My “favorite” flip appears to be cursed. Price is down another $25K, it’s now down almost 40% since it was first re-listed after the renovations:
https://www.redfin.com/MA/Dennis-Port/30-Baxter-St-02639/home/77387297
Wow. Still no takers…
How would you feel if your flip was featured in the big local paper as an example of “oops” pricing?
“Take a newly remodeled four-bedroom home just northwest of Green Lake that went on the market in mid-September for $950,000. The flipper who gutted and renovated the home must not have gotten any nibbles because within a week, the price was down to $899,950. A couple weeks later, it was down to $879,950. Still nothing. Another couple of weeks and it sank to $859,950. Another two weeks and they tried $839,950. Nope. This week it went back on the market at $799,995.”
That’s a very interesting article about price drops. The general San Diego area has come to a screeching halt also. Two similar homes in La Mesa that went up for sale 1 week after I closed are still lingering 3 weeks later with price drops.
Glad your MCM house sold before the rate hike and the October stock market jitters hit the RE buyers hard.
IMO, the spring and summer prices here were unrealistic, driven by the bidding wars from buyers who felt rich watching their stock options and savings go up. Rents, however, are not going down any significant amount… a 3 bedroom townhome rents for $3500 a month. Insane. A pod flat is easily $1500. Of you want to park your car in the garage, that would be $50-100 extra per month.
I decided to revamp my living room. I used an online interior decorator service to get some ideas and now I’m ready to start implementing some of the ideas.
When we moved in, I was pretty happy that all of my trim was painted white. But when we started replacing windows, I shifted gears and decided I wanted natural fir craftsman molding - so not stained and not painted.
That’s great, but I have two built-ins on either side of a big window plus a fireplace surround that is floor to ceiling painted wood. Not to mention the cove molding and the 14” tall baseboard. All painted white.
I started stripping the paint off the fireplace surround yesterday. Pretty much spent all day with a heat gun today. Next step will be the citristrip then the mineral spirits, sanding and sealing.
It all appears to be built from 1” thick clear grain fir.
Wow, that’s a lot of work. I’m sure it will look great!
It certainly sounds like a lot of work! Glad you were able to uncover good wood under that paint.
Gawd, I hate stripping and don’t use the stuff anymore. Heat gun. But since I’m repainting, a good sanding works. (I’m a picture straightner type. I hate the way the stair spindles were done before.) This past summer, I said I needed a Dremel. I did get one.
Question. I hate brush strokes showing on the woodwork and trim and just painted some 2nd floor doors in semi gloss, with a small roller. They actually look good. (I usually only do primer with the roller.)
Do you think this is going to look cheezy if I ever market the house? Or no one will notice? It has a little texture, but I think the effect is fine. The one door where Iused a (good) brush does show strokes and it looks obvious. To me.
@lookingforward as long as you don’t have those horrible popcorn ceilings I think you’re good. I was so happy when I finally replaced all our groundfloor ceilings. We had a beautiful 1920s house that had had some just horrible things done to it - cheezy dark paneling and caca d’oie formica countertops, and a tile floor in the kitchen that almost killed me multiple times it was so slippery when it was wet.
Re brushstrokes, the top level Benjamin Moore has good leveling quality, and if you get the right brush it is even better. I got a Wooster Silver Tip brush at the paint store. I tried a mini roller on the bathroom trim but I didn’t like the look at all.
I found that these rollers provide the best “brushstroke-less” results.
https://www.amazon.com/Work-Tools-International-51016-6-Inch/dp/B001GLWLQS/
Our local BM stores sell them.
Going to share more of my painting tips with my fellow painters. I highly recommend this handy paint bucket:
https://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Brush-8619-Pelican-Quart/dp/B000ELQUOK/
It fits a small roller perfectly, and the liners are easy to swap out.
https://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Brush-8629-Pelican-3-Pack/dp/B000ELSZHA/
I have good Wooster and Purdy (I think) and supposedly the same high level BM trim paint I used on the first floor. I just watched the BM video on painting cabinets- maybe I fine sanded between the first semi gloss and second, on the first floor trim. This is going to be one long project, into winter. Lots of doors to be updated. I did read that a 1/4" nap is preferable with semi. I’ll try that. I can experiment on the insides of closet doors with the brushes.
I had an issue with the BM on the bathroom woodwork yellowing over the years. This time, they swapped me to a kitchen and bath semi. It looked like heck going on, awful, spotty. But dried to a perfect coat. ?
So, I dunno. The problem is probably me, my expectations. I’ve learned to ease up. But.
I think the BM manager thinks I’m obsessive. But in the end, if it satisfies me, I’m good, done with it, no looking for issues.
The final panel that was MIA has been installed! Our kitchen is ready to rock at Thanksgiving. Friends already looked at it and drooled. Love my clear stained cherry that replaced the horrid painted look. If you need references for a kitchen contractor for new build or reface in the greater Seattle area, I know a good one! 
Now… Need to convince Mr. that the ugly guest bath wants a facelift. 
My carpenters are returning to hang the closet doors, which finally arrived, and our painter will be here next week to finish up. I hate to jinx myself but there is a possibility phase I will be done before Thanksgiving!
They finally installed the stone window sill in my kitchen.
It looks great! DW says thanks to whoever it was that suggested it!
She is very welcome!
@notrichenough - can you please PM me a link to your Flickr photos?
@momofsenior1, do you have an update?
I got the estimate for my patio from my landscaper yesterday. Only $2400 and change. I’m thrilled (and so is H.)