We have a couple of housing related costs set for 2013. The big one will be our home roof replacement. D got a couple of quotes last year and has since firmed up with the one. It is with a different company than the one who did the sun room roof last year.
We didn't like how they weren't meticulous with their clean up and post job follow up. Whereas the company we are going with did our neighbour's house last summer and D was impressed with their demeanor and work ethic. With any luck, this ought to be our last roof as the shingles have a lifetime warranty.
The second cost will be to repair the foundation of the cottage. The raccoon was never captured, so a one way opening was installed in the fall (came to around $750, including clean up) and this spring, is to be replaced with concrete. I haven't called around for a contractor yet nor have we looked into learning to do it ourselves.
The cost of the roof will be paid by stock proceeds. One of my non registered holdings (Viterra) got bought out in Dec (finally! It took way longer than expected) at $16.25 a share. I bought at $11.26. So the amount I'm left with, $8775 pretty much covers the cost of our new roof. The cottage concrete job will be paid out of our "cottage working account". In my mind, I'm allocating $500.
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The Old Switcheroo
The shifting around of furniture in the upstairs of our house has begun. Back in the fall our goal was to change the layout of things so I could have a better work out area and to maximize use of half of the downstairs for us rather than our occasional guests. There would still be plenty of room for friends in the other half.
Despite living in an old house, we have fairly open spaces. Ceilings are 10 - 11 ft high and the upstairs landing complete with a double door hall closet is the size of a small bedroom. Some time ago, there were 4 bedrooms but the 4th (maid's quarters) was renovated into what is now my walk in closet and ensuite, giving us a 3 bed and bath house.
Our windows are fairly substantial, 8 ft high, so light is ample, contrary to a lot of older homes. We are doing our best to keep those original windows in tip top shape because to replace them would cost a significant percentage of the cost of the house. The moldings around them (wood) are a foot wide. Window coverings cost us a small fortune -- 27.
There are also 2 stair cases. A main curved one and the simple "servant's" one leading to the kitchen. There used to be 3 fireplaces as well. Only one original has survived. The other two were taken out to create a wall for floor to ceiling kitchen cupboards.
By switching our 2nd bedroom with our office, I am able to space out my exercise equipment and desk and create a better sleeping area at the same time. Why did it take 5+ years of living here for us to figure that out??? Even our bedroom feels better with a different reading chair and ottoman.
We are considering not bothering with a new bulb when our projector times out. Instead, going with an LED TV for our movies instead. Smaller footprint and better use of a downstairs space. D has a number of interested buyers for the projector right now but I'm not convinced of spending money on a TV right now. Somewhere down the line we will likely need to buy a new couch to replace one I've own since my single days.
It is so easy to be tempted to move to a modern house that has a more "currently accepted" layout because of how easy it is to visualize placement of furniture. By finding a great solution upstairs, we save ourselves the 100+K it would cost to buy said modern house and helps us realize the potential of our current house.
I guess at the right price, there can exist a "perfect" house. When you are like me, and do not wish to pay for it, then you need to get creative. The upstairs was the easy floor. The downstairs layout will be far more challenging.
Despite living in an old house, we have fairly open spaces. Ceilings are 10 - 11 ft high and the upstairs landing complete with a double door hall closet is the size of a small bedroom. Some time ago, there were 4 bedrooms but the 4th (maid's quarters) was renovated into what is now my walk in closet and ensuite, giving us a 3 bed and bath house.
Our windows are fairly substantial, 8 ft high, so light is ample, contrary to a lot of older homes. We are doing our best to keep those original windows in tip top shape because to replace them would cost a significant percentage of the cost of the house. The moldings around them (wood) are a foot wide. Window coverings cost us a small fortune -- 27.
There are also 2 stair cases. A main curved one and the simple "servant's" one leading to the kitchen. There used to be 3 fireplaces as well. Only one original has survived. The other two were taken out to create a wall for floor to ceiling kitchen cupboards.
By switching our 2nd bedroom with our office, I am able to space out my exercise equipment and desk and create a better sleeping area at the same time. Why did it take 5+ years of living here for us to figure that out??? Even our bedroom feels better with a different reading chair and ottoman.
We are considering not bothering with a new bulb when our projector times out. Instead, going with an LED TV for our movies instead. Smaller footprint and better use of a downstairs space. D has a number of interested buyers for the projector right now but I'm not convinced of spending money on a TV right now. Somewhere down the line we will likely need to buy a new couch to replace one I've own since my single days.
It is so easy to be tempted to move to a modern house that has a more "currently accepted" layout because of how easy it is to visualize placement of furniture. By finding a great solution upstairs, we save ourselves the 100+K it would cost to buy said modern house and helps us realize the potential of our current house.
I guess at the right price, there can exist a "perfect" house. When you are like me, and do not wish to pay for it, then you need to get creative. The upstairs was the easy floor. The downstairs layout will be far more challenging.
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