Otis in the Suburbs (3 Viewers)

[Sarnoff]

O> Make sure you have security laminate on those windows on the side of your front door. Crooks love those things.

No shtick. Not even worth locking your doors if you're not going to laminate the windows... someone wants to break in, they just break the glass closest to the knob, then reach in and flip the deadbolt from the inside. It's really the minimum you should do. All windows should have laminate, but if you don't want to spend (on security, you're gonna be a cheapskate?), at least all the first-floor windows should, and at the very minimum do the ones by the front door. And make sure ADT hooks up the security monitors to those second-floor windows. Crooks know they usually just do the ground floor, and climbing up to the second floor to break in is very easy.

Can you laminate existing windows? Is this a DIY project?

You can buy the film and laminate existing windows. It can be DIY, but you need special tools: a squeegee. I think you can buy the film for like $8/sqft. Otis is better off paying some security contractor $2K to do it.

 

[Otis]

O> Make sure you have security laminate on those windows on the side of your front door. Crooks love those things.

No shtick. Not even worth locking your doors if you're not going to laminate the windows... someone wants to break in, they just break the glass closest to the knob, then reach in and flip the deadbolt from the inside. It's really the minimum you should do. All windows should have laminate, but if you don't want to spend (on security, you're gonna be a cheapskate?), at least all the first-floor windows should, and at the very minimum do the ones by the front door. And make sure ADT hooks up the security monitors to those second-floor windows. Crooks know they usually just do the ground floor, and climbing up to the second floor to break in is very easy.

Can you laminate existing windows? Is this a DIY project?

You can buy the film and laminate existing windows. It can be DIY, but you need special tools: a squeegee. I think you can buy the film for like $8/sqft. Otis is better off paying some security contractor $2K to do it.

To apply a giant sticker? Hell no. I'm on it.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Just did this to the sidelights on my front door...worked great...I'll get the name of the stuff I used tonight.

 

[Otis]

Just did this to the sidelights on my front door...worked great...I'll get the name of the stuff I used tonight.

 

[urbanhack]

O> Make sure you have security laminate on those windows on the side of your front door. Crooks love those things.

No shtick. Not even worth locking your doors if you're not going to laminate the windows... someone wants to break in, they just break the glass closest to the knob, then reach in and flip the deadbolt from the inside. It's really the minimum you should do. All windows should have laminate, but if you don't want to spend (on security, you're gonna be a cheapskate?), at least all the first-floor windows should, and at the very minimum do the ones by the front door. And make sure ADT hooks up the security monitors to those second-floor windows. Crooks know they usually just do the ground floor, and climbing up to the second floor to break in is very easy.

Can you laminate existing windows? Is this a DIY project?

It can be DIY, but you need special tools: a squeegee.

shuke is all over this.$25 says he has two different squeegees!

 

[Tiger Fan]

Spray painting the shutters. Estimated cost: $15.

Shtick?

Not shtick.

Project update: Looks like two cans will cover six shutters. Revised budget: $10.

Can someone pop this into one of those make-your-own-comic things for me:Otis: Man, this 1978 Duster really is on its last legs. Has about 250k miles on it, all the systems in it are going, and it looks hideous. I'm gonna go spend 20k on a new car.

Pickles: If it were me, I'd just get new tires. Cost of project: few hundred bucks.

Otis: But you still have a broken down old car then, right?

Pickles: Spendthrift.

PM shuke.Seriously, PM Shuke...he loves those online self comic things

 

[Tiger Fan]

Are you going to DIY the deck? That deck is pretty bad.

He can't even hang a flat screen TV on the wall by himself. How the #### is he going to "DIY" the deck. Put down your camera and read this ####### thread!

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Spray painting the shutters. Estimated cost: $15.

Shtick?

Not shtick.

Project update: Looks like two cans will cover six shutters. Revised budget: $10.

Can someone pop this into one of those make-your-own-comic things for me:Otis: Man, this 1978 Duster really is on its last legs. Has about 250k miles on it, all the systems in it are going, and it looks hideous. I'm gonna go spend 20k on a new car.

Pickles: If it were me, I'd just get new tires. Cost of project: few hundred bucks.

Otis: But you still have a broken down old car then, right?

Pickles: Spendthrift.

PM shuke.Seriously, PM Shuke...he loves those online self comic things

Fine.. here you go.

 

[Otis]

Are you going to DIY the deck? That deck is pretty bad.

