Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2012 16:32:46 GMT -5
Congratulations! Like Cawiau said, don't be in a rush, it takes time to get a house the way you want it! In our case, it took so long (nearly 30 years), it was time to start over LOL! We still need to redo the kitchen (it's literally falling apart) but unless we win the lottery that's not going to happen anytime soon. I'm glad you're getting rid of the paneling though. IMO if you don't do change something you really want to change, you always end up regretting it, even if you can't necessarily choose your ideal, most expensive option. But IMO you wanted to get rid of the paneling, so if you had painted over it instead, it probably would have really bugged you for a LONG time, and in the end, you would have gotten rid of it anyway at some point. IMO it's better to do things more slowly and get them the way you really want them. And it's not because you and DH are not handy now that you both can't get handier. You'll probably find that it's too expensive to pay people to do EVERYTHING you want to do in the house, so at some point, you'll probably both have to find things you are willing to learn to do yourselves. DH can do toilet guts, minor electricity and plumbing, paint and minor woodworking. I garden (I really don't love it). Even before his accident I hired somebody to clear out the higher gutters, then we put gutter guards on everything but the lowest level which is accessible with a stepladder. (DH literally lost a friend in the UK who fell off a ladder while doing his gutters.) Also, DH will paint bedrooms, but not our our LR (too big, and it has a cathedral ceiling) or our stairwells. But he used to do a kid's bedroom in a weekend. At this point we'll probably start hiring more than we used to, largely due to DH's accident. But DH's ability to do those things has saved us a BOATLOAD of money over the past 20 years! It's also a good way to prioritize!
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2012 16:35:09 GMT -5
About the gnome ... We were invited to dinner at DS3's close friend's parents house a few months ago. They had a naked mannequin hidden in the bushes! The mom (who is artistic) said she still hadn't gotten to doing anything with it yet. It looked like a naked dead woman hiding in the bushes!
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on May 17, 2012 8:15:44 GMT -5
Congratulations! Like Cawiau said, don't be in a rush, it takes time to get a house the way you want it! In our case, it took so long (nearly 30 years), it was time to start over LOL! We still need to redo the kitchen (it's literally falling apart) but unless we win the lottery that's not going to happen anytime soon. I'm glad you're getting rid of the paneling though. IMO if you don't do change something you really want to change, you always end up regretting it, even if you can't necessarily choose your ideal, most expensive option. But IMO you wanted to get rid of the paneling, so if you had painted over it instead, it probably would have really bugged you for a LONG time, and in the end, you would have gotten rid of it anyway at some point. IMO it's better to do things more slowly and get them the way you really want them. And it's not because you and DH are not handy now that you both can't get handier. You'll probably find that it's too expensive to pay people to do EVERYTHING you want to do in the house, so at some point, you'll probably both have to find things you are willing to learn to do yourselves. DH can do toilet guts, minor electricity and plumbing, paint and minor woodworking. I garden (I really don't love it). Even before his accident I hired somebody to clear out the higher gutters, then we put gutter guards on everything but the lowest level which is accessible with a stepladder. (DH literally lost a friend in the UK who fell off a ladder while doing his gutters.) Also, DH will paint bedrooms, but not our our LR (too big, and it has a cathedral ceiling) or our stairwells. But he used to do a kid's bedroom in a weekend. At this point we'll probably start hiring more than we used to, largely due to DH's accident. But DH's ability to do those things has saved us a BOATLOAD of money over the past 20 years! It's also a good way to prioritize! I also want to add that it takes a while (a year or more) for a place to grow on me and feel like HOME. So, I refrain from doing anything expensive/extensive/permanent until I get a good feel for how we will use a space, how the light changes during the day and/or during the course of a year, which furniture still works in the new place vs. which clearly needs to be replaced/repainted/refurbished, etc. Those kinds of decisions take time and thought. I think I've saved us a bundle because what I *thought* I wanted in the beginning often changes considerably by the time I am sure about what I want to do. So, take your time and do things that are general in nature and best done when the house is empty (i.e, flooring, popcorn ceilings, plastering, etc.). But, wait on the aesthetic stuff until you've lived in the house for a while. JMHO. YMMV.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on May 17, 2012 8:16:42 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 8:20:52 GMT -5
