# Home Owning Truth #165 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104 "2015-09-05T23:11:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/21 "2015-09-06T22:44:30Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > (Clueless non-home-owner here. Fight my ignorance!) > > SO WHAT IS HOME OWNER TRUTH NUMBER ONE ALREADY? As someone who bought their first place this summer, I suggest: Even as you acknowledge how awesome it is to own, it is sometimes(often) scary as hell to be responsible for it, but the awesome outweighs the scary for most people. ---
**Author:** ![BaldDudePeekskill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@BaldDudePeekskill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaldDudePeekskill)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/22 "2015-09-06T22:54:48Z")
It costs twice as much and five times as long to\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_fill in the blank with whatever project you’re working on. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/23 "2015-09-06T23:23:13Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > #86 > > If you tear down hideous wallpaper, there WILL be, beneath it, something else so hideous that only wallpaper could fully conceal the horror! It will always be beneath the very last piece you remove. Like [this](http://s72.photobucket.com/user/fairychatmom/media/Remodel/PB010001_zpsjxogoi57.jpg.html?sort=6&o=94)? Oh, and it wasn’t exactly wallpaper - it was contact paper. In the [kitchen](http://s72.photobucket.com/user/fairychatmom/media/Remodel/removingmoremushrooms.jpg.html?sort=6&o=15), the contact paper was over the painted wall, all above the Z-brick. Yeah, we had a lot of work to do when we bought this place. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/24 "2015-09-06T23:26:20Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Like [this](http://s72.photobucket.com/user/fairychatmom/media/Remodel/PB010001_zpsjxogoi57.jpg.html?sort=6&o=94)? Oh, and it wasn’t exactly wallpaper - it was contact paper. > > In the [kitchen](http://s72.photobucket.com/user/fairychatmom/media/Remodel/removingmoremushrooms.jpg.html?sort=6&o=15), the contact paper was over the painted wall, all above the Z-brick. Yeah, we had a lot of work to do when we bought this place. In my late in-laws house, even the ceilings were wallpapered. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/25 "2015-09-07T05:40:32Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Like [this](http://s72.photobucket.com/user/fairychatmom/media/Remodel/PB010001_zpsjxogoi57.jpg.html?sort=6&o=94)? Oh, and it wasn’t exactly wallpaper - it was contact paper. I actually gasped out loud at your link. Believe it or not, what was up in my kitchen was just as bad, if not worse: bright yellow and orange flower-power patterned Contac paper. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/26 "2015-09-07T10:13:03Z")
While looking at the home for the first time, you will notice a problem or item that needs a simple fix. You will tell your spouse: “No biggie, we’ll fix that as soon as we move in.” 25 five years later, that simple fix will still need done. I don’t know what number this is, but it’s probably in the top ten. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/27 "2015-09-07T10:15:42Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > While looking at the home for the first time, you will notice a problem or item that needs a simple fix. You will tell your spouse: “No biggie, we’ll fix that as soon as we move in.” > > 25 five years later, that simple fix will still need done. But it will be fixed right about the time you decide to put the house on the market. At least it will if you’re my father-in-law! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Moonshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Moonshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonshine)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/28 "2015-09-07T10:54:17Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > #86 > > #86(b) > > When you pull up the broadloom, to check the hardwood beneath, before putting in your offer to buy, when you see it is pristine and lovely, you need to remember they laid that carpet to cover something up. Something bad! QFT. I kid you not, when I checked under the carpets before buying my current house it showed lovely, 1930’s oak floorboards, I practically fell to my knees in delight. Fast forward to us taking the carpets up, to find out the previous owner had actually found the oak boards old fashioned and had cut them out, leaving a 50cm “ledge” of oak boards all around the room, and filling in the center with chip board. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/29 "2015-09-07T11:46:10Z")
> [@Moonshine](#): > > QFT. I kid you not, when I checked under the carpets before buying my current house it showed lovely, 1930’s oak floorboards, I practically fell to my knees in delight. > > Fast forward to us taking the carpets up, to find out the previous owner had actually found the oak boards old fashioned and had cut them out, leaving a 50cm “ledge” of oak boards all around the room, and filling in the center with chip board. > > :smack: WTH? I think I would have passed out had I found that. What would possess someone to do that? Now, I feel lucky that all I found was years worth of pet stains. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/30 "2015-09-07T13:46:19Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > **Rule #42** - When you require a particular sized bolt, screw or nail for a project, never buy that small packet of a dozen to complete the project. Instead, you always, always, _ **always** _, buy the 100-piece or 200-piece box of the item. You will find the next project you work on will always, always, _ **always** _, require that specific bolt, screw or nail you now have a caselot. Thus proving the universality of Rule #42. Doesn’t matter - the next job will invariably require a different specification OR you will not be able to find the box you just bought. until you move. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/31 "2015-09-07T16:08:32Z")
