Home woes

[MDS]

Ok, my turn to vent for no reason whatsoever.

I bought my house in Feb 2005 and it was only 2 years old at the time. It's in an 'upscale' neighborhood (or so the press would like you to believe). I had a thorough inspection and it looked very good to me, not to mention that it was kind of a fire sale because the owners needed to get out quick to relocate and I got it for what ended up being way below market. The front of the house faces the 15th tee of the golf course (no house across the street from me, just golf course) and the street is mostly quiet and with good neighbors.

Ok, now the reality of houses:

- I had to do re-do some of the 'wired for surround sound'. Wires too short, wired to the wrong place, no cat5 for phone or network in the master, etc. Absolutely nothing labeled. That's all fixed to my satisfaction.

- My AC is noisy due to close proximity to the living room. I knew this when I purchased. My solution was to install sound dampening sheets and acoustical tile in the enclosure (it reduced the noise about 10 dB). But..I discovered they used some cheap reject wood for the supports and what I consider shoddy work - like 5 nails toe-nailed into one side and ONE into the other. Did the best I could and wood filled, primed, and painted that. Ok, done with that for now until I get around to ripping out all the drywall and really insulating it.

- My garage door opener sensors were installed 18" above the ground. A small child could walk right under it and never trigger the auto-reverse (it's supposed to be 5-6"). I fixed that myself and discovered that one of the studs is split because they either didn't drill a pilot hole before attaching the lag bolt or tightened it too much. I'm sure it won't fall down tomorrow, but that bugs me. Repair job on the horizon?

- At 5.5 years old, I think the 'builder basic' crap is starting to deteriorate - like the single coat of flat paint and 50 cents per square foot carpet. Which incidentally is why I am trying to find tile I like to replace that crap.

- The exterior is mostly fine but it is just a matter of time before it deteroriates if I don't paint and re-caulk soon.

- Apparently my trees don't know that I'd like them to grow straight up and maintain a nice shape. My little trees in the backyard are now humongous. That's something I can't do myself - get ready for $800-$1000 bill sometime soon.

- I get my lawn guy to weed and re-mulch my flower beds in the front. It takes roughly three months for it to go from beautiful to a weed infested eyesore.

- The fence in the back yard is starting to pull away from the posts. Who owns the fence, me or my neighbor or both? Add that to the soon to be a bill.

There are other little nits that annoy me. Most people don't notice the little issues I notice and think the house is beautiful. It's all just normal stuff, but does it ever end? It's not even the money, it's the time and the order in which things must be done. No sense in getting a new TV before I commence the tile job because it will just be another big heavy object to move...and I still haven't settled on a tile.


This is a picture of the same model house for sale around the corner from me: http://www.hometoaustin.com/abordata/images/6109459_10.jpg I'm shooting for something similar when I decide on tile but I don't have my couches arranged in the designer friendly but unliveable arrangement like they do.

Ok, done ranting. Buy a house...it's awesome. The fun never ends.

 

[Sheep]

At least the money you put into a house adds to the value.

Have you ever worked on a car? I can't afford to buy a brand new Civic Si, otherwise I would never deal with undoing someone else's mistakes. I'm rebuilding a new engine for my car and so far nothing has gone well.

Also, if you dislike how things are being done, you gotta do it yourself (or spend a buttload).

SheepStar

 

[MDS]

I used to work on cars. My whole neighborhood growing up were gearheads and we used to drag race at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood, FL. I did rebuild the engine in my Z-28 all by myself. That's experience I value and is why I am not the kind of guy that calls AAA when I get a flat. I used to change fan belts on my 280Z on the shoulder of I-95. Nowadays, I take my car to the mechanic and let them deal with it.

I'm learning more and more about home maintenance and all homes have these issues. Most of the time though, I pay to have it done unless I can do it myself without too much hassle and I prefer to take forever and do it right. The furniture delivery guys knocked a chunk out of the corner wall and said they are responsbile for fixing it, but I fixed it myself because I've learned you can't just add a pound of joint compound to fill a big void and be done with it...you have to build it up a 1/4" at a time and wait 24 hours between fills if you actually want it to last. Contractors don't have time to do that so they take shortcuts.

