I had been thinking about this idea for a thread for a while and when I saw the lawnmower thread it was the catalyst to make this happen.
My suggestions once you are in your new home:
Buy a wet dry vac if you don't already own one. Get the bigger model even though its a few bucks more. They come in really handy.
Also, when buying work gloves and you aren't sure what to get, buy the ones at Home Depot with the orange around the wrists. With those things you can pick up nails, broken glass and thorns and stay protected.
with bitch mittens and you don't have to spend money on gloves to pick up nails.
Quote:
With those things you can pick up nails, broken glass and thorns and stay protected.
with bitch mittens and you don't have to spend money on gloves to pick up nails.
Humor? No
Helpful? No.
A Cam contribution!
Always check the interwebz first before calling someone. Many repairs are very easy and even some of the more complicated stuff is doable if you put your mind to it.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes with repairs. The worst that will happen is you will have to call someone else to fix it and you will have at least learned what not to do should you attempt it again.
So you're thinking folks will be gutting their house right after they buy it?
Quote:
Quote:
With those things you can pick up nails, broken glass and thorns and stay protected.
with bitch mittens and you don't have to spend money on gloves to pick up nails.
Humor? No
Helpful? No.
A Cam contribution!
Yup, nailed it.
A decent socket set is worth having. As well as a good cordless drill.
Never buy the cheapest option in home depot or lowes on something you're going to rely on.
i have several regrets already on things i have done.
Also, know ahead of time how long you plan on staying there. I am in for the long haul in my house (2yrs so far but plan on 30yrs)- because of that i dont panic about "how much i will get back" for every project i do. If i were in a starter that i want to get out of as kids get older and grow, then i would be more selective.
Lastly- dont argue with your wife. you are always wrong
Make an emergency plan in case of fire and create a supply kit in case you are without power for some length of time.
Schedule reminders to test and change batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Forget the computer for a few minutes and go out and meet your new neighbors! You never know when you might need one of them to do you a favor, like pick up nails and stuff.
Make a special point to befriend the neighbor who appears to have every power tools imaginable.
you might not have tools, power tools, yard tools (rakes - multiple kinds, shovels - multiple kinds, edgers, gardening stuff, etc.) , etc.
and other home supplies, trash cans, mail box, etc.
these add up to hundreds or thousands of possibly unexpected expenses.
and I hate borrowing stuff (if you don't do as suggested and buddy up with a neighbor who has it all)
If you do need to hire a contractor, get 10 estimates.
Nothing worse than needing a tool in the middle of a job and realizing you don't have it...
well, there is something worse...realizing it's 9 PM and all the stores around you are closed for the evening.
YES. When buying things like mowers or chainsaws, buy a good brand. If not you will be using it for a year or two and then buying another anyway.
If you do need to hire a contractor, get 10 estimates.
Local contractors must love you.
Quote:
If you do need to hire a contractor, get 10 estimates.
Local contractors must love you.
a) what a monumental waste of time it is to you and the contractors whom you aren't going to use and
b) A typical due diligence is 3 estimates. Don't always go for the low-ball. Get a feel for the people you are talking to and then research them.
Quote:
you've never gutted a house. And I really don't care?
So you're thinking folks will be gutting their house right after they buy it?
You'd be surprised how often your house surprises you with sudden expenses that are quite costly.
Take it easy...you don't have to do everything at once. Make lists and prioritize.
Never, ever, ever, get your waddle in a knot. Getting frustrated or angry won't make anything better. If it gets out of control, secure for the day and have a beer.
Get to know your local tool rental place. Yes you need the basics, but don't spend a bunch of money on certain things that you'll rarely need again.
Don't fuck with electrical shit until someone you know can show you how its done. Same with plumbing..
Schedule your projects and don't start another until you finish one.
Most importantly, get a garage fridge and keep it well stocked with beer.
Cordless drill as well. A decent saw, a couple sets of channel locks, some adjustable clamps, assortment of screwdrivers, combination wrench set (probably two sets), socket set, basin wrench, wonder bar by Stanley and a couple of hammers will get you started.
It's amazing how much you accumulate over the years.
