4 Ways American Homes Are an Absolute Nightmare

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Six months in, I've loved living in my first American house. But sometimes, it can be a major pain in the arse. Here are four ways in which this is true.
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[@psubond]

One thing you quickly learn as a homeowner: if something breaks you either fix it or you find out that there is no one to call that doesnt cost a lot of money.

[@greggi47]

You also marvel at the way emergencies requiring expertise beyond what you can Google laways occur on weekends and/or national holidays.

[@mrbob4u495]

Just spent $3K over the past several months getting my AC and Sprinkler system up to snuff.

[@chrismiller5198]

As my dad always said, "A man's home is his hassle".

[@deaniej2766]

Amen, brother, amen!

[@cmikesmith664]

The scary thing is when mold is growing inside your central air conditioner, and you get mold toxicity and neurological and respiratory issues. Yet you can’t see inside the plenum or duct, and the HVAC technicians have your life in their hands. True story here in America.

[@DennisWGreer]

Coyotes eat best friends and second best friends. So, please be sure to take care when the pets are outside.

[@jstringfellow1961]

Geez...thank you for telling me, I'll call Jeannie immediately, and tell her to stay home if she thinks they'll be hanging around! LOL. You're 100% correct however, they do like dogs and cats, squirrels, and even birds if they can catch them.

[@ohotnitza]

They are a lot bigger than they seem on TV, too. But Britain has foxes, those just seem smaller.

[@loganl7547]

Seconding this, I live in a small town and we get packs of coyotes rolling through town now and again, and when they do several posters go up asking if anyone has "seen this cat". Depending on the size of dog coyotes can be a threat to them, or leave them alone, coyotes are oppotunists and generally wont take fights where the threat of injury is high, ie a full sized large breed dog.

[@loganl7547]

​​@@ohotnitzaes, "smaller than a wolf" is kind of misleading, I mean they are, but wolves can be absolutely massive. Coyotes can get up to 50 lbs, and they operate in packs of 5 or 6.... their numbers are the really scary part.

[@bichela]

We got them and wolves in Connecticut

[@hieronymusbutts7349]

"Completely and utterly a little bit harder" - what an absolute magnificent brainscrew of a phrase. As if you tried to go all in on the enthusiasm like an American, and then remembered at the last second to understate your case like a proper Brit.

[@TheDriedfrogpills]

As someone who lived in a house where the basement was always at risk of flooding despite our sump pump, shout out to the discarded piece of drain pipe for doing the best it can

[@jmt8706official]

That drain pipe is the unsung hero.

[@adde9506]

If you have a sump pump, make sure you have a sump pump endorsement on you insurance. It's the only way to have flood damage paid for on a normal policy.

[@RaspberryLemonade101]

Same

[@ItsmeAndrew123]

Thank you discarded drain pipe 👀🤣

[@atomicbuttocks]

evryobody gangsta till the spare pipe starts suckin

[@maurinedeen8502]

Coyotes are no joke. Supervise your puppy at all times when outdoors. Believe it or not, coyotes can, and do, climb fences.

[@melbrod3868]

And don't let your cat roam outside. Coyotes eat small pets.

[@illustriouschin]

And have rabies which is deadly for humies as well.

[@kathywiseley4382]

However, most coyotes are afraid of humans and will steer clear if they spot one. They will decimate the bunny population, though.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

@@melbrod3868 The cat can likely handle itself against an individual coyote. (A pack, would be another matter, but I doubt if there are many packs of coyotes in Chicago. The humans would likely band together to do something about them. Solitary individuals are much better at staying under the radar.) But there are other hazards for cats. Not least, humans.

[@samanthab1923]

Coyotes in Chicago?

[@TheFilwud]

As a homeowner of an old Scottish home, which is probably nearly as old as the U.S. I am well acquainted with the joys of rainfall ingress. There have been times during heavy rain where I had up to 6 buckets deployed on drip catching duty. I have just spent a couple of weeks surrounded by scaffolding, I have a brand new roof on my ancient pile. Not a drop of water has ingressed, but then again there hasn't been a drop of rain, inside or out. So my roof seems to be very effective as it has stopped the rain for the whole of Scotland!

[@wolfe6220]

😂

[@bansheedearg]

Our attic is peppered with buckets. Aluminum shingle from the 1940s. I was supposed to last _forever_ :.(

[@corinnem.239]

​@@bansheedearg😂 Nothing lasts forever,

[@MissingRaptor]

OMGS, this comment made me laugh waaaay too hard 😂😂😂😂😂😂👍

[@josiecroix]

I'd say thank you for your service, but I am neither a Scot nor do I hate rain. In fact, quite the opposite, I love the rain. But if I were a Scot who happened to hate or dislike the rain, I would thank you for your service of installing an anti-rain roof.

[@embracethesuck1041]

We found it very difficult to find a house that wasn't in an HOA or covenant in our area. Despite the narrowing of options, we avoided them like the plague. They, in my experience, are overbearing, expensive and massively frustrating.

[@debbylou5729]

Really? You’ve lived in a lot of them? The truth is probably none. I’ve lived in three, Georgia, Chicagoland (best one EVER) and Utah. In Illinois the HOA stopped the city from turning a road into the neighborhood from being turned into a through street from a red center. I find that the people who hate them think it’s ok to put an above ground pool, next to a flamingo pink metal shed

[@Intentionally_Inflammatory]

​@@debbylou5729What's wrong with an above ground pool next to a flamingo pink metal shed?

[@debbylou5729]

@@Intentionally_Inflammatory thank you for your support😅😅😅

[@anastasia10017]

@@debbylou5729 if you paid for the house and land, then why cant you do what you want on it ? Who is to tell you what you can put on the land that you OWN?? Who is to tell you what color to paint the house that you own ? If I OWN a back yard, and I want to put an above ground pool on it, that is my business and nobody else's because I paid for it and I OWN it.

[@mikep490]

I'd guess you live in Florida or California where HOAs abound. Sadly, HOAs are the new thing, with supposedly 80% of new construction being in an HOA. Personally, I don't see a reason to pay property taxes and then have to "rent" the right to live in my home from a HOA, but each to their own. (In my area, HOA fees are higher than property taxes, or about 1/4 of my family member's mortgage payment.) That's even w/o the (seemingly obligatory) Karen on the board, who'd wander into their backyard... apparently looking for a hidden flamingo pool or above ground metal shed.

[@DemonicNightmare]

Thank you, discarded piece of drainpipe, for assisting in preventing the house slowly turning into a swimming pool. You are truly doing a service and providing peace of mind while a permanent solution is in the works.

[@hansoak3664]

Indeed. Three cheers for discarded drain pipe. 🙂

[@andrewvelonis5940]

It isn't discarded, it's been put there on purpose.

[@SongOfEire]

Lawrence, Might you ever choose to discuss the prevalence of crooked teeth in British people, or is that a forbidden subject? This has been true long enough that I dont think it’s probable that it can be blamed on the NHS, although I do wonder if they include orthodontia in their health coverage. I had braces as a child, as did one of my four children, so I’m not holding myself up as a paragon of perfection, teeth-wise. But it does seem a common occurrence among Brits.

[@aecirohawke2796]

Discarded drain pipe, you are the best. You are managing to improve this man's situation, specifically regarding the distribution of water away from his basement. You are the example of what a drain pipe should be You're not discarded to me.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

That discarded section of drain pipe is the hero we need AND the hero we deserve! I find it funny that it is set up with two downspout diverters being used to give it a proper slope.

[@MichaelAlderete]

Thank you random drain piece.

[@pandawaaluminium]

Salam kenal saudaraku🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩

[@nosch43]

he literally placed it atop of two water diverters that were facing the wrong way...

[@lilolmecj]

Discarded drain pipe, you are superior to that vapid rain diverter, is too flat to do an adequate job during a heavy downpour. You are the best .

[@wordkyle]

A phrase that will strike terror into the heart of any homeowner -- "property taxes". Your home can be paid off, and the government can take it away if you don't pay your taxes.

[@nashvegasmgt]

And it’s crazy how much that varies from state to state. Texas property taxes about killed me.

[@JamesGriffinT]

Around us there's a pretty strong correlation between places that are nice to live and property tax rates. No one wants to pay higher taxes but they all choose to move to places with higher taxes!

[@Starscreamious]

At least as of a couple weeks ago they have to pay you the money from the auction (minus what you owed).

[@mikebarnes2294]

The UK has council tax - which is levied on the occupier of a property, so if you rent in the UK YOU get the tax bill and not your landlord.

[@JamesGriffinT]

@@mikebarnes2294 Yep, not a property tax and one of the reasons that UK house prices are so out of control.

[@stefaninafla]

Even more weird is that clotheslines used to be standard in the US, so these bans are a pretty recent thing, I've never lived in a place that tried to ban them. Of course, trying to get your clothes out & dried with no bird poop on them before it rains was always fun...

[@uigrad]

I'm sure clotheslines are still used in arid parts of the country, but for the midwest and east coast, they never really worked well because of the humidity. Once dryers became ubiquitous, people stopped using clothes lines.

[@glenagarrett4704]

My worst house events: 1) groundhog moving in under the foundation (hazard of rural living) and 2) leftover plumbing shortcuts and electrical hazards installed by the previous owners, both of which cost me a lot stress and money to repair when they revealed themselves are very inopportune times.

