Home ownership
10-14-2014
, 01:23 PM
Quote:
Same thing. I bought first place 15 years ago. When I started out I had to call somebody for virtually anything that happened. Fast-forward to now and I don't think anything about replacing a sink drain or toilet, a compression valve, doing drywall, cutting moulding, changing outlets, hanging a ceiling fan, installing cabinets are all pretty easy. Probably half of it is having the right tools for the job and not trying to take a shortcut.
Problem was I'd never really had to look at home repair bills before, my parents rented. After a dozen pros came through charging me insane amounts for quick jobs and realizing how drastic the markup was on parts, figured I'd take a shot here and there.
It was pretty lol when I figured out that you can get a box of 10 electrical outlets for $10 and it takes 10 minutes to replace one with a wire stripper and some electrical tape. Drywall, corner bead, joint compound cost almost nothing. For less than $20 you can replace a pop-up sink drain with a decent metal one.
The first time you do any particular job more expensive, but if you just want to stick to the common/easy stuff you don't need much nor high-end expensive pro gear.
Obviously I'll still leave something like an HVAC furnace install or granite cutting to a trade pro. And now my time is sometimes worth more than the cost of hiring out, plus some jobs I just don't like doing. But there's so much that's so quick, easy and cheap to fix still.
It has made me OCD about things I didn't used to care about. 15 years ago having to jiggle the handle on the toilet was normal, and I could ignore a nail pop.
Problem was I'd never really had to look at home repair bills before, my parents rented. After a dozen pros came through charging me insane amounts for quick jobs and realizing how drastic the markup was on parts, figured I'd take a shot here and there.
It was pretty lol when I figured out that you can get a box of 10 electrical outlets for $10 and it takes 10 minutes to replace one with a wire stripper and some electrical tape. Drywall, corner bead, joint compound cost almost nothing. For less than $20 you can replace a pop-up sink drain with a decent metal one.
The first time you do any particular job more expensive, but if you just want to stick to the common/easy stuff you don't need much nor high-end expensive pro gear.
Obviously I'll still leave something like an HVAC furnace install or granite cutting to a trade pro. And now my time is sometimes worth more than the cost of hiring out, plus some jobs I just don't like doing. But there's so much that's so quick, easy and cheap to fix still.
It has made me OCD about things I didn't used to care about. 15 years ago having to jiggle the handle on the toilet was normal, and I could ignore a nail pop.
A couple of things to add
1. As you said, Knowing what you can do yourself versus when you should call in a pro is really important.
2. Have the right tools. Many power tools are really inexpensive nowadays. I paid $600 for my old table saw about 25 years ago. I could replace it today with one with more features for less than $250. Circular saws and Mitre saws, etc are dirt cheap.
3. You can rent tools that you only need once (i.e jackhammer, cement mixer)
4. The internet is a great source of info, but check several different sources to make sure there is some professional consensus on how to proceed with your job.
5. Don't start any plumbing stuff when the hardware stores are closed...lol
The only thing I didn't like working with was plumbing supply lines. Then along came pex.
Just love that stuff.
10-15-2014
, 12:33 AM
10-15-2014
, 08:04 AM
10-23-2014
, 10:54 PM
Quote:
So, I purchased a 2 bed/2 bath condo in a Portland suburb about 3 years ago at the low point in the market. This was a bank owned property that had been abandoned for about a year before I picked it up for $93k. I'm going to attach some pictures from the home inspection, but they still won't do the place justice. To keep it short, the place was not liveable upon purchase.
I did extensive remodeling the first two years. Replaced the dry rotted floors in both bathrooms, re-painted every square inch of wall and ceiling, remodeled the en suite with new floors, door, light, and exhaust fan. Replaced all the carpeting that looked like there was a murder in the living room. Replaced the existing pergo floor with new laminate and extended it to the back sliding door (was carpet at first and was a sponge for my dog to track in all the dirt).
After two years, I turned my place into a rental. Once my renters turned out, I've decided to sell the place in the hot market. But first... The kitchen needed help.
The crappy tile countertop and dated cabinets had to go.
Sent the doors and drawer fronts to be professionally stripped, while I stripped the uppers and bases. Re-finished using Minwax Polyshades Mission Oak. I highly advise against using this product. It's crap, and I'm absolutely unsatisfied with my finished product. This stuff is garbage, and left huge drips down the face of my cabinets that didn't show up until after it dried. Do the stain and then apply the poly if you're going to take on this type of project.
Now the place is on the market for $140k, and my a-hole neighbors are busy telling my realtor that she shouldn't sell to young people.
