My disaster in home repairs

debodun said:
I had business cards from a masonry and a painting contractor. I sent both an email asking for them to schedule an appointment to look at the work needed. Both replied almost the same message in essence:

I don't recognize your name.

Do they have to recognize me to accept work?
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Starting to sound like you're on some sort of unofficial blacklist. :(
 

debodun said:
I had business cards from a masonry and a painting contractor. I sent both an email asking for them to schedule an appointment to look at the work needed. Both replied almost the same message in essence:

I don't recognize your name.

Do they have to recognize me to accept work?
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Don't just go by business cards unless you check out the info.
I mentioned somewhere on the forum about one local contractor who allegedly did roofing- great work, except it was "me and a couple of my friends" who actually did the work, while the guy spent the time standing in the parking lot smoking pot. :mad: Plus after we did his job for him, he vanished without paying us.
 
I thought references were what the contractor gave the customer, not the other way. Why would a customer have to give a contractor the names of other contractors they've hired?
 

debodun said:
I thought references were what the contractor gave the customer, not the other way. Why would a customer have to give a contractor the names of other contractors they've hired?
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Actually, that is common here as in who worked on your house before and why don’t you want them back. Contractors also want to know if someone referred them to you. Helps build their customer base, I think.

Just tell them you spoke to them years ago and kept their card and now you want an estimate.
 
Considering all you have listed as repairs needed, selling your home probably isn't possible. It sounds like the best you can hope for is that it doesn't collapse around you someday.
 
Oh dear Lord Deb, maybe take a break from the forum for a while. If you have a state agency for the aging in your area, contact them for recommendations. My homeowner's insurance co. helped me with repairs for my crumbling fireplace chimney. You shouldn't have to go it alone.
 
I did and am waiting a reply.

Now another problem rears its head. An very unpleasant surprise in the kitchen. Happened overnight and I probably didn't hear it with the air conditioner running. Part of the kitchen ceiling collapsed over the stove. Plaster and dust all over. Cleaning it up was the easy part - putting up plastic to cover the hole was the hard part. I don't want pieces to fall on the stove again especially when I'm cooking. An interesting note, though, I got a look at the plumbing to the upstairs bathroom.

plumbing5b.jpgkitchen ceiling1.jpg
 
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debodun said:
I thought references were what the contractor gave the customer, not the other way. Why would a customer have to give a contractor the names of other contractors they've hired?
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Contractors always ask us how we found them - referrals, Yelp reviews, online advertising, business cards stuck in the front door, whatever.

Small town living means few contractors who all talk to each other. Word spreads quickly about difficult, whiny, cheapskate, or overly persnickety clients. Also about houses that are crumbling from age and/or years of neglect. Not sure if you or your house fall under those categories. Only you (and they) know that.
 
debodun said:
I did and am waiting a reply.

Now another problem rears its head. An very unpleasant surprise in the kitchen. Happened overnight and I probably didn't hear it with the air conditioner running. Part of the kitchen ceiling collapsed over the stove. Plaster and dust all over. Cleaning it up was the easy part - putting up plastic to cover the hole was the hard part. I don't want pieces to fall on the stove again especially when I'm cooking. An interesting note, though, I got a look at the plumbing to the upstairs bathroom.

View attachment 110938View attachment 110939
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Looks like my post # 57 is happening.
 
I haven't been using the stove lately anyway because if the heat wave. I'm living on sandwiches, salads and snacky things. I thought at first it was leaky plumbing, but I didn't see any liquid water dripping from the pipes. Maybe it crumbled because of the excessive heat and humidity.
 
Judycat said:
If you have a state agency for the aging in your area, contact them for recommendations.
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I did hear back from the county senior program and come to find out, I do not qualify for their help with home maintenance because of my income level. You practically have to be destitute to receive help (individuals cannot earn over $25K annually).
 
debodun said:
Seems everything happens at once. I feel like I'm waiting for another shoe to drop. What's it gonna be next?
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What do you think? Maybe the electrical wiring due to the age of the home? Or the sewage line so deteriorating and that needs to be dug up & replaced.
 