I just ditched it after 12 years because the batteries wouldn't keep a charge and I upgraded to another brand.
tons of brands and options, but this set will be valuable.
drill driver, sawzall, circular saw and flash light. some like ryobi, some like milwaukee, some like Bosch, Dewalt, Black and Decker, whatever, just invest in a cordless set like this.
Cordless drill as well. A decent saw, a couple sets of channel locks, some adjustable clamps, assortment of screwdrivers, combination wrench set (probably two sets), socket set, basin wrench, wonder bar by Stanley and a couple of hammers will get you started.
It's amazing how much you accumulate over the years.
You can get over half of that stuff in any decent rape kit.
I upgraded to a Bosch set (without the circular saw) when I replaced the Ryobi because I had some contractors here doing work and that's what they used and recommended them, but I'm far from expert so I didn't want to make a recommendation.
And I feel like I got my money's worth from the Ryobi so I didn't want to bad mouth them.
but I agree with you Greg, from what I've read.
Sounds like the contents of Cam's brief case.
Both circular and reciprocating saws burn through batteries like crazy. Disk grinders do too.
For me, the cordless drill is by far the most useful.
For the rest I usually just buy one with a cord.
makes sense, I rarely used it anyway, so didn't look for one in the set when I upgraded.
My advice is to every year throw shit out you don't use. Don't let it pile up and make your garage and stuff unusable.
BTW - rental companies like United and Sunbelt sell their used equipment all the time to keep their rental inventory relatively new. You can find some good bargains there. It's worth checking out.
WD40 and duct tape are no joke.
Rich, however, is.
Haha. I actually have a house that almost fell down (kinda). Previous owner moved a Lolly column, creating an extra long cantilever in the center beam. The central staircase began to dip on one side. It wasn't until I ripped apart the partially finished basement he made that I saw what he did.
Did I mention I hate owning a house?
No shoveling and no chance the town makes you pay for repairs
i have several regrets already on things i have done.
Also, know ahead of time how long you plan on staying there. I am in for the long haul in my house (2yrs so far but plan on 30yrs)- because of that i dont panic about "how much i will get back" for every project i do. If i were in a starter that i want to get out of as kids get older and grow, then i would be more selective.
Lastly- dont argue with your wife. you are always wrong
Good advice!
Make an emergency plan in case of fire and create a supply kit in case you are without power for some length of time.
Schedule reminders to test and change batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Forget the computer for a few minutes and go out and meet your new neighbors! You never know when you might need one of them to do you a favor, like pick up nails and stuff.
Yes, yes, and yes to all of the above. First thing you want to do when you move into a new home is PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT. You need to know where all of your water and gas shutoff valves are. Get new smoke/CO detectors. Buy a couple fire extinguishers. Diagram your fuse box. And yes, meet your neighbors - you don't have to knock on their doors but make sure you say hi to them when you see them outside. A conversation should come pretty naturally after that.
Also, wait for the first time you get heavy rain and then go around the house and check for leaks (look at the ceilings, skylights, in the attic, and the crawl space). While youre looking, check for mold too - thats something you would want to address immediately along with any leaks or plumbing issues.
Lastly, I'd suggest taking your time (with regards to spending). Costs going into a new home add up very quickly between buying new furniture, tools and supplies, paying for repairs, re-doing floors and walls, and buying appliances. Budget yourself very carefully otherwise you'll spend yourself into really bad debt very quickly.If necessary, draw out a 24 month plan for yourself to help plan out your spending and time, and also to prioritize what needs to be done.
This is excellent advice, but one key point, I assume is true in every state, but I know it's true in Mass, only items in a home inspection can come from a licensed home inspector, not an electrician, plumber, contractor, etc.
So definitely has those experts inspect the house, but do it BEFORE the home inspection, take their reports and anything major instruct the home inspector they need to include them in the report.
Twice now I've been absolutely amazed at the major stuff home inspectors don't find, but we find very shortly after occupying a house (I've bought two homes).
And the home inspector reports are caveated so they are entirely not liable for anything they miss.
Link - ( New Window )
Quote:
be willing to pay a little extra to hire specialized inspectors (plumbing, heating/cooling) to do a house inspection besides the standard inspector. Frankly, the standard inspectors just have some checklist and aren't very competent to notice stuff like poorly constructed piping. The specialists can notice things that you can get the seller to pay for, saving you far more money (or preventing you from buying a bad situation).
