973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Aug 29, 2015 12:35:36 GMT -5
OK, so we spend 45k, updating the first house over the next few years. That leaves us with basically the second house for the exact same price, and a free in ground pool. Still seems like a good deal to me. Installing an in ground pool is what, $30k or so? Unfortunately the first house is too far north. I thought it was still in the Cherry Creek school district. Anything we look at now will probably be sold by the time we get moved and have our house sold anyway. I can't stop myself though. My house is 1,665 SF and we'll be lucky if we get everything updated for $45k in a LCOL area and with significant bargain hunting + DIYing. Meanwhile, I could have spent the extra right away and had a house I really enjoyed the whole time instead. I'm not saying you should never buy a house that only needs cosmetic changes, just don't discount the cost, aggravation, and time involved to make those changes. It would be perfect for someone who loves to dig in and do projects on their home every weekend. I'm guessing you're not, since you still have your hated kitchen countertops. Plus, have you seen the Captain's thread on kitchen remodeling? I think it was $70k for just the kitchen. We were quoted $4000 just to replace flooring in our kitchen/dining and hallway with vinyl flooring. Plus, I don't know how it is in Colorado, but in Mich., an inground pool doesn't add anything to the value of a house. Might actually detract from it a little. I agree that the pool won't add value. I just like to swim in one. I do think all those things adds up. The question isn't if that cost more to me so much as which is what I want more. Given a choice between green carpet I don't love and that pool I would take that pool in a heartbeat. I won't even see it from my spot in the pool.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 29, 2015 13:25:59 GMT -5
Why on earth would you overpower a small room like a bathroom - that has green fixtures - with even more green on the walls? A neutral earth-tone or "eggshell" as the main color will brighten and bring the room into the 21st century and still make the retro fixtures look modern..
My parents' home still had a bathroom you could describe as "retro" - including the green fixtures (sink, toilet, tub). After we re-did the walls & flooring in a light color and added some accessories, it looked somewhat similar to this: [ That's kinda cool actually
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 29, 2015 13:35:33 GMT -5
Yes and no. First of all you don't want your kids afraid to use the rest room, walk the halls, ride the bus, or attend sports events. Also, colleges look at where you went to school. Better a B student at a good school than an A student at a okay one. Surrounding them with kids that ARE going to have pressure to do well is better than surrounding them with the other. Don't discount peer pressure. I wanted my kids to talk about what college they were attending not if. I think people tend to overestimate the whole A school B school thing. I really do. There are exceptions for truly outstanding schools, ivy league feeder schools, that kind of thing. A pretty standard public high school in the burbs though? There's going to be no difference to a college admin person between a typical high school rated a 9 and one rated an 8. Local parents will obsess about it, but they're basically the exact same school. Unless we're talking about a nationally ranked high school or a feeder with a deep connection to particular colleges, I really don't think college admin folks pay that much attention. They look at grades, test scores, AP courses, essay, volunteer work, etc. Outside of the local area they wouldn't even know which schools are considered the A and B schools. If my kids apply at UCSC, Berkley, or some other school here the admin folks will have never even heard of Cherry Creek or Jeffco. It's mostly something that parents obsess over. I'm afraid that's not how it works. Barring some rare exceptions students graduating from my kids hs get into the college of their choice. Even some IVY's. A magnet hs in Florida for Petes sake. But that hs has the reputation of turning out students prepared for college. Parents have to meet with advisor every semester until the summer between junior and senior year. Then you meet in the summer to discuss what colleges your student is applying to and whether it's realistic or not. That's how I knew DS was MORE than qualified for UF and that he was a shoe in.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Aug 29, 2015 15:08:16 GMT -5
I am in the throes of YDS's college search now. ODS just started college, so two kids in two years going through the process.
BeachBum and Zib have it right -- colleges now have far more information about any particular high school and the kids in it than ever before.
And Beach is right about Naviance -- it is one of those mixed blessings. A student can absolutely tune right into schools that are highly likely to accept him/her. On the other hand, it can be a rather abrupt, sobering reality to see what schools are on that list. The colleges have access to all that information from the other end -- and basically reject your kid out of the box.
