Comments for A to Z Home and Garden Design

Comment on I purchased an old home and wonder if I made a mistake? by Bachelor boy

Bachelor boy — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:56:32 +0000

This is how real estate works:

Real estate is a long term investment. It appreciates considerably over a longer period of time although not too soon. What may seem a not too good investment today may fetch you quite a lump sum if that area gets more developed in future.

You could always renovate your existing home. You have got one in a good area so why not make it a happy home

Comment on I purchased an old home and wonder if I made a mistake? by captbryguy

captbryguy — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:38:10 +0000

I can’t believe you got it so cheap. I always heard NY was so dam high – but that is half of what my old abode, 1949 CBS house on 1+ acre is assessed at here in S Florida.
Good Luck – I would have opted for a better price.
I would rather buy a no fixer Nice Home for $ 300k
(that money would be in the loan) and not have the headaches
What I mean is – I don’t believe saving yourself $ 50k is worth it –
Maybe if you got it for $ 200k instead then I would not mind spending the aggravation of fixing it up….. IMHO

Comment on I purchased an old home and wonder if I made a mistake? by yahzmin19904

yahzmin19904 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:12:01 +0000

I think the question comes down to systems and structure.

Ifs the basic structure still sound?. That is, is the foundation solid, the beams firm, no dry rot, no termites, no roof beams broken, no walls crumbling, etc.

Also, are the systems sound? Is the plumbing still working, does it leak, does it meet code or will it need to be replaced? Is the electricity old and rotted or has it been updated? Is it a fire hazard? Heat? Etc.

If those two basics are OK, you should be alright. From there, you are *probably* talking mainly cosmetic / repair work and remodeling. If you watch your budget tightly and do most of the work yourself, you will earn it back, as long as you don’t try to “flip” the house too quickly.

On the other hand, if you have to do major repairs to structure or have to hire contractor labor or have to move too quickly, the cost investment can easily outweigh the market gains.

Hope you are in for the long haul!! Have fun in your new place and don’t be discouraged — once you get it the way you want, it should be a true dream house!!

Comment on I purchased an old home and wonder if I made a mistake? by Al's Rants, Raves and Reviews

Al's Rants, Raves and Reviews — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:10:15 +0000

as a fellow old home buyer, you better have plenty of time, skills and patience.

i bought a 83yo house and immediately gutted the kitchen. it took me 4 months of hard labor to finish it and i consider myself to be an above average diy’er. (you can check out work on my 360 site).

its not so much the $ $ $ but the skill sets needed. i do my own plumbing, electric and drywalling, so i saved a bundle. i still had to hire a licensed electrician to run the lines according to code (a whole other set of problems).

the little things will trip you up. i follow a simple rule, never buy a fixer upper if it’s gonna be the only residence while you fix it up. its such a hassle living in dust, you’ll give up and call a contractor or you’ll skimp to finish quickly.

good luck.
al

Comment on I purchased an old home and wonder if I made a mistake? by littlelori78

littlelori78 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:50:49 +0000

Where I’m from 250K is a lot to pay for a house that old, but I don’t know what the cost of living is like in NY. I do however believe that the best houses to buy are fixer-uppers. I always look at the potenial in houses…what they can be and not what they already are. I say just enjoy it, since it’s yours and enjoy fixing it up. I’m sure it is a beautiful antique home which can only get better.

Comment on I would like to know how to legalize my landscaping company? I started a small landscaping company a couple? by pondlady

pondlady — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:49:45 +0000

You need an occupational license in the city where you work/live and you must pass the state landscaping contractor test. After that, call any insurance agent to find out about worker’s comp and liability. Buy it and start advertising.
You will fill out a schedule C for your income tax. Yes, you have to tell them how much you made.

Comment on I purchased an old home and wonder if I made a mistake? by E

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:32:18 +0000

an investment STILL is an investment

Comment on I purchased an old home and wonder if I made a mistake? by prosopopoeia

prosopopoeia — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:24:01 +0000

You’re fine.

Comment on Can you repair a broken sewer pipe cap yourself? by Dust2Dust

Dust2Dust — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:50:52 +0000

If you only broke the clean out cap you can replace it yourself. But if you ran over it and it broke the pipe below then you might consider calling out a plumber. Since you broke it with your can it’s probably made out of ABS (black plastic) and all you have to do is go to a local hardware store and buy a 4″ abs cleanout plug.

Comment on Can you repair a broken sewer pipe cap yourself? by Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:49:07 +0000

If you have to ask that question then you probably should call a plumber. Don’t mess with anything you don’t thoroughly understand. Homeowners usually make matters worse trying to save a nickel.

Comment on Can you repair a broken sewer pipe cap yourself? by chris j

chris j — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:49:05 +0000

its just your “clean out pipe. its in case you get a clog and can’t reach it from inside. just measure what size it is and go to lowes. try not to let anything get into it in the mean time.

Comment on What is the average cost to have windows and gutters replaced in a townhouse? by StairGuy101

StairGuy101 — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 06:30:50 +0000

I have mixed views on Home depot.

Consider this: Home depot subcontracts ALL their work. You’re pretty much hiring Home Depot to do consulting work.
Now, There are some large window/glazing companies in the US that can give you some better estimates.

Now for windows/Sliding glass doors, some companies are
PGT Windows (Nationwide)
RC Aluminum (South Eastern US – Can ship to your location)

They can give you some prices for the windows themselves, and you can hire a local contractor to install.
As far as gutters are concerned, i really wouldn’t know much information on that.

I found out my aunt and uncle recently remodeled their kitchen through Home depot (Keep in mind, I am an architect and know of better companies). In the end, they paid too much.

ITs better to shop around, and maybe delegate between manufacturers and installers than pay extra cash for “diplomatic” work.

good luck!

Comment on What is the average cost to have windows and gutters replaced in a townhouse? by James

James — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 06:02:21 +0000

I charge $ 40+ per sq.ft to install a window with a $ 350 minimum.
A patio door is $ 2000 – $ 2500. These prices include shims, foam, brickmould and casing installation.
Gutters I think are about $ 5 a lineal foot with a $ 500 minimum.
That’s what I charge and all my work comes with a written warranty and 100% customer satisfaction.
Sure, others will do it for less, but you get what you pay for and I am trying to run a business, not just working for extra beer money.
If you can get it done for less, and you are happy with the quality of workmanship, good for you.
I encourage competition. It keeps people honest.
It is easier to explain a higher price than poor quality.
As far as cash deals go, I never do anything without a signed contract.

Comment on What is the average cost to have windows and gutters replaced in a townhouse? by JMc

JMc — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 05:53:54 +0000

Sounds high to me. I’m a general contractor and last year I replaced a sliding glass door and 7 windows for my customer, total cost to him was $ 3,400 and I made $ 1,000
I also didn’t do a thing other than sub it out to a window contractor. Took them one day to remove and replace all the windows. I worked on a fence I was building for my customer.

I would get estimates from independent contractors, and a window supply co. Get at least 3 estimates before you make a decision. For you gutters, I would call a place that does just gutters.

Comment on Where is a good place to find contemporary sinks? by Tim G

Tim G — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 05:13:50 +0000

Not sure where you live, but check to see if there is a Ferguson Showroom in your area. They usually have great stuff and their people always seem very qualified.