My disaster in home repairs

Houses are ‘supposed’ to be your biggest investment so if you take care of them, when you go to sell them, you get top dollar and not a pile of headaches.

I don’t think Deb knew how badly her house was falling apart until recently which is why she’s doing all she can now to ‘right’ the situation.

I think I’d also just sell it as is. I’m not sure she’ll get back the money invested, never mind the time and energy it will take.

If I were Deb, I’d be looking for an area I’d like to live in first. Something completely different than what she’s had. Since she has some problems with excessively worrying about the neighbours, I’d find a little place amongst others where I’d have a bit of land so will have some needed space.

She will love, love, this part. Have plenty of neighbours around which she’ll warm up to since she’s going to want and need them as she gets older since she has no children watching out for her.

Deb, you are quite a bit like my parents so I’m betting you have plenty of money to step it up a notch and live a better, more luxurious life. If it were up to my parents in their last years, they would have tried to stay in their house and been even more frugal with their money. They clung on to money so tight that it was so difficult to convince them that spending their money ON THEMSELVES was the wisest choice they could make. They could have a better life. Be around other people their own age, get all their meals made, get all their laundry and housekeeping done. Not that you’re here yet. I’m just talking mindset here.

Retirement living areas is something to seriously consider. We have areas not too far from here that are neighbourhoods for seniors only and these people are seriously happy. They are living independently in their own houses, which are beautiful or apartments, or units, yet getting benefits of retirement living. Yard maintenance is cared for , there’s special activities, a church and fellowship, plenty of outtings and things to do. It’s seriously something to consider and I think you’d actually like it.

It was miraculous how my parents resisted the nursing home idea with every ounce of energy they had but once they moved there they loved it and their health improved. Of course they are much older than you so at a different stage but similar mindset.

Live your existing life for you. Find the nicest area, the finest houses or apartments and start a better life and lifestyle. It will be your greatest investment. Your health will improve.
People need people especially when they get older. At least consider it.
 

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And in the meantime, be sure that (1) working smoke detectors are in every room (2) there is adequate fire insurance and the bill is kept paid (3) and you are sleeping near an outside door.
 
Aneeda72 said:
Why didn’t you keep it up as the years passed?
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I've been trying, but sometimes thing are wrong you don't know about until they are quite obvious. I feel like I am trying to pedal a bike up a 70° hill trying to keep up the maintenance. Then when I do, I am usually ripped off. In 2010, I paid a guy $4000 to paint the front porch. It looked great when he finished so I paid him. Over the next winter, the paint peeled off in sheets. I contacted him and said that my father poainted that porch in 1976 and the paint lasted 25 years. He replied that that kind of paint isn't available anymore. It was probably oil-base paint. I don't even think he bothered to strip off the old paint - he just painted over it. And the quality of the paint was one step above whitewash.

Three years ago I had a handyman in to fix 2 doors that wouldn't shut - they were hitting the jamb, or the hinges were warped or something. He fixed one and said he'd come back to work on the other in a week or so. I asked if he wanted to be paid for his work to date and he said we'd settle when he finished the second door. I am still waiting for him to return. This leaves an awkward situation.
 

Aneeda72 said:
You might have termites as well.

Its really seems too late to fix your house. Looks like you will have to sell it for the land value. I don’t know your finances but if you make under 25,000 a year, I wouldn’t put another dime into it. Move out, get your stuff safe, and then put it up for sale and let it be someone else’s headache.

There are probably flippers in your area who buy homes quickly. We sold a house to a flipper and it’s easy and fast. Living in a house without adequate wiring makes it a death trap. What I don’t understand, is why you let it get in such poor shape over the years.

Why didn’t you keep it up as the years passed? I see a lot of people in this position so I am curious. It’s the same with the house husband just bought. As soon as we moved in we had to make several emergency repairs including the electrical and plumbing. Houses are such money pits.
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Very poor advice.
 
Deb would it be reasonable to think you grew up in that house, lived there all your life & inherited it. So you never had a mortgage payment so the thought of moving isn't on your radar. Do you have a Home Depot or Lowes near you? They usually offer home repair by qualified people & stand behind the work done. Since an apartment located here maybe this would work for you .
https://www.homedepot.com/services/l/ny/mechanicville
 
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I was just at Lowe's. I stop there because it is on my side of Route 9, otherwise I'd have to cross the busy highway to get to HD. Try to get anyone's attention, though, when you're an old lady in a hardware store. That's why I ended up with the wrong paint.

Many suggestions were made about moving to another locale entirely. I am familiar with this area and where everything is here. I don't want to move too far away.

Knight - I didn't grow up in that house. My parents bought it when I was 23 years old!

This is the house I grew up in (photo from the county tax database). Some changes have been made, but it looks in worse shape than mine.

house.jpg
 
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I hate to "contract" any home or household repairs. The few times I've done so in the past have been a bit disappointing....the sole exception being when we had a new roof installed by a local Mennonite contractor....those people are quite honest. Anything else that occurs, I can usually handle myself, OR it's time to buy a new appliance, etc.

Unfortunately, single/elderly women, who have limited experience/knowledge of home maintenance are often given shoddy and overpriced work.

If something were to happen to me, I would want my wife to sell our place ASAP, and move to a place where she didn't have to put up with these kinds of hassles.
 
Don M. said:
I hate to "contract" any home or household repairs. The few times I've done so in the past have been a bit disappointing....the sole exception being when we had a new roof installed by a local Mennonite contractor....those people are quite honest. Anything else that occurs, I can usually handle myself, OR it's time to buy a new appliance, etc.

Unfortunately, single/elderly women, who have limited experience/knowledge of home maintenance are often given shoddy and overpriced work.

