If you own a TV set that goes past channel 13, you know that home renovation shows are all the rage. They make for good TV because most people live in houses and can understand whatever the homeowner is going through – good or bad. The downside of these shows is that they encourage people to do their own renos. Bad, bad idea.
Some people have the required skills. I tend to come across people who don’t. In my current home, I have undone work such as walls that didn’t actually meet in the corner and the use of a 50 year old extension cord running from an outlet, under the floor and then popping up on the other side of the room as a power source.
You can avoid this with a careful inspection. While in house hunting mode, we saw an ad for a place in a great location and a surprisingly low price. The ad trumpeted that it had been renovated. We took off like bunnies to go see this wonder house.
Then the surprises started.
The house was on the small size — not really a big surprise given the price and location.
Surprise #1? The alleged “reno” consisted of tearing down one wall between a teeny, tiny living room and teeny, tiny dining room to create that open concept feel that sophisticates just love.
Surprise #2? Jamming some mismatched wood chunks into the space that used to be a wall and was now a floor does not count as renovation.
Surprise #3? Did I say the place was small? How small was it? Not only were the mice hunchbacked, you couldn’t actually open the door to the master bedroom more than halfway because it would hit the bed.
Surprise #4? The place had been advertised as a 3 bedroom. This would have been accurate if the words closet and bedroom meant the same thing in English — or any language.
We passed on that one and went out for breakfast.
So, tell me, what housing disasters have you been offered?
Did I Tell You The One? 