I'm not complaining ... but figured I would throw this out there ... so others will realize, they are likely ahead of "the game" ...
- We currently do not have air conditioning. A power surge took out our A/C coil ($3,600). If we replace the coil, we need to replace the A/C condenser (another $3,500). If we replace the condenser, we really need to consider replacing the heater (entire unit is 25 years old), as the A/C would have to be melded into the heater. The estimate for new gas fired HVAC ... $14,000 - $21,000 (down to about $19K after rebates and energy credits).
OHHHH-MY-GOOOOOSH!
- Some of you know our home was impacted by Hurricane Sandy (October 29, 2012). The house sustained $45,000+ of damage ... and the insurance company came to visit us after this last Thanksgiving. A "catastrophe" adjuster was dispatched ... who was from North Carolina (we are in Philadelphia, PA). He initially wrote $11,000 worth of damages. It would take another 3-4 months before anyone at our insurance company would respond back to us, before we they sent someone else for a 2nd opinion ... and then ... realize their first adjuster had missed $34,000 of repairs (go figure)!
- In early April, we received a check from the insurance company ... made out incorrectly (long story). It has taken 2.5 months to get past our adjuster to his Supervisor, who started screaming at me while on his cell phone with a very bad connection. I informed him of our bad connection, and asked him to have someone call me when they have a good connection. Surprisingly, a MANAGER called me within 20 minutes. After 30 minutes on the phone, it seems like a majority of the insurance check situation is in the process of being resolved ... but I will not hold my breath, until I get written confirmation.
- We had our brick chimney fixed this past week (broken terracotta, from Hurricane Sandy) ... $1,200 for repairs.
- The roof is getting replaced within the next 2 weeks (Hurricane Sandy) ... $10,750, plus a new thermostatically controlled attic fan (damaged - Sandy) - $375, plus about $500 to replace 8 sheets of plywood (mold - Sandy).
- Once the roof is done, hopefully we can concentrate on the other $30,000 of repairs. We're not living in the woods ... it's just that a LOT of stuff was damaged to some degree or another (including a bathroom window - $1,700, sliding glass door - $7,600, siding, gutters, down spouts, some vinyl siding, garage doors ... need I go on?). So, if it's broken ... it has to be fixed.
- We just ordered seven windows (front of the house) ... Pella says it will take 8 weeks to order & install - $7,500 (not damaged from Sandy - surprise).
During the week ... I head to Costco, to sit in the food court (free A/C, and I get to drink for the entire day for just 59 cents! They have a hand-dipped vanilla ice cream bar - $1.59 ... it's not really a Mickey bar ... but if you close your eyes and dream ... it's darn close!
Steven
