Looking to buy an experiment.. err, House - Page 2

RobbMeeX · 04-10-13, 10:05 AM

Yeah, we are still on the hunt. There are too few fixer uppers around and they want astronomical prices...

RobbMeeX · 05-23-13, 08:37 PM

So... We had our offer accepted! So if the inspection passes, pictures will be posted, questions will be asked!

Daox · 05-24-13, 07:33 AM

Very cool.

RobbMeeX · 06-06-13, 04:00 PM

Inspection negative. The inspector said it was a "lipstick" renovation. It had rotten joists, aluminum wiring, etc. Back on the hunt.

Daox · 06-07-13, 08:31 AM

Doh. Well, at least the money on the inspection was well spent!

Mobile Master Tech · 06-07-13, 01:07 PM

More important than what shape a house is in, is if its price fairly reflects its current condition, the "bones" are good, and that the house can be reasonably modded to be what you want. Building from scratch is best, but you can probably get 85% as efficient and featured as you want while using an existing house.

You may not be able easily change wall structure and insulation, but you can upgrade windows (biggest envelope energy loss), ductwork/mechanical (the surface area of the ductwork in most homes is 1/3 of the floor square footage and is probably R6 max and leaks 25%), use the inside wall surface as your infiltration barrier by sealing gaps at electrical boxes and chases, etc.

Example: In my 5BR/3.5BA Atlanta tract-built home, I retrofitted staple-up hydronic heating and a 98% efficient Eternal water heater, replaced 2 10 SEER A/C units with a 23SEER Nordyne variable speed unit with ductwork improvements(details posting soon), installed an asphalt Energy Star rated roof detailed IN THIS THREAD, and generally plugged up leaks and installed efficient little stuff. Even though I am now heating & cooling 50% more square footage including the basement AND the garage, I dropped my gas usage about half and my electricity usage by 2/3, with more room to go!! I'm now within reach of firing my energy utilities and using an off-grid solar PV/heat and geothermal system to completely cover my energy needs!

My roof is HOA approved, cost no more than basic asphalt shingles, and is nearly as heat reflective as any non-white metal roof.

Take your time, find a house whose unchangeable features are mostly what you want-layout, location, HOA membership required or not, etc. Then make it what you want, one step at a time.

RobbMeeX · 06-07-13, 01:46 PM

LOL, so currently I am having to deal with replacing the roof on the house I own in Mobile, AL, I have been google searching to no avail (I guess the site structure recently changed??) where in the heck I saw roofing tiles that were cooler than normal (House has no current AC). I saw I had a response to my thread, click it and its you with a link to the exact thing I was searching for!!! Thanks for chiming in. And I'm not giving up just yet, but I do see this thread as more of a struggle to find the house to "ecomod" rather than the actual modding, but I'll try to keep it all documented...

PS, and it was posted on my birthday last year!

RobbMeeX · 07-03-13, 01:33 PM

Another offer accepted. Move-in ready 3/2 for 62K! Currently has a tenant until 7/4. The one thing wrong is that it's im a rough neighborhood. BUT it's on the edge of a new city improvement project. And after talking to the locals, it's all coming up. Pics will be posted and the house is very pink!

Daox · 07-03-13, 01:52 PM

Haha... at least paint is cheap.

RobbMeeX · 07-10-13, 03:15 PM

Inspection was positive. Has three nail pops on the roof and some flashing around the windows and the dishwasher had standing water. But the test looked good. Attic has insulation but could use a fan. Cinder block walls could use some insulating. We're talking to SE lenders now to get it all handled!

