Octopus Overlords

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 2:58 pm**

The "newest" furniture I have in my house is ten years olde. The oldest is around 23.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:30 pm**

Some of our furniture was handed down from our parents, and some came from an antiques shop. My writing desk was something my dad's company gave him before I was born. We have a few newer things, but most of it is older than we are.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:32 pm**

I have a set of dressers that were my mother's when she was a kid. Best guess is that they were built in the late 1930s or early 1940s. Complete wood construction. Totally worthless.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:39 pm**

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:30 pm Some of our furniture was handed down from our parents, and some came from an antiques shop. My writing desk was something my dad's company gave him before I was born. We have a few newer things, but most of it is older than we are.

I just put together an Ikea desk for my wife last night. Last week we threw away a loveseat that we bought in 2012 when she came here; it was banished to the basement and the cats shredded it. The couch that was part of the set is in my son's bedroom (too big to get into the basement) and will likely have to go soon because it takes up so much space.

Old things are simply not found in our house.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:40 pm**

Jeff V wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:39 pm Old things are simply not found in our house.

Not true! You live there!

I'll show myself out.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 5:39 pm**

Actually I have a bird's eye maple dresser that's older than me. My parents got it second hand when I was a baby and it had been painted over. They refurbished it and it is simply beautiful. It may be worth thousands of dollars.
Or maybe $5.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 5:43 pm**

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 12:54 pm When we moved into this house, we hired movers, and still took over a week to get out of the old apartment and into the house.

Amateur.

We hired movers for the big stuff and it still took 76 days to move from our apartment to our house. It was easier to keep writing rent checks than to get off my ass and move little shit.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:16 pm**

Z-Corn wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 5:43 pm
Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 12:54 pm When we moved into this house, we hired movers, and still took over a week to get out of the old apartment and into the house.
Amateur.

We hired movers for the big stuff and it still took 76 days to move from our apartment to our house. It was easier to keep writing rent checks than to get off my ass and move little shit.

I took two months to move in to my house. They started my mortgage a month earlier than I thought they would and I had two months left on my apartment rental. Every day after work I'd grab "a carload" and then go clean a tiny something in the apartment. Until it was literally nothing but stuff too big to move in an Escort. When there was nothing left I rented a tiny moving truck for the weekend, I loaded it all by myself, exhausted myself. Remus and redrun came over and unloaded and then we played Titan all the rest of the day. 15 years later I still haven't unpacked. It was a roll away bed, two dressers, a table, a recliner, a couch, and some kitchen chairs on moving day. That was it. All technically movable by one person, but one person moving it sucked the oomph out of even my younger self. The two of them unloaded everything in like thirty minutes.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:43 pm**

Oh, I'm hiring movers - no doubt. The problem (in part) is that apparently it's all the rage in 2019 to have your house as empty as possible when you're showing it to sell. When we did this last in 2007, it was all the rage to have it set up with furniture, staged like a magazine spread. Now? It should be as barren as possible. How we're supposed to accomplish that before moving in to our new place, I don't know. We've been de-cluttering and boxing up shit for the last month and I've had just about enough. What kills me is that we're not moving for another two months, but we need to get our current house on the market ASAP as this is bonkers crazy real estate time (as school is ending and families are looking to move before next school year starts). As we want to sucker some family into buying this house, it's in our best interest to be on the market like right now. I need to reiterate - never move.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 7:10 pm**

When I moved out of my college apartment (seven years late), I got a storage unit for one month. Everything that was packed and ready to go went to the unit. It cleared up space, and getting everything out once the apt was packed was super quick.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:29 pm**

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:43 pm Oh, I'm hiring movers - no doubt. The problem (in part) is that apparently it's all the rage in 2019 to have your house as empty as possible when you're showing it to sell. When we did this last in 2007, it was all the rage to have it set up with furniture, staged like a magazine spread. Now? It should be as barren as possible. How we're supposed to accomplish that before moving in to our new place, I don't know. We've been de-cluttering and boxing up shit for the last month and I've had just about enough. What kills me is that we're not moving for another two months, but we need to get our current house on the market ASAP as this is bonkers crazy real estate time (as school is ending and families are looking to move before next school year starts). As we want to sucker some family into buying this house, it's in our best interest to be on the market like right now. I need to reiterate - never move.

