Comments (scroll down to add your own):

1. Starting a renovation project in October just seems unnatural…I’ve spent too much time in the north, I guess.

   Comment by Blaine Moore — Oct 1st 2007 @ 9:19 am

2. Yeah, October is actually our driest month of the year, and the heat has now broken, making it more comfortable for outdoor work. Around here it’s the perfect time of year. We should have the now roof on, etc. well in advance of the late fall/winter rains.

   Comment by nickel — Oct 1st 2007 @ 9:53 am

3. What is your working estimate of how much it will all cost?

   Comment by ntguru — Oct 1st 2007 @ 10:30 am

4. Good luck Nickel – I am sure this process will be a bit stressful for you and your family but once it is done it will all be worth it. I like the sound of your “shed” – sounds more like a retreat than a shed.

   The Dividend Guy

   Comment by The Dividend Guy — Oct 1st 2007 @ 11:12 am

5. Around $50k, although there is a good bit of side work included in this. This includes removal of the old deck/patio, the addition, the outbuilding (with electrical service/lighting), the new deck (nearly twice as large as the old deck), conversion of the boys closet to a pantry accessible from the dinette (and closed off on their side), and conversion of the old laundry room to a powder room (including all fixtures, cabinetry, finish work, etc). The new dinette will also have a large walkout bay window as well as a built-in desk (recessed along the wall) on one side.

   Flooring will be hardwood to match the remainder of the house except in the laundry, which will have linoleum. The laundry room will have a good bit of cabinetry (and a closet) as well as Corian countertops to match the kitchen (and of course all new plumbing). All trim work (crown molding, etc) will be done to match the rest of the house. The kitchen will be repainted to tie it in with the addition, the powder room will get hardwood floors (mostly new plumbing here, as well). The boys’ bedroom will get re-painted and re-carpeted to tie it in with the addition (primarily the new closet in this case).

   We’re also having a utility sink put into the garage.

   Finally, we’re having the entire exterior (and the new outbuilding) painted (or re-painted, as the case may be) to minimize the “added on” look.

   Comment by nickel — Oct 1st 2007 @ 11:21 am

6. How is this going to be paid for? Sounds like you’re incurring new debt, which is no good.

   Comment by Tyler — Oct 1st 2007 @ 2:57 pm

7. Tyler: Why does it sound like new debt? We’re actually paying cash. Even if we weren’t, incurring debt to improve an asset isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

   Comment by nickel — Oct 1st 2007 @ 4:09 pm

8. Because nickel pretty much everyone assumes that everyone else is in debt. And that no one can afford anything. Hence Tyler probably thinks anyone who buys anything is going into debt.

   Comment by livingalmostlarge — Oct 1st 2007 @ 8:05 pm

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