The Home Ownership Thread

[Numbernine]

Didn't know much about aspens so I read up a bit. Ouch! I'd probably just spread a bunch of boulders around and go for the rustic mountain cabin look.

 

[venividivicibj]

Today only - Milwaukee M18 hammer drill/impact driver with high output batteries kit - $254 with promotion

Includes: Package Contents (1) M18 FUEL 1/2 in. hammer drill (2904-20), (1) M18 FUEL 1/4 in. hex impact driver (2953-20), (1) M18 REDLITHIUM High Output XC6.0 battery (48-11-1860), (1) M18 REDLITHIUM

slickdeals.net

This looks like a pretty good deal. Same top of the line drill and impact driver I got but different batteries. I got 2x 5AH batteries, this comes with the newer high output batteries, one in a 6AH, other in 3AH. Might actually be nice to have a smaller battery option as the tools get bulky with big batteries.

Comes in a soft bag instead of a hard case, but that might actually be better? Hard case is pretty nice, but it only fits exactly the stuff the kit comes with and you have to make sure everything is in its place to latch it.

Home depot kit is $266 if you do the battery hack where you add free battery to cart, then return the battery (or supposedly you can set the battery for in-store pickup at a different location, pick up the tool, and then cancel/never pick up the battery).

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) with 2 Batteries 3697-22 - The Home Depot

The MILWAUKEE M18 FUEL 2-Tool Combo Kit has the Most Powerful Drill, including AutoStop Control Mode for enhanced safety and the Fastest Driving Impact Driver. Includes an M18 FUEL 1/2" Hammer Drill, M18 FUEL 1/4" Hex Impact Driver, (2) M18 REDLITHIUM XC 5.0Ah Battery Pack, with an M18/M12...

www.homedepot.com

do you use slickdeals for anything else or just tools? Seems useful

 

[otc]

do you use slickdeals for anything else or just tools? Seems useful

Fùcking everything. Been checking that site often for almost 20 years at this point.

Can also set deal alerts and get pinged if there’s a front page deal for what you’re looking for.

Paging @brokencycle

 

[brokencycle]

Fùcking everything. Been checking that site often for almost 20 years at this point.

Can also set deal alerts and get pinged if there’s a front page deal for what you’re looking for.

Paging @brokencycle

I definitely use it a lot less than I used to. It went downhill when it became an advertising machine for companies like Amazon that would get promoted ****** deals (particularly with Amazon where they would frontpage deals on things like groceries that are normally cheaper at the grocery store). That said, you just do what otc said - setup alerts for stuff you're looking for.

I use slickdeals in three ways:
1. Staples (e.g. laundry detergent) and stock up when a good deal hits.
2. Bigger ticket items that aren't urgent like a new phone - set an alert for the exact thing I want and wait
3. Price history tracking - looking at buying something and do searches to see what have been historically been good prices

 

[otc]

SD, SF, and a mountain sports forum have basically ruined shopping for me though.

I know how cheap stuff CAN be which makes it hard to pay full price for anything. Although I’m still waiting for my interior decorator hookup who can give me 40% off all nice furniture as a favor.

I love when there’s crossover though. Reading the comments on a slickdeals thread about Allen Edmonds shoes or nice mountain bikes is always hilarious. Lots of people who can’t appreciate a good deal on something nice…anyone who spends more than $45 on a pair of shoes is a freaking idiot.


edit: I will say that there are a lot of knowledgeable posters there too--especially on stuff like electronics and tools. The comments will let you know if something is actually a good deal, whether there are better alternative models for your use case, give first-hand reviews, etc.

 

[otc]

Pre-germinated my grass seed and mixed with 100lbs of @jcman311 ’s poop to spread to overseed.

Mostly did it to buy me some extra time to finish pulling roots, filling holes, fixing some grading, and preparing the lawn for overseeing, but it does seem like a good way to save water and help ensure a good germination rate.

