Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations

ab348

kyfdx said:

ab348 said:

kyfdx said:

Canadian dollars?

Yes, bad on me for not clarifying that I was talking worthless Canadian dollars.

Seems really cheap

Don’t tell the locals. They are constantly screaming about the power utility. I have never had an issue with them. People here are pretty unaware of what rates can be like elsewhere.

I had the place redone for energy savings last year with added insulation in the attic and basement, new doors and windows, air sealing, etc., and it is pretty efficient for an older house.

corvette

The last I checked, my average electric and gas was around $170-ish, if memory serves, but I haven’t updated it lately and had some big electric bills this summer with the hot temperatures. Smaller, older house with spray foam in the attic but uninsulated walls. Gas furnace, everything else electric.

Michaell

Speaking of electricity usage, we are about a week out from having our basement project finished. Painting is done, now the electricians and plumbers will be in to do their finishing work. Carpet to be installed on Monday, and the shower door ($1800!) will be one of the last things to go in.

After that's done, we work with the subcontractor to get the TV wall mounted, and purchase/install the new washer and dryer for the laundry room.

Guess we'll find out what that does to our bill each month.

stickguy

New house is about 2,600 SF. Seems to have been built well because the heat hardly seems to run. AC also doesn’t have to work too hard. Only turned the heat on last week and really just runs occasionally at night.

xwesx

Michaell said:

Speaking of solar panels and such, we had our second power outage in the last 6 weeks tonight.

Considering adding a battery backup system to take the energy from our solar panels and have them in reserve, just in case.

You should! Take a look at EcoFlow; they make very nice systems that are modular (for expandability/replaceability) and can be set up as an automatic cutover backup system.

xwesx

stickguy said:

Just curious, what do y’all consider a lot to pay for utilities? So far we have run between $100-$140 per month for combined gas and electric. Big house, electric dryer and well oven, 2.5 refrigerators. I used to pay a lot more!

Well, I pay about $350/month for around 1,000 kWh in Alaska. My only other real utility is heating fuel, which tends to vary from between $2,400 - $3,000 a year except in outlier years (either above or below that level!). We use a pretty consistent 650 gallons annually.

So, I think your bill sounds pretty darn appealing!

sda

Reminds me of a story I may have shared before. In August 1976, dad bought an old dairy farm in central Virginia, near Farmville. Our area was called Curdsville, really. We had a Farmville mailing address. It was a beautiful farm of about 450 acres. It had been much larger, but through time, parcelled off. The house was an antebellum house built around 1850, and had been added onto in the 1940s. Oil fired heat was added in 1960. No insulation in the crawlspace or walls, old paper type in the attic. The first month it got cold, mom set the heat on around 70. In a month’s time heating the house went through almost 1000 gallons of heating oil. The thermostat was promptly reduced to 60. We wore heavy sweaters, sat under blankets in the living room to watch tv, and had few visitors. In 1979, after dad had sold the farm and we moved to Knoxville, I went back to Farmville to visit friends. During my visit, I stopped by the farm to see how the new owners were doing. When the Mrs answered the door, she recognized me. I asked how the
winter was. She seemed immediately annoyed and asked inside or outside of the house? I changed the subject.

laurasdada

nyccarguy said:

I think it was here where we were comparing our electric rates:

I’m paying $0.09748 for supply and $0.16419 for delivery. That seems overwhelming expensive!

Not from where I'm sitting, I mean, paying...

Quick look at the past few months, we're averaging ~ $250/mo electric for 2200 sq. feet. All electric, except for gas heat. And the PHEV Audi, which I don't consistently charge.
She likes to run the DW (I reuse dishes if not dirty. She disapproves) regularly as well as laundry (I wear the same clothes more than once, as long as clean-ish. She disapproves. Yeah, I'm a catch).

High cost of electricity is one reason that gives me pause on going BEV.

jmonroe1

Michaell said:

Speaking of electricity usage, we are about a week out from having our basement project finished. Painting is done, now the electricians and plumbers will be in to do their finishing work. Carpet to be installed on Monday, and the shower door ($1800!) will be one of the last things to go in.