All-in-all, I've probably sunk about $6k (not counting replacing water heater and fridge while the place was a rental) into the remodeling effort, and self performed all but the counter top and carpet install.
I did extensive remodeling the first two years. Replaced the dry rotted floors in both bathrooms, re-painted every square inch of wall and ceiling, remodeled the en suite with new floors, door, light, and exhaust fan. Replaced all the carpeting that looked like there was a murder in the living room. Replaced the existing pergo floor with new laminate and extended it to the back sliding door (was carpet at first and was a sponge for my dog to track in all the dirt).
After two years, I turned my place into a rental. Once my renters turned out, I've decided to sell the place in the hot market. But first... The kitchen needed help.
The crappy tile countertop and dated cabinets had to go.
Sent the doors and drawer fronts to be professionally stripped, while I stripped the uppers and bases. Re-finished using Minwax Polyshades Mission Oak. I highly advise against using this product. It's crap, and I'm absolutely unsatisfied with my finished product. This stuff is garbage, and left huge drips down the face of my cabinets that didn't show up until after it dried. Do the stain and then apply the poly if you're going to take on this type of project.
Now the place is on the market for $140k, and my a-hole neighbors are busy telling my realtor that she shouldn't sell to young people.
All-in-all, I've probably sunk about $6k (not counting replacing water heater and fridge while the place was a rental) into the remodeling effort, and self performed all but the counter top and carpet install.
10-24-2014
, 12:46 AM
11-04-2014
, 09:23 PM
11-04-2014
, 10:58 PM
11-05-2014
, 09:58 AM
11-05-2014
, 10:52 AM
11-19-2014
, 11:34 AM
11-19-2014
, 11:35 AM
Quote:
So, I purchased a 2 bed/2 bath condo in a Portland suburb about 3 years ago at the low point in the market. This was a bank owned property that had been abandoned for about a year before I picked it up for $93k. I'm going to attach some pictures from the home inspection, but they still won't do the place justice. To keep it short, the place was not liveable upon purchase.
I did extensive remodeling the first two years. Replaced the dry rotted floors in both bathrooms, re-painted every square inch of wall and ceiling, remodeled the en suite with new floors, door, light, and exhaust fan. Replaced all the carpeting that looked like there was a murder in the living room. Replaced the existing pergo floor with new laminate and extended it to the back sliding door (was carpet at first and was a sponge for my dog to track in all the dirt).
After two years, I turned my place into a rental. Once my renters turned out, I've decided to sell the place in the hot market. But first... The kitchen needed help.
The crappy tile countertop and dated cabinets had to go.
Sent the doors and drawer fronts to be professionally stripped, while I stripped the uppers and bases. Re-finished using Minwax Polyshades Mission Oak. I highly advise against using this product. It's crap, and I'm absolutely unsatisfied with my finished product. This stuff is garbage, and left huge drips down the face of my cabinets that didn't show up until after it dried. Do the stain and then apply the poly if you're going to take on this type of project.
Now the place is on the market for $140k, and my a-hole neighbors are busy telling my realtor that she shouldn't sell to young people.
All-in-all, I've probably sunk about $6k (not counting replacing water heater and fridge while the place was a rental) into the remodeling effort, and self performed all but the counter top and carpet install.
I did extensive remodeling the first two years. Replaced the dry rotted floors in both bathrooms, re-painted every square inch of wall and ceiling, remodeled the en suite with new floors, door, light, and exhaust fan. Replaced all the carpeting that looked like there was a murder in the living room. Replaced the existing pergo floor with new laminate and extended it to the back sliding door (was carpet at first and was a sponge for my dog to track in all the dirt).
After two years, I turned my place into a rental. Once my renters turned out, I've decided to sell the place in the hot market. But first... The kitchen needed help.
The crappy tile countertop and dated cabinets had to go.
Sent the doors and drawer fronts to be professionally stripped, while I stripped the uppers and bases. Re-finished using Minwax Polyshades Mission Oak. I highly advise against using this product. It's crap, and I'm absolutely unsatisfied with my finished product. This stuff is garbage, and left huge drips down the face of my cabinets that didn't show up until after it dried. Do the stain and then apply the poly if you're going to take on this type of project.
Now the place is on the market for $140k, and my a-hole neighbors are busy telling my realtor that she shouldn't sell to young people.
All-in-all, I've probably sunk about $6k (not counting replacing water heater and fridge while the place was a rental) into the remodeling effort, and self performed all but the counter top and carpet install.
11-19-2014
, 03:44 PM