What?

My sister stages houses in NJ. Not empty.

But ignore me. Stay on focus.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:07 pm**

We just sold a house, and our realtor explained that you want to "stage" it with just enough furniture to suggest what a room is for. An empty room looks smaller than it is, but a fully lived-in uncleared room looks cluttered.

Quality realtors have their own furniture that they bring in to stage the place after you've moved your stuff out.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:51 pm**

We looked at about 40-50 houses over the last 4 months and the overwhelming majority of them were nearly empty or completely empty when we saw them. A few times the photos online had them decorated magazine layout style and when we arrived the house was completely empty. Apparently they stage them with photoshop to get you interested but then when you show up and they're empty you can easily imagine your furniture there instead.

All of our pictures are down; all decorations gone. It's bare essential furniture now and it's depressing as hell. I have my basement cave area that I've been resisting, but I do need to pack up my board gaming collection sooner than later and sterilize my one area of refuge.

I wish I could stash the stuff somewhere temporarily but the idea of moving stuff 2+ times is already making me tired. I've been advised to simply fill the basement and leave the upper floors nearly empty. It's going to be great.

Posted: **Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:30 am**

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 12:28 pm I'd take the estate guy's offer or hire movers cheaper. Or get in tough with your inner Hatchetman, reduce it to kindling, and have the Trashmen take it for you.

From personal experience I can say that is rewarding in its own right. We needed to get rid of a big old armchair so I handed my son an axe and a sledgehammer and told him to make it fit in the trash can. Worked beautifully.

Posted: **Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:01 pm**

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:51 pm We looked at about 40-50 houses over the last 4 months and the overwhelming majority of them were nearly empty or completely empty when we saw them. A few times the photos online had them decorated magazine layout style and when we arrived the house was completely empty. Apparently they stage them with photoshop to get you interested but then when you show up and they're empty you can easily imagine your furniture there instead.

All of our pictures are down; all decorations gone. It's bare essential furniture now and it's depressing as hell. I have my basement cave area that I've been resisting, but I do need to pack up my board gaming collection sooner than later and sterilize my one area of refuge.

I wish I could stash the stuff somewhere temporarily but the idea of moving stuff 2+ times is already making me tired. I've been advised to simply fill the basement and leave the upper floors nearly empty. It's going to be great.

Yeah, there definitely are people who stage via Photoshop.

We looked at about two dozen houses, and I'd say less than half were empty. Most had some level of staging going on (although a few were still lived-in, to).

Posted: **Fri Apr 26, 2019 2:00 pm**

Wow - it's the 20 year anniversary of the Microsoft laser mouse. I remember getting this and finally being free of the linty ball. Just seeing that photo took me right back to purchasing it.

Posted: **Fri Apr 26, 2019 2:57 pm**

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2019 2:00 pm Wow - it's the 20 year anniversary of the Microsoft laser mouse. I remember getting this and finally being free of the linty ball. Just seeing that photo took me right back to purchasing it.

Yup big tech leap. My wife got me a IntelliMouse Explorer . Loved it. Little lighted tail and all.

Posted: **Fri Apr 26, 2019 4:18 pm**

I went out back today with my splitting maul to split this big tree trunk. The tree trunk said "No you're not." and so it's become part of the scenery in my back yard.
<sigh>

Posted: **Fri Apr 26, 2019 4:37 pm**

I should take a picture of Mt. Log for you. Trent has been itching to come over and split it.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 10:00 am**

I'll be seeing Avengers on Tuesday. I'm avoiding social media in the meantime. My kids (15, 17) aren't so lucky.

Neither of them uses social media. And yet they're completely pissed that the big points of the film have already been ruined. It seems that kids they go to school with like to randomly shout out spoilers during class, just to be dicks. When they got home, my youngest was playing Minecraft on a friends-only server/Discord. One just-invited dick he goes to school with decided to start shouting out spoilers in there. He was banned, but between the two, my kids know everything.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:03 am**

So your kids told each other spoilers?

