Making Due With a Quirky Home

[SamanthaGrace]

So, I moved to a small house in the country a while back. Let's say the housing market has been crazy I had to settle with what is around. Where I am living is far from perfect. But when there is no inventory for buying or rental, you take whatever you can and make due. The house I live in, had a major roof leak where they had to replace the whole roof. The bathroom collapsed years before I came in. So, I am always finding quirks. I can tell things where done quick, cheaply and not how I would have done them. Today's quirk was interesting. The cheap pressboard cabinets are separating from the wall. It is the side of the house that experienced major water damage. The bathtub is right above it. Last night I was putting little tiny egg cups in the cabinet. I noticed two small ramkies shifted forward. I did not notice the cabinet shift yet. I go down stairs to have steak, eggs and coffee. While I sitting at the kitchen table, I noticed the cabinet leaning forward. About a 1/2 inche from the wall. So, I promptly took all my dishes out. I was concerned about it it completely falling. So, it appears I will be working on my cabinets this week. Which I've done cabinet repair before. Fixing broken draws or putting in better cabinet screws. But cabinet repair with water damage is a new one for me.

So, between the garden and home repair. I've been busy with home stuff lately. I know not exactly sexy. But I've always been a DIY kind of a person. This is my real life.

[Davest]

Sorry you have to deal with that, but such are the joys of home ownership.

That's why I rent.

[WalterB]

That sounds like fun, Samantha. Well, not "Fun," lol, but kind of fun if you don't mind or like to do the work. My two previous houses were HUD homes that needed work. Then the rental I own now needed almost a complete interior rebuild. I had to replace the entire kitchen. So I bought cabinets at Lowes and they installed them. Then I had to cut and install the counter top, then the sink and disposal.

Then I had to redo both bathrooms (1-1/2.) New sinks, counters and toilet in the front one. Then repaint the whole place. I had help with that one. The house has a screened in back porch. The screen needed replacing, the door to the outside. I had to do some rewiring inside, had to replace every plug-in socket, interior door handles, plug-in and switch covers. You know how sloppy painters just paint over them? I HATE that. So I just replaced all the hardware.

I don't remember now, it probably took me a couple months, but I really enjoyed doing the work.

[LizLemon85]

I love that there are YouTube tutorials for pretty much everything. I'm not a property owner, so I never did major repairs or renovations, but small things, like I adjusted some doors and fixed my coffee mashine. I often used it for crafting/sewing projects as well, you can pause and rewind any time, that's convenient. It's a very gratifying feeling to be able to fix or create something by yourself without having to ask for help or spend money.

[WalterB]

I finally got that through my thick skull, Liz. I would ask someone how to do something and then think "Gee, Google it." and a hundred links would come up. I replaced the power steering pump on my old Honda using a clip. I replaced the carriage spring in a 9mm semi-auto rifle I have. I find great recipes for cooking. Pretty much anything you want to do, pretty much whatever info you need.

Why, I learned to "speak German" by googling "Good morning in German," hahaha. Sorry Liz. I had to look it up, heehee. But now I'm full of Guten morgen, Guten abend and Gute nacht. Why, I might even go find a döner for lunch! Oh, I'm so excited, lol.

[Hornylady9]

Glad to hear from you again Samantha! Too bad about the home repairs but I sure understand it! I have had my share of home repairs in my house. Thanks for letting us know how you have been doing.

Zany

[greggl]

Sorry about the problems Samantha. The housing market is insane. Asheville is a relatively small city yet we have one of the highest priced housing and rental market in the country. It is ridiculous. Glad to hear you are good at DYI. There are some things I am good at but house repairs arent one of them lol

[WalterB]

Gregg, I wonder, could that possibly be because your area is growing? Are you seeing more people on the street?

[greggl]

Pretty much Walt. Has grown A Lot in the 24 years since I moved here. At different times we have been voted at the top of the list in articles of best places to live, best places to retire, best places for the lgbtq communities, etc, etc,. If there is a best place to list we have been on it at some time or another including winning beer city USA a few times. New Belgium and Sierra Nevada have both built facilities here as well as having over 30 other breweries. Growing way faster than I would like.

[stickyvicky]

I have the best handyman ever! I love that guy! He has become a friend and now hangs out and stays for dinner.. .