After that's done, we work with the subcontractor to get the TV wall mounted, and purchase/install the new washer and dryer for the laundry room.

Guess we'll find out what that does to our bill each month.

————————————————-
$1800 for a shower door? Should have had a better slope on the shower pan.

jmonroe

jmonroe1

sda said:

Reminds me of a story I may have shared before. In August 1976, dad bought an old dairy farm in central Virginia, near Farmville. Our area was called Curdsville, really. We had a Farmville mailing address. It was a beautiful farm of about 450 acres. It had been much larger, but through time, parcelled off. The house was an antebellum house built around 1850, and had been added onto in the 1940s. Oil fired heat was added in 1960. No insulation in the crawlspace or walls, old paper type in the attic. The first month it got cold, mom set the heat on around 70. In a month’s time heating the house went through almost 1000 gallons of heating oil. The thermostat was promptly reduced to 60. We wore heavy sweaters, sat under blankets in the living room to watch tv, and had few visitors. In 1979, after dad had sold the farm and we moved to Knoxville, I went back to Farmville to visit friends. During my visit, I stopped by the farm to see how the new owners were doing. When the Mrs answered the door, she recognized me. I asked how the
winter was. She seemed immediately annoyed and asked inside or outside of the house? I changed the subject.

————————————————-
TROUBLEMAKER !!

jmonroe

laurasdada

And, speaking of dishwashers, we are now the proud parents of a bouncing new baby KitchenAid DW! Adios, Covid-GE. Probably a victim of circumstance, as we also had a major issue with our Covid-GE fridge. That was successfully repaired 3 years ago, still good.

The DW was a constant disappointment, never did a great job cleaning and finally, recently wouldn't fill with water. After I did a bit of review, called the guy, who did the same thing I did and, of course, it was working fine. Until it wasn't, not paying to try to repair again.

In the interim, I would begin the cycle, once past initial drain, manually fill with water and off it went to sort of clean the dishes. I enjoyed the challenge, she did not. So, yesterday's lakefront lunch was followed up with a visit to the local appliance store. Easiest sale dude probably ever made.
Yes, dear.

explorerx4

Speaking of shower pans, my wife said a tile came up from the floor while she was showering.
We have been cleaning, regrouting and sealing for the past few days.
I cleaned the grout with a toothbrush, then she cleaned it again with an electric toothbrush(not mine).
At least you can only work on it for about 30 to 45 minutes before you have to dry it out to do the next step.

Michaell

The tile shower pan in the basement is scheduled to be grouted tomorrow, along with the soap holder installation.

Wife found and purchased a new W/D set from a local appliance outlet - Maytag. $1500 for the pair.

oldfarmer50

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

Just curious, what do y’all consider a lot to pay for utilities? So far we have run between $100-$140 per month for combined gas and electric. Big house, electric dryer and well oven, 2.5 refrigerators. I used to pay a lot more!

Your gas service is saving you a lot. My house is all electric and last winter I saw one bill over $500. You were smart to build when you did because gas in new construction is banned in NY after Jan. 1st. Just this minute I saw a news story about how some builders have stopped construction because they can’t install gas service and the electric grid can’t handle new customers.

————————————————
Why no gas? Are you guys at the bottom of the well on that? The plus for electricity is that you can always make more. Just have to suck up the cost but it’s always an option.

jmonroe

NY wants no fossil fuel and doesn’t care how much it costs YOU to achieve that.

explorerx4

NY needs to come up with that $850 million they are contributing to building the Bills a new stadium from somewhere.

jmonroe1

oldfarmer50 said:

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

Just curious, what do y’all consider a lot to pay for utilities? So far we have run between $100-$140 per month for combined gas and electric. Big house, electric dryer and well oven, 2.5 refrigerators. I used to pay a lot more!

Your gas service is saving you a lot. My house is all electric and last winter I saw one bill over $500. You were smart to build when you did because gas in new construction is banned in NY after Jan. 1st. Just this minute I saw a news story about how some builders have stopped construction because they can’t install gas service and the electric grid can’t handle new customers.