Knight said:
What do you think? Maybe the electrical wiring due to the age of the home? Or the sewage line so deteriorating and that needs to be dug up & replaced.
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Yes, both are a joke. I have 20 amp current capacity. Can't use the hair dryer and watch TV at the same time. When I vacuum, the plug gets so hot I can barely touch it. I have to use electric plug adapters similar to the one in the attached pic because no outlets have grounded (three prong) wiring. The DPW installed new sewer lines here 3 years ago, but that is just exterior. Inside, the galvanized iron pipes do not get along with the hard water. A plumber told my mom 25 years ago the whole house should be re-plumbed.

adapter.jpg
 
I've read your comments about your house over the past few months, and it sounds like you are living in a place that is Well beyond its prime. Your note about your electricity sounds like your place is just one small act away from a house fire....20 Amps isn't enough capacity to run a small camper, let alone a house. The entire place sounds like a huge Money Pit....would cost you far more to restore it than it will ever be worth.

Your best bet would be to sell that place...for whatever you can get out of it....and move to an apartment where the manager has the responsibility to keep everything fixed.
 
Don M. said:
Your best bet would be to sell that place...for whatever you can get out of it....and move to an apartment where the manager has the responsibility to keep everything fixed.
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I totally agree. I was telling a friend about my house probelms and she said (edited for tastefulness), "The only thing that matters is when it rains you don't get wet and when you flush the toilet whatever is in the bowl disappears."
 
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My thoughts exactly. The house is FAR too BIG and there’s far too much maintenance & repairs that need doing to make it logical to keep it. Your neighbours drive you nuts and it’s a perfect time to downsize while you can.

One of the biggest problems I had in helping my parents is that they’d spent their entire lives being frugal and saving money. They wanted to make sure they could spend 6 months in Florida, go on 2 or 3 cruises a year and go to England once a year and they did. Unfortunately they didn’t plan their retirement. When the insurance got too much for them to travel to Florida they stopped but they didn’t consider downsizing or the essential things they’d need when they got a LOT older since they didn’t expect to live so long.

Trying to explain that they are best spending their money to make their lives better while they were alive made far more sense than saving it for others. ( whomever they may be )

You could purchase a nice one story home in the country where people aren’t that close or pick a nice apartment where you don’t even see anyone and yard work and maintenance is taken care of.
Your lifestyle could change for the best with far less things to worry about. That’s a smart move.
 
Way back probably months ago when you 1st. started to describe repairs needed I thought selling would be the best option.

With all the recent repairs needed to your crumbling home I agree with your friend live in it as long as you can. I would suggest battery powered smoke alarms. The reason I changed my mind is if you do decide to sell the buyers will want a list of all that needs repaired or they probably have a professional home inspector write up all that is needed.

I think if either or both of those happen there would be a good chance your home would be condemned as uninhabitable. You may even wind up having to pay for demolition.
 
Keesha said:
You could purchase a nice one story home in the country where people aren’t that close or pick a nice apartment where you don’t even see anyone and yard work and maintenance is taken care of.
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I've looked through realtor.com and zillow.com and, at least in a 10 mile radius, there is no house for sale or rent that meets my preferences.

I am waiting for about 6 contravtores to return my calls. Of course, this is their busy time of year.
 
debodun said:
I've looked through realtor.com and zillow.com and, at least in a 10 mile radius, there is no house for sale or rent that meets my preferences.

I am waiting for about 6 contravtores to return my calls. Of course, this is their busy time of year.
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So go beyond a ten mile radius. Find an area that has your budget in mind. I wouldn’t expect that area to. I’d think way outside the box. Ten miles is nothing. Might as well camp in your backyard. 😂😉 Get a stick with a hotdog on the end and use your neighbours fire pit to cook it. 🥳 Lol. Wouldn’t that be funny!!!
 
Deb. Have you considered having an assessment done on the home, not a value assessment, but rather, a fix it up enough to put on the market assessment? Or, a fix it up enough to be able to enjoy it assessment?

I would work on obtaining a dollar figure as to work needing done on the home, in addition to, what the home is worth. Knowing both figures will help you decide where and how to start.

Dry-walling a ceiling isn't expensive, nor is having a little plumbing done. As for the electrical, have an expert weigh-in on what needs done to upgrade your service, and what sort of cost would be associated with.
 

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