Welcome to home ownership

Luis Caffesse

Luis Caffesse

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So one of the reasons I hadn't been around in a while was because my wife and I were looking for a house... took us about 8-9months of searching, and it took over our lives.

We finally found a place, and moved in about 4 months ago.

Well, I got my initiation into homeownership in the past few days.
The drainage line in our laundry room is clogged - and the water backs up and overflows.

Simple fix, right?
Call a plumber and he'll use the 'snake'...that's what I thought.
So the plumber comes out, and runs the snake a full 6 feet before it won't go any further.
Apparently it's getting stopped by the 'P' trap (the sharp curve in plumbing that keeps the sewer gases from coming back up into the house).

Usually, it shouldn't be a big deal - most P-traps are above ground, or the drainage line has a 'cleanout' on the side of the house.

Of course - our house doesn't.
The house was built in 1967.
Apparently back then the 'P' traps weren't built above ground....which means that instead it is ....

(drumroll please)

.....somewhere in the slab!


So what's my solution?
Break up the floor - jackhammer through the slab...and fix it.


YAY homeownership!
:thumbsup:

I guess I'm holding onto this TV job a bit longer than I had hoped to.


EDITED TO ADD:
At least I ordered my HVX BEFORE I found out about this.
Can't return it now!
:)
 
I hear ya, Luis. Recently I had a problem with my garage door (not opener, well partly) and I succeed in screwing it up beyond my ability to fix. I called the company that installed it 6 years ago and the guy had it fixed in about 30 minutes. I was much luckier than you.
 
I feel your pain, man. This was my schedule--

Jan-Nov 2006: Save $$ for HVX
Nov-Dec 2006: Old HVAC system goes south for good, replace for $7100
Jan 2007-? : Save $$ for HVX
 
Yeah, I'm feeling a little guilty now everytime I look over at my new HVX.
I guess I just need to make sure I put it to work and earn enough to fix this thing.

Meanwhile I'm praying our hot water heater and HVAC make it another year.
(fingers crossed)

And then people wonder why not all of us have time to make post videos!
:thumbsup:
 
Home ownership has made me turn to my wife and seriously ask if we could move back to an appartment. She keeps saying "no." :)
 
On the bright side - my boss just came into my office and offered me a raise.
Nice timing.

I know where that money's going.
Thank god I didn't quit last week when I wanted to.
:thumbsup:
 
Another side to the bright side:
if you fix it properly, you wont have to fix it again.

I'm all too familiar with the snake thing, dirty, stinky mess--no clean way to do it. It really sucks. Once you get it fixed, a nylon stocking over the rubber drain hose does wonders. You'll be surprised what doesnt make it down the drain.
 
gco said:
Once you get it fixed, a nylon stocking over the rubber drain hose does wonders. You'll be surprised what doesnt make it down the drain.
Click to expand...

DAMN that's a good idea.
And in my budget too!

Thanks for the tip!
:thumbsup:

(if only the last home owner had done that!)
 
Dude... that's it? You made it sound like something major! Try gettin your home torn up by not one, but three hurricanes. Then, our insurance company only gave us about half of what the estimates were, leaving me to do the repairs myself where possible. Add to this the fact that the Mortgage company (Ameriquest Sucks!) took the insurance check, and refused to release the money needed for repairs, until the repairs were all done.

If I was you, I'd take the opportunity to upgrade. You'll be happier in the long run, even if it costs you a bit now. Good luck with all of that though.
 
thank goodness i still live in my parent's shed. sure it gets cold in the winter time, but at least it smells like freshly cut grass so i never have to buy air fresheners. they let me inside the house to shower and use the internet, which is nice.
 
Insurance companies not paying claims, broken pipes, HVAC systems, water heaters, garage doors, homeowners associations, taxes, eminent domain.....and people ask me why I live in an apartment.
check out this guys yard at Dunvegankeep.com
The homeowners assoc in his neighborhood has been after him for the last few years threatening to sue him to tear it all down. (He has been there a long time too)
Again, aside from the equity thing, why not live in an apartment? Pretty much no worries.
 
Even the equity bit is dubious. Given what you pay in property taxes, your home has to appreciate a lot every year just to compensate. I know some people live in states without high property taxes, but I'm not one of them. :( We spent almost 18 grand last year in interest and property taxes. So we get back around six in tax deductions. So what? Still not good as an investment. Can you tell this my first house? Ha! I need to go scrape glue off a floor board that came loose now.
 
Actually, the equity can be nice. We moved into a house, paid $77,000. Hurricanes wiped it out, rebuilt it totally inside, then sold it quick because we were tired of fighting over it. I got new gear, we took care of bills, and are now renting a nicer home. That was just five years. But, it was also at a point where home prices were absolutely nuts.

Renting takes a lot of burdens off your shoulders, but there are other issues to deal with. Live in an apartment? How about the two kiddies upstairs, that are up at 6:30 every morning bouncing around to the Spice Girls full volume. You usually can't change things to suit you.

Besides- being a Homeowner sounds respectable :)
 
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