So, don't assume that the differences between A schools and B schools are negligible. Far from it these days.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Aug 29, 2015 16:33:51 GMT -5
I like your agent, get to working
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 29, 2015 16:38:12 GMT -5
That all makes sense. Clean, clean, clean. The place needs to look and smell clean. Paint will do that for sure. Go with a neutral. Exterior paint? Did she mean freshen up front door and window frames or the whole house? Landscape including fresh red mulch and pretty flowers. Don't underestimate pressure washing the driveway, porch, and front walk. The girls can do that. I do it, it's fun.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 29, 2015 17:30:28 GMT -5
Rent the sprayers.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Aug 30, 2015 9:35:11 GMT -5
My house is 1,665 SF and we'll be lucky if we get everything updated for $45k in a LCOL area and with significant bargain hunting + DIYing. Meanwhile, I could have spent the extra right away and had a house I really enjoyed the whole time instead. I'm not saying you should never buy a house that only needs cosmetic changes, just don't discount the cost, aggravation, and time involved to make those changes. It would be perfect for someone who loves to dig in and do projects on their home every weekend. I'm guessing you're not, since you still have your hated kitchen countertops. Plus, have you seen the Captain's thread on kitchen remodeling? I think it was $70k for just the kitchen. We were quoted $4000 just to replace flooring in our kitchen/dining and hallway with vinyl flooring. Plus, I don't know how it is in Colorado, but in Mich., an inground pool doesn't add anything to the value of a house. Might actually detract from it a little. Yeah, but she's knocking down a load bearing wall and moving electrical/plumbing. I said in an earlier post of you're doing stuff like that it won't make sense. If you don't go down to the studs, then move those studs around it costs a lot less. She could do new cabinets, countertops, appliances, and flooring for half that. She'd still have a brand new kitchen. Drastically changing the layout is the part that's going to cost her. Okay, but I was quoted $30k for my postage stamp sized kitchen, moving only 1 gas line maybe 5 feet (something my dad could have done for next to nothing). This is in a LCOL area, so I doubt her much larger kitchen would cost only slightly more than that to do without the wall removal. Like I said, if you like DIYing, it might make sense. ///and hooray for only minor updates needed to sell the house!
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lund
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Post by lund on Aug 30, 2015 10:03:01 GMT -5
Sounds good!
Check Craigslist (or similar) regularly to see if there are any suitably sized ovens or possibly a coocktop in SS that match your kitchen to get cheaply.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 30, 2015 13:57:22 GMT -5
I invested in a "color" expert. Best $35 I ever spent. He picked new house colors for the house and I LOVE the new colors!! I'd have never picked them but it looks amazing. Before and after just amazes me It wasn't terrible before but the change is outstanding. It isn't easy or cheap to paint even if you do it yourself, get the right colors. An actual paint store might help. Not Lowes or Home Depot but where the painters go.
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moneymaven
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Post by moneymaven on Aug 30, 2015 15:12:50 GMT -5
I invested in a "color" expert. Best $35 I ever spent. He picked new house colors for the house and I LOVE the new colors!! I'd have never picked them but it looks amazing. Before and after just amazes me It wasn't terrible before but the change is outstanding. It isn't easy or cheap to paint even if you do it yourself, get the right colors. An actual paint store might help. Not Lowes or Home Depot but where the painters go. I did this too when we had to paint the exterior. Cost me $100 but it was a full interior and exterior consult and like Zib, it was all colors I wouldn't have chosen and now absolutely love.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Aug 30, 2015 15:15:18 GMT -5
Where does one find a wise and competent color consultant?
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 30, 2015 15:24:01 GMT -5
We're going to drive through the neighborhood and take pictures of the color combos that we like to get some ideas. We have terracotta tiles on the roof. Seems like most people choose paint colors to either match or contrast the tiles. Our least favorite houses look like they picked a primary and trim color that they liked even if they clashed with the roof tiles. Lots of houses have a kind of orange/red trim that more or less matches the tiles, with a main neutral color. They look pretty good. The other way people go is white trim with a neutral main color that goes with the terracotta tiles. We don't have an HOA so we can pick whatever color we want, but most of the neighborhood sticks to pretty neutral colors with some muted greens and blues here and there. Most of the blue houses have blue glazed tiles. Good plan
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 30, 2015 15:25:02 GMT -5
Where does one find a wise and competent color consultant? I got mine from a neighbor who was a decorator.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 30, 2015 15:25:35 GMT -5
Maybe a paint store
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moneymaven
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Post by moneymaven on Aug 30, 2015 15:27:28 GMT -5
Where does one find a wise and competent color consultant? I found mine through our HOA. She was great. I've hired her a few more times as a gift for friends and family when buying a new house or having a baby (painting a nursery) etc. I also just hired her for our new (to us) home. she's wonderful.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Aug 30, 2015 16:28:24 GMT -5
Where does one find a wise and competent color consultant? I found mine through our HOA. She was great. I've hired her a few more times as a gift for friends and family when buying a new house or having a baby (painting a nursery) etc. I also just hired her for our new (to us) home. she's wonderful. Think her territory extends to Massachusetts?
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 30, 2015 17:18:40 GMT -5
Sometimes you can take pictures and they do it long distance. My neighbor had it done for her son and he loves his interior colors.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Aug 30, 2015 21:56:43 GMT -5
I lived in Colorado for 35 years. Moved away in 2009. Definitely check out Loop's commute before deciding on where to live.
All parts of the Denver metro area have some really bad parts and some great parts. Don't let people tell you that you don't need a/c. You do, especially if you have a two story house. Lived without a/c until my last 5 years there.
Aurora schools are not where I would want my child to attend school. Aurora is known for lots of gang activity. Cherry Creek has great schools.
