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We can check only two of our items off the January list. We have the attic pull down stairs now in place and the attic ventilation has been improved as was planned. As for the rest of our list, its changed a bit. Our 30 year old water heaters were a concern so we replaced those about 6 weeks ago. (the main reason we needed the attic stairs, the water heaters are in the attic space and the only access was a 24" x 24" hatch type opening in a small closet).
We have also decided that the siding on the house needs attention more that the single pane windows. We are in the process of getting quotes to have all the wood siding, trim boards and soffits replaced with a cement composite material. While we have the framing exposed, we are going to also upgrade by running in-wall media/security cabling throughout the house at the same time. That will really help the outside appearance. We have cabling running all over the outside walls right now. We are also quoting to have the house vapor barrier wrapped (well most of it, we are NOT removing the brick veneer). We aren't sure if we will be doing the gutters as a DIY or having them done profesionally. Its a big house with a lot of gutters and they will all be coming down when the soffit and trim work is redone. I'm personally leaning toward "professionally" as I'm not sure if I want to be hauling DH's and my 50+ year old bods up and down two story ladders redoing the gutters around the whole house!
Looks like we will be living in a construction area for at least the next 6 to 8 months. but the results will be worth it!
We knew what we were getting into when we bought a "fixer-upper". This was the worst house in a really great neighborhood and we bought it for a little more that $100,000 less than the current value of similar homes in this neighborhood. That has given us the ability to do the necessary repairs and upgrades without going upside down on the value
We just keep saying "that that does not kill you...makes you stronger"!!
I would say let the pros do the gutters. They have the equipment to do it seamlessly. If the old ones are worth anything for recycling, you might take them down and recycle them yourselves.
Do you really need wiring for media? We recently switched to AT&T U-verse for telephone, internet, and TV. The only wiring needed was from the existing telephone hard line to the location for the modem. All the TV receivers and internet are wireless, with one modem.
The only reason we have telephone is because DH insists on keeping it.
1. Put stone on exterior fireplace (and get the stone and morter out of the garage) - Done, just need to sell left over mortar.
2. INstall the AC unit.
3. Drywall in the carriage house.
4. Concrete in the upper portion of the driveway.
5. Build a concrete pad behind the garage for trash cans.
6. New sand and new salt/chlorine cell for the pool filter - Done.
7. Finish building the closet in the mudroom.
8. Re-hang 7 doors. Re-build two door frames.
9. Finish the wiring in the carriage house.
10. De-scale water heater.
11. Replace the dangerous temporary dryer exhaust outlet with a permanent one.
12. Take broken antiue furniture in the basement in to be repaired.
13. Have an additioanl drainage system installed int eh basement and then re-build basement bedrooms.
14. IMport 100 CY of dirt and complete the grading.
15. Build son's fort inthe woods.
16. Finish the dog run.
17. Take down the christmas lights.
18. Replace broken light fixture in BR 4.
19. Re-finish mudroom walls.
20. Build interior storm windows.
21. Plant some fruit trees and some decorative trees.
22. Stack split firewood.
23. Split a few more cords of firewood (and stack it).
24. build up trails in the woods.
25. Repair the henhouse.
26. Complete resotration of the 1927 stove and put it in the kitchen.
27. Instal the woodstove in the sunroom.
28. Remove broken radiators stored in the basment and take them to the scrap yard.
29. Repair the kichten island.
30. Get marble cut for window sills.
31. Replace light bulbs in basement (actually a major project).
32. Repair/complete door into game room.
33. Build cabinet in scullery for water filter.
34. sand/repair/pain dining room cieling.
35. Paint porch deck.
36. Complete porch skirting.
37. Repair pocket door between kitchen and mudroom.
38. Repair plaster in upstairs hall.
39. Rebuild built in cabinet int eh closed under the stairs, sand and paint closet.
40. Correct problem with porch outlets.
41. Have missing insulation located and filled.
42. Re-instal interior shutters in upstairs windows.
43. repair closet doors in Mater BR and in the boys BR.
44. PLan and begin main bath remodel.
45. repair exhaust fan in Master bath.
46. Re-seal grout in master bath.
47. Replace dead forsythia.
. . ..
. .. .
892. Instal sink in carriage house.
893. Move wall in uptairs carriage house.
894. Re-assemble pool cover correclty.
895. Flashing for pool cover.
. . .
. ..
. .
1324. Complete prep on North side of house and prime.
1325. Paint house.
1326. Paint carriage house.
1327. Paint henhouse.
1328.
LOL is this a New Year's resolution list or a life list???
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We are also quoting to have the house vapor barrier wrapped (well most of it, we are NOT removing the brick veneer). We aren't sure if we will be doing the gutters as a DIY or having them done profesionally. Its a big house with a lot of gutters and they will all be coming down when the soffit and trim work is redone. I'm personally leaning toward "professionally" as I'm not sure if I want to be hauling DH's and my 50+ year old bods up and down two story ladders redoing the gutters around the whole house! 
. but the results will be worth it!