Congratulations! Like Cawiau said, don't be in a rush, it takes time to get a house the way you want it! In our case, it took so long (nearly 30 years), it was time to start over LOL! We still need to redo the kitchen (it's literally falling apart) but unless we win the lottery that's not going to happen anytime soon. I'm glad you're getting rid of the paneling though. IMO if you don't do change something you really want to change, you always end up regretting it, even if you can't necessarily choose your ideal, most expensive option. But IMO you wanted to get rid of the paneling, so if you had painted over it instead, it probably would have really bugged you for a LONG time, and in the end, you would have gotten rid of it anyway at some point. IMO it's better to do things more slowly and get them the way you really want them. And it's not because you and DH are not handy now that you both can't get handier. You'll probably find that it's too expensive to pay people to do EVERYTHING you want to do in the house, so at some point, you'll probably both have to find things you are willing to learn to do yourselves. DH can do toilet guts, minor electricity and plumbing, paint and minor woodworking. I garden (I really don't love it). Even before his accident I hired somebody to clear out the higher gutters, then we put gutter guards on everything but the lowest level which is accessible with a stepladder. (DH literally lost a friend in the UK who fell off a ladder while doing his gutters.) Also, DH will paint bedrooms, but not our our LR (too big, and it has a cathedral ceiling) or our stairwells. But he used to do a kid's bedroom in a weekend. At this point we'll probably start hiring more than we used to, largely due to DH's accident. But DH's ability to do those things has saved us a BOATLOAD of money over the past 20 years! It's also a good way to prioritize! I also want to add that it takes a while (a year or more) for a place to grow on me and feel like HOME. So, I refrain from doing anything expensive/extensive/permanent until I get a good feel for how we will use a space, how the light changes during the day and/or during the course of a year, which furniture still works in the new place vs. which clearly needs to be replaced/repainted/refurbished, etc. Those kinds of decisions take time and thought. I think I've saved us a bundle because what I *thought* I wanted in the beginning often changes considerably by the time I am sure about what I want to do. So, take your time and do things that are general in nature and best done when the house is empty (i.e, flooring, popcorn ceilings, plastering, etc.). But, wait on the aesthetic stuff until you've lived in the house for a while. JMHO. YMMV. that's what we plan to do. We're just doing basic stuff like painting and flooring right now. DH took today off to do house stuff. He's calling locksmiths for estimates to come change the locks and contractors to get the obsolete sprinkler system removed. Why they had one installed is beyond me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 8:21:29 GMT -5
safety.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 8:24:51 GMT -5
but it's ugly so it has to go.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 17, 2012 8:42:54 GMT -5
Rekeying locks is easy. Try googling instructions first before you spent money on a locksmith.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 8:45:54 GMT -5
we talked about it, and if the locksmith is too expensive we'll just buy a lock set from Home Depot/Lowe's and install it ourselves.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on May 17, 2012 9:34:25 GMT -5
the first thing we have to do is remove some obsolete/unnecessary fixtures. They had a sprinkler system installed for some reason. For the house or the yard? Personally I LOVE my undergroug automatic sprinkelers.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 16:52:47 GMT -5
You should sneak over some night and dress it and place it in a funny spot in the yard. ;D
Oh that idea is just HYSTERICAL!!! Unfortunately we don't know them that well, but more importantly, you can only access their yard through their house. Although I think it's a GREAT idea, I don't see myself breaking into their house one night LOL!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 18:26:08 GMT -5
the first thing we have to do is remove some obsolete/unnecessary fixtures. They had a sprinkler system installed for some reason. For the house or the yard? Personally I LOVE my undergroug automatic sprinkelers. They are inside the house.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 18:32:35 GMT -5
They are inside the house.
I have to admit I was asking myself the same question. HUH?! Why on earth would anybody put a sprinkler system INSIDE a house?!
I can certainly understand you wanting to get rid of it, MJ!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2012 7:15:08 GMT -5
They are inside the house.
