Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Then why not put in some sweat equity and get things fixed? There is nothing particularly difficult about doing some remodeling and most home repairs, and if you spend some time doing it, when this house is paid off you'll be in a much better position. Or you could continue to let the issues pile up, and hope they all magically go away in the future.
I started going down that path a year or two ago, and determined it was a mistake. I realized I was in over my head, and liable to need large amounts of money to do it right. At the very least I need professional help for guidance.
I consider the house to have many issues after cutting into sheetrock. To do it right, I need to reframe one exterior wall, and examine the other walls after stripping down to studs. All the clapboard needs to come off, as there is no sheathing, no vapor barrier and who knows what lurking in the other walls--which, BTW, is a balloon construction. Furthermore I have one wall which is bowing, owing to a lack of rafter ties--which cannot be added, nor can collar ties, as both would severely impinge upon critical living space.
Only to wind back up at ground zero--a house that is too small for the area. 700 square feet in an area where 1,200 is considered small.
The walls are 2x4's, the roof is 2x6's (or 2x8's, I forget), both of which are rather thin for proper insulation; furthermore, the house really needs to be lifted up a foot so as to gain proper usage of the basement (or forever walk into support beams). I'm noticing more water issues in the basement of late, so the french drains need to be redone too. It does not meet current setback rules; while any new construction could be grandfathered, at some point you really have to wonder. Putting on an addition to address space issues... still leaves all the other issues.
My best hope is to find someone who falls in love with the property and wants to build their dream house.
