Quack, I bought a nightmare and can tell you the story, but the pics are on film, not on the computer.
In 2000, we found a 2 acre lot with a summer bungalow on it that was built in 1940's. The owner has passed, and the neighbors and daughters were kind of watching the place. That is a good size building lot here on Long Island, and there aren't too many of any size lots left.
The house had been added onto many times, the original framing was the REAL 2x4's. It had a coal chute in the basement, a 2-seater outhouse, the creepiest sci-fi mold growing in the basement, the roof was caving in, and a raccoon living in the kitchen.
You know then real estate shows a place, this is the pink house, this is the window house, this is the pool house, one feature that gets it named? Mine was the raccoon house. Biggest coon we have ever seen, silverback like the gorillas HUGE. ANYWAY...
We were in a hurry, but decided that rebuilding this crap box was not an option, we knocked it down, and built a completely new home in the rear of the lot. Long driveway sucks in the winter, but nice and private.
My DH took a year off from work, and the only things we subbed out were the concrete, (wood you can rip apart when you screw up, concrete is not so easy.) the spackle, (traded that one. friend needed an engine swap in his work truck) the roof shingles, (was just about to start snowing when we got to that point) the excavating, (my guy was fantastic. He dug the basement, septic, demo'ed the old house, plucked out trees in the way) the insulation, (we found out to have a company come in and do it, was the SAME price than to buy all that itchy nasty itchy stuff. And then do it yourself. and itch.) And HVAC. Another thing much too important to guess and learn on your own.
We did everything else. I must say, it still isn't done, just finish work, paint, stupid stuff, mouldings, things you can live without, unless you live with an OCD nut job like myself, you'll be fine.
Whatever you budget, double that figure.
Whatever your time frame is, it will take twice as long
Whoever says they will help you, after a while, they will get lost. Unless they will live there, then there is a chance they will stay on.
We bought scratch and dent appliances and fixtures, last years models, clearance rack at Home Depot.
We bought Anderson windows, don't be afraid to ask for a contractors discount anywhere you go. Another building block that is better to do ONCE in the beginning, than changing out windows later on.
I bought the laminate flooring from Sams club. SICK price. Can easily get changed out when I get tired of it. Still looks great after almost 10 years.
Ceramic tile came from Lowes. I learned on my first house, it is cheaper to do it yourself, rip it out and do it again, than to pay someone.
I know I sometimes sound negative, but I am a realist. Been there, done that.
You are welcome to PM me if you need help. Good luck! It will be a struggle, but it so rewarding to be able to do it. Roberta
In 2000, we found a 2 acre lot with a summer bungalow on it that was built in 1940's. The owner has passed, and the neighbors and daughters were kind of watching the place. That is a good size building lot here on Long Island, and there aren't too many of any size lots left.
The house had been added onto many times, the original framing was the REAL 2x4's. It had a coal chute in the basement, a 2-seater outhouse, the creepiest sci-fi mold growing in the basement, the roof was caving in, and a raccoon living in the kitchen.
You know then real estate shows a place, this is the pink house, this is the window house, this is the pool house, one feature that gets it named? Mine was the raccoon house. Biggest coon we have ever seen, silverback like the gorillas HUGE. ANYWAY...
We were in a hurry, but decided that rebuilding this crap box was not an option, we knocked it down, and built a completely new home in the rear of the lot. Long driveway sucks in the winter, but nice and private.
My DH took a year off from work, and the only things we subbed out were the concrete, (wood you can rip apart when you screw up, concrete is not so easy.) the spackle, (traded that one. friend needed an engine swap in his work truck) the roof shingles, (was just about to start snowing when we got to that point) the excavating, (my guy was fantastic. He dug the basement, septic, demo'ed the old house, plucked out trees in the way) the insulation, (we found out to have a company come in and do it, was the SAME price than to buy all that itchy nasty itchy stuff. And then do it yourself. and itch.) And HVAC. Another thing much too important to guess and learn on your own.
We did everything else. I must say, it still isn't done, just finish work, paint, stupid stuff, mouldings, things you can live without, unless you live with an OCD nut job like myself, you'll be fine.
Whatever you budget, double that figure.
Whatever your time frame is, it will take twice as long
Whoever says they will help you, after a while, they will get lost. Unless they will live there, then there is a chance they will stay on.
We bought scratch and dent appliances and fixtures, last years models, clearance rack at Home Depot.
We bought Anderson windows, don't be afraid to ask for a contractors discount anywhere you go. Another building block that is better to do ONCE in the beginning, than changing out windows later on.
I bought the laminate flooring from Sams club. SICK price. Can easily get changed out when I get tired of it. Still looks great after almost 10 years.
Ceramic tile came from Lowes. I learned on my first house, it is cheaper to do it yourself, rip it out and do it again, than to pay someone.
I know I sometimes sound negative, but I am a realist. Been there, done that.
You are welcome to PM me if you need help. Good luck! It will be a struggle, but it so rewarding to be able to do it. Roberta
