I asked a painter who lives across the street from my mother for a bid on repairing some drywall cracks...spackle, mud and tape, whatever and hand trowel texture.

New fans, new duct work, new dryer vent, new flooring, some new cabinets, electrical work, mold damage, sheetrock and texturing, sewage pipe broke in front yard from tree root (replaced pipe), leaking faucets (replaced), etc...

@Jeff PratherWell They now make fancy tiles that will fit right in to replace those cheap textured ones .

Positives of the House: Amazing updated high end kitchen all stainless steel appliancesNew RoofCan lighting in all bedrooms, living room, and kitchenHigh End basement bathroom includes Jets in shower wall and Heated tile floorNew Central ACNew FurnaceNew HVAC ducting throughoutNewer Vinyl SidingNewer guttersMany newer vinyl windowsNewly wired for gigabit speed ethernet in all roomsOpen cell insulation on second floor roof (solves all cape cod style home problems with ice damming)Nice landscaping both in front and in backGreat curb appealFenced in LotFull BasementOpen concept living roomVery low taxes compared to rest of Lake County IllinoisFinished will have 2 full baths, 3 bedroomsNew copper plumbingNew Natural Gas pipingAll Capital Expenditures are taken care of!

I am 29 years old and currently work for a private jet manufacturing company in Savannah, GA as a Structural Test Engineer. 

What we have done: all new kitchen 6 years ago, all new bathrooms last year, new energy-efficient windows and sliding glass door, new drywall texturing, new base and case, created a 4th bedroom in the basement (cut a window and finished the room), new HVAC 4 years ago.

Texture Thursday This is a great technique for dealing with old houses.  

When I retire I will probably be “disabled” for hearing loss after being around jet engines for 27 years and back issues from rucking....there now I’m disabled....that does not make me a better person.

She says is just two hours worth of work but I tend to disagree after looking at the existing trim in the house, all the trim from the floor to the ceiling needs an overhaul to look new again.In the five years they lived in the home the owners replaced or renovated the following:AC, dishwasher, windows (double paned with blinds in between panes, can open to reach the blinds), flooring (throughout was very nice but I'd replace the peel-n-stick with laminate so it would be laminate throughout), sheetrock, texture, and paint throughout, ceiling fans and light fixtures throughout, sinks in both bathrooms, chain link fence dog run added, and a storage shed.Other positives:  I talked to neighbors and they are very happy living there, there is a beautiful and big rec center, gym, kids playground, monthly potlucks, people wave to each other as they drive by, there's a craft group that meets, etc. 

I then bought a jet ski that was listed cheap, got it running and sold it for $1000.00.