Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house?

I’m not moving again soon unless a dream project comes up , giving an agent 50-60k for three phone calls and another 50 in transfer taxes , lawyers , payouts , no thanks

We had an inspection done on an Arizona house , needed in financials , inspector found termite damage in the 12x12 fir timber frame of the house . Contractor called in said , find me a termite that can live at 5,800 ft elevation, it’s wood pecker holes from when the 12x12s were still standing trees .


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crankcall said:
I’m not moving again soon unless a dream project comes up , giving an agent 50-60k for three phone calls and another 50 in transfer taxes , lawyers , payouts , no thanks

We had an inspection done on an Arizona house , needed in financials , inspector found termite damage in the 12x12 fir timber frame of the house . Contractor called in said , find me a termite that can live at 5,800 ft elevation, it’s wood pecker holes from when the 12x12s were still standing trees .


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Move 40km closer to work (which as the boss can be easier as you can open a satellite office) and you get to use pre-tax money for all those fees. Much less painful.
 
mimico_polak said:
Also very likely different markets. Try pulling that nowadays to a seller and they'll just pass to the next offer (if they already didn't accept an unconditional offer).

We spoke with our agent, mortgage broker, and some buddies in contracting and each one said the same thing:

"You like the area, have good neighbours, have a good size lot, and good access to everything. Don't bother selling, and then trying to buy in this market. Look into the renovation instead."

In addition:

"How sure are you the MIL will be alive in 10 years? Or even still living with you? May not be worth the expense for an extra 600sqft."

I mean technically....families around the world live with more people crammed into less space than we have. We'll see what the broker says. Last time we talked he said he can add 100k to our mortgage, and our payments go DOWN. If that's still the case we may pull the trigger on the modular addition.
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Re the MIL, one never knows but the concept of a granny flat / cottage brings mixed emotions. It all depends on personality. Some people like the option of their own space while not being isolated. Neighbours tend to get freaky.

Unless there is a change in direction of the income / house price ratio you may need the extra room for adult children until YOU end up in the grampa flat.

FWIW our daughters house in Hamilton is a two story on a 20' X 30' footprint. The former family raised five kids there. (One bathroom unfinished basement)
 
Selling a previous house buyer insisted on an inspection. I said he’ll find something so you take 5k off your offer, skip the inspection cost and we are done today .
Or I’ll move to the next potential buyer and take my chances , because there was nothing serious with the house.
It was a pleasant surprise to meet a guy that “ got it” .
I was also surprised a 28yr old guy , with a 5 month pregnant wife was buying a million dollar house , then he told me he was in the trades …..


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nobbie48 said:
Re the MIL, one never knows but the concept of a granny flat / cottage brings mixed emotions. It all depends on personality. Some people like the option of their own space while not being isolated. Neighbours tend to get freaky.

Unless there is a change in direction of the income / house price ratio you may need the extra room for adult children until YOU end up in the grampa flat.

FWIW our daughters house in Hamilton is a two story on a 20' X 30' footprint. The former family raised five kids there. (One bathroom unfinished basement)
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Interesting thought. MP what's your zoning for accessory dwelling units? Throw one in the back yard and you have more space now and an easy rental for the future.
 
GreyGhost said:
Interesting thought. MP what's your zoning for accessory dwelling units? Throw one in the back yard and you have more space now and an easy rental for the future.
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Interesting...in all honesty, this has not even come up on the radar at all.

Zone R2, Master By-Law 0225-2007, Enacting By-Law 0131/18
 
GreyGhost said:
Move 40km closer to work (which as the boss can be easier as you can open a satellite office) and you get to use pre-tax money for all those fees. Much less painful.
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I was only 21k away to start , now 8 . Can’t get closer if I wanted .
Wife and I promised each other , neither would ever commute longer than 20 mins top. I’m never spending my life in a car pool lane or elbow to elbow in the under ground tunnel .
Not everyone gets that option , but it’s a life choice we made


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mimico_polak said:
Interesting...in all honesty, this has not even come up on the radar at all.