This is excellent advice, but one key point, I assume is true in every state, but I know it's true in Mass, only items in a home inspection can come from a licensed home inspector, not an electrician, plumber, contractor, etc.
So definitely has those experts inspect the house, but do it BEFORE the home inspection, take their reports and anything major instruct the home inspector they need to include them in the report.
Twice now I've been absolutely amazed at the major stuff home inspectors don't find, but we find very shortly after occupying a house (I've bought two homes).
And the home inspector reports are caveated so they are entirely not liable for anything they miss.
I have a friend that was a home inspector for a few years. He said he learned very quickly that realtors would stop calling you if you found "too much".
Take that for what it's worth.
Just last week the pilot on my water heater started going out. New water heater probably would have cost almost $1000. On the advice of bbi i changed the thermocouple for $10 and its like new.
--people here have spoken highly of the pse&g service contracts (if you are in their service area)
Quote:
And remember, when something goes wrong, just chill. The house won't fall down and you will get the thing fixed. Make it better than it was before.
Haha. I actually have a house that almost fell down (kinda). Previous owner moved a Lolly column, creating an extra long cantilever in the center beam. The central staircase began to dip on one side. It wasn't until I ripped apart the partially finished basement he made that I saw what he did.
Did I mention I hate owning a house?
Amen Brother!!
Quote:
In comment 11636669 Moondwg said:
Quote:
be willing to pay a little extra to hire specialized inspectors (plumbing, heating/cooling) to do a house inspection besides the standard inspector. Frankly, the standard inspectors just have some checklist and aren't very competent to notice stuff like poorly constructed piping. The specialists can notice things that you can get the seller to pay for, saving you far more money (or preventing you from buying a bad situation).
This is excellent advice, but one key point, I assume is true in every state, but I know it's true in Mass, only items in a home inspection can come from a licensed home inspector, not an electrician, plumber, contractor, etc.
So definitely has those experts inspect the house, but do it BEFORE the home inspection, take their reports and anything major instruct the home inspector they need to include them in the report.
Twice now I've been absolutely amazed at the major stuff home inspectors don't find, but we find very shortly after occupying a house (I've bought two homes).
And the home inspector reports are caveated so they are entirely not liable for anything they miss.
I have a friend that was a home inspector for a few years. He said he learned very quickly that realtors would stop calling you if you found "too much".
Take that for what it's worth.
Yeah, Realtors can be scumbags. I am pretty sure that one that I dealt with paid a contractor to come and give advice about what can be done with a house, with fairly easy estimates to help close a deal.
Tools that are worth it for most homeowners, in my opinion -
- Shop Vac
- Circular saw
- Chop (mitre) saw
- Table saw
- Cordless drill / screwdriver
- Socket set
- Sawzall
Tools that are borderline (depends on how adventurous you're planning on getting) -
- Compressor
- Nail guns of various sizes
- Pipe cutters
- Laser level
- Jig saw
Having tools that you have no clue how to use and will never put the time to learn, is generally useless.
for those people, finding a guy who is a handyman that is cost effective, is very important. so you have somewhere to call to fix issues, and do minor around the house stuff.
yes i am useless in the house.
Its your home. You either like it already or will grow to like it, and you'll probably think of million great things to do to make it better. Unless you set aside time (and money)to get them done, nothing will happen. Time is precious. Use it wisely.
It's the one area my wife and I both agreed not to skimp on.
use a budget app/software so you know exactly how much you are spending on utilities, maintenance, repairs etc.
focus renos on kitchens and bathrooms
paint rooms in neutral colors.
It's the one area my wife and I both agreed not to skimp on.
For that you'd have to change a letter - vice grips. *grin*
Quote:
Sounds like the contents of Cam's brief case.
For that you'd have to change a letter - vice grips. *grin*
You'd have to change more than that. Nipple clamps, clothespins, dog collars, astroglide, handcuffs, self adhesive tape...all of that. No to duct tape (takes skin with it) or WD-40. Vise grips? Meh, too heavy. Too easy to cause some sort of injury (worse than nice bruising or welts).