“New” home = no riding :mad:

[Lewis Moon]

“New” home = no riding :mad: We just bought a 45 year old “as is” home (wonderful location) that had been occupied by three college girls with no inclination for hygiene, and managed by someone who let it get run down. It needs a LOT of work.
This means training will be a bit spotty for the next couple of months. Time to do cross practice in the park.

[AngryScientist]

had been occupied by three college girls...

but imagine the pillow fights!

[p nut]

How much do you value your riding time?

http://m.yp.com/gold-canyon-az/contractors

[zmudshark]

I think Sam moved to Tempe, no longer in Gold Canyon.

[Lewis Moon]

I think Sam moved to Tempe, no longer in Gold Canyon.

Gotta change that....

[Idris Icabod]

I've got a different reason but same result. They are widening the only road from my house to work and it got to the point last week where it is too dangerous to commute by bike. It is really twisting my melon, I've commuted by bike 99.9% of the time for the last 11 years (went 6 years car free) so driving the car just doesn't feel right.

[bikingshearer]

“New” home = no riding :mad: We just bought a 45 year old “as is” home (wonderful location) that had been occupied by three college girls with no inclination for hygiene, and managed by someone who let it get run down. It needs a LOT of work.
This means training will be a bit spotty for the next couple of months. Time to do cross practice in the park.

Ooooo, bad combination. I feel for you, mainly because I really, really hate home improvement projects. I can deal with frustration in many things. That ain't one of 'em.

Here's hoping that no one ever had a meth lab there or did anything else to turn your little pied a terrre into a toxic waste clean-up site.

[Lewis Moon]

Ooooo, bad combination. I feel for you, mainly because I really, really hate home improvement projects. I can deal with frustration in many things. That ain't one of 'em.

Here's hoping that no one ever had a meth lab there or did anything else to turn your little pied a terrre into a toxic waste clean-up site.

THAT, I can handle. :cool: (it's what I do)

[rzthomas]

You can always find 45 minutes.

[MattTuck]

The thing that gets me is how the home improvement industry has gotten people to buy into the idea that home improvements add to the value of a house.

At some level, that may be true. But if you're doing regular maintenance that is normal upkeep, it is an operating expense, not an investment...

Hopefully you got the house for a good price :)

[Lewis Moon]

You can always find 45 minutes.

Yeah, I've preached that for years. Time to live it.

[Lewis Moon]

The thing that gets me is how the home improvement industry has gotten people to buy into the idea that home improvements add to the value of a house.

At some level, that may be true. But if you're doing regular maintenance that is normal upkeep, it is an operating expense, not an investment...

Hopefully you got the house for a good price :)

We got it for $50k less than the guy paid for it and $15K less than market for the area. We'll probably need to invest $15K into it soon, but that and elbow grease will make it worth a lot more. Sunset magazine here we come.
We're in a great location; where a lot of ASU college profs live.

One car garage though...:mad:

[fa63]

Having just gone through a major renovation for the last two months, where we decided to DIY a good chunk of the work, I can understand where you are coming from. What I ended up doing was settling for one evening ride during the week, then one long ride Saturday morning. That allowed me to maintain some fitness/sanity while still making good progress with the projects around the house.

Good luck.

[CNY rider]

I feel your pain, at least in the short term.
I'm off from work today, had a great dirt road ride planned with forum pal manet.
Woke to the sun shining, birds chirping......and a 6 year old with a fever and runny nose and ear pain.
So here we sit......

[eippo1]

Get a utility bike so that you can ferry stuff back and forth from Home Depot.

[guido]

Or a 25 bike garage if you think of it that way...

One car garage though...:mad:

[Lewis Moon]

Or a 25 bike garage if you think of it that way...

Heh.....Wife was a little chagrined that I "N+1ed" last week so I could have a "commuter".

[Ken Robb]

You probably know this but hiring clean-out specialists to get a property ready for renovation to begin is often a bargain. It doesn't require expensive skilled labor but people with that kind of experience can accomplish a lot in less time than you would guess. Then you are fresh and ready to start on more fun and profitable work. Time is $$$.

[Dave B]

If you were in a fraternity in college, look up the local chapter at ASU and see if the pledges can help you clean. I know I had many hours as a freshman in college spent cleaning things I never want to think about again!

;)



In Hoc Signo Vinces!

[Lewis Moon]

You probably know this but hiring clean-out specialists to get a property ready for renovation to begin is often a bargain. It doesn't require expensive skilled labor but people with that kind of experience can accomplish a lot in less time than you would guess. Then you are fresh and ready to start on more fun and profitable work. Time is $$$.

We've got an appointment with a "maid" service tonight. The girls weren't destructive or anything, they just let stuff slide more than a bit.

[Ken Robb]

If the maid service seems overwhelmed you might look for firms with big trucks that advertise "Junk Hauling" or words to that effect. We have them in San Diego and they do a lot of good work for Realtors and property management firms when they have to get properties cleaned out and/or up. Usually two strong men turn up with a stake bed, load it up, and make one trip to the dump in a few hours.

[zmudshark]

Up through Papago Park, hit the S side of Camelback via 68th. Lafayette to 56th or Arcadia, then Dromedary, Cliffside/Red Rock. That should give you a workout in short order.

[josephr]

If the maid service seems overwhelmed you might look for firms with big trucks that advertise "Junk Hauling" or words to that effect. We have them in San Diego and they do a lot of good work for Realtors and property management firms when they have to get properties cleaned out and/or up. Usually two strong men turn up with a stake bed, load it up, and make one trip to the dump in a few hours.

posting in the 'free section' of Craigslist will bring them out the freaks in droves --- but your stuff will be gone!

[Steve in SLO]

Been there.
Keep in mind DIY=more $$ for new tools and bike bits.

[jlwdm]

We close on a house in less than three weeks and I plan to ride a lot. My wife likes a good project and she will be the GC. No one gets in the house unless she is there. She would prefer I get involved in decisions and then get out of the way. Probably $240k project, but my wife will likely get it done for less.

Jeff

[kenw]

[QUOTE=Lewis Moon;1626366]“
had been occupied by three college girls with no inclination for hygiene,

Females terrible renters; long time history has born this out. Won't help
you, tho.

[tmf]

If the roads where you ride are safe in the pre-dawn hours, riding from 4a-6a is one way I've ridden more than I thought I could over the years. You need pretty good lights, and I usually aim for 9pm lights out. The biggest issue I have are the deer and other critters that spook me in the dark. My days feel more productive when I get to ride in the morning.

[rzthomas]

If the roads where you ride are safe in the pre-dawn hours, riding from 4a-6a is one way I've ridden more than I thought I could over the years. You need pretty good lights, and I usually aim for 9pm lights out. The biggest issue I have are the deer and other critters that spook me in the dark. My days feel more productive when I get to ride in the morning.

I have periods where I wake up naturally around 4:00-4:30 AM. Instead of fighting it, I take advantage of that early waking to get out for a good ride before the sun even comes up.

The problem is that you've got to have your lights charged and ready and all your kit in one place (a problem for me sometimes!)

[Ssalmon]

The thing that gets me is how the home improvement industry has gotten people to buy into the idea that home improvements add to the value of a house.



At some level, that may be true. But if you're doing regular maintenance that is normal upkeep, it is an operating expense, not an investment...






I couldn't agree more, we just bought a house this summer and a little painting inside and some cleaning the yard up and the house already looks much better.