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:23 am**

No... a handful of dipshits told them both spoilers.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:39 am**

gbasden wrote:
Smoove_B wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2019 12:37 pm
Also, never move. Never.
Move vs. stuck in the house you've been lamenting for a decade? Seems like an easy choice, actually.

To be fair, Smoove will lament *any* house that he has to own. That’s a fixed cost.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:44 am**

Also, staging houses. Good Lord. Why are people this stupid? Clean the house so it’s not a goddamn mess? Sure, that’s sensible. Swap out all the furniture and decorations? Go F yourself.

How were people able to buy and sell homes for 100+ years without this stupidity?

This is why my house will be my coffin.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:21 pm**

Once upon a time advertising was "buy our product, it's good".

The psychology of selling has evolved.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:30 pm**

RunningMn9 wrote:This is why my house will be my coffin.

I’m going to go with pyre instead.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 2:16 pm**

My wife and I are getting cremated, or as I like to call it, burned at the stake.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:00 pm**

RunningMn9 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:44 am Also, staging houses. Good Lord. Why are people this stupid? Clean the house so it’s not a goddamn mess? Sure, that’s sensible. Swap out all the furniture and decorations? Go F yourself.

I'm probably using incorrect terminology. Staging (for us) is to mostly empty the house and leave a spartan level of furniture and minimal (if any) decorations. At no point is someone bringing furniture or potpourri into my house in an effort to spiff it up. The stress is that in order to make it look nearly empty, I need to put everything in boxes (~100 or so) into the basement. That is a suck.

RunningMn9 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:39 amTo be fair, Smoove will lament *any* house that he has to own. That’s a fixed cost.

Lamentations here should be minimal. But yeah, home ownership in general is still BS.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:28 pm**

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:00 pm
Lamentations here should be minimal. But yeah, home ownership in general is still BS.

i'm still a renter. does that mean i have it made? if so, why are there far more people 'of a certain age' on this board already owning, or clamoring to own, than not?

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 4:22 pm**

High School Production Of 'Alien' Grows Stronger With Help From Director Ridley Scott

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 5:56 pm**

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:28 pm
Smoove_B wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:00 pm
Lamentations here should be minimal. But yeah, home ownership in general is still BS.
i'm still a renter. does that mean i have it made? if so, why are there far more people 'of a certain age' on this board already owning, or clamoring to own, than not?

Ownership comes with the acquisition of value. Every dollar I pay that goes to principal is money that I can attempt to extract later. The PMI, Insurance, and taxes are lost, but that's generally less than half of the payment. And if the price goes up (sorry, LM) it's effectively an investment vehicle.

Money spent on rent has no potential of long-term benefit.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 6:00 pm**

Also, land owners get to vote.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 6:18 pm**

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:28 pm
Smoove_B wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:00 pm
Lamentations here should be minimal. But yeah, home ownership in general is still BS.
i'm still a renter. does that mean i have it made? if so, why are there far more people 'of a certain age' on this board already owning, or clamoring to own, than not?

I currently own two condos so I am pretty sure I either have it made or I am pretty stupid.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 6:22 pm**

Smoove_B wrote:
RunningMn9 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:44 am Also, staging houses. Good Lord. Why are people this stupid? Clean the house so it’s not a goddamn mess? Sure, that’s sensible. Swap out all the furniture and decorations? Go F yourself.
I'm probably using incorrect terminology. Staging (for us) is to mostly empty the house and leave a spartan level of furniture and minimal (if any) decorations. At no point is someone bringing furniture or potpourri into my house in an effort to spiff it up. The stress is that in order to make it look nearly empty, I need to put everything in boxes (~100 or so) into the basement. That is a suck.

RunningMn9 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:39 amTo be fair, Smoove will lament *any* house that he has to own. That’s a fixed cost.
Lamentations here should be minimal. But yeah, home ownership in general is still BS.

