repairs – Kristina Watkins, Summit Sotheby's International Realty

The latest in my “Adventures of Old Home Ownership” series about my own experience owning an older home; a one-owner, 1955-built home in Sugarhouse (a hip suburb of Salt Lake City). Even an experienced agent like myself will run into unforeseen circumstances when it comes to these character-filled houses. The key is to take it all with a grain of salt, keep your sense of humor, and start buying beer by the case.

As a product of suburbia, there are many things I take for granted. Like a car. A parking space. On-site private laundry. When we bought this little charmer, I have to admit I thought we’d be just a warshing away in our own washer and dryer as I have done literally my entire life.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAKILLME

For reasons having everything to do with having an old house full of ~~surprises~~ character (and ones that make for another post), we were not able to hook up our washer and dryer for four months. So I got to experience for the first time, in the sorry age of my 30s, just what the laundromat is all about.

1. Proximity. Choose a laundromat that is close-by. You want to keep the mileage on your underpants to a minimum (SORRYNOTSORRY). I chose Highland Coin Laundry.

Continue reading “O Washer, My Washer: Top Tips for Laundromatting”

Let’s talk plumbing.

If a home was built in the 1950s, it will almost always have galvanized steel pipes, the wonder product of the time. Just like the giant rolling boulder booby trap was replaced with the floor and ceiling spikes, these products have been replaced by new and improved technology.

No matter what, have a plumber inspect all of the pipes and write a bid to replace them as part of your due diligence process when buying a house. Even if the seller tells you it was all replaced, whether you have orange water or not, bad pressure or not, PAY FOR A PLUMBING INSPECTION.

Continue reading “Galvanized Pipe and the Temple of Doom”