I guess what I've learned is that it's an ongoing battle and no matter how new or pristine looking the house is, there is always something. This house isn't a 'fixer upper' and yet it has its little issues. I don't know how people can deal with an old house that is hiding a zillion little problems that will soon become visible.

 

[rnatalli]

This is exactly why I bought new construction, but even that doesn't guarantee anything. I've already had warranty work done and the warranty won't last forever. Owning a home equals money and sweat. That's just the way it is.

 

[rnatalli]

And I forgot, all neighbors suck. Give it time.

 

[Audioholics]

Sounds like a very reasonable amount of work to me... I live in a 1920's bungalow...

Translation: quit yer griping.

I was at a staff member's house last week and I counted 8 homes for sale in a three block distance from his home to the neighborhood entry. Lucky for him he is planning on staying in that home forever...

 

[annunaki]

At least the money you put into a house adds to the value....

Actually normal maintinence does not add value. It just keeps the value you already had. Upkeep of normal maintinence will allow one to sell the home for more than other similar homes because the overall effective age will be less than those who did not perform normal, routine, upkeep.

In a way it adds value, but more so in the long term (5-10 yrs. +).

 

[crashkelly]

MDS,

I feel your pain. I have been essentially locked in my basement for the last year both improving and removing the nightmare of a "finished" basement that we bought the house with. Our inspector did make a note on the inspection report saying "have basement wiring looked at by an electrical professional", but that did not speak to the half of it.

I know my way around a fuse box and wiring but to be on the safe side we hired a pro to come in and take a look. After about 5 minutes he came back with the news that it all had to go. He showed me a few examples and I concurred with him. Not too big of a deal as we were always planning to redo the basement in full, but more of just a pain.

During my year in the basement I have watched the rest of the house deteriorate around me. I would not say that, in my case, the deterioration is abnormal, but rather I just have not had the time to do the upkeep or start the outside jobs we wanted to get done. Thankfully the weather here has been crappy so far so most of the outsisde work could not get done, but still.

It is never ending and I am a pretty picky person so that makes it all the worse.

You are absolutely correct, the fun never ends

Cheers
Michael

 

[mtrycrafts]

Yep, unless you build it yourself, have it custom built, You are in for a ride
Is your neighborhood a tract development, spec homes built by lot buyers and builders? They tend to build to minimum code

That AC support, is it a base for it? Maybe rebuilding it with some dampening top material to reduce structure induced noise?
Yep, plant selection can be a nightmare; how close how fast they grow, etc.
That picture you linked, ask the owner how extensively they remodeled it?

 

[STRONGBADF1]

MDS,

Yea houses...We bought a 50 year old "fixer upper"...We have done fixing up, down, left & right! but still I wouldn't change what and how we did it.

Roof, sewer, cutting down 14 trees(on .4 acre and we still have 3 large maples left), regrowing the lawn, fencing, siding, windows, paint, carpeting...I have to stop now...I'm getting sick.

It's the other woman in our lives...Demanding money & attention...but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Hang in there, and like my dad says...You know of every imperfection that nobody else can see.

SBF1

 

[haraldo]

Well please have mercy

I'm into a house from 1880 now, where every room has to be fixed significantly and the standard raised at all levels of the house. Both inside and outside.......

Right now I'm sanding hardwood oak floors finished with extremely hard 2 component DD laquer, the toughest thing you can have on a floor, and the machine is literally glowing in my hands.... and my head is shaking three hours after I finish working...... Guess if I will be busy this summer.

But I'm doing this because the area is very nice and it's a beautiful spot, and provisions for a great music room And no neighbors will hear the stack of PB13-Ultra's that may fit in there

And a romantic setting for the right lady, with a sweeping view of the sea

What could be better than that?