[@jackiebuchanan3024]

One time, I walked into our family room and found a huge swarm of ladybugs on the ceiling in a corner. Hundreds of them. They had apparently come in through (to me) invisible cracks around our sliding glass door. It was like they were having a convention. But what to do? If I sprayed them or smashed them, the ceiling would have to be repainted. And it was evening--there was no way I would be able to get a ladybug removal expert out to my house in the country that night. If there even is such a person. So I gave up and went to bed. The next morning I got up to check on my little visitors and found them all moving together across the ceiling towards the sliding glass door. I knew a victory when I saw it, so I opened the door wide and they all left.

[@samanthab1923]

Lady Bugs are good luck. Never kill one.

[@TheSouthIsHot]

Ohmygosh, you actually THOUGHT ABOUT spraying or smashing Ladybugs?😲 They are beneficial insects. Not to mention adorable.

[@demikus]

@@TheSouthIsHot if it was a swarm it is likely they were not Ladybugs, but probably Asian Beatles which are actually a nuisance, sure they will prey on some other insects, but for the most part they just damage your property. For the OP look at your ceiling if it has a yellowing discoloration you had asian beetles and you should get an exterminator to treat your house/yard to get rid of potential eggs.

[@CommodoreFan64]

@@samanthab1923 maybe but the "ladybugs" we get in the south really are not ladybugs, but a Japanese beetle hybrid experiment by the US government, and Clemson University from the late 50's that was meant to help pollination of crops, but they have been nothing but a nuisance over the decades, and they stink when they land on your skin like a stink bug, so I say the hell with them!!

[@BillPeschel]

Leaving behind mini beer bottles and bongs, no doubt.

[@amandaheck7897]

When we were looking to buy a home last year we were very particular about not buying in an HOA. It was harder than I thought it was going to be. We passed on even looking at several homes that we were interested in because of it.

[@creinicke1000]

It is hard.. We live in an HOA.. it's a deal with the devil.

[@elultimo102]

Realtors in two states warned against HOAs---I passed on a nice house due to the HOA, which is inescapable.

[@DavidRichardson153]

Same thing with my parents when they bought their place. Then, over the 20 years since they bought it, new subdivisions - all with HOAs - sprung up around them (and yes, they all remain mostly empty).

[@joermnyc]

HOAs are like East Germany. The Stasi… I mean the board wants everyone to spy on everyone and rat them out for any rules violations.

[@RangerMcFriendly]

Former Realtor here (and our last three homes were part of an HOA): Avoid them at all costs. You are paying them to limit what you can do with your property. Sure they ensure everyone’s home values stay high with clean yard regulations and such. But not worth it. Our current state rarely has any HOAs so buying here was easy. People naturally keep their yards nice. Just avoid HOAs for your sanity.

[@samuelmcclellan8625]

A good example of how America is different, all over the country. You said about clothes lines not being common, here. I live in Pennsylvania, near the Maryland line. Clothes lines are INCREDIBLY common, all across both states, and into the Virginia's, up into New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio. Plus, we have lots of Amish communities. They use clothes lines, even in the middle of winter. So yeah, that one was odd to hear for somebody over on the east coast. Very common thing.

[@karenk2409]

Urban vs rural maybe?

[@dylan_1884]

It’s SUCH a great feeling when you can fix your ac yourself. Might even be the best feeling a homeowner can have. Calling out an HVAC tech and having them work on it for 4 hours only to learn your entire system needs to be replaced is a nightmare. Glad you guys will be staying cool!

[@sugarplum5824]

You can't survive in the American South without air conditioning. You're spot on about those nasty HOA's, though. It's like a whole neighborhood full of Karens intent on ruining any chance of happiness for those around them.

[@CommodoreFan64]

Yep in the deep south it's dangerous to not have AC, and even with AC, and good house insulation we have our fans running a good chunk of the year because of the humidity that can make 80 feel like 90+ some days, and I've even seen days where it was 100+ where it feels like 121, and we get heat stroke warnings. Also far as HOA's I'm glad I live in a small somewhat rural town, where HOAs have never been a thing, and no one here would ever want one, in my neighborhood we all just do our best to keep our homes, and yards looking the best we physically can, and if someone needs help with something we pitch in, and do what we can to help out. screw HOAs!!

[@mlmmt]

@@CommodoreFan64 Meanwhile over here in California, the Humidity tops out at 30% most days, but in exchange you get temps up to about 112 each year...

[@sixoffcenter80]

Yeah I was a bit taken aback when he described 75 degrees as uncomfortably hot. That's what I cool my house down to at night so I can get to sleep, and I keep it a few degrees higher during the day so my energy bill doesn't get too crazy.

[@superman9772]

i can attest to the HOAs... i was the president of the HOA board (272 homes, 2 pools, and clubhouse plus the roads) the rules are crazy.... i had a member harassing another member over their cat... she said the neighbor's cat was "stalking" her kids... yep, had to deal with the most insane issues ... now i live in the middle of nowhere USA, in a "hollar" out past the last briar patch and love it

[@jlpack62]

@@CommodoreFan64 I spent an entire Summer in Florida without AC. I have no idea how I got through it.

[@charlesperez9976]

Many years ago,whilst in Australia,I used a clothesline for the first time. One of the soon to be dry garments was a pair of boxer underwear,that hat a Tartan pattern on it. The next morning that single item was gone. A few hours later,I noticed a Scottish backpacker who suspiciously no longer made eye contact with me. True story.

[@GelatinCoffee]

I don't blame him, I imagine keeping your undergarments clean is difficult to do traveling in a kiln 😂🙃

[@goranmiljus2664]

@@GelatinCoffee Was the Scott traveling in a kiln or kilt

[@wendymuir7818]

(Giggle)

[@jk_22]

@@lurch789my thought exactly

[@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131]

Well, at least you didn't 🐾 find fruit bats or possums in your tartan boxers....🦇 Also. You might have asked wich clan the backpacker hailed from ! 🩳 🧑‍🦰👣 😆

[@Lauragraceabels]

Just curious. What area are you? Did you find the real estate transaction to be different from England? I know the commission laws are different. Love your content!

[@adamweah8037]

I’ve begun to notice all the American idioms I use and hear without realizing it. Check out the origin of the expression “to tie one on”

[@adamweah8037]

Hi Laura , Are you an Expert Advisor ? i just went through your channel.What are you into?

[@Lauragraceabels]

@@adamweah8037 Yes i am , My certifications are on google . you could read up by searching my name

[@floydchusset3143]

Economists and business leaders were voicing concerns at the start of 2023 that the year could be a difficult one. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said that the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates to 6% to fight inflation, higher than the peak level between 5% and 5.5% in 2023 that most Fed officials penciled in after their December meeting. Although I read an article of people that grossed profits up to $500k during this crash, what are the best stocks to buy/short now or put on a watchlist.

[@adamweah8037]

@@floydchusset3143 There are so many stocks and other assets to put on watchlist right now ,The market is in a favorable position at the moment

[@danapb]

LOL! The "bee" in "garage" = "garbage"! I don't know why but I couldn't stop laughing. Subscribed!

[@mlaursen]

Don’t feel bad. We made the same rookie mistake with our new home. We were changing the central HVAC filter but weren’t taking into consideration how bad the wildfire smoke was that year. Which brings us to some advice: if your area is affected by the current Canadian wildfires, check your filters more often than you usually would.

[@cynthiajohnston424]

Live in the country in central Illinois , surrounded by corn & bean fields , so we change filters more often than the packaging recommends , because of exposure to excessive dust , dirt , debris , chemical drift , etc. Also have dogs in 'n out of the house - extra dirt plus hair fr. their year 'round shedding . Ahhh... country livin' ... 🌽🌻🌳 💚

[@markmeyer403]

You notice how it’s mostly liberal land burning or effected think about it

[@jenniferkangas1940]

Good advice! I had to change mine today after only two weeks. It was absolutely filthy!

[@mlaursen]

We just have a 1"-thick filter. I was surprised that Lawrence's house uses the, like, foot-thick industrial filters. (And, apparently, he has three A/C units? Or maybe he lives in a triplex?)

[@cynthiajohnston424]

@@mlaursen Good point & now I'm curious about it too . I've house & pet-sat for large homes & homes that built on big additions hence needing two A/C units ; also wondering about the the huge filter !

[@exodous02]

I'm an American and I had no idea that clothes lines were banned in some places. I grew up on a farm where in the summer we used them and my first apartment, which was a room in a house, had freaking high power bills and my Mom said it was because of the dryer. Well, I started using the clothes line and convinced the landlord I didn't have to pay a part of the electric bill and then all my roommates started using it also. Dryers are a a big convenience but when you're poor they're a drain on finances. You know, because I'd rather eat than have a dryer.

[@dragonite87]

I'm in Australia and everyone here uses clotheslines, assuming they have a backyard. I was surprised to learn that Americans just don't use them anymore.

[@SeanMahoneyfitnessandart]

​@dragonite87 there are some places here where it would be basically impossible for 4-8 months of the year because it's either a deep freeze outside with 3 feet of snow on the ground or it's just cold dreary raining wet and icky outside... no place to be drying clothes outside

[@marshawargo7238]

@@SeanMahoneyfitnessandart Don't forget about the birds! Ohio weather but mom liked to hang the sheets. Starlings & mulberry bushes equal mom shouting with clenched teeth "Those damn $&!'/ birds!"