04-10-13, 10:05 AM	#11
RobbMeeX Eco OWNER!! Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: ATL Posts: 99 Thanks: 25 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Yeah, we are still on the hunt. There are too few fixer uppers around and they want astronomical prices... __________________ In it for the money (savings)

05-23-13, 08:37 PM	#12
RobbMeeX Eco OWNER!! Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: ATL Posts: 99 Thanks: 25 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	So... We had our offer accepted! So if the inspection passes, pictures will be posted, questions will be asked! __________________ In it for the money (savings)

05-24-13, 07:33 AM	#13
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Very cool. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-06-13, 04:00 PM	#14
RobbMeeX Eco OWNER!! Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: ATL Posts: 99 Thanks: 25 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Inspection negative. The inspector said it was a "lipstick" renovation. It had rotten joists, aluminum wiring, etc. Back on the hunt. __________________ In it for the money (savings)

06-07-13, 08:31 AM	#15
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Doh. Well, at least the money on the inspection was well spent! __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-07-13, 01:07 PM	#16
Mobile Master Tech Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: May 2012 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 142 Thanks: 38 Thanked 41 Times in 34 Posts	More important than what shape a house is in, is if its price fairly reflects its current condition, the "bones" are good, and that the house can be reasonably modded to be what you want. Building from scratch is best, but you can probably get 85% as efficient and featured as you want while using an existing house. You may not be able easily change wall structure and insulation, but you can upgrade windows (biggest envelope energy loss), ductwork/mechanical (the surface area of the ductwork in most homes is 1/3 of the floor square footage and is probably R6 max and leaks 25%), use the inside wall surface as your infiltration barrier by sealing gaps at electrical boxes and chases, etc. Example: In my 5BR/3.5BA Atlanta tract-built home, I retrofitted staple-up hydronic heating and a 98% efficient Eternal water heater, replaced 2 10 SEER A/C units with a 23SEER Nordyne variable speed unit with ductwork improvements(details posting soon), installed an asphalt Energy Star rated roof detailed IN THIS THREAD, and generally plugged up leaks and installed efficient little stuff. Even though I am now heating & cooling 50% more square footage including the basement AND the garage, I dropped my gas usage about half and my electricity usage by 2/3, with more room to go!! I'm now within reach of firing my energy utilities and using an off-grid solar PV/heat and geothermal system to completely cover my energy needs! My roof is HOA approved, cost no more than basic asphalt shingles, and is nearly as heat reflective as any non-white metal roof. Take your time, find a house whose unchangeable features are mostly what you want-layout, location, HOA membership required or not, etc. Then make it what you want, one step at a time. __________________ "I‘d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don‘t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." Thomas Edison, 1847 — 1931

06-07-13, 01:46 PM	#17
RobbMeeX Eco OWNER!! Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: ATL Posts: 99 Thanks: 25 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	LOL, so currently I am having to deal with replacing the roof on the house I own in Mobile, AL, I have been google searching to no avail (I guess the site structure recently changed??) where in the heck I saw roofing tiles that were cooler than normal (House has no current AC). I saw I had a response to my thread, click it and its you with a link to the exact thing I was searching for!!! Thanks for chiming in. And I'm not giving up just yet, but I do see this thread as more of a struggle to find the house to "ecomod" rather than the actual modding, but I'll try to keep it all documented... PS, and it was posted on my birthday last year! __________________ In it for the money (savings) Last edited by RobbMeeX; 06-07-13 at 01:59 PM..

07-03-13, 01:33 PM	#18
RobbMeeX Eco OWNER!! Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: ATL Posts: 99 Thanks: 25 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Another offer accepted. Move-in ready 3/2 for 62K! Currently has a tenant until 7/4. The one thing wrong is that it's im a rough neighborhood. BUT it's on the edge of a new city improvement project. And after talking to the locals, it's all coming up. Pics will be posted and the house is very pink! __________________ In it for the money (savings)

07-03-13, 01:52 PM	#19
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Haha... at least paint is cheap. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-10-13, 03:15 PM	#20
RobbMeeX Eco OWNER!! Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: ATL Posts: 99 Thanks: 25 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Inspection was positive. Has three nail pops on the roof and some flashing around the windows and the dishwasher had standing water. But the test looked good. Attic has insulation but could use a fan. Cinder block walls could use some insulating. We're talking to SE lenders now to get it all handled! __________________ In it for the money (savings)