The Super Official Homeowners Thread

[ScottyB]

For those of you who haven't, what would you do if you did build.

echoing a lot of what others have said...

• 220v in the garage with more outlets
  
• undercabinet lighting in the kitchen
  
• larger sink or farmhouse sink
  
• can lights everywhere i can get them
  
• fiber and gas would be ideal if the neighborhood allows for it
  
• level driveway and at least a level back yard
  
• separate shed or outbuilding for landscape and garden tools, mower, and/or toys
  
• more closet space in trade for a smaller bath or formal dining room
  
• i'd find some kinda room in the budget for a quality trim carpenter and drywaller.  ours is so bad and fixing it means a ton of ripped up and disrupted shit
  

on a personal note i'll take a hit in square footage for a finished basement.  i really need a place the kid can hang out and i can store some things not in the attic.

[CaptainHenreh]

Welp.

After the better part of a decade in this house, I've decided to move.

Not far, but the longer I was here the more the lack of privacy, the traffic, the noise...all really started to grate on me. And this quarantine was the straw that broke the camel's back. I was in a peculiar situation that "fixing" some of the things that I hated about my house (the tiny kitchen, the less than ideal back yard) would have been kind of throwing good money after bad. I'd never see any of it back out, and like, you can't make land. You can't bulldoze your neighbors. (Well, not legally)

So with interest rates in the shitter, I'm off to a new place. Some acreage, a main level as large as the usable space I have now, room to build a "shop" / "working on shit" Garage (as opposed to a garage for parking, an alien concept for me but apparently a nice-to-have for my beloved.)

Now I'm losing my mind trying to pack/clean/repair all the shit that has been piling up over the years, so I can sell this place and GTFO.

Wish me luck.

[Deceus]

Welp.

After the better part of a decade in this house, I've decided to move.

Not far, but the longer I was here the more the lack of privacy, the traffic, the noise...all really started to grate on me. And this quarantine was the straw that broke the camel's back. I was in a peculiar situation that "fixing" some of the things that I hated about my house (the tiny kitchen, the less than ideal back yard) would have been kind of throwing good money after bad. I'd never see any of it back out, and like, you can't make land. You can't bulldoze your neighbors. (Well, not legally)

So with interest rates in the shitter, I'm off to a new place. Some acreage, a main level as large as the usable space I have now, room to build a "shop" / "working on shit" Garage (as opposed to a garage for parking, an alien concept for me but apparently a nice-to-have for my beloved.)

Now I'm losing my mind trying to pack/clean/repair all the shit that has been piling up over the years, so I can sell this place and GTFO.

Wish me luck.

Good luck my man, I know that feeling. Just have the front of my dormers to knock out and then I can call the house work completely done. Selling a bunch of shit right now and having to deal with people is now what's driving me to drink. Also the "feedback" on the house has been quite comical as well. Imagine driving all the way from Maryland to Harrisonburg only to be surprised trees grow leaves and block some of the view of the sunrise. Took the family out to lunch on a weekday so another "serious buyer" could drive from Richmond to look at the place only to spend 10 minutes inside and bail because it doesn't have a "vacation feel".

[ScottyB]

Welp.

After the better part of a decade in this house, I've decided to move.
Wish me luck.

yooooo - that's awesome news man!  color me jealous (of the new property, not packing up years of shit)

[Sijray21]

Now I'm losing my mind trying to pack/clean/repair all the shit that has been piling up over the years, so I can sell this place and GTFO.

Wish me luck.

Good Luck!

I've always taken moves as opportunities to really thin out (ie: throw away and/or donate) and not retain a bunch of crap i never really used. Furniture sucks and i hope the move and family response goes well!

[CaptainHenreh]

Now I'm losing my mind trying to pack/clean/repair all the shit that has been piling up over the years, so I can sell this place and GTFO.

Wish me luck.

Good Luck!

I've always taken moves as opportunities to really thin out (ie: throw away and/or donate) and not retain a bunch of crap i never really used. Furniture sucks and i hope the move and family response goes well!

I have gone to the dump every single day this week.

[Senor_Taylor]

Now I'm losing my mind trying to pack/clean/repair all the shit that has been piling up over the years, so I can sell this place and GTFO.

Wish me luck.

Good Luck!

I've always taken moves as opportunities to really thin out (ie: throw away and/or donate) and not retain a bunch of crap i never really used. Furniture sucks and i hope the move and family response goes well!

I have gone to the dump every single day this week.

I miss being able to go to the dump.

[Steve85]

I'm doing some remodeling in the basement, basically taking a long wide open finished space (60x20) and turning into two rooms, basically a large bedroom + rec room and a fitness/media room. One of the biggest problems is the entire space was lit with a single switch / circuit and had one ethernet port. I know basements aren't popular in Richmond, but if you have a large open space think about how it might be broken up in the future and maybe have them wire it as separate areas. I'm also putting sound insulation in the wall for the media/fitness area which is something to think about. It's not overly pricey but definitely more than standard insulation, I'm using Rockwool Safe and Sound. Wish we had it in the walls around the washer/dryer room, good idea if you're having a media room built, and even walls that are shared by garage and living space.

