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05.29.08, 16:53 PM General Topics
10 replies
Just had our offer accepted on a house. It has great details and charm but needs some refreshing. I'm getting nervous now about the work - how hard is it to remove wallpaper (it is only in the vestibule and one of the bathrooms above the chair rail)? Also how daunting to rip up carpet and sand the wide plank wood floors underneath? Would these things scare you? Is this normal for buying an old house in NYC? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 05.29.08, 04:53 PM Flag
 

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do you loves the bones of the house, the location, etc. All those other things will take time and effort, but if you got a great place, it'll be worth it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 04:55 PM Flag
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OP: I think so. I mean, given our budget it is the best thing I have seen and in the best location we can afford. Decent school zone, safe neighborhood, right near park/playground/subway, bones of house are good...basically a turn of the century rowhouse in fairly original condition except someone went a little beserk with decorating around 1986. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 04:57 PM Flag
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np: Easy.... handle the wall paper and carpeting yourself. Make suer you take out every single nail/staple when you pull up the carpeting. Then hire someone to come in and finish the floors. Where in NYC? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 05:07 PM Flag
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that's all cosmetic and really easy.justpick up the phone and hire 3 people. get it done in a weekend [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 04:55 PM Flag
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OP: Not sure we can afford that. How long/how much to paint an 1900 sq ft house, rip up carpet on one floor and finish wood floors, and take out 2 small rooms of wallpaper? Are we looking at 10K or much more? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 04:59 PM Flag
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well, ok, removing wallpaper isn't that big of a deal with the right stuff (a solution you put over it and heat gun, spatula thing), but then you have to sand and prime which is a pain in the ass. if the walls are in good condition, i think you can paint yourself in a couple full days if you get a spray thing and are efficient. ripping out carpet is annoying but doable. but don't sand yourself. depending on the condition of the wood floors, if you had it all done professionally, 7-8k? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 05:03 PM Flag
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imo that's not more than 410k of work. you may be able to do things like ripping up carpet- very easy- by yourselves [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 05:04 PM Flag
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sorry $10k (less than $10k worth of work) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 05:04 PM Flag
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It's not easy, or rather, it's not hard, it's just extremely time-consuming. I took down wallpaper in a powder room and repainted and it took me almost two months of evenings to get it all done (I ran into issues along the way). You can do it over time, but it won't be instant. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 05:04 PM Flag
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pp: But it's totally doable stuff, unskilled labor even (maybe floor sanding excepted). Don't be scared!!! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.29.08, 05:05 PM Flag
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