Bought a House
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- 52 Responses
- nosaj0
Thanks for the tips... It's just starting to sink in how much time and money this will require, I have a feeling we won't be able to go out for years. I just realized I need to buy a lawn mower... Oh well, I'm so excited to move back downtown and get out of the suburbs.
- DutchBoy0
is that a ghost hovering above the loo taking a shit?
(see the shades of white)
- rasko40
omg that is definately a ghost!
- blaw0
time/life's home improvement series was one of the best investments i made.
they explain even the simple stuff (like changing a light fixture) with tips that make it even easier.
plus, it's nice to have the confidence that the job is done correctly when completed.
- blaw0
oh yeah, and congratulations. have fun with it.
- ********0
Smartest thing you could have done, but I hope your girl is your wife, otherwise I would hesitate to say that's smart. Either way, it builds equity.
- k0na_an0k0
I just bought a house myself. Congrats.
A few things you should do.
Hopefully before buying you had a house inspector come though. Your agent should have set one up.
To keep your resale up in the future, you may want to keep the old look. The moulding, bathroom, and fireplace are ace.
I'd keep the green wood drawers, remove the green paint from them, maybe stain the wood, and put on new brass handles.
In the kitchen, I think some new cabinets are in order. at the very least new faces.
You might want to spring for some new appliances too. Keep the old style. Some manufacturers make new appliances with the old look.
Main thing, prioritize your upgrades and updates. Main stuff first. Def check the wiring and get that updated asap. The minor stuff like refacing, reflooring (if needed) and remodeling can come later. First things first make the house safe.
Good luck!
- bedenken0
Congrats Nosaj. Nice to see folks buyig up the older homes and repairing them... rather than moving to the likes of Bishops Landing (everyone stares so much in that neighbourhood).
So... you going to post a renovations photo archive once the work starts?
And... I would consider ghosts an added bonus!
- dablammit0
I grew up in a 150+ year old stone house in MD...Always had to be on the lookout for snakes and rats, and lots of bats in the attic. The windows were so old they were that swirly type of glass, and the paint on the stone walls would mildew every 4 or so years and we would have to repaint. But i loved that house, it had a lot of character, and although my parents never finished it, they made about 350k profit on it. (They bought it for 75k 25 years ago)
Anyway, have fun.
- MrRemote0
My girlfriend and I just bought a house last december and we are still working on it.
It had been empty for nine years.
Photos on a very dodgy working site.
- blaw0
nice work, mr.remote. you and your lady are obviously gutsy as hell to tackle that project.
- MrRemote0
Thanks, we still don't have a kitchen but are getting a BBQ this week.
- k0na_an0k0
wow. that is impressive.
the plans look outstanding. best of luck!
- zombiewoof0
Alot of posts here on electrical, but with houses over 70 yrs have another serious concern can be galvanized steel water lines. They corrode from the inside (think arteries clogging with rust) After my water pressure dropped off, i traced it to my main supply line. The 1 3/4" steel pipe had closed itself off. Had to replace the whole house with copper. +5G's. yikes.
Congrats and make nice with the ghosts.
- Tara0
pics???
- nosaj0
Wow Mr.Remote, that is quite the project. Great work so far! Also, awesome idea on documenting the work.
TaraTara - http://www.apt611.com/personal/p…
- arthur0
I'd move the washer and dryer out of the kitchen, do you have a basement? Are there hardwoods under the rug? Are they in good shape?
- Tara0
my aunt bought a really old house about 200 years old, she redid everything and it's really charming- love all the old details and the clawfoot tubs. your house has a lot of potential. good luck
- bedenken0
since we're on a renovating old homes spin... Here are few photos documenting the work we did to my father's old home a few years ago.
- nosaj0
Wicked pics bedenken - it's great that you have a photo of that place from the 20's. The agent of the house apparently has some photo's of our new place from a hundred years ago... I hope I can get some prints.
Undernieth the carpet is Fir (we believe) downstairs and Pine Planks upstairs. The plan is to take all the carpet out and sand and finish all the floors. It's not at the top of the list but up there.