[ScottyB]

I'm using Rockwool Safe and Sound. Wish we had it in the walls around the washer/dryer room, good idea if you're having a media room built, and even walls that are shared by garage and living space.

thats a really good idea...filing that one away for later.  our washroom booms and thumps and it sucks to run it at night for that reason.

[Deceus]

Got tired of all the excuses regarding the stairs and driveway. Started looking around the area and saw a VERY similar Chalet less than 5 minutes away sell in 4 days for a little more than my house is listed. So apparently it's a very real deal breaker and not just a BS excuses from people too scared to make a lower offer (my realtor's theory).

Soooo just for giggles I fired up the Airbnb listing, made it a house listing, put up better pictures and slapped a ridiculous price of $500/night to see if I could get any bites ... it was booked in under 12 hours. So I've been scrambling to make a bunk bed since everything is out of stock everywhere. I wanted to market it as a double master + kids room. It's still just a feeler for now but going to see what I can get. Opened up a few other weekends, if nothing else it will be easier to market the place as a turn-key revenue-generating rental than a "forever home" on the side of a cliff.

Already automated the cleaning portion. I have 2 cleaners on TurnoverBnb and it's synced with my calendar/bookings. The dry run is great because it will be me coming in after them for now instead of another booking. Just need to talk to the neighbor about being a property manager and I can at the very least pay my mortgage and fund some weekend trips while the place is listed. If it's even half as consistent as it looks like, it's going to be hard to give up.

I find out on Monday what BoA's next big decision regarding COVID is going to be, so that's a big wildcard. Hopefully they're just staying remote til the end of the year at the least.

[Apoc]

Sounds like you need a better realtor.

[Deceus]

Sounds like you need a better realtor.

I've had at least 20 people come see the place, almost all with buyer's agents. Nothing but great feedback on the place just no one serious enough to even put in a low-ball offer. Can't really fault him for that. The place that sold was even through the same company just a different realtor. Guess people will just gladly trade $10k, their privacy and 720 sqft of unfinished space just to be 5 minutes closer to the slopes with a straighter driveway.

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[JPolen01]

What's the driveway/steps situation?


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[Deceus]

What's the driveway/steps situation?


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Not nearly as bad as people are making it out to be. There's a side door that cuts out the whole front staircase. One couple allegedly got stuck in my driveway for 10 minutes...






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[JPolen01]

The driveway isn't bad, but some people are just incompetent.

I see the stair issue. Personally, I would never consider a house with that man stairs if it was my only home. Our previous townhouse had 5 steps to the porch and another 4 once you were inside to get to the main level. Bringing in groceries or the baby was such a chore. Walking straight into our new house is way nicer.

You'll find a buyer though. May just take some time.


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[Deceus]

The driveway isn't bad, but some people are just incompetent.

I see the stair issue. Personally, I would never consider a house with that man stairs if it was my only home. Our previous townhouse had 5 steps to the porch and another 4 once you were inside to get to the main level. Bringing in groceries or the baby was such a chore. Walking straight into our new house is way nicer.

You'll find a buyer though. May just take some time.

Yeah I don't really blame them for that sentiment, especially the older folks. What's super frustrating is dozens of people at this point have wasted an hour of my time to come see it in person just to give me that. I want to ask these people: 1. Did you even look at any of the exterior pictures, the stairs aren't exactly hidden. 2. It's a 2 story house so even on a flat lot there's still stairs to deal with, so once again what are you doing here besides wasting everybody's time.

It's not like the layout or room sizes where you really need to be there to get a feel for it. Stairs are stairs.

[CaptainHenreh]

Our house caught an over-asking-price cash contract in 36 hours. Home inspection is next Wednesday, so I'll have to pack up my storage room so the inspector can get in, but the people seem very excited about the house, and I don't think the home inspection is going to find anything significant.

Sooooo...who wants to help me move? I'll provide pizza and beer.

[Kaan]

Our house caught an over-asking-price cash contract in 36 hours. Home inspection is next Wednesday, so I'll have to pack up my storage room so the inspector can get in, but the people seem very excited about the house, and I don't think the home inspection is going to find anything significant.

Sooooo...who wants to help me move? I'll provide pizza and beer.

when is moving day? I might be able to help with the truck and trailer

[CaptainHenreh]

Our house caught an over-asking-price cash contract in 36 hours. Home inspection is next Wednesday, so I'll have to pack up my storage room so the inspector can get in, but the people seem very excited about the house, and I don't think the home inspection is going to find anything significant.

Sooooo...who wants to help me move? I'll provide pizza and beer.

when is moving day? I might be able to help with the truck and trailer

Probably day before Halloween

[Deceus]

Probably day before Halloween

You're still semi-local to Harrisonburg right? I'm down to bring the truck and help as well for pizza and beer, if so.