I'm a homeowner now

[SP33Demon]

Congratulations Captain! Homes are great!

My yard looked like this before we purchased it:

I told the selling realtor that I expected the lawn be cut to a reasonable level before we pass papers on the home it was a short sale so I don't think he could get the bank to get the lawn cut. My neighbors told me him and a friend came out a week before we closed and attempted to cut the lawn but they failed. The grass was waist high by that time, he called in some other guy who failed to cut the lawn (neighbors heard him on the phone telling someone they need a goat to cut grass that high). Ultimately it got done.

Machete? blowtorch? rent a herd of cows? flock of sheep?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I know. Nobody was around when it got cut, I'm not sure who did it. We closed a few days after the cut and no debris was around so I am assuming it was a heavy duty professional grade mower. Must have been a ton of debris that had to be hauled off for a small yard.

 

[Xonim]

Congrats on your new home. My sympathies on moving. Now that you have more room, you'll be acquiring more shit. That will make your next move even worse.

Can confirm.

-Guy going through his first move since purchasing his first house. Was only in the place for 3.5 years, have no idea where all this stuff came from.

 

[fralexandr]

not sure if closing vents really helps to reduce energy costs/waste... a lot of places claim it puts strain on the HVAC system and decreases its operating efficiency

http://www.angieslist.com/articles/does-shutting-furnace-vents-improve-energy-efficiency.htm

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I assume its not in Massachusetts but in the off chance it is immediately schedule an energy audit. Zero cost and they have programs to insulate and seal your home for short money. I think it was $2500 in labor free and $2500 in material free. We had 12" of cellulose insulation put into the attic and walls for about $700 total cost. Wall were not insulated except for some heavy plastic draft prevention thing from the 50's and the attic had 3" of rolled insulation when we bought the house. Made a big difference on the heating cost.

 

[Imp]

You going to Ikea the shit out of that place?

 

[Aikouka]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'm closing on a house at the end of next month. w00t

My rule is that Wi-Fi is only for items that are meant to be moved often (e.g. laptops, smartphones, etc.). HTPCs, PCs, and such are all run off Ethernet. Although, I still have to properly run my wires through the wall and then do all the speaker wire as well. Right now, I've got wires running through the hallways and such, which looks a bit garish, but it works.

I'm also switching to in-wall speakers and wall-mounting my TVs to go for a cleaner look. It'll be a slight degradation in sound compared to my existing floor-standing speakers, but it should be fine.

I've been adding about a billion project ideas to my "list", which gets worse whenever I notice how the original owner cheaped out on something. I'm always really timid when I feel like I'm invading someone's personal space, which made my home buying worse because the homeowner hadn't moved out yet. So, I wasn't nearly as willing to just dig into every nook and cranny. Oh, and if the person hasn't moved out yet, mandate cleaning in your contract. It was pretty disgusting when I went to use the shower after finally getting everything moved in, and I found hair and grime all around. D:

Also, if there's a pool, mandate that the chemical levels be set to standard levels. Pool companies are lazy bastards and jack up the stabilizer to keep the chlorine from fading (caused by UV rays), but high amounts of chemicals are often much harder to manage. To give you an idea, stabilizer (cyanuric acid) is often kept between 30-60 ppm, and mine was at 300 ppm. Reducing that down to the current 40 ppm took five 1-foot drain and refills over the course of five days. It was not fun and not free. I'm currently fixing high Total Alkalinity, which requires you to drop the pH to 7.0-7.2 and aerate the pool while it raises back up to about 7.6. It still takes a while as it normally only drops around 10 ppm at a time, and I'd like to go from 130 ppm to about 80 ppm. (I'm currently at 120 ppm )

Ultimately, I guess the best advice is never expect the current homeowner to "do the right thing" (such as cleaning). If you want it done, put it in writing.

 

[WilliamM2]

Also - i have two bedrooms that at the moment will only be used sparingly. If i shut the ac vents off in those rooms and keep the doors closed that should cut down on my overall ac usage huh?

