This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen:
Real Estate
Best Home Improvement Blogs0
Zillow Blog: Wondering what it would be like to have T-giving dinner at Lady Gaga’s house? You can get a look inside her kitchen at Zillow Blog; see also the kitchens of Justin Timberlake, Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson, and other celebs. Not telling whose kitchen is previewed below. . . .
photo via Zillow Blog
A Really Expensive House0
Here’s a house for someone with a lot (and I mean A LOT) of money.
The Neptus 60, designed by Naval Architect Giancarlo Zema, looks like something from a James Bond movie. His goal was to create a cliff-side living space in harmony with nature. And while it appears somewhat retro-futuristic, I think he’s succeeded.
House Hunting0
House hunting is a chore. It can also be fun and exciting, but it takes a lot of time, and there can be some frustrating moments.
My girlfriend and I just went through a typical house-hunting scenario: we made an offer, they made a counter-offer, we counter-offered their counter-offer . . . and then the owner got a bit greedy. Basically, the owner wanted roughly $20,000 more than the house was worth; it needed a new roof, a whole-new A/C system, and a new circuit breaker. That’s a lot of money that we didn’t have – and sadly, at the price the owner is looking for, these issues will insure that the house stays on the market for a long time.
But, I can say that our house hunting experiences are not as bad as some . . .
This first video comes in two parts. Starring Paul Rudd and Zooey Deschanel, it is entitled (aptly enough) House Hunting. And it made me realize how happy I am with our realtor. Be aware that it’s not for the kiddies.
PART 1
PART 2:
This next video comes from the BBC television show Spine Chillers. It involves the two main characters (both Goths) endeavoring to rent a flat:
And lastly, for a more a more whimsical look at house-hunting, but one that is still quite grim, check out this clip from the Cartoon Network’s great little show Adventuretime.
So I’m kind’a okay with the few problems my girlfriend and I have run into while house hunting. At least it hasn’t involved manic realtors, lying creepy Goth landlords, or magical monsters. That gives me hope that we’ll be in a new place soon.
by John Barker
Big Bucks. Big House.1
A billion dollars. I can’t even conceive of that much money.
I can, however, say that it’s a 1 followed by nine 0s. Like this: $1,000,000,000.
And if you spend that much money on a house, this is what you can get:
I can’t say that I find it aesthetically pleasing on the outside. It looks like a Jenga tower that’s about to collapse.
See what I mean?
Built by Indian gazillionaire tycoon Mukesh Ambani, the house is called Antilia and it’s 27 stories tall. I’d call that a bit extravagant for a family of four. Hell, I’d call that a bit extravagant for a family of 40!
Located in Mumbai, India, Antilia sports quite a few amenities, including a movie theater (with 50 seats), a ballroom, a dance studio, a health club, and at least one pool.
Note that there are not one . . . not two . . . but three helipads. And really? Six floors of parking? Why????
I suppose I would be tempted to go bug-nuts crazy with my money if I were the fourth richest man in the world. And a giant house wouldn’t be out of the question.
But I’d at least try to make it look pleasant on the outside. And if I had three helicopters, I surely would not place my home in the middle of the city. It’d be in the country somewhere. Seriously—if I had a house that big, I’d never need to go out for anything . . . and what fun would that be?
by John Barker
Instant Man Cave0
Attention all MEN! The following image may lead to your own, personal nirvana:
That, my friends, is a basic man cave. But it is special—because it’s not a room inside your house.
It’s a freestanding little slice of heaven. This is the Instant Man Cave, and it comes in two models—Base and Deluxe. Both models are 12’x 20’, though other sizes are available upon request.
The Base model includes everything the price-conscious man needs to escape responsibility, including pre-installed co-ax cable, 2 shelves, a storage box with two bench seats, two windows with screens, and—most importantly—a bar, complete with a footrest. The flooring is vinyl with a wood grain finish and the entrance is a steel house door with a window. A bit of work is required to finish assembly of the Base model (insulation and running electric wiring, for example). This little sucker goes for $4995.
Then you have the Deluxe model, which includes all of the above plus a collapsible table, a built-in trophy case, insulation, three shelves, electric wiring, and a tongue & groove pine finished interior. And it is already built for you—no assembly required. But it’s also a bit more expensive: $8,495.
I love this idea. It’s less expensive than converting your basement (since I’m in Florida, basements are a very rare thing) and offers a lot of room for personalization. I’m picturing a big-screen TV, networked computers for gaming, and a ‘fridge full of beer in mine…
by John Barker
Fun at the Pool0
We are looking to buy a new house. As I type this, the loan guy is sitting in our current living room going over figures with my girlfriend concerning the purchase of a house with a really nice pool.
