Updates

Well, more progress has been made. 

I replaced the toilet seat all by myself. It was as easy as everyone said it would be. 

But the important thing is that I had someone come & put down new vinyl tiles in the kitchen!!

I forgot to take a picture of the before (which was permanently stained), but here is the after!!!!

More updates

Good news: I finally got an electrician out to the condo to address the hvac unit. It is a relatively simple problem, partially involving fuses which the nice electrician left me.

Bad news: The fuses blew because of the motor in the hvac itself, which now needs to be replaced. I have to get an hvac guy to come out. I thought, "At least when I call the hvac guy I can relay info from the electrician as to exactly what is wrong." Nope. ::sigh::

HVAC place will not take electrician's recommendation. They must come do their own diagnostic and then schedule separate trip to come back & fix it. ::headdesk::

The HVAC guy came. It's either $1200 & a prayer to try to fix it or $2100 for a new unit. Oy vey.

Edit: Considering a ductless air conditioner.

After the HVAC setback, I moved on to installing the new curtain rod... Oh, wait, no. The drywall isn't as thick as in other places so the anchors & screws are too long. AND it looks like I probably have the wrong size curtains. I'm headed to the hardware store for new anchors & screws. Don't know what I'm going to do about the curtains.

Edit: Curtain rod successfully installed... mostly. Even though I have the wrong size curtains, I have the right size sheers. After I hung them up I realized one of the panels is backwards but I was too done to take them back down to fix it. Also, It really needs a third bracket in the middle, but there's nowhere to attach it.

I have successfully installed a closet shelf in the bedroom

Paint job

Painting happened!

I got some help & we knocked it out in a morning. 

It's not 100% done, but the areas where I need to rehang things like shelves & curtain rods are done. I'm waiting to do the hallway until after the stove delivery. 

It feels really good to have this done and even better not to have spent $900 on it. 

Painting

I've decided to paint the condo myself.  I've never painted before, so I started (like I do with everything) with internet research. Here are my main resources:

DIY Painting Tips, Tricks, and a Step-by-Step Guide | Making it Lovely

http://makingitlovely.com/2010/03/09/diy-painting-tips-tricks-and-a-step-by-step-guide/

Painting 101: Interior and Exterior House Painting Tips, Paint Color Ideas, and House Painting Supplies : Home Improvement : DIY Network
http://www.diynetwork.com/painting-101/package/index.html

Painting Techniques & Tips - How to Paint a House or Room
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/learn-how-to-paint

47 Tips And Tricks To Ensure A Perfect Paint Job
http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/paint-hacks?s=mobile

HowStuffWorks "How to Paint a Room: Tips and Guidelines"
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/home-diy/painting/how-to-paint-room.htm

Home Depot has these really helpful kits; they come in 4 levels (economy, good, better, best) that include most of the basic supplies. I bought the economy and better packages, along with painter's tape & drop cloths. I also calculated the square footage of my walls. So now I just need to buy paint...

I can't believe I'm still working on this!

So, I've moved out of the condo & it's empty except for what I need to work on repairs. 

(Those are gone now too!)

Things still remaining to do:

• Get HVAC/breaker serviced
• Paint
• New Stove
• Install new bedroom closet shelf (already purchased)
• Get new hall closet shelf  (need a custom fit, unfortunately)
• Replace curtain rod
• Clean, clean, clean!

Then there's all the paperwork.  I have to make sure I am all square with my condo association and the District.

In the meantime, I'm evaluating what I would need to bring back to hold tasting parties there in the meantime:

• glassware (disposables? Or bring back dish detergent?)
• paper products
• seating (There are only 2 chairs & a step-stool there now.)
• a table
• display (I could easily make a second display to leave there for a while)

One step forward

I got laid off in February, and after the ensuing depressive episode, turned some of my attention back to condo repairs/upgrades. I made small progress, but I've also experienced some setbacks. I am going to have to get a drywall kit and patch major sections of my apartment.

In the meantime, I've been purging the apartment of much clutter. Earlier this month I donated to Goodwill:

• 19 pairs of shoes
• 1 sweater
• 3 formal dresses
• 4 pairs of pants
• 4 skirts
• 42 shirts/blouses
• 3 dress sets
• 4 pairs of shorts
• 15 pairs of pantyhose (unopened packages)
• 4 pairs of knee high socks (unopened packages)
• 1 13" screen tv
  

The shoes made the most space. Now I'm working on purging media. That should create quite a bit more space as well.

New Year's Resolutions (mine & other people's)

According to this article from Fitness.com ...

"Many people tend to make unrealistic goals when it comes to creating a New Year’s Resolution based on health and fitness. Many rush immediately to a gym to sign up, go for a few weeks, and then decide to give up. Instead of making these unreachable goals for yourself, why not start with something simpler. Here are some suggestions to creating a more manageable and achievable New Year’s Resolution."

This year (next year?), instead of doing traditional resolutions, I'm doing a 101 Things in 1001 Days list. I'll be tracking that list in a separate blog, here.

The Home Improvement goals are the same as they've been for a while:
1. Buy a new stove
2. Replace bathroom fixtures
3. Buy & install new closet system
4. Put up new curtain rod & curtains
5. Install Automatic Ice Maker
6. Install spice rack(s) in cupboard
7. Rent out condo

I also made some specific uncluttering goals:
1. Have a successful Yard Sale
2. File all my loose papers
3. Organize all my fitness stuff
4. Consolidate all my VCR tapes

Next steps

Before I can do any more repair or replacement work, I really have to make more progress on cleaning & decluttering my place.  I have saved enough money for a stove, but it would be nearly impossible to get the old stove out & the new stove in because of sheer volume of stuff in my condo.  So last weekend, I threw out a lot of stuff & this weekend, I put a bunch of summer stuff in storage.

It's coming along.  I just have to be patient and persistent.  But now that I have a little more room to work in, I should be able to pick up the pace a bit.  Getting the new stove will be a major boost.

What I've accomplished so far

Is not much.

I replaced the shower-head with a hand-held.

I replaced the water filter on the kitchen faucet.

I bought the curtain rods & curtains.

I've selected a shelving unit for the bedroom closet.

I've saved enough money to buy a stove.

And miles to go before I sleep.

Potentially helpful and/or interesting wiki-hows

http://www.wikihow.com/Succeed-at-Any-Home-Improvement-Project

http://www.wikihow.com/Design-Your-Own-Home

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Sideways-Room

Re-Start

I'm moving this journal over here so I'll actually remember to update it.

Here's the introductory post from the original blog:

This particular blog is focused on Home Improvement .  I'll list my goals and progress & hope that the shame of public scrutiny will force my off my butt and into action.

I have a one-bedroom condo in an *awesome* location.  I've lived here for about 9 years.  I would really like to buy a house in 2008 (townhouse or larger condo).  So in preparation for that; I want to make a few upgrades on the condo so I can rent it out.

The big goal - renting it out for more than whatever it costs me to live somewhere else.

Projects: 
Kitchen (new stove!, ice maker?)
Bathroom (new faucets)
New curtains
Redo Bedroom closet
paint
shampoo carpets
new cabinets?
new countertop
re-tile floor?

I want to tackle the bathroom faucets and curtains first, because they'll actually make my life more pleasant while I take care of other stuff.  Plus they shouldn't be that hard.  I need to do some research and make the purchases.

The stove would also be for me as well as the tenant, but that's obviously more expensive.

The closet, though very important won't happen until I'm about to move out, because I'm far too lazy to move my clothes around that much.

The painting & cleaning is cosmetic and won't happen until someone else is going to move in.