Useless Conversation

[Sky]

Dagnabbit!

 

FIFY

There's another rant combining the last two commentaries, spotty building practices adhering at best to minimum code and the rampant consumerism that is charging outrageous prices for these magnificent shacks. When I was hardcore in the real estate market, I used to  seeing an old stone mansion in a decent neighbohood, with all the beautiful woodwork and modern amenities, go for around 300k, a fair price here, given our toilet economy. Then some tract builder is tossing up 3-4k sq ft shacks (mcmansions, if you will) for 350k. Contractor carpet, Lowe's baseboard, just shit construction...but granite counters and stainless appliances!

And really, I would totally love that dumb suckers are getting bilked out of so much money for these giant shacks, if it didn't play havoc with the rest of the market.

A tertiary rant, since I seem to be in the mood today, is...what's the opposite of gentrification? We have these amazing houses built in the mid-1800s that are all split into apartments and being destroyed by the trash living in them. About half the middle class (like myself) are living in 30s-70s suburbs, and the other half living in a town just outside the city in 70s-90s cheap construction rectangles. Makes me so stabby to see these beautiful houses picked apart and destroyed (remuddled, for the fine homebuilding fans). My dream house, sitting in a slum with some dog pissing on the porch and a bunch of rednecks pumping out kinfolk in every room.

Consarnit!

[Ingmar]

My grandfather's advice was never buy a house built after 1960.

I think this advice may lose a slight amount of luster if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Not that I don't have my doubts about more recent construction too.

[Samwise]

My grandfather's advice was never buy a house built after 1960.

I think this advice may lose a slight amount of luster if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Not that I don't have my doubts about more recent construction too.

Remember, an old house in an earthquake-prone area is a house that has withstood every earthquake that has happened since it was built.

[Ingmar]

My grandfather's advice was never buy a house built after 1960.

I think this advice may lose a slight amount of luster if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Not that I don't have my doubts about more recent construction too.

Remember, an old house in an earthquake-prone area is a house that has withstood every earthquake that has happened since it was built.

While this is certainly true, I can't shake the feeling that each one of those loosened it a little bit. 

[Sky]

My grandfather would say "Don't buy a house in an earthquake-prone area!"

[Nebu]

My grandfather would say "Don't buy a house in an earthquake-prone area!"

Don't tug on Superman's cape.  Don't spit into the wind.  Don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger and don't mess around with Jim. 

[Teleku]

My grandfather would say "Don't buy a house in an earthquake-prone area!"

Your grandfather has to many damn rules!

But yeah, I wouldn't really trust an old building in an earthquake prone area either.  Friend of mine works at a startup in SF, and they moved to a nice office space they were able to lease for cheep.  Space is in one of those old, neat looking buildings on market street.  When talking with the building managers, they explained the reason the rent is so cheep is that when the next earthquake hits, your all basically going to die.

[RhyssaFireheart]

My grandfather would say "Don't buy a house in an earthquake-prone area!"

Your grandfather has to many damn rules!

But yeah, I wouldn't really trust an old building in an earthquake prone area either.  Friend of mine works at a startup in SF, and they moved to a nice office space they were able to lease for cheep.  Space is in one of those old, neat looking buildings on market street.  When talking with the building managers, they explained the reason the rent is so cheep is that when the next earthquake hits, your all basically going to die.

Pfft, it's all over in 2012 anyways, so why pay more rent than you have to in the meantime?

And in other news, asking for a list of references is a good thing, right?

[MuffinMan]

While this is certainly true, I can't shake the feeling...

 

[Merusk]

At the peak of the boom, builders were getting 50% or better margins on their houses.  Many of the ones I have worked for say they need to make at least 20% over materials just to cover Permits, required office overhead, construction delays and the like.   Codes these days are much more restrictive, such that "barely over code" is still going to result in a house that's safer and better built than one from the 50's built "50% better" than code.  The rise of engineering, state codes and permit departments has caused a lot of changes that 'old school' builders groused about because, like the technophobes of today, they refused to change their ways and were forced out of the market.

Now, where I'll agree is that while the houses are more structurally sound, the performance factor has fallen by the wayside.  Sure, a 2x10 beam can span 16'-6" but that doesn't mean you want it to if you're concerned about vibration of the floor system.  Also, consider how wide-open today's plans are.  The removal of walls to increase the floor space is going to introduce more bounce in the longer spans.

This you can blame on the American mindset of "I must have more."  My house is nearly 30% larger than the 3-bedroom house my grandparents raised 3 kids in, but it's damn small by today's standards.  It's only 2,200 sq. ft. with no basement.  The horror!  A "Small" ranch house is 1700sq ft.  Most homes are "4 bedrooms or go home!"  Kids sharing rooms? Not in this middle America!

/ahem..  ranting.. whoops.

