Home updating big moneymaker

[slim]

Ever watch those home upgrading (HGTV?) programs. It seems like anything that hasn't been "upgraded/updated in 10 years" is decrepid junk!

Built the house in 1965. After 47 years: Original windows, paneled doors and kitchen cabinets. Finished and installed by me in 1965 still excellent! Original formica counters and vanity still as new. Original Armstrong linolium is only slightly worn. Bathroom tile wall and floor is close to new. Hardwood floors need sanding/refinishing. 6 kids grew up here!

Appliances:

o Furnace least reliable...3rd replacement furnace
o Water heater 3rd.
o Refrigerator 3rd
o Washer 3rd
o Dryer 3rd
o Stove 2nd
o Microwave 2nd
o Central A/C first
o DIY Cedar siding 30 years ago. Stained twice.

IMO homes/homeowners are viewed as goldmines. Keep re doing or you're outdated!


Slim

[1969sag]

Aside from appliances, they get old and need replaced. I think the HGTV people are full of crap. I bought a house for my folks that was made in 1930. I had to do a lot of things to refurbish, but in general it was built like a brick SH. Great craftsmanship in this house. They really built them well back then.

[eldog]

im in construction. Tile and stone install in particular. I have worked on million dollar homes and 100k oldies. It always makes me laugh when i see the old houses are built way more square or walls are more plumb than the new houses.

[slim]

If the kitchen counters aren't granite and appliance aren't stainless...argh!

What happens when you drop an heirloom goblet or priceless piece of rare china (excuse) on your updated granite counter? Remarkably there's never been extra care for the Formica that's great after 47 years! Granite requires special care because it's special!

[Roddster]

I noticed last week on "This Old House": they're nailing in new wall studs, the studs are bouncing all ove while they are attempting to "toe nail" top and bottom. Yeah, ok, it will be covered with dry wall but WTF I guess this is why when I'm doing a home project it takes me forever.

[Bucket Lister]

HGTV is supported by its sponsors to cultivate the real estate and home remodeling industries. This is the "service economy" that is supposed to replace the manufacturing based economy that went west. If we all had 1965 countertops and cabinets, what would all those small business people do?

[slim]

In maintaining stuff including house and cars I provide work for some of the skilled people that remain.

So you are saying that people like us maintaining old stuff like new (Mustangs too?) are hurting our country? If we throw it away the tree huggers object. Try to mine iron ore in Wisconsin that's bad. Last I heard granite is not a local product!

We complain about cost of foreign oil but object to north american oil!

[Bucket Lister]

Originally Posted by slim

In maintaining stuff including house and cars I provide work for some of the skilled people that remain.

So you are saying that people like us maintaining old stuff like new (Mustangs too?) are hurting our country? If we throw it away the tree huggers object. Try to mine iron ore in Wisconsin that's bad. Last I heard granite is not a local product!

We complain about cost of foreign oil but object to north american oil!

I didn't say that at all. If you want to know what I said, GO BACK AND READ MY POST. THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

I don't appreciate having words put in my mouth.

[TheDude]

I personally like the people who have million dollar budgets and the realtor takes them shopping for dream houses. Whoop-de-do, you're rich, why the hell do I care?

I also like the Property Brothers show where people usually have huge budgets and they buy a somewhat neglected home that needs updating and put $100,000 into it. Yes, it is quite amazing what one can do with $400,000. I would like to see more realistic budgets. I'm sure they have one or two shows like that, but I don't watch the channel enough...if someone in my house it watching that channel, I glance at the shows to see what interesting things can be done. On one of those shows, they turned an old upright piano into a bar. I would love to do that someday.

[slim]

Originally Posted by Bucket Lister

I didn't say that at all. If you want to know what I said, GO BACK AND READ MY POST. THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

I don't appreciate having words put in my mouth.

Oops! Very sorry I misread.

[Klutch]

It's the old question of form vs. function. A 1965 house is likely fully functional. But boy is it "out of date"; unless you're going for a retro, "Mad Men" look.

I agree. If a 1965 house is functional, why replace everything? Unfortunately, this attitude is a small minority these days. Just try to sell a house that looks like it's from 1965. You'll either have to dump it at a very low price or decide to keep it.

Almost every home buyer these days insists on granite countertops, new cabinets, new hardwood floors (old hardwood floors don't count), new stainless steel appliances and new windows. If any of these things are missing, forget it. They'll go buy a new house where the builder pays closing costs.

I do somewhat disagree about the way older homes were built. Sure, some of them were of high quality. But most of them were just thrown together. I agree with Norm Abram on this subject. When people say, "They don't build them like they used to", my anwer is, "Yeah, and it's a good thing they don't!".

[datac]

Like most of the stuff we spend money on, home improvements are all about perception rather than reality.

My house has all of the original single-pane wood windows. Not a month goes by without some well-meaning friend or neighbor asking when I'm going to replace them with modern double-pane. I'm an architecture geek, so the design of the wood windows is important to me. Even if it wasn't, upgrading them would make zero sense, yet mine is one of the few in the neighborhood that hasn't had them replaced.

Vintage wood windows can be repaired. Modern vinyl and aluminum windows, and most modern wood windows, must be replaced. I have a gas forced-air furnace, and my highest utility bill of the winter is about $130, and I usually run the furnace from the beginning of November through the end of May. Even if new windows were to cut my heat bill by half (which would never, ever happen), it would take me far longer than the service life of cheap vinyl windows to amortize out the cost, and a 30-40 year return for higher-quality windows? Not on your life. Here's a shot with obligatory Mustang content:



BTW, Slim, some of us gearheads are guys you'd probably call treehuggers, too. Used to be making efficient use of what you have was considered good practice, now it carries a load of political crap.

[slim]

Originally Posted by TheDude

I personally like the people who have million dollar budgets and the realtor takes them shopping for dream houses. Whoop-de-do, you're rich, why the hell do I care?

I also like the Property Brothers show where people usually have huge budgets and they buy a somewhat neglected home that needs updating and put $100,000 into it. Yes, it is quite amazing what one can do with $400,000. I would like to see more realistic budgets. I'm sure they have one or two shows like that, but I don't watch the channel enough...if someone in my house it watching that channel, I glance at the shows to see what interesting things can be done. On one of those shows, they turned an old upright piano into a bar. I would love to do that someday.

Don't ya love it when a kitchen remodel is like $90,000 and backyard stonework and landscaping is $300,000. It's cool to see this stuff but how 'bout us ordinary folk?

[Bucket Lister]

These shows are for common folk. Female common folk. Agree or not, women suck this stuff up. Its called the nesting instinct. My nest is bigger/nicer/better than your nest. I understand. Guys, and Kelly and Laurie, are the same about cars. Why would anyone put $60,000+ into a rusty 60's Ford? Well, many of us did because that's what we like. HGTV is not much different than the Speed Channel.

[TheDude]

Originally Posted by slim

Don't ya love it when a kitchen remodel is like $90,000 and backyard stonework and landscaping is $300,000. It's cool to see this stuff but how 'bout us ordinary folk?

Yep. "Excessive" doesn't even come close to describing it. I hate to watch rich people spend money.