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Homeowners: tell me how I should allocate money on remodeling

i'm buying a house and it needs a little work. here's th...
Umber shrine
  04/18/18
take out an equity line, bet not on black, now afford everyt...
Chartreuse rigor
  04/18/18
1. Windows 2. Concrete 3. Landscaping Deal with ...
Histrionic old irish cottage
  04/18/18
This. Also you can fix landscaping yourself, not the others....
Hyperventilating genital piercing sanctuary
  04/18/18
brother, i would have no idea how to fix the landscaping mys...
Umber shrine
  04/18/18
you can at least trim bushes, pull weeds, etc to make it loo...
Hyperventilating genital piercing sanctuary
  04/18/18
ty brother. would you say the windows are more important tha...
Umber shrine
  04/18/18
aesthetics is the only thing that matter for resale value
duck-like spot love of her life
  04/18/18
Yes. Window upgrades are underrated, but it is a good point...
Histrionic old irish cottage
  04/18/18
double-pane look better too
Umber shrine
  04/18/18
window upgrades are overrated
Bonkers idiot jap
  04/18/18
spoiler: you're going to end up doing the pool (because you...
duck-like spot love of her life
  04/18/18
actually my wife is being more reasonable about the pool tha...
Umber shrine
  04/18/18
I enjoyed reading this
Tantric ticket booth pervert
  04/18/18
Windows will improve temperature regulation, soundproofing, ...
electric corner roast beef
  04/18/18
will have a better estimate on saturday. i agree it seems lo...
Umber shrine
  04/18/18
Expect it to at least double.
electric corner roast beef
  04/18/18
...
Umber shrine
  04/22/18
always windows first probably pool #2 for utility land...
aggressive titillating nursing home
  04/18/18
from a monetary cost-benefit analysis, these are all shitty ...
Bonkers idiot jap
  04/18/18
Don't do anything for a year that you can't do yourself. You...
clear sandwich location
  04/18/18
Skip the pool - you've gone this long without it and can go ...
Comical institution death wish
  04/18/18
where do i find laborers?
Umber shrine
  04/18/18
http://hireadaylaborer.org/locate-a-day-labor-center-near-yo...
Comical institution death wish
  04/18/18
Don’t bother with windows. New windows suck. You can f...
mind-boggling shitlib stain
  04/18/18
Windows, concrete/landscaping, pool last. Landscaping can...
Sienna self-absorbed step-uncle's house
  04/18/18
So prole. Fitting new windows rather than restoring origin...
mind-boggling shitlib stain
  04/18/18
...
Contagious native mexican
  04/22/18
...
Talented Brunch Juggernaut
  04/22/18
Can you shutter the pool for a while? That should be a very...
free-loading razzle-dazzle dopamine
  04/18/18
UPDATE: Invited all inspectors and estimators to the hou...
Umber shrine
  04/22/18
thoughts?
Umber shrine
  04/23/18
Ignore the pool or do it last because nobody actually uses t...
deranged garrison haunted graveyard
  04/22/18
cr
Umber shrine
  04/22/18
...
Umber shrine
  04/22/18


Poast new message in this thread



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:27 PM
Author: Umber shrine

i'm buying a house and it needs a little work.

here's the possible upgrades and current condition:

- double pane windows. home still has original metal windows from the 70s. (~$12k)

- repaved and retiled pool with PebbleTec. the pool is disgusting right now, but we will only use it in the summers. (~$10k)

- concrete in the backyard needs to be redone as it's deeply cracked. (~$3k)

- previous owners neglected landscaping, so we'll need to put in some plants and pavers around the house. (~$4k)

$20k budget.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869201)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:29 PM
Author: Chartreuse rigor

take out an equity line, bet not on black, now afford everything.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869212)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:29 PM
Author: Histrionic old irish cottage

1. Windows

2. Concrete

3. Landscaping

Deal with the pool when you can. Just keep it clean in the meantime.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869213)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:32 PM
Author: Hyperventilating genital piercing sanctuary

This. Also you can fix landscaping yourself, not the others.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869240)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:35 PM
Author: Umber shrine

brother, i would have no idea how to fix the landscaping myself. putting in a sprinkler system, etc.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869262)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 5:03 PM
Author: Hyperventilating genital piercing sanctuary

you can at least trim bushes, pull weeds, etc to make it look presentable. That should be the last item on your priorities. Fix the other stuff first.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869450)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:33 PM
Author: Umber shrine

ty brother. would you say the windows are more important than 2 and 3?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869243)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:34 PM
Author: duck-like spot love of her life

aesthetics is the only thing that matter for resale value

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869251)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:37 PM
Author: Histrionic old irish cottage

Yes. Window upgrades are underrated, but it is a good point for resale, assuming the buyer knows what they are doing. Also, from a day-to-day perspective, your home will be quieter and cheaper to heat and cool.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869281)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:42 PM
Author: Umber shrine

double-pane look better too

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869315)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:59 PM
Author: Bonkers idiot jap

window upgrades are overrated

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869420)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:32 PM
Author: duck-like spot love of her life

spoiler:

you're going to end up doing the pool (because your wife NEEDS to go swimming all the time this summer in her new pool omg and have ppl over for swim & bbq omg!) and landscaping (because when ppl come over for swim/bbq the yard NEEDS to look great) and then you'll do the concrete (bc when ppl are hanging out in the backyard by the pool the concrete looks SO BAD and its also a safety issue what if someone trips on it??)