Yeah one hasn't truly lived until you have had your roof and HVAC system replaced within a few months of each other.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 6:27 pm**

Roof coming up here.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 7:23 pm**

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 5:56 pm Ownership comes with the acquisition of value. Every dollar I pay that goes to principal is money that I can attempt to extract later. The PMI, Insurance, and taxes are lost, but that's generally less than half of the payment. And if the price goes up (sorry, LM) it's effectively an investment vehicle.

While others criticize me for not moving, I am at peace and no property value means no property taxes in my state. I own my home I pay around @2000 a year in property taxes. I'm desperately trying to parlay that lack of cost in to a retirement plan.

We'll see.

I replace my furnace a few years ago. For something like $1600 they did the furnace, chimney liner, AC pan and AC coil. I got a tax write off. The electric to run the new motor and fan is way cheaper, though it save no gas at all. But my house seems to heat a lot better than it did. It was a great purchase.

I need a need a new roof. I'm stalling on that one. Not sure for how long.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 7:26 pm**

$iljanus wrote:
Smoove_B wrote:
RunningMn9 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:44 am Also, staging houses. Good Lord. Why are people this stupid? Clean the house so it’s not a goddamn mess? Sure, that’s sensible. Swap out all the furniture and decorations? Go F yourself.
I'm probably using incorrect terminology. Staging (for us) is to mostly empty the house and leave a spartan level of furniture and minimal (if any) decorations. At no point is someone bringing furniture or potpourri into my house in an effort to spiff it up. The stress is that in order to make it look nearly empty, I need to put everything in boxes (~100 or so) into the basement. That is a suck.

RunningMn9 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 11:39 amTo be fair, Smoove will lament *any* house that he has to own. That’s a fixed cost.
Lamentations here should be minimal. But yeah, home ownership in general is still BS.
Yeah one hasn't truly lived until you have had your roof and HVAC system replaced within a few months of each other.

Four years. Two roof replacements, one new AC, and a new furnace. Oh, and the master shower leaks into my closet.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:23 pm**

Saw where Phil McCormack died. Thats a lot of Molly Hatchet bands members to die over the years. Reminds me of Alice in Chains and The Ramones.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:28 pm**

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 5:56 pm
hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:28 pm
Smoove_B wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:00 pm
Lamentations here should be minimal. But yeah, home ownership in general is still BS.
i'm still a renter. does that mean i have it made? if so, why are there far more people 'of a certain age' on this board already owning, or clamoring to own, than not?
Ownership comes with the acquisition of value. Every dollar I pay that goes to principal is money that I can attempt to extract later. The PMI, Insurance, and taxes are lost, but that's generally less than half of the payment. And if the price goes up (sorry, LM) it's effectively an investment vehicle.

Money spent on rent has no potential of long-term benefit.

Mrs and I went to Brooklyn to meet the realtor who will be selling the in-laws' house. (The in-laws moved here to Philly to live with us in a new place earlier this year.)

The house is in Brooklyn (though South Midwood rather than, say, Park Slope) and has three bedrooms, a driveway and garage, full basement, etc. The bones are solid, the water heater and etc are newish, and there is nothing to repair beyond a leaky radiator. The carpets will need to come up, but the wood underneath is likely very nice. It's right next to the campus of Brooklyn College and would be perfect for a faculty member's family.

The in-laws bought the house in 1968 for about $25,000. Realtor says we'll price it at just a little below $1,000,000.

Posted: **Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:38 pm**

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 5:56 pm
hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:28 pm
Smoove_B wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:00 pm
Lamentations here should be minimal. But yeah, home ownership in general is still BS.
i'm still a renter. does that mean i have it made? if so, why are there far more people 'of a certain age' on this board already owning, or clamoring to own, than not?
Ownership comes with the acquisition of value. Every dollar I pay that goes to principal is money that I can attempt to extract later. The PMI, Insurance, and taxes are lost, but that's generally less than half of the payment. And if the price goes up (sorry, LM) it's effectively an investment vehicle.

Money spent on rent has no potential of long-term benefit.

soooo some homeowners should stop moaning and complaining, you say...

Octopus Overlords

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