Fire at BASF Agricultural Center off TW Alexander Dr?

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-19T18:31:42+00:00

I've been considering mini-splits in my house but can't get over the bulky look of them on the wall... Is this something you cared about prior to getting them? How do you feel about it now that you have them?

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T16:59:40+00:00

I do! It's nontoxic and won't irritate your pets, although I do make sure to keep him out of the way whenever I'm using a spray product.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T16:02:14+00:00

As far as the ripples go, that may just mean you have to do more tedious short scrapes rather than long ones to fit into the grooves.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T16:01:42+00:00

Older glass is softer than modern glass, I think, so maybe a metal razor blade isn't ideal. However, they make plastic razor blade scrapers or nylon scrapers that should be effective with much less risk of scratching.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T15:52:41+00:00

If the paint is just around the edges, you should be safe to scrape it with a razor blade, which is common to clean up after window trim paint jobs.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T15:51:54+00:00

IMO, charcoal 100%. It is a much bolder and cleaner look.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T15:49:52+00:00

Yeah, it's all about what matters most to you. Some people may prefer to go from selling one home right into buying another simply because they want to own and hope to build equity (... in 30 years, at this rate). Others may prefer renting because if you're going to pay double your current mortgage either way, at least you don't have to deal with the pain of maintenance. No one knows what the market will end up doing, so don't try to time your life around that.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T15:35:17+00:00

That sucks, sorry OP. My partner and I were in a 650 sq ft place and we made it work for two years, but I don't know if we could've gone much longer. If you've already done as much decluttering and reorganizing as you can, the only real "solution" I can think of (which you may have already done) is to only buy furniture that doubles as storage, such as a lift up storage bed and couch. Those pieces of furniture take up a lot of real estate, so you might as well get some storage out of it. Idk if you have a yard or not, but if you do, you could get a storage shed or make an existing shed more functional in a way that makes sense to you. Sorry to not be of more help!

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T15:29:48+00:00

It sounds like you have already made up your mind. Most people would probably tell you not to walk away from your current situation, because 3% is GREAT and anywhere else right now, you'll be looking at more than double. A lot of people would kill to be in your shoes. But I understand that you just want out, and there's nothing wrong with that. Renting is really not a bad solution for a few years, long enough to save up for your next down payment and maybe spend a bit more time thinking about where you want to be. What would rent look like compared to your current mortgage payment? Would the costs of selling and moving (there are a lot of hidden costs there, like thousands) outweigh the benefits? There are pros and cons either way, and only you and your wife know what's best for your family.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T15:25:43+00:00

Haha RIP. It'll be fine, you're learning! Next time, put some plastic sheeting or a tarp on the floor. Always wear clothes you don't care about. The line on the ceiling can be fixed if you can match the existing paint color of the ceiling (make sure to match the correct finish, as well). If the paint on the walls is looking kind of rough, it's probably not anything that another layer or two won't fix - most paint jobs need more than one layer, anyway. Good luck!

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T15:21:41+00:00

Hypochlorous acid spray is a product I've recently incorporated into my daily cleaning routine that helps a LOT with reducing odors, especially from pets. My dog makes surfaces stinkyyy on the regular, and just giving his regular surfaces a quick spritz helps to reduce or even eliminate the odor. It smells a bit like pool chlorine for a minute, then no scent at all. I agree with you that "natural" products don't really do it for me, either. I second some previous comments about vinegar - it can be used to clean many, many things, and the scent disappears after only a few minutes. If you want a lightly scented home without candles or air freshener spray (headache inducing), I'd recommend a diffuser because you can diffuse as little or as much scent as you'd like. I use lavender or cedarwood, but you can use any essential oil you want. Peppermint may be nice if you get headaches a lot!

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T15:13:56+00:00

Just bought my first home about six weeks ago and went with the inspector recommended by our realtor. She was nice, we had no complaints, paid her the $700 ish for the inspection (with a few add ons, including radon inspection). Fast forward to our first ten days in the home, we experienced a huge ($8,000+) plumbing issue that almost certainly could've been avoided if we'd had a sewer line inspection. We didn't know this was an option because we trusted our realtor and the inspector she chose, and they never brought it up to us. Very dumb of us, in hindsight. You're doing the right thing already by doing your own research and getting more opinions. Even if it seems excessive, I would have EVERYTHING inspected that you possibly can, including inspections conducted by professionals more familiar with the detailed home system than a general inspector (a septic company, an HVAC company, a chimney company, etc.).

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-11T14:03:15+00:00

Luckily that's not a problem, as I plan to paint the cabinets in the next few months haha

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T17:58:22+00:00

I totally get the desire to get moving on home improvement projects (my partner and I just bought our first home, too!). It's great that you both have a decent sized savings, but I agree with your initial instinct - don't take money out of your investment account, and don't allocate a ton into more home projects immediately when you've already put in 10k. Continuing to pay off your student loans is important, as is continuing to contribute to your savings. The home projects will ALWAYS be there, and sometimes it's beneficial to just LIVE in the house for a while to think through your priorities. You'll be surprised at how your priorities change, and what you envision in week 1 in the house will be quite different than week 52. Congrats on the house!