He can't even hang a flat screen TV on the wall by himself. How the #### is he going to "DIY" the deck. Put down your camera and read this ####### thread!

lol

 

[Otis]

Fine.. here you go.

Fair enough. I had envisioned exactly this, but same difference.

 

[shuke]

O> Make sure you have security laminate on those windows on the side of your front door. Crooks love those things.

No shtick. Not even worth locking your doors if you're not going to laminate the windows... someone wants to break in, they just break the glass closest to the knob, then reach in and flip the deadbolt from the inside. It's really the minimum you should do. All windows should have laminate, but if you don't want to spend (on security, you're gonna be a cheapskate?), at least all the first-floor windows should, and at the very minimum do the ones by the front door. And make sure ADT hooks up the security monitors to those second-floor windows. Crooks know they usually just do the ground floor, and climbing up to the second floor to break in is very easy.

Can you laminate existing windows? Is this a DIY project?

It can be DIY, but you need special tools: a squeegee.

shuke is all over this.$25 says he has two different squeegees!

I think I only have one, but it's way too big to use on a window.

 

[shuke]

Spray painting the shutters. Estimated cost: $15.

Shtick?

Not shtick.

Project update: Looks like two cans will cover six shutters. Revised budget: $10.

Can someone pop this into one of those make-your-own-comic things for me:Otis: Man, this 1978 Duster really is on its last legs. Has about 250k miles on it, all the systems in it are going, and it looks hideous. I'm gonna go spend 20k on a new car.

Pickles: If it were me, I'd just get new tires. Cost of project: few hundred bucks.

Otis: But you still have a broken down old car then, right?

Pickles: Spendthrift.

PM shuke.Seriously, PM Shuke...he loves those online self comic things

Fine.. here you go.

 

[ShaqAttaq]

Are you going to DIY the deck? That deck is pretty bad.

He can't even hang a flat screen TV on the wall by himself. How the #### is he going to "DIY" the deck. Put down your camera and read this ####### thread!

lol

what has our beloved Oats DIY'd?: cutting down trees (hiring out the cleanup); playing with his iphone & doorlocks; anything else?

 

[ShaqAttaq]

my wife did that "laminating the windows by the front door" thing. it was pretty easy.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Are you going to DIY the deck? That deck is pretty bad.

He can't even hang a flat screen TV on the wall by himself. How the #### is he going to "DIY" the deck. Put down your camera and read this ####### thread!

lol

what has our beloved Oats DIY'd?: cutting down trees (hiring out the cleanup); playing with his iphone & doorlocks; anything else?

The brazen new homeowner succumbed to "#### it, I'll pay someone to do it" in record time.I was just surprised that he'd be swindled so easily out of $55k.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Just did this to the sidelights on my front door...worked great...I'll get the name of the stuff I used tonight.

I used Etched Leaf " window film (24"x36") by Light Effects/Artscape, available @ HD and Amazon..

 

[Otis]

Are you going to DIY the deck? That deck is pretty bad.

He can't even hang a flat screen TV on the wall by himself. How the #### is he going to "DIY" the deck. Put down your camera and read this ####### thread!

lol

what has our beloved Oats DIY'd?: cutting down trees (hiring out the cleanup); playing with his iphone & doorlocks; anything else?

The brazen new homeowner succumbed to "#### it, I'll pay someone to do it" in record time.I was just surprised that he'd be swindled so easily out of $55k.

This is schtick right?

 

[chet]

Shouldn't your inspector have told you that?

Told me what? That my insurance company was a stickler for safety issues? I'm not sure that it's even legally required, it may just be a requirement of my insurance company.

No one's too cool for safety, oat. Make it happen.

 

[Otis]

LAWN EMERGENCY

Literally just a few weeks ago, we moved in and had a small lawn out front. It was spotty and not the thickest, and had some dirt patches that weren't taken care of. Looked like it just needed a little TLC. So I make a mental note that one day I'll need to go out and seed or or water it or whatever and fix it. Maybe buy a couple small sod patches to cover the dirt.

I guess I haven't noticed this happen with all the construction and bigger things going on, but I look out the kitchen window today and see this.

wtf??? The whole thing can become that overrun with weeds that fast??? There's now more weeds than lawn -- it looks like I'll have to just tear the whole thing up and start from scratch. Right? As if I have any idea how to do that....

