
     
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  40. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also a robot
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    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    Unfortunately no. The supply shop the HVAC company uses is closed today too lol.
     
  41. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also a robot
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    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    Compressor is locked up. House is 10 years old. It’s a 4 ton unit, online sizing guides suggest that a 5 ton is more appropriate for my house but no idea if the rest of the hvac can accommodate. Gonna have to decide if I want to fuck my wallet hard or really hard.
     
    #36741 Name P. Redacted, Jun 24, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2023
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  42. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    Just saw the interest rates for the new place. doubled from 2021 :roll:
     
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  43. Lip

    Lip Maybe fuck yourself
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    aren’t you already under contract?
     
  44. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    Yeah. We just didn't get the numbers until everything was agreed to
     
  45. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    All of the outlets in our laundry room (besides the washer and dryer) are out. I checked the breaker box and nothing was tripped. Turned all of them off anyways and then back on, no luck.

    anything else I should do before calling the electrician?
     
  46. southlick

    southlick "Better Than You"
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    Are any of them a GFCI outlet?
    [​IMG]
     
  47. pez

    pez Competent
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    and check for these on other rooms. We have some weird rooms on the same circuit
     
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  48. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    And make sure you check behind furniture. Have one in our bathroom behind a 8 foot tall cabinet that has only been moved one time in it's life. That one time was when an electrician moved it to find the GFI. Hasn't been moved since.
     
  49. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
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    Is there a certain formula you should use to calculate dwelling coverage? Got two quotes - one came in at more than $100k under the purchase and the other at $100k over the purchase. Seems like it should be much lower, right?
     
  50. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also a robot
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    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    You’ve bought like 8 houses in the last 5 years shouldn’t you be the expert
     
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