Comments on: Grown-up decision time http://thomnottom.com/blog/2008/04/17/grown-up-decision-time/ Just another WordPress site Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:30:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kathleen http://thomnottom.com/blog/2008/04/17/grown-up-decision-time/#comment-1652 Kathleen Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:19:55 +0000 http://thomnottom.com/?p=1005#comment-1652 Keep in mind, the guy who bought Lisa and Matt's house ripped out a $5000 stove because he wanted his own style. $5000 stove?!?!?! Who pays that much? Oh right, Lisa. On the other hand, who throws out that kind of stove. Alabama's got lots of great property and many come with extra appliances and cars in the yard to save you the trouble of driving all the way to the store to get remodeling items. Keep in mind, the guy who bought Lisa and Matt’s house ripped out a $5000 stove because he wanted his own style. $5000 stove?!?!?! Who pays that much? Oh right, Lisa. On the other hand, who throws out that kind of stove.

Alabama’s got lots of great property and many come with extra appliances and cars in the yard to save you the trouble of driving all the way to the store to get remodeling items.

]]> By: sis http://thomnottom.com/blog/2008/04/17/grown-up-decision-time/#comment-1651 sis Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:38:51 +0000 http://thomnottom.com/?p=1005#comment-1651 If you guys plan on moving SOON (Philly & Princeton both sound good so I can see my niece lots & lots!), it might not be worth it to remodel. Since there are other areas in the house that could be remodeled, a new buyer might want to have their choice of style so it's all cohesive - The house would obviously sell for less, but you might not get your remodel money back anyway. You can always take the new appliances with you & remodel them into your new house when that happens. Can you tell I'm working on the new house idea? If you guys plan on moving SOON (Philly & Princeton both sound good so I can see my niece lots & lots!), it might not be worth it to remodel. Since there are other areas in the house that could be remodeled, a new buyer might want to have their choice of style so it’s all cohesive – The house would obviously sell for less, but you might not get your remodel money back anyway. You can always take the new appliances with you & remodel them into your new house when that happens.
Can you tell I’m working on the new house idea?

]]> By: Thom http://thomnottom.com/blog/2008/04/17/grown-up-decision-time/#comment-1650 Thom Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:03:58 +0000 http://thomnottom.com/?p=1005#comment-1650 @Chris - I'll be sure to call you if demo work needs to be done. @dragon - Inspection shminspection! As for the soffit, that's why I'm hoping he maybe just knocks some money off and we'll tell them to do it. I'm afraid of uncovering some disaster and just breaking down crying... @Markus - Part of me really hopes that if we move into the Philly area (more likely the Princeton area) we'll be able to afford a house that doesn't need any real renovation. Considering what we pay in taxes, moving to South Jersey would probably really bump up what we could buy. @c-t - Specifically, kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely to get you to that 80%. At this point we're only looking at putting significant money (i.e. not DIY efforts) into 2 areas - the kitchen and expanding the upstairs. We had originally looked into the idea of just refacing the cabinets, but you wouldn't believe how much they overcharge for that. It also, unfortunately, would prevent us from adding a dishwasher. Oh, and the plumbing work doesn't actually have to do with relocating things, just replacing any pipes that are bad. Thanks for the input guys. I'll be updating with plans, soon. @Chris – I’ll be sure to call you if demo work needs to be done.

@dragon – Inspection shminspection! As for the soffit, that’s why I’m hoping he maybe just knocks some money off and we’ll tell them to do it. I’m afraid of uncovering some disaster and just breaking down crying…

@Markus – Part of me really hopes that if we move into the Philly area (more likely the Princeton area) we’ll be able to afford a house that doesn’t need any real renovation. Considering what we pay in taxes, moving to South Jersey would probably really bump up what we could buy.

@c-t – Specifically, kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely to get you to that 80%. At this point we’re only looking at putting significant money (i.e. not DIY efforts) into 2 areas – the kitchen and expanding the upstairs. We had originally looked into the idea of just refacing the cabinets, but you wouldn’t believe how much they overcharge for that. It also, unfortunately, would prevent us from adding a dishwasher. Oh, and the plumbing work doesn’t actually have to do with relocating things, just replacing any pipes that are bad.

Thanks for the input guys. I’ll be updating with plans, soon.

]]> By: clever-title http://thomnottom.com/blog/2008/04/17/grown-up-decision-time/#comment-1649 clever-title Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:19:39 +0000 http://thomnottom.com/?p=1005#comment-1649 No home improvement will ever return more than about 80%, according to home improvement surveys I've read. You should spend accordingly. I'd suggest you wait a while to get a better price, now that people aren't doing so much home-equity financed jobs, but that probably isn't an option with the rugrat on the way. Your best bet is to work with a kithen design firm. You can explain that you're looking to improve the function of the kitchen, but don't want to do major redesign for cosmetic reasons. They could work with your existing cabinets and plumbing to rearrange things without having to rebuild from scratch. One big thing, check your subfloor around the sink from below for rot now. If you see any, this job may as well be a total remodel. No home improvement will ever return more than about 80%, according to home improvement surveys I’ve read. You should spend accordingly. I’d suggest you wait a while to get a better price, now that people aren’t doing so much home-equity financed jobs, but that probably isn’t an option with the rugrat on the way.