The house in Centennial looks fine. When I moved to Colorado, Centennial didn't exist. I've lived in Boulder, Fort Collins, Black Hawk, and Louisville. I commuted to Denver all the years I lived in Boulder. I worked for a federal agency that had different locations. We would get switched around every two years or so, so no reason to buy a home based on the office location. However, my commute on I-25 got progressively worse. I go back at least once a year and the traffic is worse every visit. More toll roads. You have to consider the cost of those in the commute.
When it snows, drivers act the entire winter like they don't know how to drive. I grew up in Iowa so I never got that they don't properly take care of the roads in the Denver metro area anywhere. Commuting then is doubled or tripled in time.
When I lived in Fort Collins, it was it's own city. Now, it's pretty much one large city from Fort Collins to Centennial/Highlands Ranch--maybe even farther south.
All the friends I know who lived in Aurora in the area where the first house is located have moved to newer parts of Aurora--mostly to get away from gang activity.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Aug 31, 2015 0:56:26 GMT -5
Something like this should work for paint colors with curb appeal; the front door color is very similar to terra cotta. Or this:
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lynnerself
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Post by lynnerself on Aug 31, 2015 1:29:35 GMT -5
We're going to drive through the neighborhood and take pictures of the color combos that we like to get some ideas. We have terracotta tiles on the roof. Seems like most people choose paint colors to either match or contrast the tiles. Our least favorite houses look like they picked a primary and trim color that they liked even if they clashed with the roof tiles. Lots of houses have a kind of orange/red trim that more or less matches the tiles, with a main neutral color. They look pretty good. The other way people go is white trim with a neutral main color that goes with the terracotta tiles. We don't have an HOA so we can pick whatever color we want, but most of the neighborhood sticks to pretty neutral colors with some muted greens and blues here and there. Most of the blue houses have blue glazed tiles.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Aug 31, 2015 7:07:15 GMT -5
Maybe Moonie and I will get to meet you and the family. hahahah... of all of us in the state, i'd almost bet money that i'm about the LAST person he would want to meet....
the only people that ever want to meet me are peeps from your board, lol. you've somehow got them convinced i'm not that bad. I'm hoping to meet you when you come into my town for a wedding or something next year.
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kjto1
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Post by kjto1 on Aug 31, 2015 7:30:46 GMT -5
Sign me up for a Colorado meetup!
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moon/Laura
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Post by moon/Laura on Aug 31, 2015 8:19:34 GMT -5
hahahah... of all of us in the state, i'd almost bet money that i'm about the LAST person he would want to meet....
the only people that ever want to meet me are peeps from your board, lol. you've somehow got them convinced i'm not that bad. I'm hoping to meet you when you come into my town for a wedding or something next year. That would be great fun, Beth. Still not even close to sure about our plans yet, since the wedding is the saturday before school gets out.
As far as CO drivers in the winter, TheOtherMe is so right. Even natives act like they've never seen snow before.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 31, 2015 9:03:28 GMT -5
No different than Floridians when it rains. Good lord people, it's rain!!
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moneymaven
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Post by moneymaven on Aug 31, 2015 9:10:54 GMT -5
SIL is due today and her water broke this morning! Hopefully by day's end, I'll be an aunt!
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Aug 31, 2015 12:05:30 GMT -5
Where does one find a wise and competent color consultant? I caught a news clip about a guy in our area, people travel from all over the place to work with him. I'll see if I can find the clip and post back. I think he's in or really close to Newton. Google can't pull it up from the half bits of detail that I vaguely remember. go figure.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Aug 31, 2015 12:17:37 GMT -5
Where does one find a wise and competent color consultant? I caught a news clip about a guy in our area, people travel from all over the place to work with him. I'll see if I can find the clip and post back. I think he's in or really close to Newton. Google can't pull it up from the half bits of detail that I vaguely remember. go figure. It was an article in the Globe. I cut it out and have it in my "house" file. I wonder if he is overwhelmed with color-challenged homeowners now because of the article.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Aug 31, 2015 12:24:06 GMT -5
huh, okay. I definitely saw him featured on something local, because I remember him explaining a recent client and how he convinced her to use colors she wouldn't have ordinarily even considered and that she loved the finished product. but if you have the article, then you already have the contact info. try calling and see if he takes appointments? whatever you end up doing, definitely bring samples of stuff from the rooms you want to find paint for. it totally helps the expert get a full feel for your space. I brought a curtain, couch pillow and a paint chip from my walls (everything else was black or white in the room) when I sought out a little shop in Concord for a lamp shade to complement the lot of it all. she was amazing.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Aug 31, 2015 12:32:40 GMT -5
Don't let people tell you that you don't need a/c. You do, especially if you have a two story house. Lived without a/c until my last 5 years there. I'm ok with the no A/C as long as you have a whole house attic fan. Colorado cools off enough at night that you just open all the windows & run the fan starting around 6. If you work a standard schedule, then you are rarely home for the midday heat. And if you have a pool, then you hop in it on particularly hot days. Or we have a local spray playground that we stop at if we get hot on a weekend.
The only time the attic fan was useless was during the fires. But even not running it the smoke was seeping into the house & we just left town for a few days.
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