OT: Basic Tools
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HuskyHawk
The triumphant return of the Blues Brothers.
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We home owners with an acre or so of woods surrounding our 4BR homes are no longer amateurs. I couldn't even access this house in winter snow if not for my snowblower. I installed the toilets and faucets in this house and have done a bunch of things. Nothing electrical except light switches and lights though.
Chainsaws are high risk. I did learn to use them from my dad, but felling trees is dangerous work best left to pros.
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There’s a difference in danger level between a radial arm saw and a power drill. Most house projects are not exactly rocket science (except crown moulding, that is rocket science).
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I feel like a total weeny if I service anything but difficult plumbing and electrical work out to a contractor. You are only as good as your tools, that said. They're nice to accumulate over the years, as the projects come, not all at once, especially now that you can get almost anything battery powered.
I'd say any dude with ambition to do his own DIY should own a circular saw, a chop saw & a table saw. There are so many DIY videos online these days that as long as you have the patience and coordination, you can figure it out. Other nice to haves are a nail gun & a paint sprayer. If you ever intend to do tile work, a wet saw is nice to have.
Just finished off some box molding and a built in bookcase that would have likely cost 5-6x as much if a contractor was brought in.
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If you don't mind me asking, how do you feel about paying rent for a living space where you'll never get anything back for that money you dish out? Clearly you enjoy the urban life enough to make that decision, but if you're doing this over a long span of time (10 years?), you're shovelling out tens of thousands of dollars getting nothing long term in return.
storrsroars
Exiled in Pittsburgh
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$4700/mo is roughly equivalent to a $842K condo with 20% down @ interest of 6%/yr.
So even if one wants to avoid DIY maintenance, buying a condo is a much better option.
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Exactly. I've never leased a car or paid a month's rent before.
StllH8L8ner
You’ll get nothing and like it!
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Renting represents freedom, as opposed to being stuck to one plot of dirt potentially forever, and then buried in the family plot at the local cemetery. I tend to move around, a lot. Some past addresses with my name on the lease include: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Cambridge, Charlotte Amalie, Los Angeles, Queens. I am someone who loves to travel, but prefer to experience new cultures and generally expand my horizons by actually moving to a place, and fully participating in and becoming an active member of its community.
Try selling, and then buying a new condo—or worse, a house—in a bad real estate market when your next opportunity suddenly emerges in Sydney, Australia (I am currently exploring possibilities).
What if you make a mistake, and discover after moving in that your neighbor is a homicidal maniac? As a renter, I’ll just break the lease and suffer some minor financial penalties and a black mark on my next credit report. Owners are stuck sleeping with one eye open, especially those nights when the neighbor had spent the entire day sharpening power tools in his tool shed out back, sparks flying and maniacal laughter. No thank you.
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I’ve lived in Brooklyn, too. Far more than I was ever concerned with a neighbor having power tools in their own apartment, I tried to pay attention to the guys carrying tools that did not require a battery or power supply. (I found myself in the middle of a battle - couldn’t see who was firing, and several of us ducked into building alcoves). This was not the only occasion I found myself way too close to the action. (First one, I saw the signs - a guy leaves his building complaining about somebody insulting his baby’s mama, then back tracks into his building/. I keep walking down the street and see a guy out with a machete. I cross the street and turn the corner - and I immediately hear 5-6 shots. I call 911 - then realize I can see the precinct. Cops ask me if I’m sure it wasn’t fireworks. Yes, I’m sure. Eventually they find a blood trail. I’m sure machete guy got shot (he survived).
And you’re afraid of power tools?
At least in the sticks, I can have my own tools and if somebody shows up, I can defend myself with my own tools.
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You're a weird dude, but I like it
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I really admire people who have skills and tools to do nearly everything around the home. My 82 year old neighbor in Fla gutted and did complete bathroom, replaced his gas hot water heater, electrical, the works by himself. I’m in awe.
But I just had a massive tree felled in Ct and the guy (with team) climbed it, stripped the branches, dropped it to a stake he set within 6 inches. Not to mention a huge chipper truck and moving the huge pieces with heavy equipment off property. This is NOT for amateurs.
But I just had a massive tree felled in Ct and the guy (with team) climbed it, stripped the branches, dropped it to a stake he set within 6 inches. Not to mention a huge chipper truck and moving the huge pieces with heavy equipment off property. This is NOT for amateurs.
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That x1000.
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... the time tested owners vs renters conversation ... I was a lifelong renter, up until 3 years ago - used to hear all of that "wasted money" money talk from my homeowner friends
When a sink clogs, or even if a lightbulb goes out, I miss being able to log a service request and have maintenance show up at 8:31am to handle it ... now it's $300 electrician bills, ah, the joys of home ownership
Home ownership is a labor of love, imho ... owning a home is not an investment (unless one plans to live in it for ~20yrs), again, imho ... personally, I miss my flat $3K/mo rent, 100% services, and pouring extra funds in to passive investments ... but to each their own
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Facts!! A pipe burst last Saturday in my basement and had around 3 inches of water in about half of basement. Sucked, but I'm glad I caught it at that time.
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Year before last I lived through your nightmare. You do not want to know what happened or what I spent.
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Do you pay a monthly mortgage payment or did you buy your house/previous houses straight cash?
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Surprisingly it didn't do that much damage. Most things where it burst were inside plastic Costco boxes so nothing inside was ruined. I fixed the burst pipe with Press fittings and Pex expansion. Cost me about $80 in parts. The stupid floor fans cost more than the parts. If I hired a plumber it would have cost over $1000 since it was a Saturday.
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Counter?
I've owned 4 houses going back to 1999-2000.
1) +12% on the sale - 3 years
2) +4% on the sale (got divorced and had to sell) - 5 years
3) +31% - 6 years
4) Current house is up 70% over my sale price. - 11 years
I never overbought and always made sure of looking at things like resale, proximity to schools (this house has K through 9th) within 4 blocks walking distance) and I've done things like wood flooring, redo the bathrooms, landscaping, etc that was a good investment for the cost (not something like putting in an inground pool which is a huge loser investment wise). Also refinancing for lower interest rates or to cut a 30 yr to a 15 yr any time it was worth it has been huge.
I think my sink has clogged twice in 25 years. Both times I figured it out (and I am NOT handy, YouTube is your friend). Worst thing I've had to deal with was a sump pump that didn't go on and my finished basement got flooded, but homeowners covered everything but $750.
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Started out with a 10% downpayment. Never paid more than 15% cash/equity. As said in the other post, most mortgages have a clause where you can "quick refi" for a charge. A couple times I chopped a point or more off my interest rate for like $750.00. When my mom passed away, I took some of the money from her house, paid down principal and cut a 30 yr to a 15 yr at a lower monthly payment.
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Impact driver will serve you well too.
You’ll want to settle on one brand though for your power tools since most batteries don’t work across brands (dewalt battery not compatible Bosch tools etc)
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not a counter, great discussion
love the %gains, can you share every expense as well (from grass seed, to paint, to property taxes & insurance paid, to other admin costs, to labor, to attys & real estate fees, to inconvenience of mulching all wknd while us renters were partying in Ibiza), and deduct both the financial and emotional costs, including the time value of money (and time), from the headlines?