————————————————
Why no gas? Are you guys at the bottom of the well on that? The plus for electricity is that you can always make more. Just have to suck up the cost but it’s always an option.

jmonroe

NY wants no fossil fuel and doesn’t care how much it costs YOU to achieve that.

————————————————
So, NY is trying to become the CA of the Northeast.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 said:

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

Just curious, what do y’all consider a lot to pay for utilities? So far we have run between $100-$140 per month for combined gas and electric. Big house, electric dryer and well oven, 2.5 refrigerators. I used to pay a lot more!

Your gas service is saving you a lot. My house is all electric and last winter I saw one bill over $500. You were smart to build when you did because gas in new construction is banned in NY after Jan. 1st. Just this minute I saw a news story about how some builders have stopped construction because they can’t install gas service and the electric grid can’t handle new customers.

————————————————
Why no gas? Are you guys at the bottom of the well on that? The plus for electricity is that you can always make more. Just have to suck up the cost but it’s always an option.

jmonroe

NY wants no fossil fuel and doesn’t care how much it costs YOU to achieve that.

————————————————-
So, NY wants to become the CA of the Northeast.

jmonroe

suydam

jmonroe1 said:

Michaell said:

Speaking of electricity usage, we are about a week out from having our basement project finished. Painting is done, now the electricians and plumbers will be in to do their finishing work. Carpet to be installed on Monday, and the shower door ($1800!) will be one of the last things to go in.

After that's done, we work with the subcontractor to get the TV wall mounted, and purchase/install the new washer and dryer for the laundry room.

Guess we'll find out what that does to our bill each month.

————————————————-
$1800 for a shower door? Should have had a better slope on the shower pan.

jmonroe

I assume it’s the frameless type shower door. They are expensive and I wouldn’t have anything else.

stickguy

They look good. pain when the seals get moldy and need replacing. I actually prefer what we have now, an oversized shower room with an opening. No door required, no glass at all.

snakeweasel

1

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
When people read Mustang the last thing on their mind is a Mach E.

I don't consider a Mach E a Mustang and I refuse to call it such.

Michaell

suydam said:

jmonroe1 said:

Michaell said:

Speaking of electricity usage, we are about a week out from having our basement project finished. Painting is done, now the electricians and plumbers will be in to do their finishing work. Carpet to be installed on Monday, and the shower door ($1800!) will be one of the last things to go in.

After that's done, we work with the subcontractor to get the TV wall mounted, and purchase/install the new washer and dryer for the laundry room.

Guess we'll find out what that does to our bill each month.

————————————————-
$1800 for a shower door? Should have had a better slope on the shower pan.

jmonroe

I assume it’s the frameless type shower door. They are expensive and I wouldn’t have anything else.

Yes, frameless. Black hinges and such, to match the black showerhead - which got installed today.

Vanity, vanity light, plumbing, and toilet were also installed today.

One fix - bedroom light was supposed to be on a dimmer switch, but it wasn't installed. Contacted the PM about it; should be an easy fix.

Michaell

stickguy said:

They look good. pain when the seals get moldy and need replacing. I actually prefer what we have now, an oversized shower room with an opening. No door required, no glass at all.

I like that style ... when I was seriously looking at houses in NM, most of the primary baths had that style of shower.

Michaell

So, regarding the basement, I get an email each month from my mortgage broker informing me the current value of the house (like Zillow, I suppose...)

I reached out to her and asked how the value would change now that we're almost done with the basement.

Here's her response, verbatim:

Typically a basement has about 50% per square foot of value of the main living area.

For example if your home is worth 500,000 and the living area without the basement is 2000 = 250 per square foot

The basement would be 125 per square foot.

I'm pretty sure our house is roughly 1700/sf, and worth about $680K, so $400/sf ( 🤨).

Therefore, the basement space is worth $200/sf. 1100 sf of finished space equals $220K.

That just doesn't seem right to me. No way does the value of my house jump from $680K to $900K with this project.

Would love for any flippers, real estate experts, whatever, to weigh in.

