I'm officially sick oh home repairs

[Goldy1]

My house was built in 1975, the year I was born. MY dh bought it at 24 years old for about 160K in 1997. He did a total gut of a full bath. He recarpeted a lot of the place. (animal stains and the bathroom was nasty yellow 1970's) He painted some rooms. He took down a small wall.

I move in abround 2000. I paint most the house. WE put in hard wood thru kitchen an dliving room and 2 bedrooms. A few years ago, we got a new AC and furnace. WE just had to buy a new hot water tank(leaking) We are redoing a half bath ourselves on a 1K budget(no labor costs and bout it all at Lowe's(nice stuff actually)WE retiled the bathroom last year just in the bath tub area (we did great but it was soo much work)

WE have gotten a new roof. Our washer broke so we got a new washer and dryer. Our dishwaher broke so got that too. Our stove brok so we got that(all the past couple years)

Now my dh wants new siding and gutters. LOL. One day I would like granite counter tops(I like my 1990's kitchen still lol. The wood floor helped)We bought a small plastic shed.

I know I must be forgetting stuff too. We have bought furniture.

I love my house, but you get the picture. WE did all the above in cash but I feel so sick of it finally. lol

Is this why folks buy new homes? Don't they out in cheap stuff now though? builder's grade? ALL the new houses going up around me are huge and in the 300's(Michigan). I don't think I ever see 2000 square foot homes built anymore.

Thank goodness my dh is the son of a carpenter and handy but he works long hours an disn't big on huge stuff like putting up his own roof or painting outside.

[MonkeyMama]

Yes, this is why people buy new homes!!!

I personally felt it was far more frugal to buy a newer home. The energy efficiency is also pretty amazing. People will all the time talk about quality of newer homes. Whatever - let them think it. All I know is the roof is supposed to last 50 years and I won't have to re-wire or redo pipes even if I live here many decades.

All that said, we all have home maintenance. There will always be something. My plan was to save our pennies some years before we had any repairs. 9 years into owning our home, I'd say it's paid off. I expect the appliances will be the first to go. We've done some landscaping and repainted the exterior. The fence looks sad (the builder did go cheap on that. The painter told us the stucco paint fades quickly the first time for whatever reason - shouldn't fade so fast this time). But there is no doubt having a newer home has been far less maintenance in the first decade. Maintenance-free? Not sure that exists when it comes to home ownership.

[disneysteve]

It doesn't matter if you buy new or used, you will have maintenance costs. The longer you are there, the higher they will be. Stuff wears out. Appliances need replacing. Things break.

Our house was built in 1964, the year I was born (so we share that in common Goldy). Without even thinking too hard, here a list of stuff we've done:
roof
siding and gutters
front door and storm door
almost all windows replaced
furnace
central air conditioner
garage door and opener
carpet in 2 rooms
painted 3 rooms
outdoor light fixtures
attic floor
hot water heater
dishwasher (twice)
washer and dryer (twice)
microwave
countless repairs to toilets, tubs, showers and such
repairs to oven and stovetop
removed 4 trees from property

I'm sure there is a lot more. We've been here over 16 years. Houses are money pits. The costs never end because things never stop wearing out or needing repairs. We had the heater guy out just yesterday because my wife came home and the heater wasn't working (on a 25 degree day). It is just part of the joy of home ownership.

[Ima saver]

My dh built our home in 1995. So far, we have only had to pressure wash it to maintain the appearance. A few of the appliances have had to be replaced, dishwasher, stove top and an element in one of the double ovens.
I prefer getting a new house again soon, so we do not have to do much in the way of repairs. I also prefer having a house built using a plan that I have helped design.

[GREENBACK]

My house was built in '52. I could do a lot of cosmetic fixes to it but has chosen to spread this out over time. Trying to do a big makeover at one time really jacks up your bills. It's a marathon, not a sprint. If the neighbors think that my old country house isn't appropriate, I can only say that it satisfies me and my net worth well exceeds it's value. Fix what needs to be fixed and take your time on the rest of it.

[cypher1]

These are the kind of stories that make me paranoid about my house, or when i hear from friends who tell me about 2-3 appliances all failing within 3 months. Just makes me want to budget more money on certain items I know are original and that have seemed to be working pasted their expected avg life usage. An example, my house was built in 97, and still using original water hear which works, but even home inspection noted to be concerned with. So when it does go out, I already have the funds, and plan on doing myself. Had my house for under 2 years now, but had a new roof from 3 or 4 years ago. I consider my furnace, AC, refrigerator, oven range, water heater as main priority appliances. While the others, dish washer hardly use, washer/dryer my roommates and I all use, but we could all go back to coin laundry down the road until its replaced. Water softener I already replaced, but we didnt mind hard water for a little bit.

