I am really discovering how incompetent I am as a homeowner. I need to pay people to do everything. That's fine. I just don't know what people to hire, and how to pick them. So I often end up with high priced companies, rather than people who are passionate about their work.
It starts with the garage window. I broke it, but can't fix it. I bought glass, and the little metal things and a cutter. Now I need a handy person.
Now lets move to the yard. I overhauled it a few years ago it looked great. Now it looks like poop. Today I was attempting to weed—they grow super well in a drought. (Why is that?) And finally realized I just have no time to garden. Three jobs, walking, volunteering, and running a house will do that. I think I need to switch it back to a yard. But there's a huge rose bush in the middle of it. Can I move that myself? I doubt it. I'd put it in front of the garage. But before that I'll need to buy stones, how many I'm not sure, to put in front of the garage. Maybe out 12 inches. Nothing grows in that space. Then put the bush. (Or maybe not. Just looked. I think it will overtake my solar clothes drying system. Perfect where it is.) But before anything, I need to find someone to build a little wall next to the garage to close the space. It's only about a foot wide and maybe four feet high. Keep out animals, keep in children and Adonis. I had some cinder blocks stacked, but they fell over. I think a ferel cat does it. And I'd like to install the rain barrel I made last year. It's useless in the garage. Maybe I'll freecycle it next year.
Then there's some smaller plants, and the rhubarb to move. After a few times mowing the weeds, they'll turn into really crappy grass which will match the rest of the yard.At least it will solve the overgrown week issues on the lawn area.
Two major projects. Make that three. Or four. The deck needs to be replaced. I never maintained it and boards are coming up again. I want generic Trex. Again, need a handyman. The current one was put in by my brother about 20-25 years ago and he's dead. Thank goodness the neighbor fixed the one fence. But I really should have one on the other side. They have pit bulls. I'm terrified of pits.
The biggest problem is the kitchen. There's large soft spots in the floor. In no time they will be holes. I agree with everyone who says I should gut it and start over. Better resale value. As I see it here are the major problems in the kitchen now. I'm guess this will cost $25K+. I have $15K saved.
Floor. Rip the whole thing up and the sub floor too. Marry/sister/whatever the floor supports and that should fix most of the termite damage. Level the floor. That would be an amen moment. Replace the sub floor and lay cork flooring.
Drop Ceiling. Rip it down. I think that's where the mice live.
Electric. Rip it out and redo it. Neither the kitchen lights or the back porch lights work in humidity (all summer). Back porch doesn't work in the cold either. It's getting old.
Walls. Only one is drywall. The rest are plaster on the top and nothing on the bottom. My parents pulled out the damaged wainscoting that was there and put up cheap 70s paneling. There's nothing behind it. Drywall and insulate. What a concept.
Nothing I've listed so far is a want. It's all, I think a need.
Wants? A dishwasher. Battle dishes will then end. Maybe battle mice too?
A tile backsplash. Maybe glass. I was drooling over some in Home Depot tonight. Ask Sharon.
I want two big ceiling fan/lights. If I can't run the a/c I want to at least have air circulating. Maybe even eat at the table again. What joy. Oh how I miss my table cloths. But I live with a slob.
Dream: Rearrange the floor plan of the kitchen. Relocate the sink, stove and the fridge to actually have a working triangle. Get rid of the freezer. Get rid of the big table. I just need a small bistro table. The roomie eats over the sink or in her chair. And maybe a pantry closet.
When I had the furnace installed, I asked about it being cold downstairs and hot upstairs. He said I needed a new circulator. I think new baseboard heating units would help also. An on-demand hot water heater would be nice. But my current one is fairly new. One of the gizmos that makes the water hot upstairs without letting it run would be swell. I waste so much water in the winter waiting for it to get hot.
Since I need three sigs for a home improvement loan, and one of the three people doesn't believe in loans, the kitchen remodel won't happen. Not for a long time. Hopefully the floor will be repaired before the hole opens up. And though I dream about cork, more than likely I'll just buy vinyl.
The other stuff will happen. Bit by bit.
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