(not that I'm looking to sell, I'm just curious)

kyfdx

@Michaell Regardless of their formula, you can be certain that no renovation/addition is going to add more value than your upfront cost.

ab348

So, you've added about 1100 sq ft if finished space in the basement? That's a whole lot of space. What was it used for previously?

sda

@stickguy said:
They look good. pain when the seals get moldy and need replacing. I actually prefer what we have now, an oversized shower room with an opening. No door required, no glass at all.

Doesn't it get drafty? Brrr!

stickguy

Nope.

corvette

@Michaell I’d unsubscribe from those emails in a heartbeat. I get an annual “real estate review” with comps from my realtor, and that’s all I really need. The calculation from the mortgage broker appears to include the value of the lot in calculating price per square foot, which is incorrect for a calculation where you’re adding finished space—you’re not adding a corresponding amount of land to the lot.

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

sda said:

In NC, 15 over is reckless driving, in a 70 zone, 10 over is considered reckless driving. That doesn't seem to deter many.

Former troopers have told me that 78 in a 65 is the threshold for a ticket.

I had a trooper tell me that on the interstate in lite traffic and good weather 15 over the limit is acceptable but not over that.

Michaell

kyfdx said:

@Michaell Regardless of their formula, you can be certain that no renovation/addition is going to add more value than your upfront cost.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I was thinking.

Michaell

corvette said:

@Michaell I’d unsubscribe from those emails in a heartbeat. I get an annual “real estate review” with comps from my realtor, and that’s all I really need. The calculation from the mortgage broker appears to include the value of the lot in calculating price per square foot, which is incorrect for a calculation where you’re adding finished space—you’re not adding a corresponding amount of land to the lot.

The numbers from my mortgage broker and those from Zillow track pretty closely to each other, though the brokers numbers are always higher (and, that isn't the number I've used in my hypothetical above). I do get a monthly review of our developments sales and listings from a realtor, which show actual transaction values.

Like I said, none of this really matters, as I don't think we're planning on selling any time soon, if ever.

snakeweasel

stickguy said:

It’s been well documented in traffic science that people drive what they feel comfortable and safe with. Which used to be how they set speed limits. Which is why if people are already driving at their comfort limit (say 75-80) they aren’t going to go faster just because the SL was raised from 55 or 65 to 75.

I am not to sure about

oldfarmer50 said:

corvette said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Am I damaging the battery by leaving it plugged in at 100% all night?

Not by a significant amount. The newer Apple devices also have "optimized charging," so if enabled, they will try to predict when you will pick the iPad up again, and aim to be fully charged by then, pausing at 80% until the final stretch.

On the battery lease, could you make it part of the agreement that they install a privacy fence enclosing it? I'd very strongly consider taking the money. $25k per year would probably make the payments on a different place if you didn't want to see it all the time.

I didn’t know that about the IPad. It fairly new purchased in January.

Part of the deal is that they enclose the 100’X65’ area with fencing and even plant trees to screen the view.

If figured the lease payments would be a nice legacy for my kids because I doubt I’ll be here for 25 more years.

In urban and suburban areas they would build a fake building or house around it so it would blend into the area.

snakeweasel

Michaell said:

So, regarding the basement, I get an email each month from my mortgage broker informing me the current value of the house (like Zillow, I suppose...)

I reached out to her and asked how the value would change now that we're almost done with the basement.

Here's her response, verbatim:

Typically a basement has about 50% per square foot of value of the main living area.

For example if your home is worth 500,000 and the living area without the basement is 2000 = 250 per square foot

The basement would be 125 per square foot.

I'm pretty sure our house is roughly 1700/sf, and worth about $680K, so $400/sf ( 🤨).

Therefore, the basement space is worth $200/sf. 1100 sf of finished space equals $220K.

That just doesn't seem right to me. No way does the value of my house jump from $680K to $900K with this project.

Would love for any flippers, real estate experts, whatever, to weigh in.

(not that I'm looking to sell, I'm just curious)

A couple of years ago my sister passed away and I was executor of the will. I am constantly getting emails, snail mail and texts from realtors offering to help sell her home. The issue is she lived with our cousin and her husband who actually own the home.

snakeweasel

@xwesx said:
Aside from emissions, we've certainly come a LONG way since the days of Titanic!

