Comments on: Watch out for the downed power lines at this house http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/ San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley House Price and Mortgage Insanity Blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:21:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stepford http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10715 Stepford Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:22:51 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10715 Mole Man - My house was built in 1940 (peninsula) and it was made with redwood. I have also noticed other houses around here that have been torn down for remodels were also redwood. My architect said I won't be able to replace the siding I currently have with the same high quality that was used then. I live in a hood which is mixed 1920's and early 40's. You are probably right about the tracts though. Interesting about the sewer pipes. Ours were replaced before we bought - I think by the city. I heard they tore up parts of all the backyards and a lot of landscaping was destroyed in the process ticking everyone off, but at least we don't have to worry about collapsing pipes. Mole Man – My house was built in 1940 (peninsula) and it was made with redwood. I have also noticed other houses around here that have been torn down for remodels were also redwood. My architect said I won’t be able to replace the siding I currently have with the same high quality that was used then. I live in a hood which is mixed 1920′s and early 40′s. You are probably right about the tracts though.
Interesting about the sewer pipes. Ours were replaced before we bought – I think by the city. I heard they tore up parts of all the backyards and a lot of landscaping was destroyed in the process ticking everyone off, but at least we don’t have to worry about collapsing pipes.

]]> By: Mole Man http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10714 Mole Man Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:39:41 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10714 The suburban tracts built in the 1940s were constructed with extreme economy. Not only is redwood very unlikely, the original sewer pipe, if it is still there, is likely to be Orangeburg which is basically tar paper that will eventually collapse. The suburban tracts built in the 1940s were constructed with extreme economy. Not only is redwood very unlikely, the original sewer pipe, if it is still there, is likely to be Orangeburg which is basically tar paper that will eventually collapse.

]]> By: madhaus 94087 Real Cupertino Schools! http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10713 madhaus 94087 Real Cupertino Schools! Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:21:25 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10713 <i>Anyone wants to spend 109 grand to save gas? I have some properties in the East Bay I want to sell you!</i> Somebody has a bunch of instant equity to pass along to you! Buy now! Now now now! Before prices drop any lower and it gets foreclosed! Time is critical! Anyone wants to spend 109 grand to save gas? I have some properties in the East Bay I want to sell you!

Somebody has a bunch of instant equity to pass along to you! Buy now! Now now now! Before prices drop any lower and it gets foreclosed! Time is critical!

]]> By: Real Estater http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10712 Real Estater Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:44:16 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10712 Anyone wants to spend 109 grand to save gas? I have some properties in the East Bay I want to sell you! Anyone wants to spend 109 grand to save gas? I have some properties in the East Bay I want to sell you!

]]> By: Herve http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10711 Herve Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:18:00 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10711 mtv-renter: Sorry, the <a href="http://www.teslamotors.com/buy/resyourcar.php" rel="nofollow">Tesla Roadster is now $109K</a> excluding tax. At least we have a better deal than the Europeans: for them it is 99,000 Euros (excluding tax, which is even higher). mtv-renter:

Sorry, the Tesla Roadster is now $109K excluding tax. At least we have a better deal than the Europeans: for them it is 99,000 Euros (excluding tax, which is even higher).

]]> By: Renter4 http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10710 Renter4 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:19:48 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10710 Conversation's clearly moved on while I was earning my down payment... however, I must point out to the peanut gallery that power lines are usually not usually so wispy-looking. That's the realtor's front layer of hair we've got in the picture, gentlemen. No need for fear. Conversation’s clearly moved on while I was earning my down payment… however, I must point out to the peanut gallery that power lines are usually not usually so wispy-looking. That’s the realtor’s front layer of hair we’ve got in the picture, gentlemen. No need for fear.

]]> By: WillowGlenner http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10709 WillowGlenner Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:38:10 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10709 Yeah the really old homes around here are built of redwood. Not the eichlers, those are later on and poorly built, generally. But the old bungalows, typically one bathroom- those have the redwood and termites hate redwood!!! You will have far fewer pest problems in these than any other old houses. I remember one day looking up at one of the little, ranshackle-ish one-car garages in one of my houses and there was beautiful redwood up there. The original kitchen cabinets in these houses are also redwood- inside the cabinets was not refinished but the original cabinetry had an enamel paint, so I don't know whether it is feasible to strip the paint from the original cabinets or not- but if you could, it would be beautiful. Also some old homes are bolted to the foundation which means for those homes there are very few cracks. Yeah the really old homes around here are built of redwood. Not the eichlers, those are later on and poorly built, generally. But the old bungalows, typically one bathroom- those have the redwood and termites hate redwood!!! You will have far fewer pest problems in these than any other old houses. I remember one day looking up at one of the little, ranshackle-ish one-car garages in one of my houses and there was beautiful redwood up there. The original kitchen cabinets in these houses are also redwood- inside the cabinets was not refinished but the original cabinetry had an enamel paint, so I don’t know whether it is feasible to strip the paint from the original cabinets or not- but if you could, it would be beautiful. Also some old homes are bolted to the foundation which means for those homes there are very few cracks.