you clearly want windows the most, but you won't get them. hth.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869241)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:35 PM
Author: Umber shrine

actually my wife is being more reasonable about the pool than me. it's just such an eyesore right now.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869266)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:38 PM
Author: Tantric ticket booth pervert

I enjoyed reading this

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869288)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:36 PM
Author: electric corner roast beef

Windows will improve temperature regulation, soundproofing, etc. Your estimate seems low, but windows should be done first.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869274)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:38 PM
Author: Umber shrine

will have a better estimate on saturday. i agree it seems low as we also need sliding doors for the patio.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869290)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:48 PM
Author: electric corner roast beef

Expect it to at least double.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869357)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2018 7:08 PM
Author: Umber shrine



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35896029)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:51 PM
Author: aggressive titillating nursing home

always windows first

probably pool #2 for utility

landscaping can come with time



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869374)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:56 PM
Author: Bonkers idiot jap

from a monetary cost-benefit analysis, these are all shitty investments except the landscaping.

the windows are probably the next best investment, but the energy savings are overrated and it would take longer than the lifetime of the windows to recoup the investment. if they're single-glazed, just get storm panes for the outside and you'll get 85%-95% of the efficiency of a double-glazed.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869402)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 4:57 PM
Author: clear sandwich location

Don't do anything for a year that you can't do yourself. You'll be amazed at what you can get done or used to

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869414)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 5:13 PM
Author: Comical institution death wish

Skip the pool - you've gone this long without it and can go another year or two. Just don't let it get disgusting. See if you really even want it. They are money pits and lots of times are barely used. Cool if you have kids, though.

The other estimates seem really low, but in SV everything is jacked to hell because people will pay it. I can't possibly see how the windows will cost that little unless you have 10-12 and they're all standard-sized.

Re: landscaping and irrigation: Can you hire laborers to do it? In CA these people are everywhere and will do the work for $15-20/hr. Buy them lunch and a 6-pack at the end of the day and they'll work their asses off and know what they're doing. Better than paying a landscaping company to do the same thing (with similar laborers) for 3x the price.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35869521)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 7:41 PM
Author: Umber shrine

where do i find laborers?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35870300)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 7:51 PM
Author: Comical institution death wish

http://hireadaylaborer.org/locate-a-day-labor-center-near-you/

They also hang out outside the Home Depots here, but I don't know enough Spanish to make that work.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35870344)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 8:00 PM
Author: mind-boggling shitlib stain

Don’t bother with windows. New windows suck.

You can fix the pool and back concrete cheap. Just patch and call it a day.

DIY the landscaping.

All done for a couple grand.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35870400)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 8:28 PM
Author: Sienna self-absorbed step-uncle's house

Windows, concrete/landscaping, pool last.

Landscaping can cost less if you do drought resistant stuff or if you use the cheap grass or hire day laborers. But if you need to install a whole new sprinkler system and jack up the concrete, don’t hire the day laborers obviously.

Our windows sucked and were original wood frames, all cracked from the 1930s, didn’t stay open, etc and we replaced them all with Milgard windows. Helps a lot with the soundproofing and they just look a lot better.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35870615)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 8:33 PM
Author: mind-boggling shitlib stain

So prole. Fitting new windows rather than restoring originals.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35870641)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2018 7:12 PM
Author: Contagious native mexican



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35896049)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2018 9:59 PM
Author: Talented Brunch Juggernaut



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35897146)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 18th, 2018 8:31 PM
Author: free-loading razzle-dazzle dopamine

Can you shutter the pool for a while? That should be a very low priority.

The windows are another low priority.

Of the projects you listed I would go for the concrete and the landscaping first.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35870627)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2018 7:00 PM
Author: Umber shrine

UPDATE:

Invited all inspectors and estimators to the house yesterday.

Window company is best in area, 100+ Yelp reviews straight 5-stars. Came to the house to take measurements, and then we went to his showroom. We need 20 windows, including 4 large art (custom) windows, plus 4 sliding doors.

For the concrete, I spoke to a bunch of flame contractors that wanted to charge an arm and a leg just for grinding out cracks and coating the concrete. Wife and I realized that we'd rather just have new concrete if we could.

I ended up finding a concrete supplier, and she referred me to someone they work with frequently, who's unlicensed. He came to the yard yesterday, took measurements (2100 sq ft of concrete needed), and since he was Hispanic, I asked if he could also do the landscaping.

He got back to me today and is willing to do everything for $17k.

The windows (and doors) we were able to get for $14,500 for the whole house. PlyGem Pro Series 200. Initial price was $18k, but we talked them down. MSRP was something like $28k. Pretty happy with this deal as I know that installation is just as important if not moreso than window quality, and these guys are apparently very good.

Trying to decide if we want to do the whole yard (landscaping + concrete) for $17k. I will of course try to talk him down but seems like a fair price for a large yard.

Altogether that's $31.5k, but we're hoping sellers will give some credit towards that.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35895948)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 23rd, 2018 1:54 PM
Author: Umber shrine

thoughts?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35901311)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2018 7:17 PM
Author: deranged garrison haunted graveyard

Ignore the pool or do it last because nobody actually uses their pools.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35896100)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2018 7:23 PM
Author: Umber shrine

cr

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35896137)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2018 8:39 PM
Author: Umber shrine



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3953105&forum_id=2#35896587)