Your best bet is to work with a kithen design firm. You can explain that you’re looking to improve the function of the kitchen, but don’t want to do major redesign for cosmetic reasons. They could work with your existing cabinets and plumbing to rearrange things without having to rebuild from scratch.

One big thing, check your subfloor around the sink from below for rot now. If you see any, this job may as well be a total remodel.

]]> By: Markus http://thomnottom.com/blog/2008/04/17/grown-up-decision-time/#comment-1648 Markus Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:34:59 +0000 http://thomnottom.com/?p=1005#comment-1648 I'd echo the point you already made, about the next 5-10 years. The market should be going up somewhere in that frame, so it'll be up to you guys to decide if you plan to stick it out in Jersey or sell the place and finally move to the Philly area :) Also, take a peek at what's selling in your neighborhood. If you do plan on selling, you don't have to outdo everyone, just your competition. Obviously, don't half-ass it, but going all out doesn't guarantee you'd get that monetary amount back if you sell. If you think you're going to move - especially if you're looking to get out of NJ's ridiculous market - it might be better to put less into this place, and save it for renovations on your next home. That would obviously depend on the difference between the two properties, but hey. I’d echo the point you already made, about the next 5-10 years. The market should be going up somewhere in that frame, so it’ll be up to you guys to decide if you plan to stick it out in Jersey or sell the place and finally move to the Philly area :)
Also, take a peek at what’s selling in your neighborhood. If you do plan on selling, you don’t have to outdo everyone, just your competition. Obviously, don’t half-ass it, but going all out doesn’t guarantee you’d get that monetary amount back if you sell.
If you think you’re going to move – especially if you’re looking to get out of NJ’s ridiculous market – it might be better to put less into this place, and save it for renovations on your next home. That would obviously depend on the difference between the two properties, but hey.

]]> By: Dragonintherain http://thomnottom.com/blog/2008/04/17/grown-up-decision-time/#comment-1647 Dragonintherain Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:17:34 +0000 http://thomnottom.com/?p=1005#comment-1647 it may not be legal to do your own wiring (if you're not certified) but every town is different. if you're doing your own wiring and want a final inspection from the town that is. ;) your town building codes will tell you. and if you're planning on hiring anyone for any part of the work, you may have to apply for permits. unless you get someone to do it on the side, like we did for our old ceiling. if we were to re-do our kitchen beyond replacing cabinets, in cinnaminson, we're supposed to get permits and have inspections. not that the previous owners did for anything, and that's why a lot of the work is half-assed. (they didn't know what they were doing, but thought they did.) soffits are a fortune because they're an annoying pain in the ass. the one in our kitchen took them at least half a day, not including spackling.... which was another half-3/4 of a day in total. you also need to plan for the possibility of something being wrong that needs immediate attention. like when they dismantled our roof and exterior walls, the sewer pipe from the upstairs bathroom disintegrated. oops. in the realm of what else could go horribly wrong, i have lots of things. mostly having lived through the contractor-gone-bad thing. on the plus side, kitchens are fairly good as far as getting a return on your money. it may not be legal to do your own wiring (if you’re not certified) but every town is different. if you’re doing your own wiring and want a final inspection from the town that is. ;) your town building codes will tell you. and if you’re planning on hiring anyone for any part of the work, you may have to apply for permits. unless you get someone to do it on the side, like we did for our old ceiling. if we were to re-do our kitchen beyond replacing cabinets, in cinnaminson, we’re supposed to get permits and have inspections. not that the previous owners did for anything, and that’s why a lot of the work is half-assed. (they didn’t know what they were doing, but thought they did.)

soffits are a fortune because they’re an annoying pain in the ass. the one in our kitchen took them at least half a day, not including spackling…. which was another half-3/4 of a day in total.

you also need to plan for the possibility of something being wrong that needs immediate attention. like when they dismantled our roof and exterior walls, the sewer pipe from the upstairs bathroom disintegrated. oops.

in the realm of what else could go horribly wrong, i have lots of things. mostly having lived through the contractor-gone-bad thing.

on the plus side, kitchens are fairly good as far as getting a return on your money.

]]> By: Chris http://thomnottom.com/blog/2008/04/17/grown-up-decision-time/#comment-1646 Chris Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:11:23 +0000 http://thomnottom.com/?p=1005#comment-1646 Well, my offer of assistance still stands (assuming I'm not trapped in my own circle of home remodeling hell at the time). For what it's worth, neither of us is all that handy and we have done well with our bathroom. The only thing we absolutely will not mess with is electrical stuff. Well, my offer of assistance still stands (assuming I’m not trapped in my own circle of home remodeling hell at the time). For what it’s worth, neither of us is all that handy and we have done well with our bathroom. The only thing we absolutely will not mess with is electrical stuff.

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