[@SeanMahoneyfitnessandart]

@marshawargo7238 I can see that leading to some re-washings lol ...

[@tibzig1]

@@dragonite87 99% of my fellow Americans are "mentally ill." Don't you fellas down under know anything!? Eh, I have go see my therapist now!

[@AuraMaster7]

I love him saying "75 degrees outside" as if thats some horribly hot temperature and not, like, normal a/c room temperature.

[@TL-is8pk]

Knowing someone who knows the right and good people is so key. The general contractor who did our reno is now our go-to guy whenever stuff needs repair that we cannot fix. Glass repair, plumbing, electrical--he knows the best people who won't rip you off.

[@hiddentruth1982]

He came all the way to America to get sponsored by a British company.

[@thesquirrelherder]

He has come full circle.

[@shattered_helix]

This is the way.

[@Techlifeandmore]

LOL yeah.

[@shmataboro8634]

Yes, but he had to work his way back into Britain's good graces first 😉

[@acme_tnt8741]

.... that sells a British product in the US? Why wouldn't he?

[@toomdog]

Lawrence: If you didn't already see it somewhere else, you also need to clean the fins in the outdoor unit with the big fan. Just take a hose and spray them off until they are clean. Just as your restricted airflow caused the lines to freeze, if the fins are caked with dirt, the condenser will not be able to get rid of the heat it pulled out of your house. If you want to spray from the inside of the unit, disconnect the power on the wall first.

[@Montgomerygolfgator]

I would recommend the use of a power washer with a fan spray attachment, once you've moved aside the top/fan. Lawrence will need (badly want) a power washer anyway, and electric one works well for this, and it will blow the dirt out from the fins instead of into the center of the fins. Or just get a professional to do it, not a bad thing to consider when it probability needs a service anyway. A/C systems can freeze up due to low Freon levels too, but only someone with a gauge set can check those levels.

[@ferinzz]

@@Montgomerygolfgator been a while since I worked in apartment,s but I think checking the levels is possible without a license, but buying and filling the coolant is not. I'm a bit scared the find out how much those suckers cost now... Was over 200 for certain collants nearly 10 years ago. Gotta be careful about the washer though. you don't need a power washer to clean the fins, and pressure that's too high will bend/damage them, so best to just use a normal hose.

[@YellowBrickRoadBlog]

One of the best things we did was to set up automatic maintenance appointments for our heating and cooling. Professionals come in twice a year to clean everything out and make sure it's ready for the season. If something does go wrong unexpectedly, we're at the top of the list for repairs because we have a contract with them. It's nice to have one less thing to worry about.

[@isthisoneunavailable]

@@Montgomerygolfgator no. Just no. You'll bend the fins. Nobody listen to this dude. Use a regular hose.

[@ram0166]

It might be full of that cottonwood crap.

[@Banapis]

I love my clothesline. The biggest expenses and problems I've had with it so far are paying +/- $6.00 every few years to replace the lines and once I had move it to a new spot because the trees became too effective of a windbreak and the wind wasn't getting anywhere near my clothes.

[@tinag5867]

Hi Lawrence, I enjoy your channel and the humor you add with it. A major caution about the coyotes is that they will attack and eat pets, especially cats. As for dogs, they’re very crafty in that they first try luring the dog away with playing, then will attack and eat the dog once it’s lured away from the yard. The best thing is to keep your pets in at night and if your dog needs to go out at night, go outside with them to keep watch over them. And avoid letting your cat out at night. Best regards.

[@user-hx6ye4jq1n]

We don’t have a HOA in our neighborhood, we have a Karen. She’s backyard neighbors with my next door neighbor. She once called the city to complain about the gazebo next door neighbor was building in her backyard, so neighbor could sit outside, drink her coffee & watch her dogs play. The Karen said it obstructed her view. Her view of what you might ask? Her view of the back of neighbor’s house.

[@veramae4098]

Oh, that's a really lovely story!!

[@julie.1081]

Makes me wonder if the problem wasn't looking at the gazebo but which window into their home she could no longer peep into.

[@user-hx6ye4jq1n]

Neighbor Karen since planted tall hedges across the backyard. She's always been this way. Even when her daughter & I were kids , acting like her poo doesn't stink.

[@tibzig1]

HOAs are a uniquely American creation. It is strange how one society gives you a great deal of freedom in one area and restricts it in another area. In most non-Western countries in the world, they may have what are called "neighborhood societies" which serve somewhat the same function as HOAs but have NO enforcement powers. If you own your home, nobody can tell you what color to paint it, how big your lawn can be, what decorations you can use outside, lights and so forth. Also, nobody can file "liens" against your property. This concept simply does not exist. I once saw a story back in the 1990s in Texas where an elderly widow had her house taken from her by the HOA because she failed to check her mail for some violations of the deed restrictions. She had the beginnings of Alzheimer's and did not check her mail anymore. The HOA sent her several notices and since she never complied, they filed a lien against the home and eventually took it from her. The story broke in the media, and I don't recall how it was resolved. What a nightmare! For all the freedoms Americans have, this sounds rather weird that an HOA can legally take away someone's home. And yet, while most countries prohibit civilian ownership of firearms, the US is in the opposite direction in this area. Go figure.

[@julie.1081]

@@tibzig1 You may be interested in some of the videos where HOAs have practically stolen people's houses. One military guy was getting deployed. (Afghanistan I think). Before he left, he informed the HOA, USPS, & all the people who should know. He arranged for yard care. He even asked neighbors to park in his driveway once in awhile. Sometime after he deployed, the HOA President & VP decided to say that he had abandoned the house & put liens against it by posting notices on his door. I think they claimed it was for overdue HOA fees. Some how, they got it pushed through court real fast, the HOA was given ownership & they sold the house to the sister of the HOA President for about 25% of the real value & she moved in. The soldier comes home & SURPRISE! Except.....his HOA fees were paid by automatic deductions. The house & lawn had never fallen into to disrepair & in the state he lived in, there was some sort of law or clause about when a soldier is deployed, no one can take the house by liens. Not only did he get his house back, the HOA was made bankrupt by the settlement, it had to be disbanded & the HOA President & her VP both lost their homes from the civil suit. All the neighbors had a huge block party & thanked him for getting the 2 wicked witches out of their neighborhood & private lives.

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

It's really good to be handy when you own a house. A plumber will charge a minimum just for showing up, which means you could pay $150 to replace a washer in a dripping faucet. HOAs often have busybodies who will threaten to fine you if your grass is a quarter inch too long.

[@pamelabennett9057]

As a homeowner, I learned long ago to expect and budget for at least one major house expense a year, whether that's replacing the roof, paving the driveway, upgrading the electrical or plumbing system, building a deck, replacing the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) system, etc. I found it to be a good rule of thumb, and if nothing major was needed, allowed for a room remodel and/or replacing appliances.

[@karenk2409]

That is a realistic way to provide for keeping up your home, which is your biggest investment (I call mine my "nursing home insurance"!) That's what I do. One thing at a time, one thing every year.

[@benitaw614]

Poor Laurence!!!! 75 degrees!!!! I live in Florida. WE CALL THAT WINTER!!!! :-)

[@fidelogos7098]

HOAs have been the bane of my homeowning existence. Usually they are run by neighbors who may have a slight control issue. In a neighborhood where all the townhomes are exactly alike, the HOA has jurisdiction over what color you paint your door, if you can add shrubbery in your front yard, the height of your grass, where you store your garbage can, how long a car can be parked on the street in front of your house. Big Brother is watching.

[@kellyb6198]

The fact that HOAs exist still baffles me, our HOA fee is $305 and they don't do a goddamn thing. They aren't breathing down people's necks which is nice except we pay $305 for literally NOTHING, they don't take care of the parkways or the parks. Nothing, it's bull.

[@XSemperIdem5]

Let's just call it like it is, it's mostly Karens running HOAs. A lot of times it's basically paying the bully to bully you on your own property.

[@wendeln92]

The neighborhod I've been living in since 2007 wanted to start a HOA and I shot it down right away. It had to be 100% all the homeowners and the street wasn't even filled yet, maybe 1/2 the houses were built. I experienced a HOA and swore no one would ever have the power to tell me what i can and can't do on my own property especially when school and property taxes are about $8,000 +/year.

[@danielled8665]

America: home of the Free. Unless you want to dry your clothes or paint your house purple or grow some dandilions for the bees. Or strike without being legally mandated back to work or have a legal pet boa or go to school without worrying about being shot or go to school as a girl and have bare shoulders because its hot out or end a dangerous pregnancy or in some states dress differently than your assigned gender, or get lifesaving medicine at the reasonable cost the rest of the world pays or be paid a decent fair wage for your work... the list goes on. Land of the free my ass.

[@andreabradley5837]

Never, ever buy in an HOA.

[@Jay_Scott_Raymond]

Good on you for avoiding the HOA nightmare. When I was house hunting "no HOA" was requirement 1. Nobody is telling me how often I need to mow my lawn carnsarn it. 🤠

[@j.heilig7239]

Try not *having* a lawn to mow. You’ll reduce your carbon footprint, you’ll do good for wildlife, it will be a lot prettier to look at, and it will be WAY less work.