 

[squidrope]

LAWN EMERGENCY

Literally just a few weeks ago, we moved in and had a small lawn out front. It was spotty and not the thickest, and had some dirt patches that weren't taken care of. Looked like it just needed a little TLC. So I make a mental note that one day I'll need to go out and seed or or water it or whatever and fix it. Maybe buy a couple small sod patches to cover the dirt.

I guess I haven't noticed this happen with all the construction and bigger things going on, but I look out the kitchen window today and see this.

wtf??? The whole thing can become that overrun with weeds that fast??? There's now more weeds than lawn -- it looks like I'll have to just tear the whole thing up and start from scratch. Right? As if I have any idea how to do that....

Scotts 4 step program is your friend.

 

[The Big Guy]

LAWN EMERGENCY

Literally just a few weeks ago, we moved in and had a small lawn out front. It was spotty and not the thickest, and had some dirt patches that weren't taken care of. Looked like it just needed a little TLC. So I make a mental note that one day I'll need to go out and seed or or water it or whatever and fix it. Maybe buy a couple small sod patches to cover the dirt.

I guess I haven't noticed this happen with all the construction and bigger things going on, but I look out the kitchen window today and see this.

wtf??? The whole thing can become that overrun with weeds that fast??? There's now more weeds than lawn -- it looks like I'll have to just tear the whole thing up and start from scratch. Right? As if I have any idea how to do that....

At least it is green Mow it down tight and put it on the end of your long and growing list.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

LAWN EMERGENCY

Literally just a few weeks ago, we moved in and had a small lawn out front. It was spotty and not the thickest, and had some dirt patches that weren't taken care of. Looked like it just needed a little TLC. So I make a mental note that one day I'll need to go out and seed or or water it or whatever and fix it. Maybe buy a couple small sod patches to cover the dirt.

I guess I haven't noticed this happen with all the construction and bigger things going on, but I look out the kitchen window today and see this.

wtf??? The whole thing can become that overrun with weeds that fast??? There's now more weeds than lawn -- it looks like I'll have to just tear the whole thing up and start from scratch. Right? As if I have any idea how to do that....

Throw a few thou at the problem.

 

[ShaqAttaq]

LAWN EMERGENCY

Literally just a few weeks ago, we moved in and had a small lawn out front. It was spotty and not the thickest, and had some dirt patches that weren't taken care of. Looked like it just needed a little TLC. So I make a mental note that one day I'll need to go out and seed or or water it or whatever and fix it. Maybe buy a couple small sod patches to cover the dirt.

I guess I haven't noticed this happen with all the construction and bigger things going on, but I look out the kitchen window today and see this.

wtf??? The whole thing can become that overrun with weeds that fast??? There's now more weeds than lawn -- it looks like I'll have to just tear the whole thing up and start from scratch. Right? As if I have any idea how to do that....

Throw a few thou at the problem.

the only solution

 

[Otis]

LAWN EMERGENCY

Literally just a few weeks ago, we moved in and had a small lawn out front. It was spotty and not the thickest, and had some dirt patches that weren't taken care of. Looked like it just needed a little TLC. So I make a mental note that one day I'll need to go out and seed or or water it or whatever and fix it. Maybe buy a couple small sod patches to cover the dirt.

I guess I haven't noticed this happen with all the construction and bigger things going on, but I look out the kitchen window today and see this.

wtf??? The whole thing can become that overrun with weeds that fast??? There's now more weeds than lawn -- it looks like I'll have to just tear the whole thing up and start from scratch. Right? As if I have any idea how to do that....

Throw a few thou at the problem.

Is your house made of legos?

 

[The Commish]

If it's weeds, and it's kinda hard to tell, just get a big bottle of weed killer and spray the lawn. The weeds will die and the grass will remain. You'll probably have to do it all summer since you don't have a ton of grass. Weeds generally grow where they have no competition. A full, thick lawn is the key to no weeds.

OR

Take Pickles' approach and throw some at it.

 

[glock]

So are they just covering up those holes in your house with siding or are you fixing it first? I certainly would want them fixed before being covered up, I can imagine all sorts of bugs and water getting in and causing all sorts of havoc.

They're not actually open holes -- looks like the house was previously stucco on the outside, and those holes were intentionally made and wood plugs put in them. For all I know maybe it's these siding guys who are doing it? Maybe those are anchor spots for the siding structures? I haven't asked, just noticed them and am trying to figure out why that was done. But yeah, I don't think there is anything to "fix" -- those don't appear to be random holes, they seem to have a purpose, and they are all plugged.Finding stucco underneath was a nice surprise -- makes the house sealed and insulated even better. Between that, insulation on the inside, insulation on the outside under the siding, and then the siding itself, this house should be pretty good on heat/cooling (for an old house at least).

