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I've never had to "agonize" over a decision to spend money on a want. As long as I have the spare cash, the decision is made instantly. Implementation, OTOH, sometimes takes time due to researching costs, processes, availability, etc, but the decision was there from the getgo.
I wanted to build a planter box for my front porch but the bank wouldn't loan me the money for the six 2x4x8s.
Seriously. I suspect many MANY projects have been placed on hold due to that insanity. I had a super nice shed built in February, it was already planned and budgeted. Glad I did not wait - it would have been a lot more expensive now!
I got subway tile in the bathroom of my previous house. The bathroom badly needed redone, but there were cheaper tile options. However, I had to look at the bathroom every day. I loved the tile and never regretted the decision.
I'm all over the place mentally in deciding whether to spend money on a driveway/walkway/front yard project. It's a want not a need. And I've always had trouble deciding to spend money on wants vs. needs. (Raised by a depression baby mother who never spent money on "wants.")
For me this would be an 8-10k project. 8K for the design I don't like, 10k for the option I really want.
(And in about 3 years the back yard would be about a 15k project. But right now I'd just do the front.)
So....
...what's the most expensive home project you've done that was a want and not a need. The sort of thing you did just because you wanted to.
Did you struggle with deciding to spend the money?
Also, have you every done all the research for a project, and then decided never mind?
And was it the cost/money that made you pull the plug or some other reason you changed your mind.
Thanks.
I would reclassify the front $10k project as a need. As long as it comports with the neighborhood.
Yes, I did. I was getting estimates for new toilets and tile. One contractor said, you know, I could tile in your shower while I am at it. I did not go with him; but, I ended up renovating 2.5 bathrooms and a minor remodel on the kitchen (I had the dream crew back in 2012). No, not regretting (especially now when you will be lucky to get work like that done). Later I did hardwood throughout (nail down hardwood floors (no regrets)). An appraiser told me I dumped money into the right things (bathrooms/kitchens) and not into the outdoors (he said people spend way too much on those and they don't add value beyond the basics).
If your concrete is cracked and 50 year degenerated then it's probably a good idea to get your curb appeal in order.
Yeah, the cost and timing of home projects is an interesting luck-of-the-draw/age-of-the-house-timing thing.
If a person buys a new house they could own it 20 years and never put another dime into it. Sell it and the next owner still might only put in new appliances, own it 10 years. Ah, but that 3rd owner could be hit with everything, or at least a lot if no previous owner did anything. And when you think about it.....the first 30 years of a new house....there shouldn't be anything to do.
Then of course add in the value of the house, the neighborhood, and those are other "cost/investment" factors when deciding to do the project -- whether a true "improvement/upgrade" or just an "I want it/I-like-it" change. That's the "whether it's worth it" issue, I guess. As we all know a person can put in a 20K kitchen or a 50K kitchen (or more).....and person can put in 3K appliances or 10K appliances.
And some depression-era babies never spend money on things JUST for "optics" reason. What, are you kidding" Buy a new sofa or faucet when there's nothing wrong with the one they have?
Add in a person's own aesthetic, desires, thoughts about money, value, wants v. needs. That person could have a lot of thoughts going on in their pretty little head
Your stories have been great. Can't wait to hear more.
You aren't kidding. Yesterday I get a text from my husband that he's on his way to the next county to try to find more wood for the roofers.
Yes, the roof was a need - lots of bad wood being replaced. We're on day 3. Last night when I got home at 8 there were still ten guys up there.
But I really really want to do the deck next if we can get the wood. I don't think prices will go down.
Why is your husband trying to find wood for the roofers? Are you not having a roofing company do the work? I’ve never heard of a roofing contractor actually running out of materials before the roof is finished. 3 days?? Is this a really large house? The roof must have been in awful shape. How old is it? Just asking as I had my roof replaced two years ago, and only needed one sheet of plywood to be replaced. And my roof was 24 years old. I was thankful I did not wait longer. They started my roof at 7:30 in the morning and had everything finished and every last bit of trash picked up off of the lawn by 8:30 that night. Maybe a crew of six… And they worked their butts off.
Why is your husband trying to find wood for the roofers? Are you not having a roofing company do the work? I’ve never heard of a roofing contractor actually running out of materials before the roof is finished. 3 days?? Is this a really large house? The roof must have been in awful shape. How old is it? Just asking as I had my roof replaced two years ago, and only needed one sheet of plywood to be replaced. And my roof was 24 years old. I was thankful I did not wait longer. They started my roof at 7:30 in the morning and had everything finished and every last bit of trash picked up off of the lawn by 8:30 that night. Maybe a crew of six… And they worked their butts off.
Yes we have a roofing company and yes it's a very large roof on a ranch home, two wings and then the center of the house peaks in the opposite direction. As they pulled off the shingles they found more wood that needed replaced. We expected that. The people that built the home were very creative and also cut corners on everything. The home was built in '85 but get this, the people lived in the walk out basement which they built first and kept some sort of temporary covering over the house for years. They were called the mole people by neighbors. They finally built the main floor after neighbors complained. Of course we didn't know that until after we bought the house. And we do absolutely love the uniqueness of the house, so no regrets.
We know the people who own the roofing company and my husband was trying to help. He already had bought some of the replacement wood, knowing it would be needed.
Yes we have a roofing company and yes it's a very large roof on a ranch home, two wings and then the center of the house peaks in the opposite direction. As they pulled off the shingles they found more wood that needed replaced. We expected that. The people that built the home were very creative and also cut corners on everything. The home was built in '85 but get this, the people lived in the walk out basement which they built first and kept some sort of temporary covering over the house for years. They were called the mole people by neighbors. They finally built the main floor after neighbors complained. Of course we didn't know that until after we bought the house. And we do absolutely love the uniqueness of the house, so no regrets.
We know the people who own the roofing company and my husband was trying to help. He already had bought some of the replacement wood, knowing it would be needed.
Gotcha. Well I know you will be relieved having a proper roof.
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I suspect many MANY projects have been placed on hold due to that insanity. I had a super nice shed built in February, it was already planned and budgeted. Glad I did not wait - it would have been a lot more expensive now!
