All Forum Posts by: James McCard

I think it depends on your skill level and comfort - me I am all about that sweat equity and why pay someone to do something I can do myself - with one caveat - if you can do it room by room do it yourself - if it involves emptying the entire house it may be best to leave it to a pro if the house is full of stuff. I did everything myself aside from the staining - better half was an art major in college and is much better than me with a brush. **Protip do not use the stain and poly in one... ever - I am not complaining about the results but it was very sticky coming out of the can and that made it difficult to apply - it also did not give a shiny poly finish**

Here is my story - I rented a sander for this closet I was turning into a laundry room - it was at one point already a laundry room. I bought a used washer and dryer and was going to install it but the closet had nasty 80's carpet. I opened my trap to the better half and said "how about before I put the washer and dryer in I tile in there". So I pull up the carpet and pad, underneath I find stick on linoleum tile so I chisel that up and find painted hardwood - tile idea was scrapped and I spent a long weekend running to Home Depot to rent the sander and refinishing the floor. Here are some photos:

I think you might want to check out Hue (I think that is the name). My tenant has them set up in his place and can use NFC (from his phone walking through the door there is a special sticker that picks it up). He also has it set up for voice control - not sure if you are that tech savvy or not. 

Send me a PM if Rick's guy does not work out. I have a friends father that does work on the side and installed a top of the line buderous boiler in my house for a price you would not believe. He works full time at a big name HVAC and just does this on the side for referrals and people he knows. 

I do not understand what the function is explain the premise and I will try to determine if it is a scam or not. Something to consider if the water heater is an older unit - a new gas/electric/propane instant on water heater isn't a bad idea. I have one in my house and I am a fan of long showers and it never runs out - until you are out of propane... 

I had family in Yardley PA - great place loved visiting. 

I agree @Brian Pulaski I negotiate on a lot of things but debt is not one of them. I am a big cash guy- if I don't have it in cash (excluding houses) I don't buy it. 

I do not really use it in my investing (as that part has not started yet). However I do a ton of projects around the house myself. I am at Home Depot almost every weekend getting truck loads of stuff. I recently found out about PRO Xtra - which you can sign up for as a DIYer. It allows you to use bidroom which compares prices on jobs (orders) over 1500 and if it finds a lower price it will match it. I have yet to use but on some bigger projects it can save you a bundle. They also run specials for members - I think this month it is 20% all paints and stains. 

It is easy to sign up and free - all you have to do is enter your phone number and give the cashier a job name and it will pull everything up for you. It also keeps track of 2 years of receipts which can be handy. 

I am still active - we should get the ball rolling on a meetup soon though. 

Welcome to the board. You will learn a lot here. 

^ I have attended this one twice in the past few months and it is always a good experience. 

I would recommend Attorney Larry Keil - he is out of Simsbury/Granby iirc. He did my personal closing on my house and was great.