O- the plugged holes are where cellulose insulation was blown in to boost your walls R value. We had it done to our house. Definitely helped.

 

[Drifter]

If it's weeds, and it's kinda hard to tell, just get a big bottle of weed killer and spray the lawn. The weeds will die and the grass will remain. You'll probably have to do it all summer since you don't have a ton of grass. Weeds generally grow where they have no competition. A full, thick lawn is the key to no weeds.ORTake Pickles' approach and throw some at it.

Given the time of year, you're pretty much screwed. You don't want to fill in or grow a lawn in the middle of summer. It's a fall or early spring project.

 

[The Commish]

If it's weeds, and it's kinda hard to tell, just get a big bottle of weed killer and spray the lawn. The weeds will die and the grass will remain. You'll probably have to do it all summer since you don't have a ton of grass. Weeds generally grow where they have no competition. A full, thick lawn is the key to no weeds.ORTake Pickles' approach and throw some at it.

Given the time of year, you're pretty much screwed. You don't want to fill in or grow a lawn in the middle of summer. It's a fall or early spring project.

I'd manage the weeds til the fall personally, then nail it with seed and water. He has a chance since it appears to be pretty well shaded, but in general I agree with you.

 

[urbanhack]

/\/\ULCH

 

[Otis]

So are they just covering up those holes in your house with siding or are you fixing it first? I certainly would want them fixed before being covered up, I can imagine all sorts of bugs and water getting in and causing all sorts of havoc.

They're not actually open holes -- looks like the house was previously stucco on the outside, and those holes were intentionally made and wood plugs put in them. For all I know maybe it's these siding guys who are doing it? Maybe those are anchor spots for the siding structures? I haven't asked, just noticed them and am trying to figure out why that was done. But yeah, I don't think there is anything to "fix" -- those don't appear to be random holes, they seem to have a purpose, and they are all plugged.Finding stucco underneath was a nice surprise -- makes the house sealed and insulated even better. Between that, insulation on the inside, insulation on the outside under the siding, and then the siding itself, this house should be pretty good on heat/cooling (for an old house at least).

O- the plugged holes are where cellulose insulation was blown in to boost your walls R value. We had it done to our house. Definitely helped.

Nice. Thanks G.

 

[Otis]

/\/\ULCH

The entire yard????

 

[Otis]

If it's weeds, and it's kinda hard to tell, just get a big bottle of weed killer and spray the lawn. The weeds will die and the grass will remain. You'll probably have to do it all summer since you don't have a ton of grass. Weeds generally grow where they have no competition. A full, thick lawn is the key to no weeds.ORTake Pickles' approach and throw some at it.

Given the time of year, you're pretty much screwed. You don't want to fill in or grow a lawn in the middle of summer. It's a fall or early spring project.

This seems right to me. I was planning to really tackle the lawn in August/September, but maybe in the meantime, once the work around the house is completed, I'll start battling those weeds.I'd manage the weeds til the fall personally, then nail it with seed and water. He has a chance since it appears to be pretty well shaded, but in general I agree with you.

 

[Otis]

Well the contractor who just replaced the broken old window in the bathroom with a shiny new Anderson window discovered a problem.



One that I suspect will be expensive.

Apparently there is a whole bunch of external wiring that was just stuffed underneath the old siding (when it should be in metal conduits etc., which is safer etc.). So he recommended we have an electrician in to look at it. :wall"

Nothing a little money can't fix /pickles

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

5k, imo

 

[Chaos Commish]

this.

wtf??? The whole thing can become that overrun with weeds that fast??? There's now more weeds than lawn -- it looks like I'll have to just tear the whole thing up and start from scratch. Right?

I'm almost positive the answer here is NO, but do you know what kind of grass that is? Also, I'm a west coaster and unfamiliar with what might be standard grass back there, but what I am trying figure is can that grass be Bermuda grass? Anyone? I'm highly doubtful, but just in case I had do ask.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

So... did your inspector check out the wiring? Are you dealing with cloth wrapped wiring?

He did inspect the wiring. Why the hell would someone wrap the wiring in cloth? ####.

just wait until you start looking over the wiring in the light switches..

Wiring problems huh?????

 

[Sarnoff]

Well the contractor who just replaced the broken old window in the bathroom with a shiny new Anderson window discovered a problem.