Since this is my thread, I would like to open the floor to petty home-owners bitches. Dammit, I wish google would bring their cameras down my street again again. The front of my house is on a short connector between two streets that you can’t help but take to get to a lot of places near here. As a result my street view is on a different schedule then all but about 5 house on the little stretch. And I guess it just happened to be taken during one of the few dry periods in Michigan. Plus the old lady who owned it was getting to the point where it was hard to take care of. So it is droughty and overgrown looking at the same time. I’m not saying it’s currently a beautification award candidate, but I have done a hell of a lot of work and gotten it looking much better, admittedly the normal greenness helps greatly. But the world’s “image of record” on Google’s street view remains looking shitty. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/32 "2015-09-07T17:06:58Z")
> [@Red\_Stilettos](#): > > WTH? I think I would have passed out had I found that. What would possess someone to do that? Now, I feel lucky that all I found was years worth of pet stains. I think that was a common thing to do if you were going to put down an area rug. The parents of my friend from high school did something like that when they redecorated her room. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/33 "2015-09-07T19:19:20Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I’m sorry - are you suggesting that you are able to complete a project without going to the hardware store even once, let alone TWICE?!? After 15 years of saving everything in my workbench and closets and drawers and screw and nail jars, I was indeed able to repair the clothes rod in my wife’s closet without going to the hardware store once. I have my tools and my father’s tools and some of my father-in-law’s tools. And lots of scrap wood. I don’t even want to think about what I’m going to do with all this stuff when we move. I hope both son-in-laws have houses and are close. They can inherit it. There is plenty for both. My homeowners rule - have the phone number of your handyman and trusted appliance repair people in a more prominent place than that of the fire department. You’ll need them far more often. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/34 "2015-09-07T19:23:09Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > In my late in-laws house, even the ceilings were wallpapered. :smack: My ceilings are wallpapered. Textured wallpaper to look like tin tiles. I dread the day it has to be replaced. I figure I’d better start saving now. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/35 "2015-09-07T20:34:57Z")
I’d rather have wallpaper on the ceiling than popcorn. Oh, how I hated that crap, but it seemed to be in every single house in Florida. HATED IT!!! As for getting rid of miscellaneous nuts and bolts, I had a bucket full that I just gave away at a yard sale. We didn’t want to spend the time sorting and some guy was thrilled to get it. In fact, we gave away a lot of stuff that the previous owners of this house left behind for us, including a broken concrete deer. I advertised it as broken - someone came and carted it away! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/36 "2015-09-07T21:07:30Z")
**Know how to shut the water to the house off immediately before moving in.** > [@Munch](#): > > I’m sorry - are you suggesting that you are able to complete a project without going to the hardware store even once, let alone TWICE?!? I am, Damn Straight! I am a border-line hoarder of home repair stuff. I live too far away from anything and stuff always breaks at 11:59pm July 3rd, anyway. At least the swamp cooler does. The furnace or water heater breaks the same time on Christmas Eve. And if I don’t have the part, I’ll fix it or make a new one. My friends call me, “Evil McGyver”. 😃 _Just kidding. I have no friends._ ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/37 "2015-09-07T23:19:15Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I’d rather have wallpaper on the ceiling than popcorn. Oh, how I hated that crap, but it seemed to be in every single house in Florida. HATED IT!!! > > As for getting rid of miscellaneous nuts and bolts, I had a bucket full that I just gave away at a yard sale. We didn’t want to spend the time sorting and some guy was thrilled to get it. In fact, we gave away a lot of stuff that the previous owners of this house left behind for us, including a broken concrete deer. I advertised it as broken - someone came and carted it away! Someone I know pop-corned their ceiling, afterwards I referred to their house as the cave. It looked like stalactites hanging from the ceiling. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/38 "2015-09-08T00:34:50Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > I think that was a common thing to do if you were going to put down an area rug. > > The parents of my friend from high school did something like that when they redecorated her room. Why would putting down a rug require you to cut out the middle of the wood floor? Just put the rug over the hardwood. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/39 "2015-09-08T00:45:06Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > For the first 4 years of owning a house 95% of all the projects you work on involve creating storage for all of the crap you own for working on projects. My rule is: 95% of the work you do on your house will be in the first four years. Then the next X years will be “I really should get around to finishing that some day.” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104/40 "2015-09-08T03:57:22Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > My rule is: 95% of the work you do on your house will be in the first four years. Then the next X years will be “I really should get around to finishing that some day.” That was our first house. Just before we sold it we repainted, got new carpet, got rid of lots of the clutter - and wished we had done that years earlier, to get the benefit of it. It inspired us to redo this house a few years ago so we could get to enjoy it, and we have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-owning-truth-165/730104.md?page=3)