I’m not sure I want to own a pool with my house. They’re a lot of work, plus, well, this:
While some of these incidents look like they hurt like hell, others are just plain funny. And yes, I’m guilty of doing at least one of these stunts. I’m not saying which one, but it did involve a water slide and my head. . .
Next we have an idiot. Really, truly an idiot. This video plays to not one, but two of my own personal horrors: drowning and smothering. Don’t fret, though, he doesn’t drown . . .
At least he didn’t sink all of the way into the cover, then flounder around and die all while his friend shot video instead of helping save him.
So, I guess when all is said and done, I’d like this kind of pool best:
Designed by Argentinean artist Leandro Erlich for the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan, I’d take one of these just so I can sit on the bottom and drink beer.
Will we get our house? Will it have a pool, a fake pool, or a bucket and some beer? I’ll keep you posted.
by John Barker
Termites! Part 10
- termites
Termites. I hate them. I’ve gone mano-a-buggo with these little bastards before, and lemme tell ya somethin’—they are tough.
Basically, there are four types of termites: Dampwood, Drywood, Formosan, and Subterranean. And I want to rain destruction down on all of them.
But before I degenerate into a work of apocalyptic bloodlust, let’s look at how these little monsters work.
First off, they are often mistaken for ants—which I think is on purpose. It’s like they go to a costume shop and rent out all of the ant costumes just to sneak into our homes.
ant (http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapr/sets/72157594290565420/)
So, if you see ants in your house, take a moment to study them. If you look closely, you’ll notice that termites have only two body segments as opposed to the three possessed by ants. Also note that the wings of termites differ from those of ants in that they have two sets that are identical—ants have two sets that are different in size. Termites also vary in color depending on caste; worker termites are white, soldiers yellow-brown, and breeders black.
How do you know if your house is infested by termites?
The most common signs are random piles of sawdust—which actually contain more than just sawdust. As the termites consume the wood to make these tunnels they . . .well, for lack of a better word, they poop. The poop, along with saliva and mud (sounds yummy, yeah?), blends in with the sawdust to create the little piles.
The piles allow the reproductive termites a means to leave the tunnels and do what they do best, if you get my meaning. Subterranean termites are the exception as they create elaborate mazes out of mud near the foundation of the house.
Now you know a little about what to look for. But if you are the victim of a termite infestation, what steps can you take to rid yourself of these critters?
Termites! Part 2 comin’ up in a few days!
by John Barker
House Hunting0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiktik/228512445/sizes/z/in/photostream/
I’ve been house hunting lately, which got me curious about the houses of people who have a lot more money than I do. Bill Gates, for example. They say it’s a buyer’s market in this economy, so I figured if Bill was trying to unload one of his properties, maybe I’d make an offer. Who knows, there could be an indoor racetrack or some sort of giant robot dueling ring in the deal . . .
U.S. News & World Report offers a comprehensive online tour of the house, but only from the outside. It does, however, include the price tag on this tiny hovel: $53,392,200.
I can’t even count that many digits; I stumble mentally after that first comma.
All told, this Pacific Northwest-styled lodge is over 66,000 square feet in size. It has seven bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, six kitchens and six fireplaces.
For a look at the inside, we turn to Youtube and a video created by the architects for Bill Gates himself. And while it is only a virtual tour, it definitely shows what this house has to offer:
Nope. Not for sale. Looks like I’ll have to stay in my two bedroom leaky shack for the time being.
by John Barker
Aging – You and Your House0
By the time you hit your 50s, most people made a few major life investments. Unless you are a boat guy, I think of the big three as car, family and home. Apparently, one of those may need a little TLC.
According to a recent survey by Saga Personal Finance, 34 percent of 50-somethings in the UK are desperately in need of home repairs. Sadly, one in seven can’t afford to spruce things up, opting to let nature take its course.
Naturally, this is a horrible plan, especially when the top problems include issues with the roof, the drainage and gutters. Without proper maintenance, a home loses its value, it may not be safe to live in, and homeowners inadvertantly spend more money on heating and colling bills.
Insurance provider Saga is using the survey results to promote their lifetime home equity loan program. Andrew Goodsell, Executive Chairman, Saga Group commented: “People are living longer which means that retirement incomes have to stretch a lot further to keep up with inflation. Many retirees find they need additional cash, whether it is to make every day life easier, fund house repairs, take the trip of a lifetime, or to contribute to care in later life.”
Even with a home equity loan, the DIY route might appear attractive as one way to stretch that money. Another Saga survey says that 42 percent of over-50 Britons have more confidence than ever. More confidence with power tools perhaps? Sounds like another survey could be in the works . . .
by Rachel Cericola