[RhyssaFireheart]

MORE!! NEWER!!!  BETTER!!! BIGGER!!!

The husband and I get laughs out of watching House Hunters a lot of the time because of this kind of attitude.  Our 3 bedroom house is "only" 2100sq. ft. and would most likely be considered small by most standards any more.  I'm just flabbergasted when I see people looking at homes that are 3000 sq. ft. or more, because I can't fathom what you'd do with all that space.  Heck, I grew up in a 3 bedroom home with my parents and 3 brothers AND we only had one bathroom.  The brothers all shared a room for years until my parents finally built a room in the unfinished basement for the oldest to have as his own when he was a teenager.  I think the room my brothers shared was about the same size as my home office is now.

But then again, I enjoy watching HH so I can rant at the families who's only goal seems to be buying a house which will satisfy the children.  No consideration for what is most workable for the family as a whole, it's all about what is best for the children (or so it seems).

[Rasix]

But then again, I enjoy watching HH so I can rant at the families who's only goal seems to be buying a house which will satisfy the children.  No consideration for what is most workable for the family as a whole, it's all about what is best for the children (or so it seems).

We get it already.  You don't like/understand breeding and children. It's OK.  It's another human being that is going to get bigger and require education.  It's a major factor when you're looking at a space to live in.

Last weekend my wife and I looked at a 3100 sq ft house. It was awful.  Terrible use of space and didn't feel any bigger than our current house. Well, except for the enormous bathroom and extra closet.  Giant suburbanite houses aren't ranking very well compared to the more unique offerings.   Our two favorites are still just 200 sq ft bigger and a little less than 400 smaller.  

edit: stuffs

[schild]

MORE!! NEWER!!!  BETTER!!! BIGGER!!!

The husband and I get laughs out of watching House Hunters a lot of the time because of this kind of attitude.  Our 3 bedroom house is "only" 2100sq. ft. and would most likely be considered small by most standards any more.  I'm just flabbergasted when I see people looking at homes that are 3000 sq. ft. or more, because I can't fathom what you'd do with all that space.  Heck, I grew up in a 3 bedroom home with my parents and 3 brothers AND we only had one bathroom.  The brothers all shared a room for years until my parents finally built a room in the unfinished basement for the oldest to have as his own when he was a teenager.  I think the room my brothers shared was about the same size as my home office is now.

I personally own nearly enough electronics, dvds, and other shit to adequately fill 3,000 square feet.

I didn't even unpack in the apartment I've been in for 3 years and the boxes basically fill half the place. In other words, what would I do with that space? Unpack.

[Sky]

My house is 950 sq ft and it's just about perfect. The only reason we want to add on is she feels she needs more room for her books, thus the two-story library. It will still end up around 1800 sq ft when we're done, so still 'tiny' but ameritard standards. And at 950 sq ft, I have a library, a music studio, a workout area and a wood shop, as well as a walk-in closet and huge kitchen.

House Hunters is  "what is this room for?" "the yard is huge!" (postage stamp yard) The shit people will buy amazes me, and the prices...holy shit. And bathrooms...I see a lot of 'this bathroom is so tiny'...what the fuck are you doing in there? You need enough room to towel off and maybe you have a wide stance. Bah, people.

[Nebu]

People own and horde too much shit.  I learned this early in my academic career when I moved 11 times in 10 years.  Now I get rid of anything that a) doesn't have sentimental value or b) that I haven't used in 6 months.  My house in the mountains of Wyoming was literally 25' square (625 sq ft) and it was plenty.  

If I had a family, I can see how 2000 sq ft would seem small though.  Kids may be little, but they have a way of making a house feel small fast.

[Rasix]

Having 4 bedrooms is really nice even with only 1 kid.  One is an office and another is a guest room, which is nice for when my parents visit (my mom stays over at least twice a month to spell my mother-in-law).  Only real under used space is the dining room and that's because the small table in the kitchen area makes it redudant.   It's easy to make due with smaller (hell, my parents, brother, sister and I did fine in a 3 bedroom town house), but I think we're mostly at a good size for now.

Most places we've looked at are 3 bedroom, which is fine.  Easy to put a day bed in an office or just have a desk in any of the under used spaces. 

And at 950 sq ft, I have a library, a music studio, a workout area and a wood shop, as well as a walk-in closet and huge kitchen.

That boggles my mind.  I think both of the last two apartments I've stayed in were bigger than that.  Of course the dorm rooms before that.. eep.  Nothing quite like living in a tiny room with another person for most of a year.

But, you've got actual land and nature.  That counts for something. 

[Cyrrex]

Why do you think he spends half of each day splitting wood?

[Samwise]

I think our house weighs in at something like 850 square feet of "livable" space with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath.  A plan is in the works to finish some of our basement space, which will give us about another 500 square feet (2 more bedrooms, a "den"/bonus room, and another bath).  Once we have a couple of kids I figure that gives each kid their own room plus a shared play room (which I think is more space than I ever had to myself growing up), and we still get to have an office/craft room for ourselves.

