All Forum Posts by: Sean McFadden

I was really dumb the past two years. I had a totally paid off 2002 BMW 325i.... my first car had since I was 17. I graduated college and got a new fancy job with tons of travel so I bought a new loaded 2013 VW GLI. The GLI fell apart with in the six months/ 20k miles of ownership so I took a 6k loss (really dumb) for a 2012 BMW 3-series coupe. I just got out of that for two reasons 1) a $500 monthly payment....... 2) it was totally useless. I came back to earth. I was able to recoop some of my negative and picked up a 2008 BMW X3. Yes, I still have payments but my monthly obligation dropped $200 a month, but continuing my $500 month payment it will be paid for in 2.5 years. 

What have I learned. I have successfully had 3 cars made by the same manufacturer and I am too spontaneous. This X3 now holds boxes and I will drive it till it is dead.

2002 BMW - Should have kept

 2013 VW GLI - Clearly I was delusional here, POS

2012 328i - too expense for uselessness

2008 BMW X3 - basically my white car as an suv

Update:

So, its been a slow progress on the house. Between work and waiting on the bank. I was able to pull $25k of equity from the home to pay off my expenses, Lowes/HD, so far and install the A/C and remaining new windows. So right now I am on track to spend $21k for the total house renovation, a few thousand more but still I am happy with my original 18-20k estimate. 

Since my last update I have completed my second floor, including the hallway reconfiguration and bathroom. This allowed to "house hack" and get a roommate till July.

Before:

Bedroom 

Bathroom:

Stairwell:

After:

Bedroom

Stairwell

New Linen alcove

Bathroom

@George P. I got the cabinets from Lowes, their Shenandoah Mission style with the Linen painted finish. They are made by American Woodmark, which is available at Home Depot. Overall, for the price they are nice and the finish is good. I was able to work the sales/promotions and only spend $3,100 for the cabinetry, normally $5,200. That being said, construction is on par with Kraftmaid, meh.  

@George P. Yes, I used a DSLR but still a long was to getting perfect lighting and staging for the listing photos. I assume thats a compliment, so thank you!

Went a little photo crazy today. No real progress to show, second floor is being reconfigured and drywalled. 

Looks really great inside! Shutters are really blue, but thats probably just because I do not like blue.....  But, really, it looks awesome, especially the charcoal doors.

I went with an allure plank in "country pine" for my kitchen of my current rehab. I am very happy and it was very reasonable from Home Depot at $1.59 sqft. Surprisingly most people think it's real wood. I think as long as you mix the lower cogs flooring with upper end elements people will not assume its a "cheap vinyl flooring."

Did some new landscaping. That was a lot of sunburn haha

Welcome to the site. The podcasts are by far the best thing to passively listen to at work. Not coming from experience or anything....

@Melissa Moore 

I can see that we are both fans of grey.... haha