https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:56:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-883486 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 14:50:07 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 883486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We found out that the people who owned our house before us didn't disclose a major leak in the poo.. It was quite expensive to fix. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-883006 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 13:16:40 +0000 pui 883006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to evict our tenant and he left our basement apartment in an absolutely disgusting condition. Not only did he literally leave trash covering the floors (empty chip bags, banana peels, old clothes, ectect) but every surface was coated in filth. Also, walls had huge gaping holes in them, the bathroom ceiling was covered in mold (because he never turned the fan on) and all the floors needed to be replaced.</p> <p>Keep in mind that this is directly under our very clean and tidy home.</p> <p>We're finally almost finished the huge cleaning and renovation job we had to do down there. Most of it we did ourselves. Gross and back-breaking work... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-882987 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 13:13:14 +0000 Springtime 882987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our A/C went out and we had to get everything installed brand new. $3400. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880481 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:32:19 +0000 avivoca 880481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MUI831: I admit it was hard getting used to the idea that "the buck stops here when things need to get fixed," coming from a renter standpoint, but I really enjoy getting to make the changes and decisions in the house to help it suit our needs. Just this weekend, I added some storage to our sink cabinet to make it function better for me, which is something I've never been able to do in a rental. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880463 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:27:17 +0000 avivoca 880463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: That's not right. If the first plumber broke the valve, he/she should have fixed it at no additional charge. I'm so sorry that happened! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880431 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:17:33 +0000 Mommy Finger 880431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great thread to read 3 weeks before we.close on our house!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880424 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:15:25 +0000 PurplePeony 880424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We need to add some more insulation to our attic, and the garage is a disaster. It's part of the basement, and now that we have a LO on the way, I really want to get it up to code. Which means all new insulation, drywall, overhead door, and door to the inside. We knew we'd eventually have to do these things when we bought the house, but somehow there's a big difference between "it's not urgent so we'll get to it when we get to it" and "oh crud, we need to do that in the next few months." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880421 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:14:14 +0000 heffalump 880421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our newest project isn't exactly a need...... but we think it is. We are having a new baby so we want to switch LO to our guest room so the baby will be closer to our room. But the guestroom has double doors right near the living room where we watch tv at night. We are going to put the closet where the double doors are and have a single door farther away from the living room. $3500. It better work and help LO sleep! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880415 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:12:38 +0000 Smurfette 880415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I know. And I am so glad that it didn't cause a huge hole in the roof with water getting in the house. I don't know how I would have dealt with that by myself with R. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880403 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:08:56 +0000 sunny 880403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: Omg thats terrifying! I'm so glad you are ok and that the tree didn't hurt anyone. We had some severe windstorms a few years ago and I saw trees that had smashed into many homes. So scary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880397 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:07:13 +0000 Smurfette 880397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Two weeks ago our house cost us $3K. DH was traveling for the week, so I had to deal with it all myself.. The AC broke on Wed, part ordered and fixed Friday afternoon. There went $500. Oh did I mention it was 90+ during those days, good thing R had day care and I had work to escape too. Then Thursday night after hiding in the basement with R during tornado warnings, we came up, nursed her to sleep, put her in the crib and go look outside to see that a tree landed on the corner of the house. Right over her room. I went back inside and moved her into the RnP in our room on the other side of the house for the night. The tree cost $1500 to remove and then another $1000 in repairs for the roof. </p> <p>But we still had power, when neighbors didn't, but most importantly R and I were ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880353 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:53:14 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 880353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@evansjamie: At first it was $250 then the plumber broke a valve and charged me another $100. We had a second plumber come out a few days later to try and investigate the leak the first one couldn't find and he said he would have charged us just $100 to change it. At the end of the day if he told me it was $500 I would have gone with it. DH is absolutely no help in bouncing off "does this seem right? "</p> <p>@looch: yeah, it's like the inspectors are just enamored with the house as the excited homeowners are too. Our house is newly renovated by the previous homeowners, we wanted a turnkey. The house looks great, but now I want to return the key. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880352 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:52:56 +0000 Cherrybee 880352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us right now its the gardens. The back garden is huge and was like a jungle when we moved in. I spent the whole of last spring/summer out there digging it over, cutting back brambles, and I'd say I was about halfway there.... This year I've not been able to do it - and DH isn't the gardening type - so it has grown back worse than before!!!! We are going to have to pay a pro to come and sort it for us! We need four trees removing as well. Nightmare! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880328 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:47:22 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 880328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: ouch. I feel the pain! </p> <p>@skibobrown: I think we wanted a house for silly reasons. We have decided that after this house we are going to be renters. The entire experience (not just the fixes) has not been worth it to do it again for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880324 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:45:57 +0000 looch 880324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am constantly surprised at the stuff that pops up that the inspector says was just fine, like the recent foray into bathroom venting via the attic.