The Home Ownership Thread

[Numbernine]

A bear climbs up a tree in a man's backyard and won't get down so he calls animal control...

An animal control van pulls up and a man steps out with a pitbull by his side. He comes up to the owner, hands him a semi-automatic rifle and says: "Here is the plan, I climb up the tree and start shaking it, when the bear falls out, my pitbull Fluffy here will bite him by the balls and drag him back to my van. Got it?". The owner, startled, says: "OK sure, but what the hell is the gun for?". The man replies: "In case I fall off the tree first, you better empty the ******* clip on Fluffy!"

 

[Omega Male]

Had a note from our insurance broker apologizing for all the bullshit our carrier is (again) requiring for wildfire risk mitigation this year, but also noting he would be unable to place the policy with them today at all given the underwriting changes they've made since we bought in 2017. Reading between the lines -- suck it up. Of course the most likely outcome is we do the work and they drop us anyway in a year or so after another couple of dire events go into their risk models. Things that didn't even remotely occur to me when moving over from the UK, where this somewhat less of a concern ...

 

[Joffrey]

Had a note from our insurance broker apologizing for all the bullshit our carrier is (again) requiring for wildfire risk mitigation this year, but also noting he would be unable to place the policy with them today at all given the underwriting changes they've made since we bought in 2017. Reading between the lines -- suck it up. Of course the most likely outcome is we do the work and they drop us anyway in a year or so after another couple of dire events go into their risk models. Things that didn't even remotely occur to me when moving over from the UK, where this somewhat less of a concern ...

I'm sure it beats needing insurance coverage for bad food, eh?

 

[sliq]

day 1 of renos:

And the completed. Managed to renovate the entire house with just dad, his handyman friend from church and myself in a good 8-10 week period. Never again! (Excuse the cardboard mat, that’s now been replaced with a proper dish).

 

[RedLantern]

Congrats! What are those, 10 ft ceilings?

 

[Van Veen]

Managed to renovate the entire house with just dad, his handyman friend from church and myself in a good 8-10 week period.

The entire house is just that one room you posted, right? Because otherwise that seems insane! Are you sure the dog didn't help?

 

[sliq]

this was the house about 90% complete. Since then, the skirting have all been installed, internal doors repainted a semi gloss vivid white (the two exit doors painted a gloss black) and fireplaces + mantel pieces painted black. Floorboards are a very
Swiss laminate, kronoswiss in an exclusive Australian colour, spotted gum (us Aussies love our spotted gum and Blackbutt).

The three front rooms have ceilings that are 3.3m tall/ 10.28feet. It’s a terrace house built in 1910. I’m glad I had the opportunity to restore it with my dad. This helped us rebuild a relationship that had been fractured for years. The overall experience was a very steep one - I’m a lawyer by trade so everything I learnt as I went. Design, putting up walls, plumbing, etc. not sure if I’d ever want to do it again. Everything that was wooden was pretty much rooted due to severe termite damage. What you don’t see is all the floor joists, ceiling and roof structure being repaired and replaced. Here’s some idea the extent we went to (and with a cheeky photo of dad enjoying himself).

 

[sliq]

And Rupert the Irish wolfhound x (rescue dog) was the onsite supervisor. He ensured we didn’t slack off.

 

[nootje]

**** that’s impressive! The ‘supervisor’ though, looks like he can be bought off. Just a fair warning?

 

[sliq]

haha easily bought off with treats.

 

[jbarwick]

Wow impressive change in that time frame

 

[Piobaire]

Looks good. Are those fireplaces wood burners?

 

[Omega Male]

Americans Are Taking Cash Out of Their Homes—And It Is Costing Them

Many homeowners pay higher rates after refinancing their homes to tap home equity, but the trade-off often makes sense.

www.wsj.com

 

[Piobaire]

I have to admit to having agita over the whole home owning thing. On one hand I've got all this "dead" equity, and on the other, I could end up with a mortgage and falling investment account if I went that route. Fucked either way...story of my life.

 

[jcman311]

On one hand I've got all this "dead" equity net worth,

Fixed. ?