Pineapple Express: Someone Is Wrong on the Internet?

[trappedslider]

Silence is golden, and too often broken by the shouting by the ruler of fools. It's the demons stripping us of our memories, freeing us from the Earth.

Silence is golden, unless it's a toddler then it's bad...very bad

 

[CleverNickName]

I'm not saying you should do it, just that there was a logic to it (and reason why it used to happen in more buyer-friendly housing markets).

We looked at a few flips when looking the last time (2019). Man, maybe there are some finds out there, but in general I used the Homesteaded check box as a first filter to even look.

We have seen so many "flipped" houses here in Portland, and we immediately get suspicious. The problem isn't that the house was flipped, the problem was how: most of the time, the homeowner would just put down a layer of laminate floor, add a layer of shingles to the roof, install a granite countertop, and repaint everything. They'd watch a few reality TV shows about home improvement, make a trip to Home Depot, and then cosplay as a carpenter. And that's fine and good...

...unless the laminate floor is covering up foundation damage, the shingles are covering up the old (damaged) shingles, the cabinets weren't reinforced to support the heavier granite countertop, and the new paint job is covering up mold and water damage. Two years later, when your "new" roof is leaking, your "new" laminate flooring is splitting, your "new" paint is peeling, and your "new" kitchen cabinets are slowly crushing, you are going to be on the hook for a LOT of expensive repairs.

But hey, cute breakfast nook. (eyeroll)

 

[dragoner]

Flips also are like the cheapest materials, home depot stuff.

 

[dragoner]

Silence is golden, unless it's a toddler then it's bad...very bad

True, goes up through their teen years, like someone trying to find my house, I was in the garage, asked "is your house the one with loud rap music coming from it?" I walked down the driveway, "why yes, my house is the one with loud rap coming from it."

 

[payn]

We have seen so many "flipped" houses here in Portland, and we immediately got suspicious. The problem isn't that the house was flipped, the problem was how: most of the time, the homeowner would just put down a layer of laminate floor, add a layer of shingles to the roof, install a granite countertop, and repaint everything. They'd watch a few reality TV shows about home improvement, then spend a few thousand dollars at Home Depot and cosplay as a carpenter. And that's fine and good...

...unless the laminate floor is covering up foundation damage, the shingles were just piled on top of the old (damaged) shingles, and the cabinets weren't reinforced to support the heavier granite countertop, and the new paint job was covering up mold and water damage. Two years later, when your "new" roof is leaking, your "new" laminate flooring is splitting, your "new" paint is peeling, and your "new" kitchen cabinets are slowly crushing, you are going to be on the hook for a LOT of repairs.

Im a snob, ill admit it, but I absolutely loathe vinyl and laminate flooring.

 

[prabe]

If I were going to buy a house, I'd rather have work the current owners had lived with for a couple-few years than something brand-new and right out of HGTV, whether it was DIY or contracted out. The place we bought like five years ago has had some serious work done, but the previous owners lived with it for a while (and I think it was the owners before them that did it). There are some little wierdnesses, but we love it.

 

[dragoner]

I have built palaces, mansions for hollywood types, techbros, etc. Give me a trailer on a few acres of woods, maybe a 30x40 polebarn, and I am happy.

One client wanted cabinets like from Versailles, and when they arrived, they were plain faced with chicken wire panels for $500k, he was furious, and the French cabinet maker simply told him "The King never went into the kitchen."

 

[CleverNickName]

Im a snob, ill admit it, but I absolutely loathe vinyl and laminate flooring.

And for good reason: most of it is garbage, and/or installed by an unlicensed amateur.

Laminate flooring comes in two "flavors": regular, and waterproof. Always get the waterproof, even for rooms that don't have faucets, even though it costs twice as much. And always pay extra to get the decking sealed and leveled, and always install the recommended underflooring. You can save money in the short term by skipping any of these steps...but you can end up having to replace the flooring every 2 years instead of 10.

 

[payn]

If I were going to buy a house, I'd rather have work the current owners had lived with for a couple-few years than something brand-new and right out of HGTV, whether it was DIY or contracted out. The place we bought like five years ago has had some serious work done, but the previous owners lived with it for a while (and I think it was the owners before them that did it). There are some little wierdnesses, but we love it.

Small stuff doesnt bother me. Wall paint, counters, flooring, fixtures, etc.. is no biggie. Though, if the entire house is outdated there needs to be a discount for it. In 2020 there was no discount to be found!

 

[payn]

And for good reason: most of it is garbage.

Laminate flooring comes in two "flavors": regular, and waterproof. Always get the waterproof, even for rooms that don't have faucets, even though it costs twice as much. And always pay extra to get the decking sealed and leveled, and always install the recommended underflooring. You can save money in the short term by skipping any of these steps...but you will end up having to replace the flooring every 2 years instead of 10.

Yeap, thats the game. It looks nice for about 30min after install, and then, each day it looks worse and worse. I get that its economical for folks, and some have pets and young kids which will run roughshod of them. Though, be ready to do the floors on move in day, and then again when its time to sell.

Alternatively, I think putting money into flooring is a good place for it. Hardwood while being ever more expensive, isnt going to need a 2,5,10 year replacement. Get some area rugs and take care of it and the value will be there. I'd even take the expensive flooring over granite counter tops (which I also love) or new cabinets and such. Assuming, like most folks, the budget is going to allow one project at a time.