 

[unreal.freak]

Ok, my turn to vent for no reason whatsoever.

I bought my house in Feb 2005 and it was only 2 years old at the time. It's in an 'upscale' neighborhood (or so the press would like you to believe). I had a thorough inspection and it looked very good to me, not to mention that it was kind of a fire sale because the owners needed to get out quick to relocate and I got it for what ended up being way below market. The front of the house faces the 15th tee of the golf course (no house across the street from me, just golf course) and the street is mostly quiet and with good neighbors.

Ok, now the reality of houses:

- I had to do re-do some of the 'wired for surround sound'. Wires too short, wired to the wrong place, no cat5 for phone or network in the master, etc. Absolutely nothing labeled. That's all fixed to my satisfaction.

- My AC is noisy due to close proximity to the living room. I knew this when I purchased. My solution was to install sound dampening sheets and acoustical tile in the enclosure (it reduced the noise about 10 dB). But..I discovered they used some cheap reject wood for the supports and what I consider shoddy work - like 5 nails toe-nailed into one side and ONE into the other. Did the best I could and wood filled, primed, and painted that. Ok, done with that for now until I get around to ripping out all the drywall and really insulating it.

- My garage door opener sensors were installed 18" above the ground. A small child could walk right under it and never trigger the auto-reverse (it's supposed to be 5-6"). I fixed that myself and discovered that one of the studs is split because they either didn't drill a pilot hole before attaching the lag bolt or tightened it too much. I'm sure it won't fall down tomorrow, but that bugs me. Repair job on the horizon?

- At 5.5 years old, I think the 'builder basic' crap is starting to deteriorate - like the single coat of flat paint and 50 cents per square foot carpet. Which incidentally is why I am trying to find tile I like to replace that crap.

- The exterior is mostly fine but it is just a matter of time before it deteroriates if I don't paint and re-caulk soon.

- Apparently my trees don't know that I'd like them to grow straight up and maintain a nice shape. My little trees in the backyard are now humongous. That's something I can't do myself - get ready for $800-$1000 bill sometime soon.

- I get my lawn guy to weed and re-mulch my flower beds in the front. It takes roughly three months for it to go from beautiful to a weed infested eyesore.

- The fence in the back yard is starting to pull away from the posts. Who owns the fence, me or my neighbor or both? Add that to the soon to be a bill.

There are other little nits that annoy me. Most people don't notice the little issues I notice and think the house is beautiful. It's all just normal stuff, but does it ever end? It's not even the money, it's the time and the order in which things must be done. No sense in getting a new TV before I commence the tile job because it will just be another big heavy object to move...and I still haven't settled on a tile.


This is a picture of the same model house for sale around the corner from me: http://www.hometoaustin.com/abordata/images/6109459_10.jpg I'm shooting for something similar when I decide on tile but I don't have my couches arranged in the designer friendly but unliveable arrangement like they do.

Ok, done ranting. Buy a house...it's awesome. The fun never ends.

I feel ya man! Its always something. Like someone already implied, keep in mind you can sell it later and make money from the equity you have in it. Or you could buy a condo and pay the yearly/monthly maintenance fees and not have a whole lot to worry with.

Is this your first home?


Peace,
Tommy

 

[jinjuku]

I guess what I've learned is that it's an ongoing battle and no matter how new or pristine looking the house is, there is always something. This house isn't a 'fixer upper' and yet it has its little issues. I don't know how people can deal with an old house that is hiding a zillion little problems that will soon become visible.

Older houses tend to have much better build quality. I have seen these complexes go up and the construction on the house is horrendous. I have seen where they didn't even bother to wrap the house in moisture barrier.