[@Jay_Scott_Raymond]

@@j.heilig7239 Learn that not every joking comment needs to be part of your holy crusade. You are part of the problem.

[@marcelosantana9311]

I am in Florida and we have too many HOAs. The idea is good, but the lack of regulations can be a nightmare when you have an incompetent board of director or a mean one. Some are ok, but thing can turn sour overnight. It helps in some degree to keep an standard in the community but we have situation that it goes to far. Worse part is that unpaid dues can get you foreclosed. 😢

[@Thegrowerofthegreens]

Every town around me has ordinances that require you to keep your lawn cut or be fined and sent a large bill when they mow it for you.

[@Jay_Scott_Raymond]

@@Thegrowerofthegreens I'm guessing ... New Jersey?

[@erinmurray6957]

Lived in an HOA townhouse community for 3 years and am SO glad I'm out. Fines for grass being an inch too high, fines for not using the correct paint on my doorframe, not being allowed to grow anything that isn't a shrub, no clothesline, no outdoor furniture without approval, no changes to your home's interior or exterior without approval (including remodeling the unfinished bathroom), no more than 2 pets per household (my neighbor was told to give up her dog by the HOA since she and her husband already had a dog and a cat or receive heavy monthly fines), no yard signs, no growing your own herbs or vegetables because it's considered "farming", the list goes on... I have a new house with my husband, 2 cats and a dog, a tomato and herb garden and we've remodeling our basement. We couldn't be happier.

[@scheralgreider5406]

We bought some property and had a house put on it last year. The only problem so far is not having the green stuff on the ground called grass. We finally got around to seeding the lawn, then a wonderful drench of a rainstorm washed a lot of it into areas it needn't be. But, alas! The grass has started germinating! We still have some bare spots. Those will be dealt with this fall. Also, we are not in a HOA development! Yay!

[@kathy3178]

HOA's are a nightmare. My best friend's mom wanted to extend her driveway by 2 ft. They told her no, it would devalue her property. That was after the neighbors were calling the police because my best friend was parking on the road, because the driveway only had room for 1 car. The police came out and said it was perfectly legal to park there. Meanwhile, the same complaining neighbor extended theirs with no problem. A lot of times they are run my power hungry control freaks who love to make people's lives miserable.

[@DanDanDoe]

Do HOAs have regular meetings for the entire neighbourhood? Are they democratic in any way? In my country we don’t have them, except for apartment buildings. Those generally are only to organise maintenance for the building and its shared spaces.

[@tenhundredkills]

@@DanDanDoe It depends on the HOA. Mine for example has annual meetings for the entire neighborhood. Additionally, the board has meetings (that anyone can attend) on the 4th Thursday of every month. When there are positions open for new board members, anyone can volunteer and the entire neighborhood votes on the candidates.

[@tenhundredkills]

I suppose I'm lucky with my HOA. I live in a condo complex and there aren't that many restrictions. There are only a couple restrictions I find a little odd. 1. You can't have a flag/banner that's too large hanging on your patio/deck. I don't remember the exact restriction, but no one has said anything about my American flag, so I don't worry about it. Oddly enough, there are zero restrictions on hanging plants. Many of my neighbors have pants all over their decks. 2. You cannot work on your car, unless it's in your garage (assuming your unit came with one). The caveat is that you can work on your car in the open if it's for "an emergency". The rule doesn't specify what constitutes an "emergency" so people work on their cars anyway (myself included).

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

And a lot of HOAs won't let you replace your lawn with something more eco-friendly...

[@juliettedemaso7588]

My mom once lived in a townhouse whose HOA manager (sigh yes this exists) lived right next door, and they had such rules as 1 white backed curtains only, no dark or bold colors, no prints 2 only one car in the driveway lest you get a permit for a second one 3 the garage door has to be closed unless you’re getting in or out or doing some brief yard tending 4 guests may not park in the street overnight And on and on and on And how they loved issuing citations. Every “house” was beige. Or else. Gross. She doesn’t live there anymore.

[@frankmitchell3594]

Land of the free!?

[@avalerie4467]

I got yelled at by the hoa lady one morning. " Get your things inside - no personal items outside, per the rules". I had just started renting this condo, had read the bit about no outside furniture/grills/strollers/bicycles. Understood. However, I was drinking my coffee, gathering books and sorting papers to head to the library on my 3 × 5 little stoop between my front door and my car. I didn't say anything, just threw everything in the front seat and got organized in the car. Hoa managers have deep seeded control issues and i'm glad your mom got the heck out of there !! I will avoid hoas like the plague once I'm out of here.

[@HodgPodg5490]

@@frankmitchell3594 Not everywhere is HOA covered, you have the freedom to not buy into the association. I certainly will never buy into one

[@questioner1596]

While it shouldn't be a rule, I recommend the white backed curtains since each room can have its own colour inside but it looks uniform from the outside, where you don't see the room differentiation. It also lets the curtains do a better job insulating, great in winter and summer!

[@JJfromPhilly67]

All HOA properties are a no go for me. They seem to be run by what the English call: "Jumped up little Hitlers."

[@cynthiarafferty7662]

I lived in IL in an HOA community for 24 yrs. The only issue we had ONE time was we got a notice/letter telling us that our paper yard waste bag needed to be removed. The only problem was we got the letter on Friday and the paper yard waste bag was picked-up by our weekly garbage truck on Tuesday morning at 7:15 AM! I had clipped bushes on Sunday afternoon and put the yard waste bag in front of the single garage door so I could put it out Monday night for Tuesday morning pickup. I had done this for years with no problem. I called the HOA/property management company and explained about what day our garbage service day was. She told me the newbie driving around our community and others and noting "violations" had been told to stop being so excessive with violations. She told me many other homeowners had called and had similar "issues" but I had been the nicest call she had received that morning. Yeah.... I bet I was the nicest and didn't use any obscenities to her! LoL 😂😜! HOAs can be good. It's just the people enforcing the rules have to use COMMON SENSE and discretion in applying the rules on others.

[@vs8122]

Be sure to clean your gutters in the late fall as clogged gutters will also cause water issues. I'm in Chicagoland and have mine done the week before Thanksgiving just after all the leaves have fallen. There's also Leafguard which keeps debris out, then you never have to clean them yourself.

[@mikefochtman7164]

Drainage away from your foundation is always a key thing in my book. You'd be surprised what a difference just modest extension, leading rainwater just 4 or 5 feet from the house can make. Also, a frozen up AC coil can also be a sign of a low refridgerant charge. But pick your servicer carefully. One may charge you just a hundred dollars or so for a service and top off the charge, while another will try to sell you a $10,000 complete system replacement for the same problem.

[@chrishebert5672]

Down south in Texas, we direct water TO our foundations (concrete slab). Some homes have foundation watering systems. No basements here. We need to keep the foundation evenly moist to prevent sinking.

[@Beanzoboy]

Unfortunately, my 24 year old A/C uses Freon that you can't get anymore, so I can't get it topped off. Gotta replace it.

[@chrishebert5672]

@@Beanzoboy You should never have to "top off" refrigerant. If it gets low, then there's a leak that should be fixed.

[@vdeserisy]

Cvc

[@Beanzoboy]

@@chrishebert5672 I'm well aware of that, but it's a *lot* cheaper than 12k to replace the whole set.

[@TheMaddestofLads]

Here is an issue in America that you wouldn't get in the UK. I remember as a kid I used to live at a higher elevation in the mid west. During certain times of year, deer would come down from the higher parts of the mountain. This would occasionally cause traffic issues and with the deer came mountain lions. I distinctly remember a few occasions where kids weren't allowed to play outside due to cougar sightings in the neighborhood.

[@backhandgrip23]

and bear season

[@charlottelanvin7095]

I think your Mom was worried about a different kind of cougar

[@lisaschippert9426]

We moved from Illinois to Washington State.. kids were on lockdown one day cuz of a bear siting across the street from the school.

[@alst4817]

I’m always on the lookout for cougars. Around here they usually hunt in wine bars

[@yippee8570]

I can confirm that in Britain we have no dangerous wild animals other than Brexiters

[@zoilacurtis7112]

The Georgia deer are always grateful when home owners plant for them tasty, new flowers.

[@karenk2409]

The Virginia deer are too. My yard is deer super highway. I've spent the last 3 years experimenting with what they will and will not eat. Now I have way less deer, because they don't like my menu!

[@zoilacurtis7112]

@@karenk2409 what is your menu?

[@felicitybywater8012]

As an Australian, I am both gobsmacked & horrified to discover that the humble clothesline is banned by some HOAs. What the actual duck??? They (HOAs) do exist to some extent in Australia but generally only in over-55's unit blocks & large tracts of luxury waterfront houses crammed together & issued with identical private jetties. Bugger that for a game of soldiers.

[@tiffanyspliff9623]

Just had a bee keeper open up my garage celling and pulled out a 5 gallon bucket of bee hive and the accompanying bees. We noticed when there were about 100 bees flying in and out of the corner of our garage at any given time. It's a great sign because our area had a very mild winter and wet early spring, so the honey bees are thriving and hives are growing!

[@camillep3631]

YAY!! Protect the pollinators! Bees are fascinating

[@laurie7689]

My Dad used to do that as a hobby - bee keeping. His name was on a list for the cops or the fire department to call when there was a swarm. He'd collect the swarm and take them in the trunk of his car over to my uncle's place who would have several empty brood boxes waiting. My uncle had a bunch of acreage and also raised bees. We'd get honey from our own hives each year.

