The Home Ownership Thread

[sugarbutch]

The upside of home ownership is being able to tailor your home to your preferences. If I could find a rental which ticked all the boxes, that would be my preference. Except for the part about paying someone else to build their wealth…

 

[venividivicibj]

@otc any thought to getting some overhead mounted infrared heaters for the garage?

 

[otc]

@otc any thought to getting some overhead mounted infrared heaters for the garage?

I've thought about that too. I do like the way they make YOU feel warm which is great for working out there.

But I'm note entirely sure how they'd do in terms of keeping the garage itself at a slightly elevated temperature. Is trying to warm the concrete slab (which is basically what the IR heat would be doing) a futile exercise?

A big 240V forced air garage heater should be able to warm the room pretty quick on demand. And either option requires running new power...and electricity is pretty cheap here.

I could also get a gas heater...I've asked the utility for a quote to run a gas line (we have gas on the curb but not run to my house) and they were supposed to come out, but nobody ever showed up.

 

[sugarbutch]

I've thought about that too. I do like the way they make YOU feel warm which is great for working out there.

But I'm note entirely sure how they'd do in terms of keeping the garage itself at a slightly elevated temperature. Is trying to warm the concrete slab (which is basically what the IR heat would be doing) a futile exercise?

A big 240V forced air garage heater should be able to warm the room pretty quick on demand. And either option requires running new power...and electricity is pretty cheap here.

I could also get a gas heater...I've asked the utility for a quote to run a gas line (we have gas on the curb but not run to my house) and they were supposed to come out, but nobody ever showed up.

You need a basement.

 

[Numbernine]

I've thought about that too. I do like the way they make YOU feel warm which is great for working out there.

But I'm note entirely sure how they'd do in terms of keeping the garage itself at a slightly elevated temperature. Is trying to warm the concrete slab (which is basically what the IR heat would be doing) a futile exercise?

A big 240V forced air garage heater should be able to warm the room pretty quick on demand. And either option requires running new power...and electricity is pretty cheap here.

I could also get a gas heater...I've asked the utility for a quote to run a gas line (we have gas on the curb but not run to my house) and they were supposed to come out, but nobody ever showed up.

Anything from the meter to the house is on your dime. You need a plumber.

 

[otc]

You need a basement.

I’d love one. I tried real hard but crawl spaces are far more common (and the house in this neighborhood with a full basement has nonstop problems with the high water table). So oversized garage it is.

Anything from the meter to the house is on your dime. You need a plumber.

No meter, needs to be run from the street to the house and the utility wants to do that.

It might actually end up being free though as long as the distance is short. But I would need a plumber to run it around the house.

 

[double00]

one of the reasons we bought this place was for the shop space . it's not a basement ( we don't have ) , it's two steps down and shares the slab with the garage . on grade with street and backyard , more or less perfect for what I need .

before we moved here I was renting a light-industrial space ( prob a very similar 800 SF to what I have in house now ) . we rented a house nearby for a year before we found our buy and I thought maybe I could get by with the garage space in that scenario but nope really not workable for me .

good luck with your project !

 

[jbarwick]

I’d love one. I tried real hard but crawl spaces are far more common (and the house in this neighborhood with a full basement has nonstop problems with the high water table). So oversized garage it is.


No meter, needs to be run from the street to the house and the utility wants to do that.

It might actually end up being free though as long as the distance is short. But I would need a plumber to run it around the house.

Our gas company runs lines from the street and were quickly and cheaper than plumbers in the area. While cheaper, it was still expensive for the length of line...

 

[Numbernine]

Our gas company runs lines from the street and were quickly and cheaper than plumbers in the area. While cheaper, it was still expensive for the length of line...

It was 20 years ago when I retired but at that time most of the utility companies were using flexible plastic tubing on everything 12"or more below grade and they only have to go from A to B . The plumber has to use steel threaded pipe so every take off or change in direction is a lot bigger deal. We got hired a lot by PG&E to do their more difficult stuff. I never knew any of their welders but most of the stuff I saw on their side would never cut it in the trade. Ugh don't get me started on PG&E

 

[jbarwick]

I guess it depends on the state. Here in TN, my local used steel threaded and changed directions multiple times. I also recall the day they did the work was the coldest all winter. It was like 15* that day.

 

[Joffrey]

Interesting that most renters hype up the dream of owning a home, but when they become one, they hate it.

I bought a few years ago and am enjoying it. While renting I was never particularly interested in owning but now, I have drunk the kool-aid and believe renting is a waste of money. Now, my condo is not terribly old (~40 years in a city with much older buildings) and is well run, so my opinion may be different if I lived in a badly run or old building with $1,000+ HOAs and minimal amenities. I could see ditching home owning as I get older and aim to simplify.

 

[otc]

Our gas company runs lines from the street and were quickly and cheaper than plumbers in the area. While cheaper, it was still expensive for the length of line...

Some are free up to 50’ or so. Probably depends on their regulatory mandate as a utility with a local monopoly.

But it also makes sense…they can’t sell you gas if you don’t have a hookup and a lot of people will balk at a big upfront cost…but once that line is run, you’ve got monthly revenue almost guaranteed as long as the house stands.

 

[otc]

I bought a few years ago and am enjoying it. While renting I was never particularly interested in owning but now, I have drunk the kool-aid and believe renting is a waste of money. Now, my condo is not terribly old (~40 years in a city with much older buildings) and is well run, so my opinion may be different if I lived in a badly run or old building with $1,000+ HOAs and minimal amenities. I could see ditching home owning as I get older and aim to simplify.

I’ve been vocally pro-rental in this thread for years.

I only bought because I felt I had to in order to get what I want in this town (equivalent rentals tend to get packed up as vacation/seasonal rentals).

Helps that I am someone who enjoys DIY projects and being the owner gives me more freedom. But even then there’s a difference between “fun” DIY like changing up a room out building out garage shop/storage and annoying DIY like fixing a leaky gutter so it doesn’t cause thousands of dollars in water damage. The latter may still be a somewhat satisfying project to complete, but not when you’d rather be spending that time doing literally anything else (including fun DIY).

Being a landlord is a second job…

 

[Fueco]

Anyone have strong opinions on dishwasher brands?

My sister in law isn’t an option, as she lives in Alberta.

 

[brokencycle]

Anyone have strong opinions on dishwasher brands?

My sister in law isn’t an option, as she lives in Alberta.

Bosch 500 or 800 is the best balance of performance/features/price.