 

[Mort Corey]

I've been in the same house (bought new) for 22 years. 2006-2007 was major maintenance with new roof, windows, flooring, appliances, water heater, HVAC system, renovated landscape and interior/exterior paint...almost forgot the rebuild on the patio cover and new BBQ. Lots of time, money, frustration and DUST/DIRT. Along with smaller upgrades/repairs we thought it would be nice to relax for a year and just take a deep breath....no such luck....the saga continues in 08 with upgrades/repairs to the security system, my wife wanted a new toilet for the master bedroom that turned into three so they'd all match in the house and of course...they were around $800 each (nice though). Looks like a few sections of fence are going to need replacing shortly but did have a couple of trees removed last month that I was stupid enough to plant in the first place

The joys of home ownership. The hobby that never ends.

Mort

 

[bandphan]

I used to work on cars. My whole neighborhood growing up were gearheads and we used to drag race at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood, FL.

Holy Crap, I went to some great concerts there

 

[annunaki]

I am putting the finishing touches on a chainlink fence I recently put in. It was surprisingly easy. The best part is that doing it myself saved $1,000+. I had to do something to keep the kids in... for now . One of my sons loves to chase birds (he's 2). Those birds have a nasty habit of leading him to towards the road in hopes to rid themselves of him

It will help with my property value, but nothing significant.

My home is about 5 yrs. old and I feel some of your pains. It is surprising all the little things one notices that can be touched up or fixed. It is all worth it though.

 

[Davemcc]

I hate home ownership. But you've got to live somewhere and apartments aren't SVS or car hobbyist friendly.

 

[MDS]

I hate home ownership.

I don't quite hate it and I think we all kind of intuitively know that the cost of ownership is far greater than the purchase price + annual property tax, but still it seems that a house just degrades quietly just sitting there.

I waited a long time to buy a house because I wasn't sure if I would really stay in TX for any length of time (I grew up in FL and that is where I consider 'home'). Being that I'm a late bloomer so to speak, the cost was not a burden (I put 50% down) and I currently have 160K in equity (which means absolutely zip if you aren't intending to sell, it just makes your net worth higher in Quicken).

However, in three years, I have:
- Installed a sprinkler system and re-sodded the lawn for $4K.
- Installed a wood floor in my office for about $1600 (and now I don't even like it).
- Will soon install porcelain tile to the tune of $10K (because my carpet is already destroyed), which will necessitate re-doing the kitchen countertops and backsplash for another $5K.

Not to mention all the other basic on-going maintenance crap I mentioned initially. Is it better than living in an apartment? Sure, but it costs a whole hell of a lot more. Some day soon, I'd like to get on with the things that really matter - like upgrading my speakers, receiver, dvd player, TV etc. Actually, I'm going to order the TV this weekend because my family is coming for a visit and I can't not have a TV for a week when we have kids here. I had planned to wait until the tile job is complete, but oh well...

 

[Alex2507]

The bright side is that once you do get one thing done (like tile), it won't bug you anymore. It might even make you happy at first but that happiness is short lived. Like, what kind of person walks on his floor and thinks 'man, this is a nice floor' 6 months after it's been down.

It's just like having something stuck in your eye. When you first get it out, it's great! 10 minutes later you realize that your shoes are kinda tight.

Yard work is plain evil. And in TX, who can enjoy it? Between the heat and the bugs I'd rather be in the A/C even if it sounded like a jet engine.

If you have any other issues with gouges in walls you might want to use a USG product called E-Z Sand. Home Depot carries it right next to the joint compound. It's a powder that you mix yourself. It dries fast and is rock hard.

I live in a condo and would kill for a garage. Yet when my friends do yard work and replace roofs I count my blessings.

 

[chadnliz]

We live in a 1957 brick ranch on 2 acres in the country so its real quiet and neighbors are not right up your ars, most of my friends have newer homes and they look great but man are they loud! They just echo and carry noise thru walls like craxy and when you are not used to it sleeping there makes you able to hear just how loud those new homes are, its like the are hollow!
My friend had an alarm company bug him about purchasing a system and he told them it really doesnt matter how many door or window sensors you have on a house as you could breal into his house with a box cutter, small saw and a good kick...........just cut a hole into wall, its that simple! This made me laugh as its a $300,000 home but he is kinda correct and thats pretty spooky