My First To Do List

M a k i n g lists still feels a little premature. Every time I think we are going to get the call that we can close on May 30, I get an e-mail or call from the bank asking for another piece of documentation instead. I have always considered myself detail-oriented, but this process makes me look like a “big picture” person. There is no such thing as good enough in the banking world.

I do feel it is safe to start really thinking about how we want to approach this home remodel. Andy and I are still developing our project philosophy and style (Rainbow kitten decor won’t make the cut!), but it is never too early to consider strategy. Some of the items on our first list are DIY projects. Others will require professional help.

None of these items are as fun as a kitchen tear-out and remodel, but they are just as necessary at this stage.

This is the list of items that must be done right away for safety, efficiency and to protect our home’s structure:

Upgrade the electrical panel – Electrician
Fix the unknown plumbing leak on the second floor – Plumber
Create washer/dryer area – Andy/Plumber/Electrician
Roof repair (approximately 1/3 of the full roof) – Stacy
Evict the squirrel that might be living in the attic! – Andy and Stacy/Pest specialist
Improve outside drainage – Stacy
Dry Rot Repair/Trim Painting – Stacy
Window Pane replacement – Stacy and Andy

More information:

Upgrading the electrical panel – The house currently has 60 amp power. That was probably plenty for the single woman who lived there for 50 years, but we are certain that it will not support four computers, a coffee pot and a hair dryer at the same time. (Disclaimer: Coffee is a priority for this mom. The coffee pot must work.) The strategy is to first upgrade the panel. Then, we will get some bids on updating the wiring and repairing any electrical issues that relate to safety and code.

Fix the unknown plumbing leak on the second floor – When we looked at the house, the water had been turned off due to a plumbing leak. Based on the water spot on the dining room ceiling, it looks as if there could be a tricky leak from the bathroom upstairs. The repair could involve plaster/ceiling repair as well, but it is unknown at this point.

Create washer/dryer area – The most shocking thing to me about this house is that there are no laundry hook-ups anywhere. I have no idea where Mrs. Hutchinson (the previous occupant) did her laundry. My best guess is that she had an apartment washer that did not require a hook-up OR she simply sent her laundry out. That would work if it was just Andy and I, but we have four additional mess makers in our home. We also avoid paper products and other throwaway items. Without a functional laundry area, our home will quickly look like a family of hoarders lives there.

Roof Repair – Last year, about 1/3 of the roof was repaired after it began leaking. The aftermath of that leak can be seen in two of the bedrooms upstairs. Towards the front of the house, the shingles are curling up, and it is only a matter of time before that section leaks too. That is the portion we will repair. In addition, the porch roof is covered with tree limbs. The trees need to be trimmed away so the roof will stay as dry as possible. We will also clean the moss and lichen off that section.

This job also has some unknowns. We will not know the extent of the damage until we start removing the rotten shingles. While we would love to stick to the original slate tile roof that the house was built with, for now, we will have to use composite shingles. The entire roof will need to be redone at some point, and maybe we will be able to consider the more historically correct option at that point.

Evict the squirrel that might be living in the attic! – The home inspector saw evidence that we may have a squirrel living in the attic. The beginning issue is that the carpenter bees bore holes in the fascia under the roof on the back of the house. That is how the squirrel got into the house in the first place. We will likely have to have a pest control specialist spray for the carpenter bees. Then, we will repair the fascia and evict the squirrel. I have never wished so hard for there to only be one squirrel in our home. Who does that?

Improve outside drainage – Over time, the house has settled, and some of the original grading is now flat or negative which leads the water back to the house instead of away from it. That makes for a wet basement. We are not sure if we can have the grading done this year or next, but we can inspect all of the downspouts and re-route them for improved drainage.

Dry Rot Repair/Trim Painting – There is some dry rot in various places around the outside of the house. I would like to get all of this repaired and painted by the end of the summer. Rot gets worse the longer it is exposed to the elements. I am hoping for many dry days so we can tackle this issue. Fortunately, as problems go, it is probably the least expensive. It will take time, and it is tedious, but it does not cost a lot to fix if it is caught early. Cross your fingers that we caught it early.

Window Pane Replacement – There are several cracked panes all around the house. This is another tedious, but not too expensive project. Fortunately, none of the large windows are cracked or broken.

So yeah. That’s it. <cue laughter> This list should pretty much take us all summer to complete.

-S t a c y