Speaking of the Titanic we went on a cruise in August, I took this picture from the deck.

Ok after multiple failed attemps to post a picture I decedided to give up. I was of a small iceburg alongside our ship.

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

1

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
When people read Mustang the last thing on their mind is a Mach E.

I don't consider a Mach E a Mustang and I refuse to call it such.

Ditto.

I’m still fuming that they call a four door sedan a Charger.

laurasdada

I received a "Welcome, thanks for signing up. Here's a 10% discount on your first order!" email yesterday from a health/supplement site I've not heard of. The salutation didn't welcome me; it addressed my LATE ex-wife.
Halloween approaches, something wicked this way comes?

corvette

I was executor of my great aunt's estate in 2018 and had her mail forwarded to my house. I still get junk mail that was sent to her.

jmonroe1

Michaell said:

So, regarding the basement, I get an email each month from my mortgage broker informing me the current value of the house (like Zillow, I suppose...)

I reached out to her and asked how the value would change now that we're almost done with the basement.

Here's her response, verbatim:

Typically a basement has about 50% per square foot of value of the main living area.

For example if your home is worth 500,000 and the living area without the basement is 2000 = 250 per square foot

The basement would be 125 per square foot.

I'm pretty sure our house is roughly 1700/sf, and worth about $680K, so $400/sf ( 🤨).

Therefore, the basement space is worth $200/sf. 1100 sf of finished space equals $220K.

That just doesn't seem right to me. No way does the value of my house jump from $680K to $900K with this project.

Would love for any flippers, real estate experts, whatever, to weigh in.

(not that I'm looking to sell, I'm just curious)

————————————————
If 50% per sq. ft. is the way a finished basement is valued in your area then that’s what it is. However, in my area it’s not even close to being that much.

For example, our flips have been your typical starter homes in decent neighborhoods. 3 bedroom ranch houses with around 1200 sq. ft. with no finished basement. We always add a finished basement that adds around 350 sq. ft. (drywall throughout, no dropped ceiling) with a full tiled bath (4 ft. shower pan but no tub). Whatever our cost is we at least double that when we sell. Our costs have typically been around $8 to 9 K. So we bump that up to at least $20K. Trying to sell a smaller house around here without a finished basement is almost like trying to commit suicide.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

laurasdada said:

I received a "Welcome, thanks for signing up. Here's a 10% discount on your first order!" email yesterday from a health/supplement site I've not heard of. The salutation didn't welcome me; it addressed my LATE ex-wife.
Halloween approaches, something wicked this way comes?

I still receive solicitation for my father who died in 2001. I actually answered one indicating that he had been gone for 20+ years and they just send more.

kyfdx

Mother died in 2010, my uncle in 2022. Once you have the mail forwarded to you, it's forever

roadburner

@stickguy I don't want to resurrect a speed limit discussion, but you are correct; the 85th percentile rule has been used to set appropriate speed limits for decades. The only groups that don't like it are organizations like Vision Zero and similar, who have the tacit goal of making driving so inconvenient that the masses will abandon personal automobiles.
A pox on them.

snakeweasel

I

roadburner said:

@stickguy I don't want to resurrect a speed limit discussion, but you are correct; the 85th percentile rule has been used to set appropriate speed limits for decades. The only groups that don't like it are organizations like Vision Zero and similar, who have the tacit goal of making driving so inconvenient that the masses will abandon personal automobiles.
A pox on them.

Several years ago UCLA did a study on the 85th percentile rule and found that it only really works on limited types of roads, mainly two lane real roads, and it can result in unsafe speeds on some roads. It concluded that it should not be blindly followed and other metrics would be better.

andres3

roadburner said:

@stickguy I don't want to resurrect a speed limit discussion, but you are correct; the 85th percentile rule has been used to set appropriate speed limits for decades. The only groups that don't like it are organizations like Vision Zero and similar, who have the tacit goal of making driving so inconvenient that the masses will abandon personal automobiles.
A pox on them.