I have to admit I was asking myself the same question. HUH?! Why on earth would anybody put a sprinkler system INSIDE a house?! I can certainly understand you wanting to get rid of it, MJ! In the next county over from me, they've been required in new construction for at least the past 10 years that I know of. You get a discount on your homeowner's insurance for having them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2012 7:43:46 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure the sprinkler system doesn't work anymore.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2012 11:57:40 GMT -5
Okay... Over the weekend we ripped out all the carpets and found real wood flooring everywhere but the bathrooms and kitchen. Since they didn't change the carpet the entire time ( ) it was relatively easy to take out. But they put so many damn carpet staples in! DH's family came to help Saturday and Sunday, and we spent like a day and a half picking the staples out with pliers. Then we swept and mopped with Murphy's. We still have the living room to de-staple and clean, but the good news is that the urine smell is pretty much gone. The floors are in bad shape and definitely need to be refinished, so I've been checking out some contractors for that. We're hoping to paint inside this weekend, and I picked out the paint scheme already so it's just a matter of getting the paints and primer. DH is okay with painting the wood paneling in the meantime until we get rid of it - YAY! ;D We move in on June 9th.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on May 21, 2012 19:11:27 GMT -5
In my last apartment, I had working sprinklers that were required by the county at the time the apartments were built.
Hopefully the wood floors will look great once refinished!
Enjoy your new home.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 6:49:41 GMT -5
the insurance company came by to look at the house yesterday. They left a note saying that they will drop our coverage if the driveway, walkway, and shingles aren't fixed in 90 days. The walkway and shingles aren't too bad, but the driveway will need to be dug out and completely replaced. We were told to expect that to be a couple thousand dollars. So much for saving a little money back from the closing....
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 7:17:44 GMT -5
the insurance company came by to look at the house yesterday. They left a note saying that they will drop our coverage if the driveway, walkway, and shingles aren't fixed in 90 days. The walkway and shingles aren't too bad, but the driveway will need to be dug out and completely replaced. We were told to expect that to be a couple thousand dollars. So much for saving a little money back from the closing.... call around and get a new insurance company.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 7:20:52 GMT -5
MJ,
Before you take out that sprinkler system do have a chat with your fire dept. They may convince you to keep the system and let you know how to test it.
I know they aren't pretty but you really should keep it if it works. The City of Scottsdale, AZ requires them to be installed in all new housing. I believe their ordinance has been in effect for over 15 years. Since that time they have NEVER had a house fatality with a home fire that had sprinklers installed. I find that pretty impressive and think that the cost of about $2500 is well worth it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 7:28:11 GMT -5
Bonnap, we're not worrying about the sprinkler system right now, so it's staying. We have a lot to do in a very short window, so we need to focus on that.
Arch, I don't think we're going to get around redoing the driveway.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 7:29:12 GMT -5
Bonnap, we're not worrying about the sprinkler system right now, so it's staying. We have a lot to do in a very short window, so we need to focus on that. Arch, I don't think we're going to get around redoing the driveway. So you really weren't planning on saving the money from closing anyway... ; )
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 7:34:03 GMT -5
well I was until we were told the effing driveway needed to be replaced!!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 7:35:30 GMT -5
well I was until we were told the effing driveway needed to be replaced!!! how bad is it?? It sounds like it is in terrible shape.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 7:54:25 GMT -5
well I was until we were told the effing driveway needed to be replaced!!! how bad is it?? It sounds like it is in terrible shape. there are weeds poking through and large cracks everywhere.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 8:02:12 GMT -5
how bad is it?? It sounds like it is in terrible shape. there are weeds poking through and large cracks everywhere. Weeds poking through and cracks does not sound like an unfix-able, uninsurable driveway. Spray round up on the weeds. Fill the cracks with a product that is used for that purpose. Seal driveway. call new insurance company.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 8:08:44 GMT -5
why don't you come over and fix it?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 8:11:31 GMT -5
why don't you come over and fix it? Get your no traveling husband to do it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2012 8:23:15 GMT -5
he's not handy.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on May 23, 2012 8:27:02 GMT -5
Jen, it's not that difficult to patch a driveway if that is all that needs to be done. It's bull work and I'm sure it sucks but I've seen it done and it doesn't really require any skill.
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