After a lot of hard work we've moved to a new place (pics)

[blueindian]

The wife and I rented 1/2 of a duplex on the UNC campus close enough that she can walk to her lab (she's starting grad school this fall). It needed a ton of work so we traded out rent with the landlord and did it ourselves. The place was really fine other than the kitchen which was ghetto to say the least, but we fixed some other stuff too.

More photos are at www.theblueindian.com under "other stuff" section of the photo page.

Here's a sample:

Kitchen Before:

http://www.theblueindian.com/images/albums/duplex/slides/IMG_0051.jpg

Kitchen After:

http://www.theblueindian.com/images/albums/duplex/slides/IMG_0209.jpg

Had some help from swampfox and gothzilla, as well and some buddies around here.

All told, we did:

Kitchen:
Replace a 4x4 and 2x2 section of rotted sub floor
Put in new linoleum flooring.
Correctly install hot water heater.
Replace counter top.
Put in double basin sink.
Build new cabinetry around hot water heater.
Paint walls, ceilings, and trim.
Clean stove & repalce pans.
Clean fridge.
Move 220v plug so you can use a stacked washer/dryer.

Bathroom:
New floor.
Replace rotted baseboards.
New toilet seat.
Paint.
Put up cabinet.

Living Room:
Paint.

Other Stuff:
Cleaned. Ceiling fans in all rooms.

[ialsohaveadream]

Awesome. I should post before/after pics when I'm finished with the upgrades to my house.

[Cubsfan]

Looks great!

How long did it take to you do it? I just moved into a new house and I've been working on some improvement projects too.

[DankNstickY]

nice job.

hehe... its weird, i do that SAME impression of kermit the frog too (see other pics on site for reference).

needs more pics of the wife in a bikini tho :(

[attgig]

man, the landlord is LUCKY to have renters like you.

good job!

[Memo]

Nice job, how long did it take y'all to do the work?

[ray]

how much did it all cost too?

[blueindian]

i guess it took about 120 man hours, but i didn't keep track. yeah, the landload is lucky. i think the total cost was around $750-800 but when i add up the receipts i'll let yall know for sure.

[blueindian]

how much did it all cost too?

The grand total was $897.00

Technically we traded for one months rent, which is only $600(w00t!). But, we got the keys 3 weeks before that first month so in effect we got 7 weeks free. That gave us some time to move slowley since we were downsizing by about 250 ft^3.

$97 of that we get reimbursed for because it was related to some sublfooring repairs that we didn't know were needed. That leaves 200 that we spent out of pocket. I'm going to see if the landlord will pay us that as well and then we'll leave some things here, i.e. the 4 ceiling fans we put in. Otherwise that stuff is comming with us when we leave. ( I say that now, but i can't really see me taking them down in 4 years...they're cheap anyway)

Even if he won't spring for it all, I don't mind. It's well worth it if we indeed stay for 4 years.

On a side note, I just saw a fox in my backyard.

[cheapie]

uh.....http://www.theblueindian.com/images/albums/livillegorgecleanup2003/slides/IM000439.JPG


nice job.

hehe... its weird, i do that SAME impression of kermit the frog too (see other pics on site for reference).

needs more pics of the wife in a bikini tho :(


'zactly. i was looking for them as well.


this worked tho'.

http://www.theblueindian.com/images/albums/merlefest2002/slides/PDRM0171.JPG

yay! almost nekkid pics of bi's hottie wife!!! :cheers:

[blueindian]

uh.....http://www.theblueindian.com/images/albums/livillegorgecleanup2003/slides/IM000439.JPG

HEY...git outta there!

:shifty:


lol..note that my nipples are band-aided too. ain't nothing worse that chapped nipples. i'd worn a thin wicking shirt that day and there was a light breaze causing my nips to stay hard all day. i didn't realize until i got back that they'd been rubbed raw.

in retrospect, i shoud've flexed for that photo so as not to look so puney.

[cheapie]

i told my wife about you guys hiking and camping. she wants to join you sometime when we're in the area for a nice day/overnight trip.

[ufcrusher]

Looks like you guys did a pretty good job. The only thing you are forgetting in your tally is the man hour cost. While you might have only laid out $900....with a 120+ manhours at an average construction worker salary (say $10/hr ...which is lower than the average base carpenter makes per hour) that is $1200 so your real outlay is closer to $2100+.

You should have at least gotten two months without rent.

[blueindian]

i told my wife about you guys hiking and camping. she wants to join you sometime when we're in the area for a nice day/overnight trip.

cool, we're up for it. juslemmeknowwhen.


Looks like you guys did a pretty good job. The only thing you are forgetting in your tally is the man hour cost. While you might have only laid out $900....with a 120+ manhours at an average construction worker salary (say $10/hr ...which is lower than the average base carpenter makes per hour) that is $1200 so your real outlay is closer to $2100+.

You should have at least gotten two months without rent.

true, but since i'm unemployed there was no opportunity cost associated with it so it's a wash in terms of total cost from our perspective.

[cheapie]

right...but don't be afraid to ask for the 200 bones because you totally hooked the guy up.

[ufcrusher]

true, but since i'm unemployed there was no opportunity cost associated with it so it's a wash in terms of total cost from our perspective.

Well I guess thats one way to view it. Although, you did lose the time you were working on it from looking for other work....and your work saved him from paying another to do the same....thus the value that I came up with, which was me lowballing it. But if you are happy, thats all that matters. :shrug:

[attgig]

if I was the renter, and had you locked up for 4 years.....(possible clause), I'd give you 3 months rent free without hesitating.

[blueindian]

if I was the renter, and had you locked up for 4 years.....(possible clause), I'd give you 3 months rent free without hesitating.

yeah...but this guy don't give a crap. he's not even the person that owns it, just a "management company". he came by and didn't really even seem to care. :shrug:

plus now that it's done he can charge more money if we move out. honestly, we didnt' think it would turn out as nice as it did or i would have tried to get more money out of him. of course, i really don't think he would have gone for it.

[attgig]

yeah...but this guy don't give a crap. he's not even the person that owns it, just a "management company". he came by and didn't really even seem to care. :shrug:

plus now that it's done he can charge more money if we move out. honestly, we didnt' think it would turn out as nice as it did or i would have tried to get more money out of him. of course, i really don't think he would have gone for it.
ARRRGGG!

PUNK.

you should find out who owns it and talk straight to that person.

[Markel]

lol..note that my nipples are band-aided too. ain't nothing worse that chapped nipples. i'd worn a thin wicking shirt that day and there was a light breaze causing my nips to stay hard all day. i didn't realize until i got back that they'd been rubbed raw.
I was wondering if DF had gotten you with his nipple-scorcher. :heh:

[blueindian]

right...but don't be afraid to ask for the 200 bones because you totally hooked the guy up.


we got it...yay!

[cheapie]

:cheers:

[DarkFury]

I was wondering if DF had gotten you with his nipple-scorcher. :heh:
All I can say is dayuuuum.... :2far:

I dunno if I woulda let anyone take a pic like that of me... let alone have them posted to the web. BI... you now should go kick cheapie's @ss just to reaffirm your "manliness". :D

:2far: