I just posted a ton of pictures without any content. This is because I see this as a place to collect and frame my thoughts about the house process with some images to trigger the ideas.
We're so close. After this last stage (paint, gutters) we have some tile repair in one bathroom, some tile work in another bathroom + installing new fixtures, and then we just have PHASE 4 which is master bedroom + sunroom. We're not doing PHASE 4 for awhile. We need to pay off some credit cards and the like.
Oh? You didn't know that at some point everyone who is not independently wealthy puts part of their renovation on credit cards balancing who has to be paid in cash and who you can float? You didn't realize that 0% interest for 12-18 month cards will provide you an interest free loan to buy materials that you then pay off in installments or move the money to other 0% cards?
Yeah. We've got probably $30k of our project sitting out there on 0% credit cards right now + an equity line + a mortgage. AND I make what feels like a ton of money. AND we had real estate investments. AND Harris is incredibly talented with a saw.
House projects don't just magically happen without cash. Look at the size of the house. If it's new construction recognize it probably cost $200-$250/sqft to add on to the house. If it's a restore, probably $100-150/sqft. If the people are all DIY! maybe it cost $80/sqft - but that's a strong maybe.
Well. Now you know.
Let's see - what's been surprising this quarter - the amount of carpentry we missed last year. We spent roughly $20,000 last fall fixing the carpentry around the roof prior to having the new slate roof installed. This year, Harris has been fixing all the little stuff that was missed and things we needed to address. If we'd had the crew back out, it would have easily cost $7,000 + materials. He's done it for about $1,000 in materials + his own time every weekend and evenings after I get home. A dip cap here, siding boards there, new trim here, oh look, a rotten wall. It all adds up. We paid a crew $500 to come get all the 2nd story stuff that we were just not going to have Harris up a ladder for. Pick your battles right?
And that's what restoring a house really is like - it's a constant shifting of priorities and urgency day to day. While living there. While raising two little girls. While one person goes through recovery for addiction. While one person works full time outside the home. You just keep breathing and keep moving and stop every now and again to enjoy the view.
We have a really nice view.
We're so close. After this last stage (paint, gutters) we have some tile repair in one bathroom, some tile work in another bathroom + installing new fixtures, and then we just have PHASE 4 which is master bedroom + sunroom. We're not doing PHASE 4 for awhile. We need to pay off some credit cards and the like.
Oh? You didn't know that at some point everyone who is not independently wealthy puts part of their renovation on credit cards balancing who has to be paid in cash and who you can float? You didn't realize that 0% interest for 12-18 month cards will provide you an interest free loan to buy materials that you then pay off in installments or move the money to other 0% cards?
Yeah. We've got probably $30k of our project sitting out there on 0% credit cards right now + an equity line + a mortgage. AND I make what feels like a ton of money. AND we had real estate investments. AND Harris is incredibly talented with a saw.
House projects don't just magically happen without cash. Look at the size of the house. If it's new construction recognize it probably cost $200-$250/sqft to add on to the house. If it's a restore, probably $100-150/sqft. If the people are all DIY! maybe it cost $80/sqft - but that's a strong maybe.
Well. Now you know.
Let's see - what's been surprising this quarter - the amount of carpentry we missed last year. We spent roughly $20,000 last fall fixing the carpentry around the roof prior to having the new slate roof installed. This year, Harris has been fixing all the little stuff that was missed and things we needed to address. If we'd had the crew back out, it would have easily cost $7,000 + materials. He's done it for about $1,000 in materials + his own time every weekend and evenings after I get home. A dip cap here, siding boards there, new trim here, oh look, a rotten wall. It all adds up. We paid a crew $500 to come get all the 2nd story stuff that we were just not going to have Harris up a ladder for. Pick your battles right?
And that's what restoring a house really is like - it's a constant shifting of priorities and urgency day to day. While living there. While raising two little girls. While one person goes through recovery for addiction. While one person works full time outside the home. You just keep breathing and keep moving and stop every now and again to enjoy the view.
We have a really nice view.
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