I've owned a few homes previously but now underway with my first significant indoor remodeling--the master bathroom. When I say "my," I mean I am paying someone else to do it.

We got two quotes--both from people we know and trust. One guy runs his entire operation. The second recruits various people for various jobs. The second guy came in ~25% lower even with us picking out higher end tub, fixtures, etc. We realized there would be more time and inconvenience involved in this approach, but good god! Today is the beginning of the fourth week and we are probably looking at a couple more. We thought the guys who tiled the shower were slow, but good god this painter is really taking his sweet ****ing time. It should go pretty quickly once he gets through--if he ever does.

We knew we were making a trade-off of inconvenience for money, and we would probably make the same choice again. However, the prolonged inconvenience of having to go to the other end of the house for anything involving running water can not be overestimated! And the free-standing tub has been sitting on the front porch the entire time. At least it is still in the cardboard box so we don't look like the ****ing Clampetts.

Bingo, but I can do all of that remodeling in 2030

Why bother?

I know this flies in the face of every house flip show, but in reality, it's pretty difficult to get back (via increased sale price) what you put in for remodeling costs.

It's not impossible, but I think in most cases, the EV calculation would favor saving the money and just taking a lower sale price when time comes to sell.

There doesn't have to actually be anything wrong with the house for your future wife to want to move. Maybe her commute is bad. Maybe her parents live too close. Maybe she doesn't like it because you used to live there with your ex. There are all sorts of reasons.

You should really just rent.

Hey all, here with some questions,

we're in a home now, where all but maybe two outlets are the 2 prong style, which, prior to living here, I didn't realize even was a style.

Someone told me that I could easily swap them, because there probably was a ground wire inside the outlet box that just didn't get use.
"Surely that can't be the case." I thought, but open opening them up, I've found 5/5 so far had two bare copper wires screwed to a back screw. This tells me that either:

1 the two prong outlets were there first, and someone went through the entire house, took on an enormous project and added ground wires to every outlet box.... but then didn't bother to replace the $2 outlets

or
2 the ground wiring was there first and someone bought $.80 outlets to save $1.20? I don't even know the last time those types of outlets could be purchased, WTF. They were so loose and slack that plugs would fall out of them on their own constantly, even really lightweight stuff like a lamp plug.

On that note, is there a way to make sure they're properly grounded without sticking a fork in it and seeing if I live? I have a multimeter.


I have to say, home fixin' is pretty rewarding. Here is some pressure washer porn. (Softcore, I'm not that great)





(back rocks finished, front ones still a mess)


the stripe that started all the love <3

I mean you can probably do it with a multimeter, but a three-prong outlet tester is less than $7, and you just plug it in and see which light comes on. Super easy and fast.

Thanks. I kinda wish I bought one one of those little pens that beeps if it's hot instead of a multimeter too.

does your multimeter test continuity? if so check between the bare wires and the white wire, where you want to have continuity. You should have continuity between the white and bare because in the panel they should be going to the same place, assuming your panel is the first means of disconnect of the service. If the bare wires are actually grounded on the other end, the panel end, then you will need to rewire them in the outlet boxes so that they are connected to the new 3 prong outlet as well as the box. Probably the easiest way to do that would be to buy some premade green grounding pigtails at home depot to screw to the box, where the ground wires are screwed now. Buy 2 for each spot because you'll also want one coming off of the new outlet. Then make a joint with the 2 pigtails and the one or two ground wires coming into each box. One of the 3prong outlet testers that Garick linked would also be good to have to check your work if you replace all the outlets yourself, just to make sure your joints are good.

I am assuming the electrical boxes are metal and the ground wires are grounded into the old metal boxes, you can unscrew them and add them to the new outlet outlet or just leave it be and just wire up the neutral and power wires. Since the box is metal, screwing the outlet into the box grounds it.

Wish I knew that before spending a bucket of time undoing all of that and rethreading it to the ground post. Why didn't you tell me that before I mean what the hell

ordering that plug tester nowwww

Actually loled at power washing a boulder.

While this will work, it's not a good idea and not to Code. If you do go that route make sure to buy outlets that are self grounding. You can tell by them having a gold tab around one of the mounting screws on the plug.

Round here, they pay big monies for rocks with that green growth on it.

Its like the copper guttering they turn green to look rustic.



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the rock looked so much better before the power wash

Haha, I thought the same thing, especially the smaller rocks.

lol no way, so gross

That nude boulder has got it in all the right places.

Yep new rock way better

Old rock = 70s porn
New rock = 90s porn

LOL at Tom and him complaining about his house being so big that it's a hassle to walk to another faucet during his master bath remodel.

And lots of LOLing at power washing that boulder.

I don't know if it helps as a data point, but my wife and I combined make about what you do, also debt free, 34 and 32 years old, and are also looking in Arlington (and McLean and a few other spots with the top tier schools since we're planning to have a child or 2). We're mostly looking in the 800k-1M range (for standalone houses, no HOA fees) for houses that are in the 2-3k sq.ft. range.

Don't know if you've considered this, but we used to own a 1830 sq.ft. townhouse in Fairlington that was pretty convenient -- walkable to Shirlington and the W&OD trail, decent farmer's market, pretty easy to get to town and other places in Arlington and Alexandria. Depending on upgrades they'll probably go for 550-700k, but they have nontrivial HOA fees (ours was ~$425/mo -- but that included daily trash pickup, recycling 2x week, snow removal, roof, fencing, landscaping).

**** me. first quote for the new vinyl siding/deck replacement/screened in porch came in at 85k.

when we first moved here, I had lolLowes come out and quote the same things. 16k for 29SQ of vinyl siding installed, 26k for the deck. no screened in porch since they don't do that, or something.

and yeah, I know prices have gone up in the past 2 years, but holy ****. was hoping for 50k, 60k at the worst .. 85k is nuts.

another estimator coming tomorrow, but not feeling good about this whole thing now. maybe wait until spring to see if material costs drop some.

Doubt material costs will drop that much, it might actually go up.

Labor costs might drop though, winter is typically slow times and sub contractors still gotta eat.

That quote does sound outrageous.

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Second contractor came by, said he will work on the quote but expect it to be in the range of 100k.

:\

building a deck is probably one of the easiest big projects ($10k+) to do. fine finishing work is basically nonexistant and most of the 'difficult' stuff involves little in the way of actual precision that comes with remodeling areas inside your home.

if you're even only kinda handy, i would price out the materials and look at the cost of renting and/or buying tools/equipment needed and watch some youtube videos. maybe start with the youtube videos and see if you feel comfortable with it