[IainC]

My apartment is 115 square metres which equates to about 1200 square feet. That's over two floors and because this is an old house and we are in the attic area, there are no 90º corners anywhere and few vertical walls so a lot of the space is unusable. It's still plenty big enough for the two of us and our hobbies (wargames for me and costume making for her).

[Sky]

People own and horde too much shit.

Having a smaller house is great for this. It's so easy to not buy furniture or be as indiscriminate with what used books I buy. It's easy to throw shit out, too. I don't need it, there's not enough space for it, why the fuck would I keep it around? It's amazingly liberating.

I don't have much of sentimental value because my parents threw all my stuff out when I was forced to hit the road at 18, and most of my stuff was routinely stolen after that for the next ten or so years.

As for the nature thing, fucking deer ate the leaves off my fucking honeycrisp tree again last night. Third time this year.

[murdoc]

We have a two story, 3 bedroom 1475 Square foot house and it's plenty big for the two of us, especially with the basement home theatre/PC area completed, but I think we're going to find space lacking with the twins showing up.

[Rasix]

We have a two story, 3 bedroom 1475 Square foot house and it's plenty big for the two of us, especially with the basement home theatre/PC area completed, but I think we're going to find space lacking with the twins showing up.

Muahahaha. 

Space, sleep.. you're going to find a lot lacking.  Have fun with that. 

[Cyrrex]

As for the nature thing, fucking deer ate the leaves off my fucking honeycrisp tree again last night. Third time this year.

While I am a self professed animal lover, those deer have crossed a line that musn't be crossed.

Honeycrisp season is nearly upon us!  Tired of gagging down all these wannabe apples.  Fucking Braeburns can suck my cock, by the way.

[Yegolev]

I have a large house and it is full of bullshit.  Yes, some of it is mine, but I really do have a sentimental attachment to the three PS3 boxes and those old video cards.

[Paelos]

I've never had a Honeycrisp apple. Somebody toss out some analogies as to the awesomeness of said apple.

example - Honeycrisp is to apples what Krispy Kreme is to donuts.

[Cyrrex]

Honeycrisp Apples are like when your mouth has an orgasm.

Honeycrisp is to apples as Sarah Palin is to idiocy.

Honeycrisp is to apples as Haemish is to clever use of curse words.

Honeycrisp is to apples as Sky is to chopping wood.

Okay, I'm out of analogies for now.  Consider, though, that we talk about them rather frequently around here...and they're apples, for chrissakes.  The only way that makes any sense is because of how awesome they are.

[Ingmar]

They're good but they're no Gravensteins, imo.

[Samwise]

What is it that makes them so good?  Are they extra sweet, as their name would imply?  I tend to prefer my apples more tart than sweet...

[Soln]

Fuji apples I have to add are great

[Cyrrex]

Some Fujis can be good, but they still pale next to a Honeycrisp.  Fuji's are like my number 2.

As for Gravensteins...I'm not actually sure if I've ever had one.

[Ingmar]

You might have had apple juice or sauce made from them, but they don't keep well otherwise so I don't think they show up in stores very often outside of areas where they're grown. There's a big apple fair thing up in Sebastopol every year that I used to go to as a kid, it was like apple eating heaven. I should go again one of these years (looks like I missed my chance this year).

Granny Smiths are typically my go-to option when I can't get Gravs (which is usually).

[Cyrrex]

Ah, if you like the Granny Smiths, then you have a different taste in apple than me (and I'm making a leap that the Gravenstein is similar to the GS).  It's practically a different fruit.

I think I might be an apple snob 

[Nebu]

I think of a honeycrisp as being like a very crisp red delicious with a mellow/sweet flavor.  I'm excited because many of the local growers are starting to sell them at the Farmer's market.

[Samwise]

There's a big apple fair thing up in Sebastopol every year that I used to go to as a kid, it was like apple eating heaven.

Sebastopol's Gravenstein orchards are also responsible for Mom's Apple Pie, which according to my extensive research makes the best fruit pie in the greater Bay Area.  (We wanted to have pie at our wedding instead of cake, and so we sampled the wares of many bakeries to find a place that made an acceptable pie.  Mom's blew the rest out of the water in every category.)

Red Delicious is one of my least favorite apples (too sweet and boring), so if Honeycrisps are comparable I probably wouldn't be a fan, although it sounds like they at least don't have the mushy texture that most Reds do.  I think my favorite snacking apple is the Pippin.

[Ingmar]

Yeah I hate Red Delicious apples, kind of tasteless but the skin is slightly bitter, and they have that weird mealy texture. Not delicious at all!

Honeycrisps aren't really like that though, they're very sweet but much crisper and have some actual flavor to them.