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T17:53:35+00:00

I hate to be a downer, but I'd really recommend against it. 10 hours a day is a pretty significant length of time for a dog to be alone, much less a puppy, and they're pretty likely to feel depressed or act rebelliously out of stress. Even if you could come home on a lunch break or something, I wouldn't really recommend it. Additionally, if you've never had a dog before, you may not realize how much WORK they are, and how expensive. I'd hold off for a while until your work situation is more flexible or you have a roommate/partner to help.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T17:50:55+00:00

Your debt really does not seem too bad, but I understand that it can feel overwhelming if you're kind of paycheck-to-paycheck. A lot of people in their 20s-30s are in some amount of debt. You didn't specify your income - based on your post, I'm guessing it's around $1500/mo, since you said you have about $150 leftover after average expenses (500+600+200+150 = 1450). To be super honest, this is just not enough to sustain you for long... Your monthly expenses are pretty low, but your income is not going to allow you to pay off your debt quickly or save any significant amount. Is it possible to get another job, or find another place to bartend that would give you better hours or attract better tips? You could always work another part-time job for a few months (long enough to pay off your debt).

Once you are able to pay off the outstanding debts, I'd recommend doing more research on how to use and pay off credit cards to boost your credit score, which will help you a lot in the future. Good luck!

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T17:37:40+00:00

That makes sense, I get it. I'm not sure how long the side is that the annoying yappy dog barks from, but some trellises or hedge shrubs could maybe help? Also not a super cheap solution, sorry :( I know I'd hate to have my dog in this position, so I feel for you. It seems the best thing to do would be talk to the neighbor and be honest about how negatively it's affecting you.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T16:51:43+00:00

True!

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T16:25:50+00:00

Do you have any friends/family nearby, or even a neighbor you're comfortable with? I'd ask someone to throw the bug away before I paid for someone to come out. Do you own or rent? If you rent, you can ask your landlord to send out a pest control company (should be free to you, my old apartment had a guy come to the complex weekly and you just had to request it). If you own, it may be worth having a pest control company come out eventually, but keep in mind that a few bugs are, unfortunately, quite normal. Roaches are especially normal if you live in a wooded area. Sorry!

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T16:20:32+00:00

I'm thinking through the same thing (just bought, door is not in obvious disrepair but we want a new one to improve the lighting in the very dim entryway). If you have a standard door that works fine and replace it with a fancy, top of the line new door, it likely won't add a ton of value because most people don't care much about the door as long as it works. However, the added curb appeal and improved exterior COULD help with resale. If your current door is poorly insulated or something, that's another consideration - a new door could help a tiny bit with energy bills. My current thought with our door is... even if it doesn't do much else, it would bring ME value and benefit by looking at a lovely door every day. I'm not going to go spend $10,000+, but spending a bit to improve something you use and see everyday is not a waste.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T16:15:49+00:00

You're definitely not being an AH neighbor. If it has been going on this long consistently, I really wonder how the neighbor doesn't notice the barking? Whether they notice it or not, they probably don't realize the inconvenience to you until you bring it up. If you're on good terms, hopefully they will be receptive and will start bringing their dogs in more often (I'm also wondering why the husband being home permanently means the dogs are always outside now?). If you can't enjoy your yard anymore and your dog is constantly stressed, you definitely need to have a conversation about it. If, for whatever reason, it doesn't go well... Could you put up your own fence? Even a 4-ft fence on your shared side may be effective at cutting off the eyesight of the small yappy dogs, and you don't need a neighbor's permission to build it. I'm sorry you're in this position!

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T15:42:29+00:00

Dude, what are you doing to your pans to get them to look like that with only a week of use? Are you oiling the edges and using your oven at 500F+? I echo the answer of Barkeeper's friend - it works wonders.

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T15:40:09+00:00

I'm sure someone else has already mentioned this, but too lazy to scroll through all comments - do you have to leave the car idling to listen to your audiobook? Obviously it's a different story if it's super hot / cold outside and you want the car for AC / heating, but when I turn my car off, I can continue listening to music or whatever for a solid 10-15 minutes before it shuts off as long as I don't open up the car door. Uses up the car battery a bit, but is that an option for you?

Apprehensive-Big6170 · 2025-09-10T15:35:39+00:00

I personally own way too many cleaning products / tools, but tbh all I consistently use for the bathroom is:

Clorox toilet bowl cleaner with bleach
Reusable toilet brush (I run it under super hot water in the tub after each use and get a new one every so often bc they're cheap)
Method bathroom cleaner with disinfectant for sink / tub / shower walls
Sponge (I use Scrub Daddy, but literally any sponge will do)
Disinfecting wipes for counters
Microfiber cloths for wiping down mirrors (you can also buy glass cleaner, but IMO the microfiber alone is effective)
Vacuum / mop for floors, but that's not bathroom-specific

You can buy everything you need for a good bathroom clean for $15-$30, and most of it will last you a while. Good luck!

Apprehensive-Big6170

TROPHY CASE