No it won't.

http://www.energyvanguard.com/blog-...e-Money-by-Closing-HVAC-Vents-in-Unused-Rooms

http://www.horizonservicesinc.com/reference/tips-articles/home-energy-myths-debunked

 

[Charmonium]

No it won't.

http://www.energyvanguard.com/blog-...e-Money-by-Closing-HVAC-Vents-in-Unused-Rooms

http://www.horizonservicesinc.com/reference/tips-articles/home-energy-myths-debunked

Great articles dude! Especially the first one. That does an excellent job of explaining what really happens from a system point of view.

I tried closing the vent in one of 4 bedrooms and I don't think it helped but I wasn't very scientific about it. The room definitely got warmer but that was probably from the server in there.

 

[Eug]

Yeah WiFi can work well but I too have a general rule that all stationary items run off wired Ethernet and only mobile devices run off WiFi. Makes life simpler.

Ethernet tends to be bombproof but WiFi not so much, esp. with some hardware with continuous usage. Also, if you run something like a NAS, WiFi simply doesn't cut it.

If you're going to be doing any repairs or renovations, then that's the perfect time to add Ethernet wiring, regardless if you think you need it or not.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Congrats! It's a great feeling knowing you have a place you own. Was the most surreal thing ever when I bought my house. I had so much work to do in it though that I only moved in months later, so it did not even feel like mine quite yet, it was more like a second job. But that first night sleeping in my new bed in my own house it was surreal. Not only being on my own, but being on my own in my own house.

As for the lawn, a hedge trimmer works well for lawn and weeds that high. Though that would get very tiring on the arms to do such a large area, you could make some kind of jig on wheels that holds it like 2 inches from the ground straight and all you have to do is roll it around. Maybe a dolly with two hedge trimmers connected so they stick out one on each side or something. That sounds fun to make.

And yes definitely want to add ethernet ports everywhere you can or think you'll need them. Best bet is if the basement ceiling is open, keep it that way, makes running jacks in the future that much easier. Drop ceiling is way to go in the basement. if it's already drywalled it makes things harder unless you want to punch holes at will in it and just add drop ceiling later.

 

[x26]

Woohoo, just got back from closing! It hurt cutting that check but now i have my own place.

Now I have to spend the next couple of days moving in 100 degree weather.


Also - i have two bedrooms that at the moment will only be used sparingly. If i shut the ac vents off in those rooms and keep the doors closed that should cut down on my overall ac usage huh?

What City?
NOLA?
Old Metairie?
Baton Rouge?
Lafayette?

What neighborhood--Uptown, Garden District, Mid-City, Ninth Ward...

 

[lxskllr]

Holy hell its hot.

If you had asked me, I'd have told you to get the fuck out of Lousianna. Remember that next time ;^)

Congrats on the house! Make sure you get a cat for it. Keeps out the swamp rats.

 

[skull]

not sure if closing vents really helps to reduce energy costs/waste... a lot of places claim it puts strain on the HVAC system and decreases its operating efficiency

http://www.angieslist.com/articles/does-shutting-furnace-vents-improve-energy-efficiency.htm

I'm an HVAC guy and I approve. Shutting registers is bad. However shutting dampers in the basement at the duct work to the room can help but if your duct work is small(it usually is) it might not be good for the system. On another token if you're new house is older and not insulated and sealed you could end up with condensation problems in the rooms you shut the vents off to on very hot or very cold days.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Yeah WiFi can work well but I too have a general rule that all stationary items run off wired Ethernet and only mobile devices run off WiFi. Makes life simpler.

Ethernet tends to be bombproof but WiFi not so much, esp. with some hardware with continuous usage. Also, if you run something like a NAS, WiFi simply doesn't cut it.

I was very skeptical of using wi-fi for streaming video, but I thought it was worth a shot since it was cheaper and easier to do than pulling cables. My entertainment center downstairs is wirelessly bridged to the main network upstairs and I've never had issues streaming Amazon, Plex, or Netflix. And that's just with an N bridge; I do have an AC bridge to replace it with but haven't gotten around to it.