I realize this list isn't for everyone, since I don't have family or kids living under my roof. It was more of a checklist for if/when an item fails, how long could I go before replacing. Besides having an EF, I have a budget for home repairs-need, and another for optional home improvements-wants.

[snafu]

All appliances have a lifespan and wear-out no matter which house you buy. Cosmetic changes are all a matter of personal preference/taste. Several years ago we fretted about painting the external siding. A neighbor convinced us to try DIY. If we found it beyond our capabilities, we could always hire a painter. Long story short, we rented scaffolding, professional sprayer and bought quality external paint according to Consumer's. We spent an entire day taping windows doors & shrubbery. Day 2 painting; Easy peasy, couldn't believe it! We did two coats, starting at the side so if we messed up it wouldn't be too obvious. It was actually fun! While it took nearly 8 hrs. to tape windows etc; took little more than an hour to tear it all off!

Took another hour to dis-assemble the scaffolding and return it to rental. The longest part was cleaning the spray equipment...left it to soak overnight. There is so much thinning of paint to have the correct viscosity for spraying we used less than half the paint we bought. We had the leftover paint re-colored and used it to paint the fence and deck structure we built two years later. Those were jobs from H_ll

[Breton Wench]

Crikey -you guys have me looking at the walls of the room I am in and wondering when mine is going to fall in!!

Built - 1840. Originally a station masters house and buffet for the - now defunct - railway station.
Repairs and updates ( we have been here 3 years)
- New double glazed windows
- new bathroom downstairs
- new (recycled) kitchen units
- paint front room and kitchen

Next year - put in proper sewage tank, insulate roof and wash and paint front of house. However, as DH and I plan to be here for the next 15 years at least, we are taking things easy and just picking off things as and when we can afford them. Our heating is woodfired, so we just have to keep the chimneys clean.
Other than that, it is a solid, granite built, large airy house that I really love - and that is the main thing.

[cschin4]

Best advice I can give you - STOP WATCHING HGTV!!!


Ha! Seriously though. I just had to quit watching that because then you constantly see everything "wrong" with your house. Enjoy your home for what it is!

[cschin4]

My home was built in 1851! And, I was dumb enough to buy it and continually sink money into it. I did a complete remodel but it is still an "old house". It would have made much more sense to just have built a new home or have bought something in better condition but I was stupid. But, oh well, it is done now and I really enjoy it and it is "home".

[cschin4]

And, my foundation is sandstones.

[cschin4]

And, I would have soooooo much more money in the bank if I hadn't succumbed to HGTV and the "need" for granite countertops and other BS. BTW, what is a counter top? It is a place to set your TOASTER! Think about it! Do you really need granite for a small family to cook meals and make sandwhiches? We are not talking about industrial output here.

[cypher1]

And, I would have soooooo much more money in the bank if I hadn't succumbed to HGTV and the "need" for granite countertops and other BS. BTW, what is a counter top? It is a place to set your TOASTER! Think about it! Do you really need granite for a small family to cook meals and make sandwhiches? We are not talking about industrial output here.

I don't watch HGTV, but my friends love giving advice for house stuff when they watch, IE granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, etc. Of course they're not home owners, so its easy for them to make all these suggestions. I tell them to try being a homeowner first, and do all those things. As for counter tops, its all preference to the owner, so I cannot justify granite or marble either. Friends will say "You're buying it to make it more appealing for the resale." Whatever I do for the house is for me/wallet first since I hope to stay as long as I can, resale option second.
Although I will say I'm guilty of "wanting" hardwood floors on main level, and have already setup a budget for the next 1-2 years, to do myself. Dwell magazine is my achilles heel for projects.

[Goldy1]

Oh I forgot to mention, the new concrete poured for my driveway and garage and my sidewalk whech was in shambles. I also did landscaping. I also ripped down an above ground pool because I was tired of upkeep and not using it enough.

I also forgot the wood Pella windows put into my home throughout in the 1990's;many rotted and it was very expensive to replace!

replaced celing fans, replaced lightswitches

[s3xyrixa]

I don't know my house was built in 1890 and has about the same problems as most new houses that were built with moron contractors (except the siding and roof) but I got it for $12,000 and it was appraised at $16,500 and with the repairs I've done to it (added electric energy star heaters, replaced appliances and some other small stuff) the value is now $18,500 in a village in the middle of nowhere. I gotta love the trap door cellar though that's still under the living room hehe!