A House Owner's Hell Week Story

[Bec]

You may have better building standards in the States than we do in the UK and you have more space. Here I would be reluctant to buy anything built later than 1980 as they trend to be poorly constructed with cramped rooms. We have a lot of great Victorian and Edwardian houses and anything up the 1970s is worth considering.

Actually, this house is probably at least 100 years old. It's a one and a half story style "cottage", without a basement, just a drop down area to get to pipes, shut off valves, water and electric lines. And Nick is right, the infrastructure is just wearing out. I was so ill and in such extreme pain for so long that I could barely cook a meal much less do household repairs, plus there really wasn't any money to hire someone. I'm doing much better physically, and as long as I go slow, take breaks, or just wait a day or two til I feel better... I get some things accomplished with my partner and roommate helping. They're also disabled, but we can manage some stuff as a team.

At least we have a solid roof over our heads and good storm windows -- I took a loan out 2 years ago for those major repairs ... LOL What gets weird is that the roof and windows cost me more to install than what the house is supposedly worth. Cleveland property values have literally gone down the drain and I don't foresee re-couping any of the equity I once had here. And since I still owe 3x the value on the mortgage, selling isn't an option either. I feel really bad for those folks that had 100's of thousands of value just stripped away in a matter of months.

[dirtyratstudios]

Yes I heard prices had fallen a lot in the States. In most parts of the UK outside of London I would say it's about 11-15% down since the peak and no one really know what the future holds. Later this year I expect to be living in a terraced cottage that dates from the 1920s, out in the countryside. I know nothing has been done to the roof for at least 30 years but I'm hoping it will keep going for a good while longer.

[Bec]

I know nothing has been done to the roof for at least 30 years but I'm hoping it will keep going for a good while longer.

Tarps draped over the bad area and nailed down work wonders in a pinch ....

[dirtyratstudios]

Tarps draped over the bad area and nailed down work wonders in a pinch ....

That's a good idea for an emergency. Though it's only two miles from the sea so can be very windy. But in that situation I would just have to cough up some cash for repairs. The roof is odd: grey slate on the front of the house and terracotta clay pantiles on the rear. I winder if the Romans first used those around there, though I don't think the roof is that old

[Bec]

Ceramic can last for centuries .... and if you decide to replace the slate, save it and put it up for sale. Artists go crazy buying up those tiles for homestead, farm, and still life type paintings.

.... and an update: I have all the gas line in and working as of about 2 hours ago! We all just finished taking HOT showers!!!

[dirtyratstudios]

Yes people are stupid. I don't know how many I have seen have a new wall or roof done and they let the workmen disappear with the old stones and tiles. Some of the stones in the walls of the house are huge with old fashioned chisel marks. We think they may have come from a nearby castle. So maybe 700 years old.

Ceramic can last for centuries .... and if you decide to replace the slate, save it and put it up for sale. Artists go crazy buying up those tiles for homestead, farm, and still life type paintings.

.... and an update: I have all the gas line in and working as of about 2 hours ago! We all just finished taking HOT showers!!!

[basschick]

wow, congrat on getting everything up and working, Bec! glad you weren't hurt worse from those shocks...