It’s always a toss-up between laughing at what you find and shaking your head wondering what someone was thinking...
- Couldn’t agree more about the “solutions” people come up with. I pulled out a section of drywall in the basement and found old newspapers from the 80s crammed in there. Not even rolled, just stuffed. Guess that was their idea of insulation? It worked about as well as you’d expect.
- The green laser hype never really made sense to me either. I’ve tried both, and unless you’re working in direct sunlight, I can’t tell much difference. Plus, those batteries drain so fast it’s almost not worth it. I keep a couple of extra packs on hand now, but honestly, my old red line is still my go-to for most stuff.
- As for weird things in walls—found a single work boot once, no sign of the other. No clue how it got there or why someone thought that was a good place to leave it.
- The drafty spots are always where someone tried to cut corners. I get wanting to save money, but using grocery bags or newspapers? That’s just asking for trouble down the line.
- Curious if anyone’s ever actually found something valuable hidden away? Closest I’ve come is a handful of old coins and a Polaroid of someone’s dog from the 70s. Not exactly treasure, but made me laugh.
How do you all deal with patching up those “creative” insulation fixes? I’m debating whether to rip everything out or just add proper insulation over whatever’s there. Sometimes feels like opening up one thing just leads to three more projects...
Nailing The First Property Check: Finally Got The Green Light
I’m right there with you on the “creative” insulation. When I started pulling apart the attic, I found a bunch of old sweaters and even a couple of stuffed animals jammed in the rafters. Not sure if someone was trying to keep warm or just didn’t want to throw stuff out. Either way, it was a mess.
I debated just layering new insulation over it, but honestly, I couldn’t get past the idea of all that junk still being up there. Ended up ripping everything out, which turned into a way bigger job than I planned—found some sketchy wiring too, so probably for the best. It’s a pain, but at least now I know what’s behind the walls.
As for finding anything valuable, closest I’ve come is an unopened can of Tab and a weird ceramic frog. Not exactly Antiques Roadshow material. Anyone else ever just leave weird stuff in the walls for the next person? I’m tempted to hide something just for laughs...
Honestly, you did the right thing ripping all that out. I get the temptation to just cover it up, but knowing what’s actually in your walls is worth the hassle. I’ve seen some pretty wild “insulation” choices in older homes—once found a stack of old newspapers from the 60s stuffed behind a wall. Not valuable, but kind of cool in a weird way. Hiding something for the next owner is tempting, but part of me wonders if it just adds to the mess for whoever comes after... Still, a little note or something harmless could be fun.
Hiding something for the next owner is tempting, but part of me wonders if it just adds to the mess for whoever comes after... Still, a little note or something harmless could be fun.
That’s exactly it—there’s a fine line between leaving a fun little time capsule and just making more work for someone down the road. I’ve had clients who found old soda cans and even a shoe (!) in their walls during renos. It always makes for a good story, but from a practical standpoint, you 100% made the right call tearing out the old stuff. Covering up problems just kicks the can down the road, and nobody wants that surprise later.
A harmless note or drawing tucked away is another story though. That kind of thing actually adds character without causing headaches. I’ve seen people write the date and a little message on the framing before closing up a wall—just enough to make someone smile if they ever open it up again. Feels like a nice balance between being responsible and still having a bit of fun with it.
- When we did our walkthrough, I actually found a weird old pencil wedged behind a baseboard. Not exactly a time capsule, but it made me wonder what else could be hiding in the walls.
- I get the appeal of leaving something behind, but honestly, after seeing how much random junk gets left in houses, I’m leaning toward keeping things clean for the next folks. It’s kind of wild what people just leave sealed up.
- That said, I do like the idea of a note or date somewhere hidden. Maybe something like “First paint job, 2024” scribbled inside a closet or under a cabinet. Not trash, just a little nod to whoever comes next.
- Part of me is tempted to go bigger—like a tiny toy or something—but then I remember how annoyed I was finding that pencil and some old screws. Guess it depends on whether it’s actually fun or just more clutter.
- Anyone else ever find something genuinely cool during renos? Or is it mostly just random debris?