I'm beat!
 

Son bought a house, closed June 13th. May not be the kind of hard work Tony's been doing in Fl but I'm tired.

Started in the bedrooms, 2 had wallpaper on 2 walls that we removed. Only primer underneath so that messed up the walls. That and the 800 nail holes, every wall in the house was covered with pictures and other hanging crap. After a lot of patching and sanding we primed all 3 bedrooms then painted the ceilings and walls. Replaced the trim on the 2 doors, doorwall and baseboard in the master bedroom and baseboard in the other 2. Installed ceiling fans in 2 of the rooms.

Removed the carpeting and padding in the 3 bedrooms, living room and hallway. Replaced the outlets in the master bedroom, have the other 2 to do. Whole upstairs of the house has 20 amp outlets and 12g wiring. What a pain mashing 4 12g wires back into the box after replacing the outlet. Of course the garage and basement, where you'd like 20 amp outlets, only have 15 amp outlets.

Removed a mis-mash of shelving in the closets. Odd size shelves at various heights made out of whatever they had laying around. Some pine, some particle board, little bit of treated decking boards. Nailed together with screw nails, drywall nails, roofing nails and a few screws thrown in for good measure.

This house was obviously finished on the inside by the original owners, no way a contractor would do half the stuff that was done. Everyday I'm there I find something else and wonder "What the ..."

Also spent days just hauling crap out. If it was me, when I went through the walk through I would have told him we'll close after you finish cleaning out all the garbage you didn't want to deal with.

It's a good house, newer roof, furnace, AC, water heater, thermo-pane windows. Vinyl siding is all good too. Just needs a complete interior makeover, it basically hasn't been touched since it was built in the 80's. Sits on a little over 2 acres that backs up to a creek. The seller was in his 80's so the outside needs a lot of work too. Tree trimming, tree removal, etc.

Lynda and I have spent a lot more time there working than our son has, we're retired and he's working full time. Wish he'd bought something farther away. Anyway, I'm tired and I'm sure I didn't mention half the stuff we've done there. New carpet has been ordered, once it's installed he can move in. Then the rest is on him, maybe I can get something done around here then. Maybe even take the Chevelle out for a ride.

What we all do for our kids...and love every minute of it!! :)

Hank ,that sounds like what I have to deal with quite often with my rental house and I hate it.

Hank I feel your pain. I have helped my kids more times than I care to remember. Last year we went to New York and talked my daughter into moving back. Packed up her apartment and had the truck packed within 30 hrs. When do we not do these things anymore ?

Been there and done that for my kids, my sister and a few others. It is a lot of work.

Yes, you do what you can to help them. Today we stayed home but had to cut 1.5 acres of grass, so not really a break, maybe tomorrow.

Oh, Lynda is talking about painting all our bedrooms. Maybe laying down a new floor in the family room. Redo the upstairs showers. I can't wait to get started.

Man Hank, this retired stuff is going to kill you! How about you and Lynda shoot down to Florida and paint my new shack when it's ready? I'll buy some beer!!!

PS...Send photos of your work for wife's inspection.

Good one, she'd approve. I'd lose money doing painting, carpentry, etc. I'm too fussy. I know 90% of the stuff is stuff a pro would ignore and most people wouldn't see. But being the jerk I am I can't live with it, if it's not right, it's not right. So given that even the beer may be more than you're willing to spend. But I'm more than willing to stop by, do an inspection and of course drink your beer.

Well, thanks for the inspection offer, but I'm married to "The Inspector". I hope that I don't go through the shit Doug did with dry wallers and painters. He fired three different crews of each. Come on by for the beer though!

Hank if you need anything else to do just let me know. I am sure I could find something.

It's hard to find good and reliable trades here. When I worked for a home builder, I went through my fair share of drywall contractors. Never had an issue finding a good painter... the issue was trying to find one that wasn't an alcoholic that drank on the job. Nothing like having a home owner show up and find beer cans/bottles strewn about... then I got the hysterical phone call after hours. (No wonder I drank so much back then)

Man, you aren't kidding there! To even get some of them to return a phone call is rare. I just don't get it. I thought most guys were actually wanting to work. I thought wrong. I have asked they guys that have done work for me down there for recommendations. Not a single one that has been recommended has worked out. Even the ones the County Inspector has told me were pretty decent haven't been reliable. I'm seriously considering doing the drywall and paint myself. I can do it, just aint crazy about it.

We had a drywall guy install a 1/4" layer on the ceiling in the family room. After he left and I got some light in there I said "What the Hell!". Some nail holes not filled in, some not sanded down. I could see the seam from one end to the other.

I had the whole room sealed off with plastic drop cloth so we didn't get drywall dust through the whole house. I asked him if he wanted a work light, he said he didn't need it. Now I know why he didn't want the light. Lynda said call him and make him fix it. I told her I didn't want the a-hole back in my house. He spent the whole time complaining that he was getting too old to do that kind of work. So I spent I few days patching and sanding to make it right.

Contractors, try to find a good one in northern MI. The fish are biting so they don't show up. It's deer season so they disappear. They work when they need beer money then take off until the money runs out.

Here at work we have been moving heavy furniture up and down stairs all week in the dorms trying to get ready for our new darlings and our backs are about shot .Im 51 ,almost 52 years old and Im the youngest employee in the maintenance dept other than our boss who does not do furniture .Im pretty sore by now and cant wait til 4 PM to go home and collapse.

I just turned 62 Flash and I'm not moving anymore heavy stuff. Henry has some friends lined up to help him move his bed, oak dresser and an oak roll top computer desk we don't anymore, along with misc. other stuff. I already helped move his rolling tool cart and bunch of other crap. I partially tore a bicep tendon a few years when I fell. Last year I finished the job and tore it the rest of the way. It hurts when I lift heavy stuff with that arm. Maybe because the muscle gets all twisted out of shape with only one bicep tendon. Anyway, I'll let the young guys do the heavy lifting.