At some point, I wouldn't mind dropping an Ethernet line between the floors; the previous homeowner put a large antenna in my top attic and I believe a line runs from it all the way down to the first floor, so I don't think it would be hard to use that route to drop an Ethernet cable down to the first floor and then drop the other end into my office (which is under the same attic).

If you're going to be doing any repairs or renovations, then that's the perfect time to add Ethernet wiring, regardless if you think you need it or not.

Definitely agree here - if you're going to be doing renovations anyway, makes sense to do it.

 

[purbeast0]

my very first project in my house when i bought it was running network wire through the walls, as well as coax cable so i could put cable wherever i wanted to. i ran it to 4 bedrooms (1 of which is my office), to my family room, and to my basement. definitely a fun project.

i was so glad i ran it to the basement because now that i have my HT down there, i have all of my stuff hard wired like my PS4 and Xbox one. it's just more reliable for gaming for sure, especially considering the router is up on the top floor.

but i don't use the network in ANY other room right now, and i only use the coax in our bedroom and family room. but i did use the network plugs in my family room before my HT was finished because i had all of my consoles hooked up there.

 

[soulcougher73]

My condolences. Wait..im about to be one soon to. Just finishing up loan paperwork.

 

[microAmp]

Congrats.

Now change that anode rod in your water heater; unless it's a new house.

 

[IronWing]

Congratulations Captain! Homes are great!

My yard looked like this before we purchased it:

I told the selling realtor that I expected the lawn be cut to a reasonable level before we pass papers on the home it was a short sale so I don't think he could get the bank to get the lawn cut. My neighbors told me him and a friend came out a week before we closed and attempted to cut the lawn but they failed. The grass was waist high by that time, he called in some other guy who failed to cut the lawn (neighbors heard him on the phone telling someone they need a goat to cut grass that high). Ultimately it got done.

You whacked all the native vegetation! :'(

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

You are now the proud new owner of a shitload of overhead home improvement/maintenance costs. Congratulations!

Hell, my expenses for the last 90 days alone in the category home improvement (Home Depot/Lowes) is $872. Oh joy!

 

[iRONic]

What City?
NOLA?
Old Metairie?
Baton Rouge?
Lafayette?

What neighborhood--Uptown, Garden District, Mid-City, Ninth Ward...

Yeah, where ya at, OP?

<----------Former Lafayette & Youngsville resident.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Also - i have two bedrooms that at the moment will only be used sparingly. If i shut the ac vents off in those rooms and keep the doors closed that should cut down on my overall ac usage huh?

Congrats on the home!

Unlike the heard mentality and self-proclaimed experts above I am going to ask the most pertinent question: Do you have a variable speed blower on your HVAC system?

 

[notposting]

Better bet for the AC usage (suppose you won't need to worry about heating ), get a smart thermostat.

We picked up the ecobee Smart Si when we moved in to our home spring 2014 and really happy with it. Save around $100 ditching the touch screen but since you basically configure once, and after that can just program on a separate device, it's really no problem.

(looks like the price has crept up a bit on Amazon currently, but still around $70 cheaper than the usual ecobee3/Nest/Honeywell touchscreen versions EDIT: e3 is down to $225 though also, so even less of a differential)

 

[overst33r]

Better bet for the AC usage (suppose you won't need to worry about heating ), get a smart thermostat.

We picked up the ecobee Smart Si when we moved in to our home spring 2014 and really happy with it. Save around $100 ditching the touch screen but since you basically configure once, and after that can just program on a separate device, it's really no problem.

(looks like the price has crept up a bit on Amazon currently, but still around $70 cheaper than the usual ecobee3/Nest/Honeywell touchscreen versions EDIT: e3 is down to $225 though also, so even less of a differential)

A conventional programmable thermostat will likely save nearly as much money for a paltry sum in comparison.

 

[Eug]

A conventional programmable thermostat will likely save nearly as much money for a paltry sum in comparison.

Agreed.

Also, if the smart programming (eg. Nest) doesn't happen to profile you accurately, it can be a big headache, at least according to Nest owners.

A properly programmed programmable thermostat is often a better bet.