[@ToniHinton]

​@@laurie7689 For several years in the late spring my parents had a swarm of bees that would come and live on the tall brick pillar at the back of their house. They'd be there for days. I helped my dad get in touch with the local beekeeping society and someone was always happy to come out and collect them. The first year of COVID he couldn't get in touch with anyone and told me, "Those bees are making your mother nervous, so I think I'm going to spray them." I told him if he did, I'd come over there and spray him! He didn't know about the problems bees and other pollinators are having, once I explained he held off. The bees left after a few more days but they've never returned.

[@angelachouinard4581]

So nice to see someone happy about bees and passing on good news. They've been struggling. I wish everyone knew just how critical bees are to the food supply, maybe they'd get more help.

[@duckyday1099]

Thank you for having them removed and not exterminated.

[@Justin_W]

75 degrees is toasty?! Here in Singapore, no one has central air, split systems are used here. 75 would be considered cool. When we do use the airconditioners, we normally have it set to around 75. Though, in movie theaters and offices, the temperatures seem to usually be set to 60 degrees, which is absolutely insane, prompting people to wear jackets to avoid freezing to death.

[@Anagrams458]

I live in Manitoba, Canada and 75F/23C is considered just perfect. We've had several weeks of 30C/86F already this year. Our igloos are melting.😂

[@ToniHinton]

I'd freeze at 75F! We keep our A/C at 78F in the summer, which isn't as bad as it might sound since that's 20-30 degrees less than the outside temperature.

[@Justin_W]

@@ToniHinton Reminds me of when I lived in the deserts of Arizona! The temperatures could go above 112 degrees several months out of the year.

[@diannt9583]

@@ToniHinton I melt at 78 F!!!! The melting point of coconut oil - give me 60's and a little shade and I'm fine.

[@elaexplorer]

He was joking about it being hot.

[@McMillanScottish]

I haven’t been to England for 20 years, but I just think they remember enjoying the different architecture even from home to home. But a couple of things struck me as dumb. One being the presence of a hot water heater on the second floor of the house. I had relatives who were getting some work done outside and somebody bent the drain pipe to the hot water heater and their entire house filled up with water. Many thousands of dollars in damage.

[@jenniferkozak447]

I do love how you showed a small wolf rather than a coyote😂 and just so you know any predator can be a problem for pets. My neighbors Chihuahua recently got picked up by an eagle and killed. Even after I repeatedly warned them. Not to mention I live in Florida and we have to worry about Gators climbing the fence

[@janyth1329]

I am a neighbor in Kentucky, relatively new homeowner, and my A/C went out last May... as in 2022. I've had probably 6 contractors out to look at it (4 of them under my home warranty), and no one will fix it because it's in the crawlspace. So even though the unit is not even 4 years old, we are preparing to go through another summer without central air. Thank goodness for the portable unit I bought for my bedroom. Also, right there with you on your feelings about HOAs... they're the devil and will never live in a neighborhood with one.

[@bobcranberries5853]

Stop telling the HVAC companies you have a home warranty. We hate working with home warranties they never pay enough which might be why you can’t get anyone to fix it.

[@bettyboop1524]

I'm a KY homeowner, get yourself a reliable HVAC person, pay them and get it fixed - then you can fight with the warranty folks. Of course you can get a mini split for the house which will cost a ton, but much easier to have work on. I know from experience.

[@scottiesrockmaggie6279]

Our second house dated back to the early 1900s. Your house looks like it was constructed no later than the 1940s.Older homes have charm and personality. We loved our old house. What no one tells you is that they are behavior disordered. There is a ton of upkeep with them; and for every home improvement or repair you may well find more expense because someone repaired on the cheap the last time something went wrong.

[@lonelyp1]

When I decided to buy a house here in NewEngland USA I made it a point to buy one no older than me. It does have central air conditioning, that I never had before. And I had to add water softening. It also has an attached garage another thing I never had before. I owned my previous home for years but it was a mobile home in a park. just as bad as an HOA sometimes. And of course, they didn't earn the lot rent, in my opinion. Not a bad place but you can't beat owning you own piece of land, even if it is small.

[@toadwine7654]

i dont agree. i had a new home that was constantly in need of maintanence. the least maintainy house i ever had was built in 1840. it was so much better in every way. except it needed more heating.

[@lonelyp1]

@@toadwine7654 Oh, I wasn't saying that buying newer would be better. What do I know about that. I have only had my new house for a couple months. So far I love it. I could have bought a BRAND NEW mobile home and had it put on my lot, but I still wouldn't own the land. And it would be moving without moving. I think I made the best choice.

[@2Quietus]

@@lonelyp1 Hate to be a downer, but if you pay property taxes, you only have the illusion of owning that land. If you truly want to own the land, then you need to look into what is called "Land Patents". It's quite the process but gives you rights on "your land" that others can't imagine.

[@emilywhite9899]

Many thanks to the misc. discarded piece of drain pipe! You have saved the day again as a temporary solution. Bravo!

[@VeretenoVids]

Not being in an HOA was our number one requirement when we started shopping for houses. And, yes, coyotes are thick in IL. On the one hand it's good for keeping the rodent and trash panda (raccoon) population down, on the other anything small to medium critter sized is at risk of becoming a coyote snack, so you have to be careful about pets and smaller livestock. (One recently tried to get one of my sister's kids--as in goats.)

[@cmdreffietrinket]

I recently moved to the USA from the UK and have bought my first American home too. It is unusually old for America, having been built in 1871. It looks a little like the scary house in the movie, Psycho! Interestingly, the previous owner’s name was Bates!!! 🙀 Trying to get head around all of the machinery in the basement is a nightmare! Two furnaces/AC units, all manner of pipes and ducting and something very odd indeed, a water softener! That thing confuses the heck out of me and regularly decided to make the most horrendous noises at 3am, making us think that we accidentally locked a wounded Bear in the basement! Much fun!

[@biffmalibu3733]

It depends on your location. In Pennsylvania houses built in the 1800s are common.

[@amandagish5976]

Hard water sucks! It ruins all it touches, washing machines, hair, you name it.

[@janelleg597]

Believe me, you want the softener... Good luck

[@nopegaming2117]

Ahh, I love old house machinery, then again, I love to tinker and fix things, hehe.

[@angelachouinard4581]

As the owner of a former rental house you have my deepest sympathy. I also really appreciate the way you recount your adventures in housing. I do get a laugh. When I recount my issues I tend to sound like Gordon Ramsey with a particularly incompetent trainee.

[@LizBurman]

One thing that was wild when I spent a semester in London was the fact that while my host family owned a dryer, they never used it. My jeans were so loose by the time I came home after five months of hang drying them. I missed the perks like light clothing shrinkage and warm bedsheets (drying on the radiator can only do so much).

[@amethystanne4586]

My goodness, that is a massive(!) furnace filter. Okay, this is related to your 1st and 3rd topics: Our AC did not work when DH tried it out in April (prior to the hot weather). We called our very good HVAC man. He came out, did his thing, and found that a wasp had built a nest inside the ductwork. He got rid of it, and the AC has been it’s hard-working self since then. for the temporary fix for water drainage diversion! HOA……. We live in very rural county in southcentral Kentucky with a total population of about 10,000. If I asked my coworkers about an HOA, their response would be “What is that?”

[@trishdoughty1965]

Getting into a bed that has had sheets dried outside is one of life's little pleasures. Ahhh, pure bliss.

[@privatelyprivate3285]

I thought that too till I moved to the Midwest. Between typical insects, chiggers, and Satan-spawned, squirrel-back-ride-hitching fleas, I quickly learned it was no longer a worthwhile luxury in those parts. Stupid vermin. 😡

[@saraheart2804]

​@@privatelyprivate3285 , haha. Right.

[@angelabury1349]

@@privatelyprivate3285 You forgot the pollen. My purple sheets turned yellow and crunchy the one time I thought I might be kinder to the environment by line drying. I feel like mother nature peed on them and gave me the middle finger.

[@bansheedearg]

Boris the spider enters the chat.

[@Pocchari]

Maybe it’s where I live but when I tried line-drying outside the laundry was so stiff and uncomfortable. 😩

[@nohrt4me]

The clothesline thing is fairly recentand very weird. I grew up in the 1950s when a regular part of childhood was getting yelled at for running through the clothes. Diapers were always dried outside unless it was below freezing or raining because sunshine was thought to make them cleaner and fresh smelling. And there was no pleasure like getting into bed with dried-outside sheets.

[@hiVanderLinden]

Agreed, I grew up in the 90s in WI and it was a normal thing for us to need to run outside to pull the laundry down when it looked like it was going to rain. I now live in Portland so it didn't make sense to me to get a clothesline here but I do fondly remember the feel of sheets being dried outside.

[@faiyoake]

Dad uses the clothesline in summer when it’s too hot to run the dryer during the day. My short ass (like literally I can’t reach either end of the line connections) just waits until nightfall

[@mbourque]

I avoided HOAs like they were the next coming of the Black Plague. I bought 400 acres, 50 miles outside of town and built my house on 4 cleared acres that were 5 acres back from the road. that gives me plenty of trees and bushes so that my house is screened from view and being outside of town, I don't have to comply with any town ordinances or regulation. I can use my land how I want to without asking permission for anything and any complaints from neighbors are just ignored... I love my home (and land) and even hunt on it whenever I feel like it. I've built several buildings for various purposes and never had to visit a city hall or worry about not being approved. just worry about the cost of materials.