One that I suspect will be expensive.

Apparently there is a whole bunch of external wiring that was just stuffed underneath the old siding (when it should be in metal conduits etc., which is safer etc.). So he recommended we have an electrician in to look at it. :wall"

Nothing a little money can't fix /pickles

$15K once it's all sussed out

 

[DA RAIDERS]

I'm in socal, so I have no clue if this will work for you. It has for me. No clue if your weather or grass type will be an issue. I could do this at this time of year if I needed to.

Put those huge hands to work, get your ### out there and pull the weeds, by the roots. Spray for weeds. Seed and fertilize the whole area. Cover thoroughly with topper. Rope off area to keep people off it. Water daily. Don't over water. Should be looking pretty good in 2 weeks or so. Be proactive about the weeds from here on out. Or pay 4k a year for someone to do it for you, with a 500 start up cost to do what I said above.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Well the contractor who just replaced the broken old window in the bathroom with a shiny new Anderson window discovered a problem.



One that I suspect will be expensive.

Apparently there is a whole bunch of external wiring that was just stuffed underneath the old siding (when it should be in metal conduits etc., which is safer etc.). So he recommended we have an electrician in to look at it. :wall"

Nothing a little money can't fix /pickles

$15K once it's all sussed out

GB having an electrician buddy that will come over and do most things for a bong rip or 3.

 

[Otis]

I'm in socal, so I have no clue if this will work for you. It has for me. No clue if your weather or grass type will be an issue. I could do this at this time of year if I needed to. Put those huge hands to work, get your ### out there and pull the weeds, by the roots. Spray for weeds. Seed and fertilize the whole area. Cover thoroughly with topper. Rope off area to keep people off it. Water daily. Don't over water. Should be looking pretty good in 2 weeks or so. Be proactive about the weeds from here on out. Or pay 4k a year for someone to do it for you, with a 500 start up cost to do what I said above.

Thanks. I think I can do this. It's a pretty small patch of lawn...

 

[urbanhack]

I'm in socal, so I have no clue if this will work for you. It has for me. No clue if your weather or grass type will be an issue. I could do this at this time of year if I needed to. Put those huge hands to work, get your ### out there and pull the weeds, by the roots. Spray for weeds. Seed and fertilize the whole area. Cover thoroughly with topper. Rope off area to keep people off it. Water daily. Don't over water. Should be looking pretty good in 2 weeks or so. Be proactive about the weeds from here on out. Or pay 4k a year for someone to do it for you, with a 500 start up cost to do what I said above.

Thanks. I think I can do this. It's a pretty small patch of lawn...

Pay yourself?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I'm in socal, so I have no clue if this will work for you. It has for me. No clue if your weather or grass type will be an issue. I could do this at this time of year if I needed to. Put those huge hands to work, get your ### out there and pull the weeds, by the roots. Spray for weeds. Seed and fertilize the whole area. Cover thoroughly with topper. Rope off area to keep people off it. Water daily. Don't over water. Should be looking pretty good in 2 weeks or so. Be proactive about the weeds from here on out. Or pay 4k a year for someone to do it for you, with a 500 start up cost to do what I said above.

Thanks. I think I can do this. It's a pretty small patch of lawn...

Pay yourself?

 

[Chaos Commish]

I'm in socal, so I have no clue if this will work for you. It has for me. No clue if your weather or grass type will be an issue. I could do this at this time of year if I needed to.

Put those huge hands to work, get your ### out there and pull the weeds, by the roots. Spray for weeds. Seed and fertilize the whole area. Cover thoroughly with topper. Rope off area to keep people off it. Water daily. Don't over water. Should be looking pretty good in 2 weeks or so. Be proactive about the weeds from here on out. Or pay 4k a year for someone to do it for you, with a 500 start up cost to do what I said above.

Thanks. I think I can do this. It's a pretty small patch of lawn...

Da Raiders is right. You can pull this off in June on Long Island, but if you answer a couple questions, I have a far simpler idea. Is it Bermuda? My guess is no way.

Do you know what it is? My guess is no way.

Can you ID the weed? My guess is no way.

I get paid for this irl.

 

[corpcow]

Need a grill. I know you guys liked the Weber 310, but it's a little small (and a bit on the expensive side). Looking for a 4-5 burner, and would like to keep it near/under $500 if possible.

The only catch: it has to be from Sears, since my in-laws gave us a gift card there for the grill. Personally, I want to buy a nice JennAir they have at Costco for like $700 and use the GC elsewhere, but I'm not the boss on this one.