The data deniers. Flat Earth crowd. anti-va... Global...... never mind.

andres3

jmonroe1 said:

Michaell said:

Speaking of electricity usage, we are about a week out from having our basement project finished. Painting is done, now the electricians and plumbers will be in to do their finishing work. Carpet to be installed on Monday, and the shower door ($1800!) will be one of the last things to go in.

After that's done, we work with the subcontractor to get the TV wall mounted, and purchase/install the new washer and dryer for the laundry room.

Guess we'll find out what that does to our bill each month.

————————————————-
$1800 for a shower door? Should have had a better slope on the shower pan.

jmonroe

Better be that Starphire Low Iron glass that's super extra clear.

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

@stickguy I don't want to resurrect a speed limit discussion, but you are correct; the 85th percentile rule has been used to set appropriate speed limits for decades. The only groups that don't like it are organizations like Vision Zero and similar, who have the tacit goal of making driving so inconvenient that the masses will abandon personal automobiles.
A pox on them.

That group’s name should be reversed.

stickguy

added value for renovations depends a lot on what you do, and how it counts.

finishing a play room in the basements with basic drywall, etc. may not. But if you added a bedroom and full bath, and it can be counted, that is a big value add. The other wrinkle is how crazy you went. I am sure what Michael and his wife did was far from basic, but not over the top. So you might be able to add a couple of rooms and a bath for say 30K. Or do it a lot nicer (frameless door, etc.) for 45K. Or full on custom for 60K (all numbers WAGGED for display purposes). And end up with the exact same usable space, with much different ROIs.

Michaell

Oh, my dear @stickguy , if only your numbers were true to life.

In theory, we chose the “express” approach which was supposed to limit the cost, but I’m scared to ask how much we would have spent had we gone with the regular option.

Everything matches upstairs as best we could, so it’s pretty well finished. Fairly high end finishes in the bathroom, which my daughter fronted out of pocket.

I’ll get another video early next week (or, at the least, some still photos) and post them here. Won’t be 100% done but pretty close.

stickguy

having a nice living space like that makes a big difference. Most importantly, will make your families quality of life better, which is really the point of having a house! And you live in a pricey enough area that people will pay a premium for what you are doing. Will never know for sure how much of a return you get, but having shopped recently, it will really be a hot item for buyers.

ab348

I visited a friend’s new home here today for the first time after he and his wife relocated from a new build place he bought about 15 years ago in a new development just on the edge of town, which in truth I never liked very much but which was big money even then. It was a strange development with some large McMansions on large lots originally, then somewhat smaller houses like his (though still generous square footage) on small lots, topped off by a number of 12-storey apartment blocks along the main road but which felt like they were in the backyards of some of the houses. His house didn’t strike me as well built and the finishes didn’t impress me much. But I gather he made out OK when he sold it a couple of years ago given the crazed market here at that time.

I don’t quite know the specifics, but his schoolteacher daughter and her golf pro husband, both nice people, bought a big 20+ y-o house on a double lot c/w a small swimming pool in the back yard. How they swung that I don’t quite know but he said something about a “living inheritance “ which I take to mean he gave them a big chunk of money. In return they turned over the basement of their house to him and his wife for them to use as their retirement residence. He did all the work himself with just a bit of outside help. It’s nicely done (he does good work) with lots of modern finishes like a vast array of quartzite counters with waterfall edges everywhere which must have cost a bundle, though all the cabinetry and storage is IKEA, though it looks nice enough. But it still looks like a basement given that the windows are on the small side and there isn’t a lot of natural light. I don’t know what the arrangements are between he and his wife vs his daughter and her husband, such as whether all their names are on the deed. I wasn’t so thrilled with it.

driver100

We have had the Florida home for 13 years now.
I get more mail for the previous owner than I do for myself. Apparently he was in prison so I sent all letters back to sender. They continued to show up, a Cadillac dealer, several charities, lots of advertising flyers.

stickguy

Given that lately I feel like I’m aging in dog years near spring when my daughter is here looking at houses ?Nd soon our son to get a bigger place) I’ll push them towards one with an in law apartment. Just in case.