In this episode Brian & Paul continue the discussion of various Basement Systems and also take a listener question about paint removal

First up, we get right to Will’s question

Hiya Handyguys,

We have just bought our first home ever! It’s an older, fixer-upper house in a historic district in Knoxville, TN.

I painted houses professionally for a few years, so we’ve told the renovation contractor that he won’t have to do any interior or exterior painting.

The house has aluminum siding on it right now that we want to remove. The standard siding in the neighborhood is vertically slatted cedar siding, and luckily this original siding still exists under the aluminum. If possible, we’d like to try and rehabilitate it instead of replacing it.

I’ve painted a couple other houses in the neighborhood and know first hand how painstaking it is to scrape that old, alligatored paint off, fill the remaining gaps, and paint over. I’d like to take a more aggressive approach to this project by just stripping the siding down to the bare wood and starting from there.

I’m thinking that some sort of belt sander would probably be the best approach here. I wanted to ask you guys if you have any suggestions for the best type of sander to buy for this project, or if you have any other suggestions.

I have been listening to the show every day since the purchase of the house and learn something new every time. Keep up the good work!

Best,

Will

Will – You may have a long road ahead of you. neither Paul or I like scraping paint. You have a three general options, mechanical, heat or checmical. A sander will just clog. You could use a PaintEater for about $75, a tool with an abrasive wheel like the porter cable opaint remover or one with cutting kinives like the paint shaver. Handy guy Brian likes the heat method. Lastly there are chemical strippers. Listen to the show for discussion of each of these.

One other consideration Will, the siding guys likely have cut widow sills, remvoed trim and such. You may find things in worse shape than you think. maybe just reside the whole house if you want to bring it back to its original glory.

Basement Systems Continued

Brian & Paul then wrap up the show by finishing their discussion on  basement systems that they started last week.

Can You Sell Your Home In a Downturn Market?  The Handyguys Say “Yes”!

This show is sponsored by Basement Waterproofing

First off, Brian and Paul discuss the Wall Street Journal article entitled “Will Upgrading Your Home Help You Sell It?”
The Handyguys agree with the author,  M.P. McQueen, that a big ticket upgrade will not pay for itself when re-selling your house. If you want to add on or upgrade your home, and you can afford it, then go for it. If you want to DIY the upgrade you may be able to re-coup your costs if the upgrade is done well.

There may be a possible benefit to an upgrade that is indirectly related to costs and that is time on market. If you have a finished basement, for example, and none of the other similar homes in a particular market have that, then your house may sell first or be more attractive to buyers as long as its priced similarly.

The Handyguys also discuss the negative impact of a bad remodel. When the housing market was hot many buyers overlooked bad renovations. In today’s market buyers can take longer to make up their minds and be more discerning. A poorly executed remodel will turn away buyers so make sure your remodel is up to snuff. Remember, you can always ask The Handyguys if you need any help.

It is certainly no fun trying to sell your home in a buyers market.  In some areas of the country there are dozens of homes for sale on every block .   To be sure, you won’t fetch the price you would have received a couple of years ago.  And you may be better off not selling at all if you can help it.  However, if you need to sell now, here are some tips.

 Curb Appeal

Pictures compliments of Triton Builders

The Handyguys recommend doing everything you can to make your house stand out form the minute potential buyers step out of their car.  Clean up your landscape.  Remove that broken down old car on cinder blocks.  Tear old old, overgrown shrubs.  Scrape off pealing paint and repaint.  Make sure siding is clean using a power sprayer.  Update outdoor light fixtures.  Repair any rotted wood.  Get your lawn looking good. Do anything you can to make your house more presentable.

Declutter the Inside

Pictures compliments of One Bag Nation

In addition to cleaning the inside of your house, make sure that you declutter.  Kitchen counters should be clear of everything.  Closets should be clean and free of junk.  If your closets are stuffed with clothing, remove at least a third and store elsewhere.  Remove or reposition furniture to make the house look more spacious. Consider using Merry Maids, a top cleaning company if you want help de-cluttering.

Update fixtures

Improving light fixtures and plumbing fixtures can help your presentation.

No last minute Cheap Improvements

A downturn market is not a time for updating your kitchen with the cheapest cabinets possible.  It is not a time for shoddy work either.  In this market, buyers are taking their time, looking over houses.  They will not overlook bad products or shoddy work that was done at the last minute to try to make a house look more presentable.

Correct any structural problems, including leaky basements or cracked foundations.

You don’t want to scare off potential home-buyers with a house that could cause them headaches.  Correct the irritating problems caused by leaky basements.  Be sure that your structure is solid.  Many potential homeowners are willing to make the cosmetic changes in a new home but they do not want to deal with major issues to the foundation.

These are just a few areas to address.  Listen to our podcast for more information.

Time running out on the eclectic products wood glue and tool bag giveaway.  See Episode #25 for details.