a place to put random discourses on life
Reflections, Rodomontade and Resolutions
Published on December 29, 2005 By lifehappens In Blogging
As I sit here munching on a homemade chocolote cookie, I am reflecting on my achievements of today. For some of you, it may not seem that interesting or impressive, but let me continue anyway, because I feel cool

As some of you know, we own a rental property just off Fort Hood. It was a great idea until 9/11. Now soldiers are deploying frequently and breaking the leases. The lost rent has been eating into our savings steadily over the last few years and last month we decided to sell. (Just a note, taxes, fees etc etc eat up about 12% of the total cost of the house..ouch!)

Anyway, now that you ahve the backstory, I was given a list by the buyer's agent of things that they wanted fixed prior to the closing next month. Matt's not the kind of guy who is into handyman stuff (and he thought it was a bad idea from day one) so it was up to me to take care of it. There were several electrical problems, minor plumbing issues and a few big ticket items. (more on the stupid inept property management later) It was several hundred dollars worth of repairs, so I set out to fix as much as i could.

I replaced the deadbolts (not up to safety code) this morning with 2 hyper and cranky kids. I decided that the rest could wait till HW got home from work and babysit! I then managed to reseat two crooked toilets (no clue as to how they got crooked), rewire the doorbell transformer (albeit a very creative method), replace two GFCI outlets that were wired incorrectly to start with, fix the exhaust fan in the kitchen (hooked up through faulty GFI) and move the A/C unit.

I'm particularly proud of the electrical job. I have learned a great deal about basic plumbing and odd repair jobs, but Ive never tackled electic stuff before. I went to Walmart and bought a replacement outlet. I carefully moved one wire at a time (yes, I turned off the circuit first) to make sure I didn't screw it up. I was so frustrated when it didn't work when I turned the power on. Not only the it not trip when tested, there was no power at all! I was devestated, I should be able to do this.

After stewing on it for a while, I realized that either a) the new outlet was faulty or b)the wiring was wrong. And TA DA! I was right! A quick fix and i had them both changed out in a heartbeat. I was pretty proud of myself.

Now you may think, how stupid does an electrician have to be to screw it up in the first place? Well, let me tell you....the standard screws that came with the kit wouldn't work to install it because they had used deck screws in it the first time! and the kitchen light only comes on if you turn the dining room light on first. Pretty pathetic. I may skip repairing that because the inspector didn't notice.

My big irritation about the whole thing is this TEXSTAR PROPERTIES (remember that name folks and avoid them!) has an inspector who missed gouges in the counter, a exahust fan that was out, a dead doorbell and several other damages. They told me that they closed the previous tenants account and that they could NEVER miss something like that. "It must ahve happened after they moved out." (yeah, I bet someone walked in and gouged the kitchen up and then cleaned up the mess) I'm ticked. They owe me for the repairs that were not found and charged to the previous tenants....they didnt' do thier job and now they want me to pay for thier mistakes? Oh heck no. I didn't pay them all that money to get walked on now.
_rant over_

So one of my goals for the new year is to quit being intimidated about home repairs. I can do it, I dont' need to hire someone, I don't need to wait for a man to help me. I can do it. I WILL not put off fixing the hole in the wall and the cracked bricks. I will paint the trim outside and I will retile the bathroom and replace the tub with gouges in it. .....well, maybe I could wait another year for the tile....

Comments
on Dec 29, 2005
Are you sure you're real?

You sound like some fantasy, made-up dream woman. Beautiful, sparkling personality, sharp, makes *gorgeous* children, a baker, physically fit, keeps interesting hobbies, has a flair for sewing and scrapbooking and other domestic tasks, AND is willing and able to do daunting household repairs...

You're making the rest of us look bad! Hehe.

Congrats on your accomplishments. I'm definitely impressed. I think I want to marry you!
on Dec 29, 2005
That is awesome that you were able to get all of that accomplished. I am also home repair challenged and I am very proud of any jobs that I complete. It is quite a sense of satisfaction that - yay! you fixed something all by yourself!!!! We all need to get over the whole helpless female stereotype and start figuring things out for ourselves. Obviously, it can't be that hard if men do it - sheesh - lol!

I hope you are able to sell and get everything straightened out with your property managers. Good for you! Have another cookie!
on Dec 29, 2005
Wow Texas. I have a big fuzzy right now. Thank you. i love ya' too...but I'm taken. You make me sound a lot more impressive than I feel.

Obviously, it can't be that hard if men do it - sheesh - lol!

Actually, men DON'T do it...but that's okay.

Have another cookie!

And there lies my downfall.....the Christmas pounds are adding up.....I better stop if I'm going to fit into my costume!
on Dec 30, 2005
I found out the hard way that a crooked toilet is the result of a cracked or broken O ring!  And that is best fixed by a plumber (unless you know plumbing).
on Dec 30, 2005
Good for you.

Hey, you probably already know this since you are a jill of all trades (hehe) but you can tell the Buyers Agent that you are not going to fix some of the items and will just take the difference off the sale price.

We worked with a buyers agent when we bought this house and it is his job to make sure HIS inspector finds every little thing and then gives an outrageous estimate. That way if you decide not to fix it and knock it off the price, well the buyer wins.

For example one of our double pain windows lost its seal. Our BA suggested an inspector/window repair guy to give an estimate on it. It was like $1500! The owner said they didn't have time to get it fixed so they just wrote us a check for $1500.

They should have had THEIR OWN estimate done because when we actually got it fixed it was like $150. Yeah. But we didn't know at the time the BA has estimates done by people who really OVER estimate. It's not against the law to OVER estimate.

We won't ever work with a BA again. Our guy was a real snake and as lazy as a Sunday afternoon in mid summer!

Good luck selling the house!
on Dec 30, 2005
Rock on! LH!
My landlord and I are working on installing a new dead bolt today. (After replacing part of the door frame so it will work.)
Lots of dust but my little hole in the wall will feel more secure when we are done.
BTW, did you look up how to wire GFI circuits on-line?
on Jan 01, 2006
I found out the hard way that a crooked toilet is the result of a cracked or broken O ring! And that is best fixed by a plumber (unless you know plumbing).

and the best way to learn plumbing? lots of grease, elbow and otherwise and not knowing that you probably should have called a plumber.

tell the Buyers Agent that you are not going to fix some of the items

I called around for estimates (And the $150 sounds about right for here too) and didn't want to fork out that much $$ for the furnace etc etc, but fortunately we found a new buyer..offering more and not asking for repairs!

am woman, hear me ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

RROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!(meow)

BTW, did you look up how to wire GFI circuits on-line?

Actually I read the directions on the package first and installed it. When it didn't work, I googled it. I usually Google everything because I can learn more than just sticking with the directions (ie: how to figure out which wire is hot without electrocuting myself.)
on Jan 03, 2006
...remember one thing always, shit flows downhill!


unless it just hit the fan....and it never hits the fan a little at a time....