[@liber7773]

My hot water heater just recently had a pipe burst upon which all 55 gallons of water drained out…into the attic on my second story. Oh the joys of home ownership, Laurence.

[@christinebutler7630]

Tankless on demand water heaters are awesome

[@kristiswa]

@@christinebutler7630 We hate our tankless heater. It's so far from the master bathroom (duh, didn't see THAT coming!) that we have to let the water run for a couple minutes until it gets hot. Wish we'd at least gotten a hybrid!

[@suemccoy7533]

LOL, the clothes line was in every yard when I was a kid. I know it makes me OLD. My mom taught me the proper way to hand the sheets, the shirts, jeans etc. She had her rules for hanging our clothes for sure. Oh, first rule, take a damp cloth to wipe off the clothes line to make sure the clean clothes were hanging on a clean clothes line.

[@catherinesanchez1185]

You’re the first person I’ve ever seen being this up besides myself . Lol! Where i used to live the cloth line would collect all sorts of gunk

[@thomasnunya1438]

What were the other ones? I’d love to learn how to use it properly haha

[@engletinaknickerbocker5380]

Ah. The smell of line-dried sheets! I used to wash all my skirts and hang them out on the line in the back yard. I'm sure it was a hoot for the neighbors, but it was a quick process. The only problem is that I get dizzy looking up to clip the clothes and trip on tree roots.

[@mirandolina46]

Indeed, considering the number of birds that like to sit on the line. Here in Italy I don't have a garden, but clothes driers hanging on the balcony and I do wipe the line for the same reason.

[@CoraJean19]

How do you properly hang t-shirts on a clothesline?

[@abigailgerlach5443]

Our city actually puts out a recommended list of people who can fix a variety of issues about your home: plumbers, electricians, painters, plasterers, and many other service people. It's been a very helpful little booklet.

[@nicholasalbrecht9357]

My parents owned a house in an HOA neighborhood once. The rules went far beyond simple courtesy to your neighbors and well into the realm of overbearing and controlling of your life and schedule. Rules included: 1. You must have 2 evergreen trees in the backyard (where nobody can see since there were tall privacy fences around every property), 1 deciduous tree in the front yard, one evergreen in the front yard, several bushes, a certain percentage of the yard (front and back) must be grass and the rest must be mulch or rock. No more and no less. 2. Trash can is only allowed to be visible from the street between 8am and 6pm on trash day. Any other time you must keep it in the garage or back yard. 3. Christmas lights could only be up between December 15 and January 5th. Outside of those dates, simply turning them off was not enough, you had to remove them. 4. Any and all landscaping or house paint changes had to be approved by the HOA (with a plan-submission fee of course), even if you were repainting the house the same color. 5. Brown grass was not allowed. This may sound simple enough with a programmable sprinkler system which every house in this neighborhood was built with... but we're in Colorado where some lawns just simply choose not to grow some years regardless of care or watering. 6. Broken vehicles were not allowed. If someone thought your vehicle hadn't moved in a long time (regardless of the reason), they could report that. 7. You had to clear snow from the driveway in addition to the sidewalk if over an inch deep. Sidewalk I understand but who cares about the driveway other than the owner? 8. Finally when you sell the house, there is a $500 HOA cancellation fee. Failure to pay this means the HOA can choose not to approve the sale so the County would report that "not all parties approve the deal" and therefore deny your right to sell the house. Of course, the new owner also had a fee to join the HOA, and failure to pay that would result in the same penalty. I hope to never live in a neighborhood with an HOA, but ALL new neighborhoods here have them.

[@prathameshtamhane1445]

What happens if you don't follow those rules? Can they sue you?

[@nicholasalbrecht9357]

​@@prathameshtamhane1445 They can write you a ticket. If you don't pay the ticket, then they can take you to court where the court usually sides with the HOA due to all terms and penalties being spelled out in an HOA contract any potential homeowner must sign prior to buying the home.

[@oceana9294]

Don't leave your pets outside at night, think of the coyotes. Thank goodness for Britbox, it helped me to remain sane thru the Pandemic, as did KZbin.

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

You're right, I should protect the coyotes from my wolfdog.

[@marshmower]

True almost anywhere..... Is front porch hunting permitted? 😂

[@5stardave]

My 3 Great Pyrenees keep the coyotes away. I'm too old worry about cougars, they're more interested in the frat boys down the street.

[@Bay-BGhost]

I live in Florida and the lowest we set our air conditioning is 72, and people are always cold when they come in. When you said 75 outside and you were toasty, it made me lol.

[@avalerie4467]

72 !!! Yikes . I think my teeth chattered LOL I've lived in Florida for 60 years, the ac goes on only if it's in the mid 90s outside. Set to 80-82 inside. Less bothered by the heat outside that way. Growing up, we had fans, never a/c. However, i am a wimp come florida winter. When it drops to 50, i barely leave the house ! 😂

[@kimberlyx4060]

75 is a good spring day where we keep the windows open and Central Air off.

[@katiemiller8313]

I live in Ohio and I too was surprised at him saying 75 was too warm. My AC is usually set to 75. And AC doesn't go on until at least 80 outside.

[@pyewacketkitty8404]

I live in Oklahoma and our AC is set to 75 in the summer. It's hilarious he thinks that's toasty. I don't start feeling toasty until at least 78 inside!

[@alisaperry2902]

If you lost your AC on a 75 degree F day consider yourself very lucky. Normally the AC picks the hottest day of the year to roll over and die. Expect the furnace to die on the coldest day in January.

[@paulagallagher8695]

Oh, I love your sponsor, Brit Box. I feel like my husband and I have almost exhausted the offerings there to the point of rewatching serveral series and waiting each week for 2 more new episodes of Father Brown to be released.

[@Knight-of-Sarcasm]

I was told recently that one of my childhood shows is on Britbox. You have me sorely tempted, and when the pen/paper/budget time comes again, I have high chances of using your code!

[@fidgetssailing4725]

As a homeowner with a house that has 5 hvacs - we started replacing most of the hvacs with mini splits - where you have a cassette(unit) in each room. It's not the prettiest - but so nice to keep each room the temp needed - plus it has some feature that if it's really humid it will dry that out. I live in an extremely humid state so that's a big plus.

[@nate6862]

Plus it's heatpump solution for when it's not extremely cold out.

[@TiredMomma]

5?!? How big is your house?! Even a 4 bed 2 story home only gets 1 unit.

[@tonypajamas610]

HVAC guy here. Minisplits are great for applications where you can’t fit ductwork into the structure. Beyond that, though, they’re a PITA to repair. Also get ready for another round of “your refrigerant has been banned by the EPA and you’ll need to replace this system soon.” because they’re already working on that.

[@dl7596]

Information for those not familiar with "mini-splits", like me: I googled it and saw a few entries that said things like this from a heating and cooling place in Wichita, KS: "Having mold in your ductless mini split unit is a disgusting problem, and unfortunately, a rather common one. Ductless Mini Split systems can be filled with dirt, debris, and mold if they are not properly maintained. Left ignored, the inside of your ductless mini split could become a home for mold and mildew. Feb 8, 2022"

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

​@@TiredMomma depends on who designs the system really. I've seen one house that had a mini split to pre-dry or warm, depending on season, the fresh air coming into a house, that was then through 3 separate units before entering the house. Those were not the only units. This house had 16 outdoor condensing sections, and 11 electrical panels I think. Maybe 12. And that's just what I can say about the house.

[@johnhammond6248]

Something i really reccomend looking into with you central AC system is getting an ultra violet light or ionizer installed in your furnace to protect your evaporator coil (inside box above furnace with the copper tubes going into it). That coil gets the humidity out of the air and is wet constantly and can grow mold and fungus in it, which can cause airflow restrictions and allergies. Putting a UV light overtop of that indoor coil will benefit your allergies and breathing issues if you have any and kill any mold and fungus that might be growing in it

[@heatherknopp3723]

Wow, cool idea! Thanks for sharing that! I do have allergies, and mold is one of them.

[@veramae4098]

Also, before adding AC, or even if you already have it, look into a good "whole house" fan. They install in the ceiling below the attic. I open my windows at night, turn on the fan for about 10 minutes, turn it off and the house is delightfully cool. In the morning close all the windows. If the heat's really extreme I might leave it on all night. Still cheaper than AC. I've got it down to using AC for usually only about 2 or 3 weeks each summer.

[@heatherknopp3723]

@@veramae4098 I grew up with a "whole-house" fan, we called it the attic fan. Works great, to a point. But it doesn't cut the humidity that makes it impossible to get comfortable at night.

[@vanhattfield8292]

Something to consider when installing a UV filter, especially if doing it yourself, is that UV light can cause damage to some air handler components and materials and is also a safety hazard, especially to the eyes, so caution is needed when installing and for use.

[@chrisschembari2486]

I grew up in Bolingbrook, IL (SW suburbs of Chicago), in a house that I think was built in the 1960s, and it had a retractable clothesline in the backyard. The clothesline was kept in a spring-loaded spool attached to the back wall of the house. You just pulled it out and attached it to a freestanding post at the back of the yard when you wanted to use the line. My parents only used it in fair weather as a convenience, not out of some urgent need to avoid using the dryer in our basement - though a bit of cost saving certainly also appealed. Bolingbrook was named after the family name of two English kings, Henry V and VIII (Bolingbroke). As a child, I was told that many of the village's oldest streets were named after English authors.

