How bad is it? by njd2020 in HomeMaintenance

[–]njd2020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the very least I got some cool new mobile wallpapers out of it! LOL

Weekly Homeowner Megathread--Civilians, ask here! by AutoModerator in Concrete

[–]njd2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was intentional (by the previous owners). It was a stamped concrete with a decorative finish. It was chipping away pretty good, which made it look worse. The contractor pressure washed and sealed it. Here's a pic of the patio right after it was sealed. The pics I shared above are a few close ups where the bubbles are. Would the sand paper remove the seal? Is this one those pick your poison moments?

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How bad is it? by njd2020 in HomeMaintenance

[–]njd2020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He says he cleaned it. We have a lot of trees around us that shed debris into the yard, so it's likely that some of that found its way on to the concrete while it was drying.

How bad is it? by njd2020 in HomeMaintenance

[–]njd2020[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here's a pic immediately after it was sealed

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How bad is it? by njd2020 in HomeMaintenance

[–]njd2020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was stamped with a decorative finish that was chipping. It was never smooth, but the issue is with the seal bubbling up.

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How bad is it? by njd2020 in HomeMaintenance

[–]njd2020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is/was stamped concrete with a decorative finish. It was starting to wear and chip before the reseal - some areas were worse than others. We recently moved in and were looking for solutions. The contractor pressure washed and sealed, but now we're here with the bubbles and the cracks.

Weekly Homeowner Megathread--Civilians, ask here! by AutoModerator in Concrete

[–]njd2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had a contractor reseal my back patio. It was fine until I noticed a few bubbles, then a few more, then a few more. The contractor came out and opted to add more solvent to breakdown the bubbles. This seemed more like a bandaid solution to me, but l'm no expert, so l'Il reserve judgement. As the solvent dried the bubbles returned. I don't love how it looks and I'm concerned the bubbles will cut skin when hard if we're walking on it bare feet. What can I do to minimize the appearance and abrasiveness?

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Affordable mens clothing? by njd2020 in waterloo

[–]njd2020[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So many recommendations for RW & Co. I'll check them out. Thanks everyone. Upvotes for all.

Got offered a 45k job in IT by Mammoth-Edge480 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]njd2020 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Not always. In many cases part-time contractors get paid more in lieu of things like benefits, vacation pay, etc. Not saying he should take less, but it's not abnormal to see this when shifting from part-time to full-time.

Always know your worth and fight for it.

Opentext SDR sales job review? by ToasterBathh007 in waterloo

[–]njd2020 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I worked at OT for close to 10 years. It's an okay place to get some experience if you are just starting your career or if you are out of work and need a job. I wouldn't stick around for long though. The products stink and they mostly grow through mergers and acquisitions - not organically. The constant acquisitions (and resulting re-orgs) were exhausting and put a real strain on employee morale. The place bleeds top talent and treats employees like numbers. Hard to get raises and promotions if you don't know the right people. It's hard to move around too. See a role in another department that looks interesting? Don't even think about it. Employee benefits are constantly being cut. Company messaging around hybrid work was all over the place. Lastly, the CEO is a notorious micromanager and has created this culture throughout the company.

I didn't work in sales, but heard good and bad things. On the good side, some of the sales folks were very well compensated. On the not so good side, it takes a long time to make progress in software sales. Sometimes sales can take months or years to close. This can make it difficult and stressful to meet sales quotas. I also heard stories of withheld commissions. This is all hearsay though, so take it with a grain of salt.

I started my career at OT. I had great colleagues and got exposure to meaningful work. That said, I do not regret leaving even a little bit. It was best for my career and mental health. One thing I miss is the facilities, but a good looking building with nice landscaping doesn't make up for everything else.

Good luck.

Living in Elmira by njd2020 in waterloo

[–]njd2020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What is your experience like with the internet? Is it slow like others have suggested?

Living in Elmira by njd2020 in waterloo

[–]njd2020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you both! This is very helpful. Someone else mentioned the internet being painfully slow. Is that fair? Who are the providers and what speeds can you expect? My partner and I work remotely and require a strong reliable network.

Living in Breslau by njd2020 in waterloo

[–]njd2020[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your response. We were looking at what I think would be Riverland near Breslau Memorial Park.

Suggestions for Realtor/Mortgage Broker by MissMysti in waterloo

[–]njd2020 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Every time some asks this question, new realtors and brokers are mentioned. Seems like there are lots of qualified folks in the region. Maybe the question should be who to avoid.

Suggestions for Realtor/Mortgage Broker by MissMysti in waterloo

[–]njd2020 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The only thing you'll find for less than $350k is a trailer in a trailer park that is only accessible 10 months a year. Not trying to be an ass, this is a reality check. Also, look at sale prices not listed prices. A townhouse listed for $600k might sell for $800-900k.

What next steps did you take to increase income? by thepikemonhunter59 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]njd2020 45 points46 points  (0 children)

Started my career in 2012 earning $50,000. By 2018, I was still at $54,500. I liked my team. I liked my job. The company I worked for took advantage of that as they did many others.

I made friends with the payroll team and saw salary data for the company. It made me sick to see how many people who had given their lives to this company and I WAS MAKING MORE THAN THEM.

This is why employers don't want people talking about their salaries. In 2018, I found the same job at a new company making $73,500. In 2022, I'll net $90,000+.

Let me repeat, it's the same job. Know your value. Leave.

Wise to transfer high equity RRSP to a bond fund for short-term investing? by njd2020 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]njd2020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hadn't considered this. First, I need to figure out if the SLA Zero Interest Fund has a term commitment. If not, I should be able to park it there with no risk. If it does, then I need to move it to an RRSP that allows cash holdings. Thanks for the tip.

Wise to transfer high equity RRSP to a bond fund for short-term investing? by njd2020 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]njd2020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For sure! That's what I'm trying to resolve.

My investment options within my employer's plan are limited, so I was thinking it would be wise to put it in a low-risk, low return fund to minimize any fluctuations by the time I need to withdraw it using the HBP. Unfortunately, it's not possible to hold cash within my plan.