If something were to happen to me, I would want my wife to sell our place ASAP, and move to a place where she didn't have to put up with these kinds of hassles.
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I totally sympathize, Don.
 
debodun said:
I was just at Lowe's. I stop there because it is on my side of Route 9, otherwise I'd have to cross the busy highway to get to HD. Try to get anyone's attention, though, when you're an old lady in a hardware store. That's why I ended up with the wrong paint.



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You must live in a terrible area because when my 75 yr. old wife shops at Home Depot the staff at any of the 3 HD stores near us are eager to be helpful. I don't understand how you get home if you don't cross the highway to get back home.

Not really understanding your reply, did you live in the home your parents bought when you were 23 or did you move in when you inherited it?
 
Knight said:
You must live in a terrible area because when my 75 yr. old wife shops at Home Depot the staff at any of the 3 HD stores near us are eager to be helpful. I don't understand how you get home if you don't cross the highway to get back home.

Not really understanding your reply, did you live in the home your parents bought when you were 23 or did you move in when you inherited it?
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I don’t understand it either. I’m not as old as you and I get great service whether I’m with my husband or on my own. In fact I find the opposite, people are very willing to help.
We had to get our satellite fixed since our trees have grown so much and our blocking our reception. The other day a gentleman came to door to fix/move our satellite and was most receptive and respectful and I’m not always the most friendly. I’ve been known to growl at people.
debodun said:
The problem with an apartment complex is that I probably wouldn't get along with my neighbors there anymore than I do here. ;)
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Usually in apartment buildings you don’t often see your neighbours unless you share the elevator or open the door to peek at them. 😏🥺
 
Well, I had to ask where the mortar mix was. After hunting for 10 minutes, I managed to find a clerk and ask. He just made a vague gesture over his shoulder. Not very helpful in a 50,000 sq ft store. I really didn't see many store employees in their red vests.
 
debodun said:
Well, I had to ask where the mortar mix was. After hunting for 10 minutes, I managed to find a clerk and ask. He just made a vague gesture over his shoulder. Not very helpful in a 50,000 sq ft store. I really didn't see many store employees in their red vests.
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Oh I’d literally hunt them down until I get the service that they are being paid to provide. I’m friendly but super persistent. If I’m going to drive 1/2 an hour to a store I’m not going home till I get what I went for and I don’t care how many people I piss off.
 
I am willing to bet that if I was a 20-something and attarctive, I'd have clerks falling over themselves to help. ;)

I haven't heard from the roofer that was here on June 11 and said he'd get back to me in a day or two with a quote. I just called him and he said he mailed it to me and got it back as undeliverable. I asked him what address he mailed it to and he gave my house address. Why would he assume I get my mail at home? He could have asked me what was the correct address was. The post office doesn't deliver unless the box number shows somewhere in the address. I would have told him, but from his comments, I assumed it would be a phone call.
 
So why not contact the guy who gave you a quote to get most of the major house repairs done?

The reason why I’m somewhat concerned is that the type of damage you are needing can get bad real fast. Yes having a roof over your head is important but if you’re house is leaking water then it’s a mould problem waiting to happen, not to mention the rodents that will find their way in. Unless you’re going to get all this work done and soon, your house will fall apart and you aren’t getting any younger.

If you have THIS much trouble getting help now, I don’t think it’s going to get easier. Trust me; I’ve dealt with older stubborn people and it’s scary what conditions they are willing to put up with because they either no longer care or don’t know any better due to dementia

If you want to stay in the area, then start making a list of places you’d consider like you are doing now. At least you are taking all this seriously.

There really are nice places to live. That house has to be a nightmare to care for.
 
I knew when I pulled that vine down, I'd find trouble. I went out this morning and cut back where it had started to grow again. That THING sends runners underground all over. It is coming up on the other side of the house and I know that it had to have sent runners under the house to do that. Probably the only thing holding the porch on the house! It was even sending growth up into the attic. I pulled on one part and got a 10 ft root in my hand like a long spindly cord. Never get wisteria or Boston ivy!

boston ivy.jpg
 
The cellar is always damp. Not standing water, but I can see along the south wall floor it is damp. It was okay until that absentee landlord next door built an extension out back so he's have another apartment to rent. It's that white part sticking out on the left. The only time the cellar floor looks dry is mid-winter - probably because the ground water is frozen. When it rains hard or for a long tome, the water pours off his roof between the houses like Niagara Falls. The he puts a rain diverting hose where the rain hits the ground between the houses.

house.jpgroof.jpgrain ground.jpg
 
You could still probably get good money for it. There are plenty of contractors and business people willing to take on a project like this.
My main concern is that if you are having these types of problems now then they are only going to get worse over time.

You might consider speaking to a realtor to see what they have to say. They will let you know what it’s worth now and might even know contractors that can do the work. They’d have a better idea of what to do since they can actually SEE the house.

You’ve got a car so you can get out and look around. Some places are so nice there are waiting lists to get in.
No need to make any hasty decisions as long as you’re on top of it and understand what you’re dealing with which I believe you ‘now’ do.

Soon you could have plenty of people helping you.
 
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When’s the last time those second story gutters were cleaned ?
And what’s more worrisome is if there’s no downspout where is the water going? That’s a major concern right there. Downspouts are made to take water away from your house. With no downspouts and all kinds of holes in your house from the roots of the wisteria & ivy, you’ve got plenty of places for all that water to find a place to sit.
 
Keesha said:
When’s the last time those second story gutters were cleaned ?
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If you're referring to the house next door, I can't answer that - it's up to the landlord to have his property serviced. He has a guy come every few weeks to mow the lawn. Maybe he isn't aware there is a problem with his downspout - they's why it's overflowing.
 

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