[@sku32956]

Lots of folks do not maintain their HVAC system ,Change filters on a regular basis ,Clean your out door compressor ,your plastic pipe that carriers water from the AC ,and furnace if A high efficiency needs to be cleaned too bleach works well . Save the Bees !! we need them .

[@jrgunn5]

Ah, yes. The joys of home ownership. Like when I bought my house and during the first heavy thunderstorm, my fireplace began to weep. Inconsolably. Sigh..

[@davenport7321]

My parents’ brick house had weep holes. During Hurricane Alicia, my dad was mopping up water coming in through the weep holes.

[@margarethutchison9552]

Many of us can relate!

[@CommodoreFan64]

I can relate as I inherited my grandparents place that was built in the mid 50's, and last year we had to have the fireplace resealed, and capped because of leaks, and man that was a pain in the wallet, now in the winter we put one of those electric radiant fireplace style heaters in the insert

[@crybebebunny]

​@Commodorefan64 lucky you inherited and still complaining 😂❣️👍🏼🚨💝

[@jarvindriftwood]

Yeah lots of homebuyers don't ask about a fireplace inspection. You don't want to light fires without one, in case there are cracked pipes or a squirrel's nest inside.

[@dvjolly19]

Those 2 green things sitting under the AMAZING discarded piece of drain pipe do the same thing as the discarded piece of drain pipe

[@derekporter7651]

It seems to me that the USA has not cottoned on to the concept of a soakaway! Why discharge a rainwater pipe so close to the building that the water finds its way into the basement? Connect the pipe to an underground drain and terminate it 5m from the building in a soakaway where the water will just permeate the ground harmlessly.

[@johndoe6032]

When I moved into my house we soon realized our HVAC was not working up to par. After calling in a specialist he quickly found that there was a wrong-sized filter half sucked up into the HVAC duct. It looked so old that we think it preceeded the previous owner's tenure, which was only 3 years but still 3 years of poor heating and air conditioning.

[@d.jensen5153]

It's so dry in our neck of the woods that our clothes lines are in the basement - our unheated basement. Even in the dead of winter, shirts or sheets take only a few hours to dry. Fortunately we have 12,000' mountains to catch snow and provide us water.

[@jeanjaz]

Growing up, my father only rented a few times, and only for short periods - he considered a purchased house an investment, where renting was like flushing money down the toilet. But then 4 of the houses we owned he sold for nearly double what he bought them for, so for all intents and purposes, we lived there for just the cost of the maintenance. My dad was raised on a farm where they always did their own fixing. The key is to know the working life of all your appliances and home systems. Buy your filters, light bulbs, and such in bulk. When you know your oven, water heaters, hvac, dishwasher, or other things are getting old, start looking for sales - like black Friday sales. Relaxing it before it fails, means you can usually sell the old appliance for at least a little bit instead of paying to have it disposed of. If you have an older house whose pipes aren't well insulated (and even if you've been told they are) make sure you let your faucets drip when the outside temp is below freezing. If your pipes freeze, this allows for the expansion and the pipes won't burst. My dad had the "maintenance schedule" in his head because he'd done it so long, but I have to have a calendar to keep track. Cleaning gutters twice a year, covering the outside faucets for winter, washng the outside of windows so they don't get mineral buildup, replacing critter traps in the attic and crawlspace, checking for termites, carpenter ants, and dry rot. In Texas, we had to water the foundation during prolonged hot dry spells because the ground would crack, and crack your foundation too. In the northwest, we'd pressure wash the roof to get the moss and tree debris off so it didn't rot the roof. I think a lot of problems are first time homeowners who have never experienced or been taught how to maintain a house so you are less likely to have disasters. It's very likely, these days, that when you buy a house, the previous owners didn't know how to maintain it. My dad looked for that neglect and usually brought the price of the house down by noting them. What didn't get fixed, he addressed after moving in. If you can't afford $100 - $200/ month on maintenance, you probably bought too much house for your budget. Whether you spend that or not, you should set it aside for the big jobs - painting, gutter replacement, appliance replacement, reroofing, re-flooring, etc.. Seems like my dad was good at choosing houses that needed some improvement, like a fence, or a couple trees, or finishing the basement, that added value to the property. He was REALLY good at planting a beautiful lawn. Ugh, I'm getting old and rambling with my reminiscence. 🙃

[@julie.1081]

@jeanjaz- Don't apologize. I found your post entertaining & informative. But it got me thinking that the best house warming present you could give to a first time home owner would be some good DIY books on home maintenance. There are so many things that need to be done that if you've never owned a home, it may not even occur to you.

[@jjones9395]

I actually enjoyed your rambling. In fact, I wouldn’t even call it rambling because every thing you said was on topic, informative, and well stated. Thanks much for sharing!

[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

Your dad was spot on… I try to tell my husband these things, that maintenance is required but he’s just shrugs so I point things out. Our fridge is getting old and I’m thinking it could go out any time so we should shop the sales for a new one and sell this one for 50. We’d get something for it, and the person buying it can invest some to fix it when it does die (it’s about 15 years old and a good brand). My husband just says to let it die… I’m like, what a waste Some men have no common sense 😅

[@lindaward3156]

I'd never by a house in an HOA but I live in one of those "right to dry" States so it could be a reflection of an attitude of my lifestyle/surroundings. I'd end up very cranky and not enjoying my life in my own home if someone knocked on my door telling me which flowers, etc. I can plant. nope, not for me!

[@willswomble7274]

I would get junior's submachine gun out.....That's what I'd call FREEDOM!

[@Twerkulies]

For non Americans, HOA's are not as common as KZbin makes you believe. Only about 15% of the US communities outside large cities, are in an HOA. And it's most often, but not always, in newer developments where houses are almost identical.

[@karenk2409]

Virginia: When it's between 68 and 75, I open up the house and enjoy the fresh air! Also, Lawrence, find a company that will inspect your HVAC system twice a year. Well worth the cost (less than $200 year) - my last unit lasted 26 years, and I replaced it before it died. The freon it needed the last 2 years was ridiculously expensive.

[@ariste01]

Had to holler at the hubby for discussing money in front of the appliances. Back in March our furnace and our hot water heater both went within 24 hours of each other. Luckily tax return went in our bank account shortly after.

[@nickwoolgar]

I'm from the UK, moved to the US this year and have just bought my own first American house in, wait for it, Illinois! So these homeowner videos are of great interest, keep up the good work!

[@Eric-xh9ee]

Illinois property taxes are very high. If you move to other states, your taxes will drop dramatically. Just something to consider. Also places like Iowa and Wisconsin have much lower crime rates and stronger economies so you'll be able to resell your house for more.

[@CoraJean19]

Again… why the communist state of Illinois?!?! Any place is better than Illinois, except California. Move to God’s country: Indiana. Then commute.

[@jaxxon98]

@@Eric-xh9ee Realtor?

[@Eric-xh9ee]

@@jaxxon98 are you asking if I'm a realtor? I've lived in the area my whole life. No, I'm not a realtor.

[@margarethawk3073]

One big issue we have had with our home is mold. We have a ranch style home in Ohio but have had to replace walls that were full of black mold. Ugh! But I am grateful to have our own home.

[@CoraJean19]

I understand that mold is a common issue in western coastal areas of the UK, kinda like the Pacific Northwest here.

[@Kenzie_Hill]

I grew up with clotheslines. Now my HOA has banned it. Good news is I set up a drying area in my garage where that space has great airflow ... i open the garage door 😊 Ancient central Heating and AC and all my dirty vents are being replaced with mini splits... looking forward to this!

[@SeldimSeen1]

I was a homeowner for 16 years. Fortunately, I rarely had any interaction with my HOA except for them raising my dues. However, the home repairs were too high and the taxes kept going up. Since I live in Raleigh, NC I was able to sell my house last year at a 100% profit. I am now renting an apartment. Granted apartment rentals are extremely high but when you consider that I do not pay a mortgage, property tax or HOA dues, it comes out even. One really nice benefit is when the sink got clogged, maintance came out and fixed it without any extra cost to me. Anyway, enjoy your home. You've and your lovely wife have definitely earned it.

[@jimw7550]

The HOA in my suburb were set in 1964 and can only be changed by the state legislature. They have never been changed.

[@ericpeterson336]

Oh you're paying property taxes, it's just part of the exorbitant rent you're paying and no tax deduction either.

[@marxmaiale9981]

For your cotton covered AC condensor unit. Highly recommend getting a Leaf blower that also has a leaf bagging arrangement. They are great for cleaning up the cotton and other tree droppings.

[@thekowboymom2710]

Good idea! There's so much cottonwood fluff in the air right now

[@rapierce99]

Gonna have to use garden hose wash it off. Start at the stop and it will roll down like your making hay bail.

[@heidifedor]

LOL! As long as the HOA doesn’t have a ban on leaf blowers.

[@Randalf.]

