How predatory remodeling ruined my house in a matter of days after closing
Overnight, raccoons attempt to get back into the attic. They tear off siding, insulation, and an outdoor electrical outlet. The white metal siding was new from the roofing repairs in 2014. Could they be attracted to the odor of the previous infestation?
I repair the damaged electrical outlet and metal siding near the previous attic entrance. I also purchase a pair of raccoon body traps and the proper related safety tools ($38.92). After attaching them to the roof in the the two most-vulnerable locations, I set the traps using marshmallows for bait.
Every time we do yard cleanup, we discover dozens more roofing shingles buried in the lawn, thanks to the flipper’s roofing project that was done without a permit. Rather than dispose of the old shingles properly, the flipper just tossed them in the back yard, threw some yard waste and compost on top, and let weeds overtake them. We’ll probably be finding them for years to come.
I can’t take it anymore. The nightmares are continuing and I’m starting to have very dark thoughts about the flipper. I also know a lot about him, including where he lives, only 2 miles from my house. I take my mental health very seriously, so I have started seeing a therapist. The medical insurance from my new job doesn’t cover all of it, so I’m paying the remainder out of pocket. In a way, these costs are just more damages caused by the flipper.
With no financing available, we can’t fix the lower level anytime soon. Since we’re short on storage space, we’re forced to find low-cost efficiencies on the main level.
Installing this closet organizer was a cheap solution for one of the bedrooms.
It has been 2 years since the flipper sold us our house.
Repairs have STOPPED because we reached our credit limit months ago.
Apart from dealing with the house problems, we’ve also endured some unforeseen life events, including major medical bills, employment changes, and the loss of a vehicle we cannot afford to replace.
Our current strategy is to:
At present, the house still needs the following major repairs and recovery work, in order of priority:
Our ongoing thanks to our thousands of followers who continue to support our fight to end predatory remodeling by sharing our story.
Still looking for cheap ways to economize on limited storage space, we decide to make use of the wasted space on one of the garage walls.
This shelving made floor space for our bicycles, one of which is used for our work commute.
All of the recent rain has made us nervous about more basement flooding. We can’t afford to install drain tile or a sump pump yet, so we’re focusing on the smaller issues.
One of the gutter downspouts was installed on the wrong side of the house , needing lots of elbows to get around the deck. I reconfigured it to the proper side of the house.
I have to fumigate the attic to kill the strong odor of raccoon feces and urine. Although the raccoons have been evicted, they are attracted to the scent of their waste in the attic, and continue trying to create a new entrance.
Between this fumigation and the body traps I set on the roof, I am fairly confident that this ongoing problem can soon be resolved.
The Columbia Heights City Manager reports his intention to forward proposed real estate regulations to the city council for consideration to protect new citizens of Columbia Heights from falling victim to predatory remodeling fraud.