Zone R2, Master By-Law 0225-2007, Enacting By-Law 0131/18
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As expected, Mississauga has typical old school zoning. One lot, one building allowed for a dwelling. You may be allowed to add a dwelling within your existing building. They have no reasonable way to build an ADU. You could apply for a variance, etc to try to get one approved but those are normally loser situations. Municipalities aren't interested in density, affordable housing, nor available housing, they want to protect the status quo as that is their voter base.
 
crankcall said:
I was only 21k away to start , now 8 . Can’t get closer if I wanted .
Wife and I promised each other , neither would ever commute longer than 20 mins top. I’m never spending my life in a car pool lane or elbow to elbow in the under ground tunnel .
Not everyone gets that option , but it’s a life choice we made


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It doesn't work if you don't want to move far but for instance, if you wanted to move to St Kitts or Collingwood, open a satellite office in the area that is your official office and the move expenses come out of your future pre-tax income.
 
Toronto finally started to consider alley homes and tiny houses . It’s been two decades in negotiations.

House near me built a pool shed / cabana . It’s north of Lakeshore but across from a park so the pool house has view of the lake . It’s a bit larger than a shed , but there is some odd pool equipment/ gazebo pool house rule here so it looks about 12x 16 . His parents live there . I can see them having coffee in the morning when I walk the dog . Oh yeah , he is also a building inspector for the town , and signed off on his own inspection. Yeah…


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GateKeeper said:
@Hack……

you doing just the demo, and have someone put it back together? Or are doing doing the whole thing?

I have 2 bathrooms that need to be done, I can do the demo, but afraid to do the “put together“ part…lol
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The whole thing, but... It's not my first rodeo.
The only project I refuse to do is roofing... That is hard/dangerous work that I'll leave to those who know what their doing.
We recently had all our windows replaced and that too we contracted out... I "could" have done it, but it would have taken way too long and "if" I made a mistake in measurements or something... Well that would have been on me.
Instead... A three man crew did the job... In and out in two and a half days no fuss no muss and if I have any problems... It's a phone call.
 
Hack said:
I "could" have done it, but it would have taken way too long and "if" I made a mistake in measurements or something... Well that would have been on me.
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This is why I'm paying someone to currently reno my house (First & second floor). Sure I could have done at least some of the work, but it would have taken longer and they can do it better.
 
tat2 said:
Sure I could have done at least some of the work, but it would have taken longer and they can do it better.
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The first part is almost certain, the second part is almost certainly not. Finding someone that is competent at a single trade yet alone multiple trades is a real struggle.
 
tat2 said:
This is why I'm paying someone to currently reno my house (First & second floor). Sure I could have done at least some of the work, but it would have taken longer and they can do it better.
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You would hope so...I've seen it not go this way at all.
 
GreyGhost said:
The first part is almost certain, the second part is almost certainly not. Finding someone that is competent at a single trade yet alone multiple trades is a real struggle.
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My favourite van , specializing in basements kitchens concrete bathrooms decks fences interlock ceramics windows doors and dog grooming.


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crankcall said:
My favourite van , specializing in basements kitchens concrete bathrooms decks fences interlock ceramics windows doors and dog grooming.


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My neighbour does windows, doors, basements, plumbing...and flowers...but I think that's his wife's business.

Mind you I think he's drunk half the time and speeding through the neighbourhood. Or appears to be anyway.
 
Hack said:
The whole thing, but... It's not my first rodeo.
The only project I refuse to do is roofing... That is hard/dangerous work that I'll leave to those who know what their doing.
We recently had all our windows replaced and that too we contracted out... I "could" have done it, but it would have taken way too long and "if" I made a mistake in measurements or something... Well that would have been on me.
Instead... A three man crew did the job... In and out in two and a half days no fuss no muss and if I have any problems... It's a phone call.
Click to expand...

What about the trim inside. I have a few windows that are near the end but I'm anal and can't see them removing and reinstalling all the interior trim w/o it showing. For me it's the small details that make the job.
 
timtune said:
What about the trim inside. I have a few windows that are near the end but I'm anal and can't see them removing and reinstalling all the interior trim w/o it showing. For me it's the small details that make the job.
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I'm sure most windows guys would do it. I recall our patio door that was replaced the guys did the inside trim as well. They just took it off carefully and reinstalled it.

Sometimes it would be hard to match the existing trim of the house.
 
The number of contractors I trust absolutely with things in the house isn’t huge but there’s only one guy I have to do windows and doors. He’s a polish guy that works for a big general contractor here and he’s fantastic. Absolutely detail orientated and never leaves without things being perfect. I’ll actually pay more above other installers just to make sure he’s on the job. Another one is the guy that did our garage door and another is a painter we use.
 
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