</p> <p>Oh well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880322 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:45:05 +0000 avivoca 880322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: There's not much I'm not willing to try. $350 seems high for changing a faucet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880319 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:44:02 +0000 avivoca 880319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: Thankfully, we aren't having any moisture issues. We knew the room was on it's last legs when we bought the house, and after this storm season I'm going to see if the insurance will pay for a new roof. Otherwise we'll be paying for it ourselves. Also, judging by the state the former owners left the house it, I wouldn't be surprised if they half-assed it, but it passed the second inspection, so who knows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880302 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:37:41 +0000 skibobrown 880302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh don't tell me this! We're just looking to purchase our first home. There have been disastrous rains and flooding in our area recently, so we'll be asking a lot of questions at each home we visit about water damage! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880295 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:36:36 +0000 PurplePumps 880295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: We try! After the awful experience with hiring "pros" to do our chimney, we have no faith in anyone to care for our house like we would. There's not much we're not willing to tackle. </p> <p>@evansjamie: Wow, they just blow off?? If you're currently having any issues with leaking or moisture from the roof, try checking the ones they replaced. Some jerks (like the ones that did our chimney and "fixed" the singles they broke) don't replace the entire shingle like they should. The half ass it and cut it about an inch or 2 underneath the one over it, so that they dont have to go in to where it's nailed and and remove the whole thing, which is a bit more effort. Then they just slide another one in about that inch or two under, so the overlap is not enough, they are supposed to over lap about half of itself (~5 inches). Hopefully your roofers did it right though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880275 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:31:34 +0000 sunny 880275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a pipe burst in the winter and that was annoying to clean up, though luckily it was in the garage.</p> <p>The costliest thing we have had to do is replace our HVAC! That was $10k to install a new furnace and heat pump... ouch! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880262 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:28:34 +0000 avivoca 880262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I was under there for moral support and to hold the flashlight. My husband was the one doing a perma-crunch and cursing trying to fit the hose where it needed to go. Apparently, the dryer had been venting in our crawl space for a long time, judging from the amount of lint under there.</p> <p>@PurplePumps: I'm not sure about the structure. I know there were a few missing shingles that had to be replaced prior to moving in, and another shingle has blown over as well. My husband has done a roof in the past, but not a shingle roof, so I think we're going to get a few estimates and see what we can do ourselves, like purchasing our own materials and have a couple of pros put it on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880255 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:26:45 +0000 Chillybear 880255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>water damage is the worst! A couple weeks ago we had a major rain storm and our sump pump motor went leaving about 4 inches of water throughout our basement. a lot of trash, cleaning, and fans going i think we're done with the moisture. Plus we had to pay to replace the pump </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880250 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:25:50 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 880250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: you're another handy one :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880238 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:24:20 +0000 PurplePumps 880238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@evansjamie: Roofing is actually really easy. If the structure is ok, and you just need to replace the shingles, just youtube it and DIY to save a boat load. Even if you have to rip out old plywood, the hardest part will be getting new boards up to the roof. The shingles themselves are not too expensive. Over lap, nail and repeat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880233 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:22:43 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 880233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: oh boy. The water mitigation guy and the two plummets who have not found the leak yet have all hinted they will need to rip up the floors. </p> <p>@MrsTiz: that sucks. DH is actually looking forward to our washer and dryers breaking. Im not, but he hates them. </p> <p>@regberadaisy: yeah, water mitigation guy said the water is spreading under the floor not the walls thank goodness. He wanted to remove the moldy dry wall, but our adjuster hasn't even come out. </p> <p>@Bookworm: we replaced the A/C last Nov and recently had a service call on it. So glad it was still under warranty. The company took forever to fix- 3 visits all at night probably because we weren't new, paying customers.</p> <p>@evansjamie: you crawled under your own house? All of the fixes cost so much in part because neither of us are handy. We just had to pay a plumber $350 to install a new kitchen faucet on top of the coast of the faucet. I know we got swindled.</p> <p>@NorCalWayfarer: woohoo for warranties! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880216 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:18:13 +0000 PurplePumps 880216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>-New gutters when we bought the house, 5k<br /> -Rodent problem in the attic, a few traps and lots of time!<br /> -Pipe burst in the basement, needed to fix that and the wall it ruined.<br /> - Lots of broken sprinkle heads<br /> - Sump over flowed when we lost power, had to buy a generator - $600<br /> -Leaky pipes. We had to take down kitchen cabinets and open up the ceiling to get into that to fix. Then followed the leak upstairs through a hole in my bathroom wall all the way up to the attic. We did this one ourselves, so it didn't cost much, just headache.<br /> -Leaky chimney. 2.5k.<br /> -Fixing the roof, from the asshole chimney guys that left us holes in it. DIY so just material cost ~100<br /> -Rotted window/window sills. DIY.<br /> -Rotted framing. DIY.<br /> -House needs to be repainted $1000 in paint<br /> -Bathroom fans (dont) suck, needs replacement $400<br /> -Furnace/hotwater heater are on their last leg. Prepping for $5k for these<br /> -New front doors $700<br /> -Rotted door frames.<br /> ... I hate wood.<br /> I think that's it.... for now. Not to mention the arsenal of tools and equipment we've had to buy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880197 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:12:59 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 880197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our hot water heater broke a few months after we bought our house, but thankfully we had a home appliance warranty donor cost about $300 instead of $2000. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880182 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:08:05 +0000 avivoca 880182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it's bad, I don't know about it yet. The worst thing we've dealt with so far was a broken dryer hose, which meant we had to crawl under the house with a new hose, cut out the part that was broken, attach the new hose, and then get it attached to the part that goes to the outside. So much fun. Also, our roof will need to be replaced in the next two years and I am not looking forward to that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880168 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:04:48 +0000 Bookish 880168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yuckk :( Right now it's our A/C. It's on its last legs and will probably need to be replaced within the next year. I wish the units weren't so expensive, but such is the life of a homeowner! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving#post-880166 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:04:37 +0000 regberadaisy 880166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: wow. That is bad news bears. I would be worried about mold growing on the layer underneath the hardwood which is usually plywood.</p> <p>Our whole house is basically a gut renovation but nothing we didn't expect. Yet. </p>