Hope it works and we don’t get a frost.

 

[venividivicibj]

Pre-germinated my grass seed and mixed with 100lbs of @jcman311 ’s poop to spread to overseed.
View attachment 2247545

Mostly did it to buy me some extra time to finish pulling roots, filling holes, fixing some grading, and preparing the lawn for overseeing, but it does seem like a good way to save water and help ensure a good germination rate.

Hope it works and we don’t get a frost.

Aerate?

 

[otc]

Is this a dumb idea? I have 3 empty raised beds (they need to be repaired, but they are there and have dirt, and my mom pulled all the weeds that were growing in them when we moved in).

Should I have planted 1 of them with grass seed and created my own little sod farm to harvest plugs from?

I've still got a lot of aspen roots to remove, so this would let me nicely patch all those holes in the future.

Oh well, maybe in the spring. And I ordered fancy grass seed instead of going with the HD special, so it should have tall fescue with high rhizome activity...so it should be better able to self-spread and fill in small patches.

Aerate?

Maybe next year (although I'm not sure how my root situation jives with aerator machines). I think there are a few places with compaction issues but it is mostly OK and I don't think the dirt here needs frequent aeration. Mostly just dealing with prior-owner neglect plus the roots.

I did run a power dethatcher over it to loosen up the top layer for seeding.

 

[UnFacconable]

Although I’m still waiting for my interior decorator hookup who can give me 40% off all nice furniture as a favor.

We purchased a bunch of furniture this year with trade discounts and the vast majority are at 20% or lower. Plus a lot of these places have freight charges that will drive you up the wall.

We would have saved a bunch of time, money and energy if we just walked into a Restoration Hardware or similar but Mrs. Unf was adamant that we needed a designer. The end result is nice, but the process was quite painful.

 

[Numbernine]

In Santa Cruz we prefer to use our "lawn space" to combine weed farming with gopher ranching.

 

[double00]

Is this a dumb idea? I have 3 empty raised beds (they need to be repaired, but they are there and have dirt, and my mom pulled all the weeds that were growing in them when we moved in).

Should I have planted 1 of them with grass seed and created my own little sod farm to harvest plugs from?

View attachment 2247547

I've still got a lot of aspen roots to remove, so this would let me nicely patch all those holes in the future.

Oh well, maybe in the spring. And I ordered fancy grass seed instead of going with the HD special, so it should have tall fescue with high rhizome activity...so it should be better able to self-spread and fill in small patches.


Maybe next year (although I'm not sure how my root situation jives with aerator machines). I think there are a few places with compaction issues but it is mostly OK and I don't think the dirt here needs frequent aeration. Mostly just dealing with prior-owner neglect plus the roots.

I did run a power dethatcher over it to loosen up the top layer for seeding.

personally I would be focused on getting the grade cleaned out and repaired . once I had the rough grade where I wanted it I'd probably just fill the divots with sterile loam ( maybe composted loam ) and top with some bark chips and let the surrounding grass run in until the spring .

 

[jbarwick]

What is the SF consensus on having a company manage the grass fertilizer/chemicals? I'd assume half will say lawns are evil and the other half would say go for it? We do not have an irrigation system if that makes any difference and not planning to add one since our yard is basically a couple inches of dirt and grass on rocks.

 

[Piobaire]

Without addressing the fact lawns are evil I will just say I am a big fan of outsourcing everything possible about home ownership.

 

[otc]

Without addressing the fact lawns are evil I will just say I am a big fan of outsourcing everything possible about home ownership.

So...renting a furnished place?

 

[venividivicibj]

What is the SF consensus on having a company manage the grass fertilizer/chemicals? I'd assume half will say lawns are evil and the other half would say go for it? We do not have an irrigation system if that makes any difference and not planning to add one since our yard is basically a couple inches of dirt and grass on rocks.

Depends how big your lawn is? If it's small it really shouldn't be a problem