The joys of being a homeowner

[salsabike]

THAT is a classic story if there ever was one.

I was just thinking yesterday that it was almost a year ago that the builders flooded our basement, right after the big remodel started and we moved down into said basement for six months. And just before I broke my toe from living in too small a basement bedroom and whacking my toe into the wall....etc.

Indysteel's advice is very good. Get names now from friends or co-workers of good pros in all the major house-gone-wild areas so you can call someone you trust when the time(s) come.

Just remember that as a homeowner, at least you no longer have to listen to fellow apartment dwellers stomp around over your head or play horrible loud music on the other side of your bedroom wall. There are real pluses to homeownership...and all the broken stuff WILL get fixed eventually.

[Zen]

that sounds like a major headache and one of the reasons I'm trying to sell my place and move to a condo.

More riding time.

[HillSlugger]

I hope your electronics and bikes are OK!

Thank the goddess for insurance.

[Kimmyt]

Oh, our bikes were never in any danger, they live up in the living room, where proper members of a family belong!!

[Trek420]

that sounds like a major headache and one of the reasons I'm trying to sell my place and move to a condo.

More riding time.

I dunno. In some ways with condo ownership you have all the "Oys of homeownerships" and few of the "Joys".

Sure if the roof needs replacing, outside needs painting I don't do that. But all the "oys" of inside problems, neighbors are too dang close, many of them are renters who don't give a hoot and I don't necessarily get to plant what I want

In todays troublesome market I'd buy or keep your house. A condo would be harder to sell.

[Mr. Bloom]

Go rent "The Money Pit" - an 80's movie. We rented it the weekend we bought our first house and it proved to be a prophetic irony on things to come. Watch it and you'll count your blessings.

Strangely enough, I had the exact same thing happen to me when I was a teenager at my parents house. Flooded the entire basement while I was putting a fire out in the backyard that the lawn mower started!

And, if that doesn't have you counting your blessings, remember that the Silvers have two homes that we live in, 120 miles apart, in two different time zones...and we commute back and forth...and have to maintain both!

See, it could be worse.

[Zen]

Sure if the roof needs replacing, outside needs painting I don't do that. But all the "oys" of inside problems, neighbors are too dang close, many of them are renters who don't give a hoot and I don't necessarily get to plant what I want

I can look into renter ratio if I ever get to that point, I'm tired of living so far out in the hills. I want to live in town where I can ride my Mariposa on errands and get to docs, pts, and the gym without it being a major trip.

[Kimmyt]

Hi Guys. Thanks for the thoughts! Mr. Silver, the first thing we said when it happened (well, other than 'Oh, ****') was that we needed to watch that movie.

All in all, it's not as bad as it could be. We're still waiting to hear from insurance. The Boy thinks we've done the wrong thing by going to an adjuster, because of the fee, but I know we'll be able to get much more money for it than we would if we messed with the insurancy agent ourselves, especially since we've got AllState who is apparently The Worst. He was up all night crunching numbers in his head (I've been there, where the anxiety makes you create things that aren't going to happen) and he's convinced we'll get screwed and end up with $300 to fix a half-unfinished basement.

The plumbers came in this morning to fix the pipe, and it wasn't a horrible fee. Here's the culprit (doesn't it look like it's talking?):



Cross your fingers the $ situation gets sorted out (at the very least, I think we'll be learning to put in our own drywall, a friend is finishing her basement and can show us and help us, to save money). We've got it in savings, but had been hoping to spend it on a wedding. Looks like the wedding might be smaller than we'd planned.

K.

[northstar]

Boy, I know what that waterfall sounds like...our only bathroom is on the top floor (very old house) and we had a pipe burst up there...cue waterfall through our kitchen's false ceiling (picture floating fruit in the fruit bowl), down through the walls and roaring in the basement.

I feel your pain. Hang in there.

[LBTC]

Here's the culprit (doesn't it look like it's talking?):

Drooling, actually.

Kimmy, the whole thing really sux. We've had a flood, and were so grateful insurance covered it! You'll get through this and you'll be surprised at the wonderful things that happen to make your wedding perfect, regardless of what you have to steal from that fund now.

Sending lots of patient, wonderful butterflies that will make sure the insurance comes through for your completely!

Hugs,
~T~

[Zen]

That pipe is mocking you

[Mr. Bloom]

The Boy thinks we've done the wrong thing by going to an adjuster, because of the fee, but I know we'll be able to get much more money for it than we would if we messed with the insurancy agent ourselves, especially since we've got AllState who is apparently The Worst.

I think you did the right thing. A lot of people don't know that agents get a bonus tied to low claims experience. To me, this is an inherent conflict since the agent is usually perceived as your trusted advisor!

I will not say anything libelous about Allstate, but my experience with them in the past has been very negative and required an attorney to resolve my dispute.

[salsabike]

I think Zen is right. That damn pipe is LAUGHING. Humph.