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journalist91
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: How much does your house design actually help with the weather?
Honestly, I learned the hard way that west-facing windows are a pain in the summer, no matter how nice they look in the listing photos. We put up blackout curtains and it still feels like living in a greenhouse some afte...
RE: What happens if your house isn’t finished when it’s time to switch loans?
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, lenders have to cover their butts too. If they let little stuff slide, where do they draw the line? I had a buddy whose builder “forgot” a bunch of small things, and it turne...
RE: What happens if your house isn’t finished when it’s time to switch loans?
That sounds about right. When we built our place, the inspector wouldn’t sign off because the closet doors weren’t installed yet. I mean, it’s just doors, right? But the lender wouldn’t budge until everything was “100% c...
RE: When You Think You Know Better Than Your Lawyer
WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW BETTER THAN YOUR LAWYER I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite problem - sometimes the lawyer catches stuff I totally missed because I was too focused on the “real wor...
RE: Switching to energy-saving bulbs: how many of your lights are actually LEDs?
Yeah, swapping out the shades makes a bigger difference than people think. I used to hate the cold, blue-ish look from my LEDs until I realized it was mostly the fixture making it worse. Ended up switching to warmer bulb...
RE: Making the switch to water-saving toilets: Worth it?
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT? I get the argument for not going too cheap, but honestly, I’ve had the opposite problem - spent extra on a “top-rated” water-saver and it’s been nothing but headaches...
RE: Building On Level Ground: Step-By-Step Tips For Making The Most Of A Flat Lot
BUILDING ON LEVEL GROUND: STEP-BY-STEP TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF A FLAT LOT Permits are one of those things that depends on your city - mine didn’t care unless I was tying into the storm sewer, but my buddy across tow...
RE: Weighing the pros and cons of switching to a 15-year mortgage
WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS OF SWITCHING TO A 15-YEAR MORTGAGE I get where you’re coming from, but for me, the peace of mind knowing my house will be paid off way sooner is worth tightening the belt a bit. Yeah, things...
RE: Casting vs injection molding - which method works better?
CASTING VS INJECTION MOLDING - WHICH METHOD WORKS BETTER? I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve had injection molded stuff crack on me way faster than cast pieces, especially outdoors. Maybe it’s just the batches I’v...
RE: Building green? Watch out for those sneaky VOCs
BUILDING GREEN? WATCH OUT FOR THOSE SNEAKY VOCS Yeah, I hear you on the “if it doesn’t smell, it’s fine” myth. I used to think the same until we moved into a freshly built place and my wife’s asthma went nuts for months...
RE: Just put in a new kitchen sink and wondering if anyone else struggled this much
Yeah, I think you're onto something there. I've had a similar experience myself. When we redid our kitchen about five years ago, I was pretty worried about moisture issues under the sink because I'd heard all these horro...
RE: Color combos that oddly please the brain
Yeah, fiddle leaf figs can be pretty picky - I moved mine around a few times before it finally settled in. Weirdly enough, it seems happier near a darker corner now...maybe it's just stubborn? Have you tried ZZ plants fo...
RE: Finally cracked the code on keeping construction costs in check
I see your point, but I'd argue that sometimes paying a bit more upfront can save you hassle down the road - especially with stuff that's hard to replace later. A few years back, I went the mid-range route for flooring b...
RE: Thinking about tapping into home equity - good idea or risky move?
Haha, sounds familiar. When we first bought our place, I got sucked into the Pinterest rabbit hole and almost went full HGTV mode on our kitchen - think bright teal cabinets and open shelving everywhere. Luckily, someone...
RE: Swimming spots without chemicals - my little backyard experiment
Yeah, duckweed is a nightmare once it gets going... I spent half a summer scooping it out after it took over my pond. I've had better luck with water hyacinth - still aggressive, but easier to manage. Curious though, has...