Renovation Without the Debt
Brooklynites may be able to learn a thing or two from the discipline and staying power of one Ohioan renovator. Granted, the Akron couple featured in today’s New York Times, David and Gina Giffels, picked up their 1913 Tudor for an envy-inducing $65,000 back in 1996. But their meticulous renovation in the intervening twelve years…
Brooklynites may be able to learn a thing or two from the discipline and staying power of one Ohioan renovator. Granted, the Akron couple featured in today’s New York Times, David and Gina Giffels, picked up their 1913 Tudor for an envy-inducing $65,000 back in 1996. But their meticulous renovation in the intervening twelve years without taking on a penny of debt (they don’t believe in credit cards) is impressive nonetheless. Of course, there were other costs, like vacation time spent with a caulk gun instead of the children. But it’s clear that the couple’s relationship with the house transcends finances anyway. What I put into it was about eight ounces of my heart, Mr. Giffels told the NY Times. It’s like asking, ‘Well, what do you have in Gina, what have you spent on Gina over the years? Gina is not a commodity; neither is this. It’s not something that we really bought, it’s something that came into our lives. We’re sure there are more than a couple readers who have a similar tale.
Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Solvent [NY Times]
An Artful Restoration Slideshow [NY Times]
They seem happy overall. Far more happy than some of the bitter, nit-picking, miserable folks here in Brownstonerland.
“The judgemental … Live your own life and let other people make their own choices…?”
hypocrite
The article claims a doctor said not to worry that the stress of moving in and taking the place on caused 2 miscarriages in the 1st year there. I’m guessing that’s more likely to be literary license by this loser husband rather than malpractice by some fictional doctor.
Nobody forced her into the marriage nor forced her to live there. Plus they seem happy. Very strange everyone sees misery in their faces because hmm, I’m not seeing it.
The judgemental ultra-superior super-competitive mommy types of our generation are so hard to take. Live your own life and let other people make their own choices about their own families why don’t you?
I wonder if all of the chemicals – paints, strippers, waxes and dust possibly from lead paint and God knows what else caused her to miscarry.
3:23 you’re right. he didn’t equate her to the house. he ranked her below the house in choosing to works on “projects” rather than go to be with her and offer her the comfort she needed and requested after miscarrying his kids. Major a**hole. When his kid grows up and reads how daddy treated mommy after the loss of his siblings, kid is going to be selling this wreck.
3:23 you’re right. he didn’t equate her to the house. he ranked her below the house in choosing to works on “projects” rather than go to be with her and offer her the comfort she needed and requested after miscarrying his kids. Major a**hole. When his kid grows up and reads how daddy treated mommy after the loss of his siblings, kid is going to be selling this wreck.
Um, we DO hire professionals, 3:46. Where did I say we didn’t? We just hire them with cash, no loans. And no, our house is not falling down around us.
I think the only thing that’s clear is you are one of the bitter contractors that show up on Forum all the time bashing people who don’t want to be in debt for 30 years just for a new bathroom you’ve managed to convince them costs $50K or it “will fall down”. It’s not the bubble anymore. People are going to spend what they can afford now. It’s a good thing.
12:49 What are you talking about? You need to hire a financial planner asap. You don’t use your house to pay for college for the same reason you don’t pay for your house upfront. You will use the education over a lifetime, so you get student loans and pay them off over 30 years. The government subsidizes student loans and offers tax deductions for mortgage interest for a reason – to encourage idiots like you to use leverage wisely. You still don’t get it.
Clearly you want to do your own renovations. I think you should probably hire some professionals so your house doesn’t fall down around you. It’s clear from your comments that you don’t hire financial professionals either and are making stupid judgments about the proper use of investments and leverage.