Hvac Professional here. I can confirm that water hose works best for cleaning off cotton wook fluff. I hate that stuff

[@CarlGorn]

Clotheslines are still a thing in the American countryside and in small towns. However, you get softer clothes from the dryer. And especially nice in the winter, they come out of the dryer all toasty warm. 🥰

[@LTBudd]

The evaporators in your AC unit (in the basement) may be clogged with dust and debris as well. Every so often, maybe 5-10 years, these need to be cleaned off, otherwise the evaporator can freeze over leading to your basement becoming a pool. What happens is the evaporator coils become iced over, the drain typically clogs, the water spills out over into the basement, and you don't realize it until a week after it's been happening. At my parents' house, this happened twice before we knew what was actually going on.

[@radioflyer68911]

It's a good idea to clean filters regularly. Just like changing the battery in the smoke detector, but more often.

[@dbach1025]

The first thing my dad told me and my new brjde when we bought our 1st house is to always have a significant stash of cash the house can eat. And eat it did. 28 years later, his words still haunt me as does the tens of thousands of dollars spent on the house.

[@noradennis4361]

But you still have a home.🙂

[@kevincrosby1760]

Try an older mobile home. When you factor in the smaller size of the furnace enclosure, different duct sizes, different floor register sizes, minimal insulation, etc. and the fact that you live in a metal-clad box in a region with a record high of 115F and a record low of -29F, even replacing a dead furnace can be fun. When you end up with a custom Rheem Heat Pump designed with all of the above taken into account and sized to accommodate the normal highs and lows rather than the seasonal averages, you end up with a $17k installation...

[@avalerie4467]

I gave the same advice to a friend. If your mortgage is $2500/mo, also set $500 aside for repairs/unexpected sundries. After living in my house for 25 years, i calculated i spent double the cost of the home's purchase price on repairs. Homeownership is great as long as the house doesn't own you. If you can afford it, buy new when you can.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@kevincrosby1760 Heat pumps have been proven to not do all that they claim. They are not as efficient or cost effective as they have been made out to be. There are several YT videos from people who are not happy with the Heat pump they had installed.

[@dbach1025]

@@avalerie4467 agreed. Just like anything else we spend significsnt funds on, it's an investment. I'm 50 and just retired, so our house and paying it off is part of our retirement plan. If you think about it, most people spend a huge part of their life paying on a mortgage. Why wouldnt you protect your investment?

[@JouMxyzptlk]

Something rare happened: KZbin made a good suggestion by suggesting this video. I love how well you play sarcastaball..

[@bradleycullinan1210]

Also make sure to spray off any grass or cottonwood seeds from the outdoor a/c unit (condenser) with a hose to allow the fan to efficiently move air across the outdoor coil

[@scalylayde8751]

We have a house with older clay pipes- and recently discovered that tree roots are growing inside them, flooding our basement (which is half our living space) and causing a huge problem

[@radioflyer68911]

Ditto.

[@kitefan1]

Which clay pipes? The ones from the twenties which are supposed to drain waste water, either domestic or roof, away from the building.

[@user-ih6fd7py8n]

Yikes I'm sorry. I remember the same thing happened to my parents house when I was a teen. I remember the plumbing was out of order for quite a few weeks.

[@markisherwood-tj4uo]

for the roots.. go to a local rental place get a power sewer auger with a root cutter, find the main clean out, remove the cap and feed the cutter in... that will clean them out... not easy or clean , but, cheaper than hiring someone to do it,, after that get root killer ( copper sulphate) you just add it once a month to a toilet and flush . keeps the roots from growing back

[@adriannaconnor6471]

My parents' house has this problem. They hired someone to clean out the roots, and it hasn't been a problem in years. Unfortunately, to actually put in a new pipe would cost a fortune, as the city won't pay for the portion under the street, so my parents would have to pay to dig up the road and then to repave it.

[@CaitRoufa]

There's a large urban population of coyotes in the Chicago area. They aren't much of a bother and don't like being around people, and can help with keeping populations of rabbits and other critters in check. The only thing you need to worry about with the coyotes is your puppy. Just make sure that you are outside with your pup when you let them outside to do their business, especially at night. Because coyotes can snatch up a small pet for super.

[@jolynnaerobert3190]

What is a Home Owners Assoc?? A big huge pain in the butt!! They tell you you can't have an extra car in your driveway, what color you can or cannot paint your front door, what flowers you can or cannot plant, what furniture you can or cannot have on your patio. We tried that, moved out a year later into an HOA free neighborhood.

[@mkpleco]

"it was 75 degrees outside" Open a window, and throw in a fan. lol

[@jstringfellow1961]

I live in OK, it's 75 in the wintertime. We have A/C, box fans, and blocks of ice to sit on.

[@pacmanc8103]

Open the windows and wake up with a fine layer of tree and grass pollen coating every horizontal surface! No thanks!😛

[@runwillrobinson]

Thank you drain pipe. Your parents must be very proud of you. Although it did take a few years, and your attempt at becoming an internet influencer instead of graduating made us all roll our eyes.

[@dayeti6794]

He is a University Graduate, I don’t know what you are talking about.

[@sheribarnett3180]

As first-time homeowners, we’ve had frights that the central air didn’t work. With the first, we discovered the folks who did the reno FAILED TO RUN ELECTRICITY to the big box outside. The second was more embarrassing as we paid a service fee to have a HVAC professional clean the big box with the garden hose. Huh.

[@ddrowdy2]

Rule number 1 for buying a home. Never buy a home that is encumbered by an HOA or CC&R's, NEVER. I am glad you figured that out.

[@scytaleghola5969]

When I lived in the UK, there were some homeowner surprises, as well... mostly related to plumbing. The first thing I noticed was that when I turn on a little hot water and a little cold water, in order to get a warm stream, I did not get a warm stream. I got an icy cold stream and a scalding hot stream coming out of the same faucet, yet still separate. It turns out this is by law. When I asked a friend how I was supposed to get warm water to wash my face, I was told, "That is what the basin is for." I said, "OK, I can live with that in my own home, where I can make sure the basin is clean. What about public toilets where people spit and probably piss in the sinks?" His reply was, "Thanks a lot. Now I can never wash my face in a public toilet again." One day, the hot water stopped working. Nothing would come out of most of the faucets, except one. I called a plumber. He looked at me kind of crosseyed and asked, "What? You've never experienced vapor lock before?" No. I hadn't. He showed me the trick to force cold water backwards into the hot water pipes. This is a trick that you couldn't do with a mixer faucet... but then I have never needed to with mixer faucets. The plumber was nice and did not charge me for teaching me this trick that every child in the UK already knows. One day, the water coming out of my faucets was brown. Very brown. I was about to call someone when my neighbor came by to warn me to not drink the water. Apparently, a construction crew had hit a water main and mud was getting into the system. She told me that they were fixing the system and that after it was fixed I would need to run the water until the water cleared. After the system was repaired, I opened all of my taps and let the water run... and run... and run... It did not seem to be getting better. I asked my neighbor if her water was clear and she said that it was. Then she told me about "the tank". In the UK: no water towers. Instead, everyone has their own reservoir in the attic to provide water pressure. So I went up to inspect the tank. There was about 3 inches of mud in the tank. My neighbor said that was not uncommon and that if I let the water continue to run, eventually the water would clear and the mud would just be a sediment in the tank... nothing to worry about. For me, this was unacceptable. I drained the tank. Then I removed the mud. Then I flushed the tank several times. My neighbor was stunned. First because she had never heard of anyone cleaning their tank and second from the huge pile of mud that I had removed from the tank - about 3 buckets full. She was also concerned about the smell of the mud - it was pretty foul. I learned later that several of my neighbors had their tanks cleaned over the next couple of weeks. On a related note. After I cleaned the tank and refilled it, the rafters of the house creaked for days from the restoration of the weight of the water. I kept half expecting the tank to come crashing through the ceiling at any moment.

[@alistair1978utube]

pretty fowl 🦆

[@scytaleghola5969]

@@TheMcspreader As near as I can tell the regulations concerning NRVs were introduced in 2014. The house I lived in was built in the mid 1980's and I lived there in the mid to late 1990's.

[@wildbikerbill6530]

"...she had never heard of anyone cleaning their tank...the smell of the mud - it was pretty foul....several of my neighbors had their tanks cleaned..." It sounds like word traveled fast and a bunch of people went from a state of 'ignorance is bliss' to a state of 'we are drinking poo and it has got to go!'. Question: How does one open one of these tanks to clean it?

[@scytaleghola5969]

@@wildbikerbill6530 Mine was just an open tank in the attic. No lid, or anything. Crazy. I turmed off the feed valve, drained the tank through the plumbing, reached in with a makeshift shovel, and filled buckets. When most of the mud was gone, I turned the feed back on (still draining) and used a brush to scrub it down.

[@wildbikerbill6530]

@@scytaleghola5969'No lid, or anything' - Wow. I was imagining something like a standard American water heater and wondering how on earth do you get inside to clean it? But nothing at all - so any dust, dirt, or other filth blowing in the air, or bugs, or animals could leave almost anything behind. I think I would put some sort of rubber trim over the top edge, then a metal sheet across the top to at least semi-seal it from the environment.

[@maggiemacha5552]

YAY rain gutter 🎉 you are the hero of the day! Those are some challenging home owner scenarios Lawrence! Sending gobs of good fortune energy your way! You deserve a break today!! Much love to you, your wife and your lovely pup and cat 💖 from a big fan in CT