]]> By: RealEstater http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10708 RealEstater Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:23:06 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10708 For most of you guys out there, the trick is to find a home that needs cosmetic work but has good bones. This may sound trite, but you'd be suprised how many buyers out there do just the opposite, and are willing to pay a big premium for a coat of paint. For most of you guys out there, the trick is to find a home that needs cosmetic work but has good bones. This may sound trite, but you’d be suprised how many buyers out there do just the opposite, and are willing to pay a big premium for a coat of paint.

]]> By: WillowGlenner http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10707 WillowGlenner Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:20:48 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10707 I have learned how to restore the old windows and will be restoring these in my new house. The old windows have a rope and pulley system and I'd say in almost 90% of the cases, the ROPE is frayed/disintegrated and people think they need to go out and get a whole new window. The new windows are like that one in the picture, nothing compared to the beauty of the original with the classic moulding etc., AND its expensive to put in new windows, and an amateur is likely to crack the walls doing it. I just buy some new window sash cord (available at some Ace HW or on the web), split the frame from the trim and remove the old cord and pulley, put on the new cord, use a little paint remover and graphite or some other lubricant in there, close it up and voila- BEAUTIFUL classic window that cost maybe $15 to repair. I have learned how to restore the old windows and will be restoring these in my new house. The old windows have a rope and pulley system and I’d say in almost 90% of the cases, the ROPE is frayed/disintegrated and people think they need to go out and get a whole new window. The new windows are like that one in the picture, nothing compared to the beauty of the original with the classic moulding etc., AND its expensive to put in new windows, and an amateur is likely to crack the walls doing it. I just buy some new window sash cord (available at some Ace HW or on the web), split the frame from the trim and remove the old cord and pulley, put on the new cord, use a little paint remover and graphite or some other lubricant in there, close it up and voila- BEAUTIFUL classic window that cost maybe $15 to repair.

]]> By: WillowGlenner http://www.burbed.com/2008/06/30/watch-out-for-the-downed-power-lines-at-this-house/#comment-10706 WillowGlenner Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:13:33 +0000 http://www.burbed.com/?p=1988#comment-10706 <b>Give it a rest Bob, its tiring</b>. Now you are using code violations as some sort of rationale for why a cheap house on a large lot that is cash flow positive is a bad investment? That takes the cake. Plus this isn't in Alameda, it is in a close-in desirable rental location. Houses ROUTINELY rent for 2500/mo around here. Crossroads, this is only a 1100 sq ft house, the one bathroom is the size of an apt bathroom and I used really basic materials. The paint in and out was under $5K, etc. Basically my repairs on this house are slightly better than what they do to apts when somebody moves out... you know they come in and replace a few fixtures paint and put in new carpeting for under a few thousand. Longer term I'm going to do some work but now... I just want to rent the place to the person who wants it. She has a dog and wants the school district so its probably a pretty long term renter, so no need for me to go overboard. I will do a good roof later this year or next. Give it a rest Bob, its tiring. Now you are using code violations as some sort of rationale for why a cheap house on a large lot that is cash flow positive is a bad investment? That takes the cake. Plus this isn’t in Alameda, it is in a close-in desirable rental location. Houses ROUTINELY rent for 2500/mo around here.

Crossroads, this is only a 1100 sq ft house, the one bathroom is the size of an apt bathroom and I used really basic materials. The paint in and out was under $5K, etc. Basically my repairs on this house are slightly better than what they do to apts when somebody moves out… you know they come in and replace a few fixtures paint and put in new carpeting for under a few thousand.

Longer term I’m going to do some work but now… I just want to rent the place to the person who wants it. She has a dog and wants the school district so its probably a pretty long term renter, so no need for me to go overboard. I will do a good roof later this year or next.

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