Also fairly urgent, need it for Father's Day since we were volunteered to host

Leaning towards this one: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07116658000P?prdNo=15&blockNo=65&blockType=G65

Or this: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07116136000P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Need a grill. I know you guys liked the Weber 310, but it's a little small (and a bit on the expensive side). Looking for a 4-5 burner, and would like to keep it near/under $500 if possible.

The only catch: it has to be from Sears, since my in-laws gave us a gift card there for the grill. Personally, I want to buy a nice JennAir they have at Costco for like $700 and use the GC elsewhere, but I'm not the boss on this one.

Also fairly urgent, need it for Father's Day since we were volunteered to host

Leaning towards this one: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07116658000P?prdNo=15&blockNo=65&blockType=G65

Or this: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07116136000P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

I went back and forth for ever on what to buy. After an annoying amount of research and coming to a complete state of paralysis through analysis, I came to the obvious conclusion that the webers were worth the extra coin. I went with the 330. The 310 was only 70 bucks more than the one you want from Costco and they have a lower tier set of grills, spirit I think, that are under 700.

 

[Drifter]

Well the contractor who just replaced the broken old window in the bathroom with a shiny new Anderson window discovered a problem.



One that I suspect will be expensive.

Apparently there is a whole bunch of external wiring that was just stuffed underneath the old siding (when it should be in metal conduits etc., which is safer etc.). So he recommended we have an electrician in to look at it. :wall"

Nothing a little money can't fix /pickles

Smaller and in more disrepair than you thought? Wait until you start to fix stuff and you discover what's behind the walls, in the ceiling, under the floor, etc. You ain't seen nothing yet.

 

[corpcow]

Need a grill. I know you guys liked the Weber 310, but it's a little small (and a bit on the expensive side). Looking for a 4-5 burner, and would like to keep it near/under $500 if possible.

The only catch: it has to be from Sears, since my in-laws gave us a gift card there for the grill. Personally, I want to buy a nice JennAir they have at Costco for like $700 and use the GC elsewhere, but I'm not the boss on this one.

Also fairly urgent, need it for Father's Day since we were volunteered to host

Leaning towards this one: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07116658000P?prdNo=15&blockNo=65&blockType=G65

Or this: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07116136000P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

I went back and forth for ever on what to buy. After an annoying amount of research and coming to a complete state of paralysis through analysis, I came to the obvious conclusion that the webers were worth the extra coin. I went with the 330. The 310 was only 70 bucks more than the one you want from Costco and they have a lower tier set of grills, spirit I think, that are under 700.

I thought JennAir >> Weber? Though I did just read something somewhere suggesting that it was a "special" JennAir made by NexGrill for Costco... so I don't know.

 

[Otis]

I'm in socal, so I have no clue if this will work for you. It has for me. No clue if your weather or grass type will be an issue. I could do this at this time of year if I needed to. Put those huge hands to work, get your ### out there and pull the weeds, by the roots. Spray for weeds. Seed and fertilize the whole area. Cover thoroughly with topper. Rope off area to keep people off it. Water daily. Don't over water. Should be looking pretty good in 2 weeks or so. Be proactive about the weeds from here on out. Or pay 4k a year for someone to do it for you, with a 500 start up cost to do what I said above.

Thanks. I think I can do this. It's a pretty small patch of lawn...

Pay yourself?

 

[Otis]

The money shtick is funny and all, but would you guys really do your own siding job? Fabricate iron railings to spec and install them? Resolve electrical problems?

You must have some sweet tool sheds.

Of all these things, I suppose the one I could have done myself is the masonry work, but given the size and complexity of the job, that's something that even brit and his camera might have struggled with. And I could have painted, but then it would have looked like crap and never gotten it done.

I'm not so sure painting the shutters would have resolved all our issues.

I'm happy to take on the smaller jobs I have the time for and some knowledge about, but for the rest of this, don't most people hire a professional?

 

[Otis]

Oh and, regarding basic math principles, who cares if you pour 55k into an old house in disrepair if you can sell it for 100-150k more than you paid for it after the fact? (Not that I'm in this to sell it, but the point is I think every cent we've put in thus far has gone directly into the value of the house).

On that note, our mortgage has PMI attached. Maybe if all of this work will increase the value enough, we could get it re-assessed and perhaps be above the 22% threshold to get the PMI removed? Anyone have experience with that?