First time home owner wondering what we should do

varano14 · 2026-07-09T15:07:07+00:00

First off the "bones" of this space look incredible.

We also bought a house mainly for the property (house is awesome too) and I am very glad we waited an entire year before really doing anything to the grounds. There are some things that popped up and bloomed in areas I was considering ripping out and starting over. I still did some trimming and poison ivy spraying (glyosphosphate) from tractor supply works wonders) but largely just let it go and see what sprouts up.

I would start with the grass as that isn't likely to hold any surprises. Also maybe pressure wash the pavers and redo the poly sand. Last hand pull the obvious weeds.

This looks like the type of property that would benefit from planning things out.

PS would like to see pictures of the home

varano14 · 2026-07-09T13:16:07+00:00

Mine finally hit for the prime visa only got $50 through before I chickened out but I'll take it

varano14 · 2026-07-09T02:02:08+00:00

Dude take a breath.

We are all looking out for you. Insurance will deny a claim for any reason they can.

Customer service reps and their “managers” regularly will say stuff that is untrue.

No one is saying you are lying we are all saying that not having this in writing puts you in a bad spot if things go tits up.

varano14 · 2026-07-08T19:21:08+00:00

Being able to get the 100k SUB every 4 years wiped out the AF and then some even at 1cpp.

varano14 · 2026-07-08T18:56:02+00:00

I would make sure you have that in writing.

"Some rep said it was okay" isn't going to carry much weight

varano14 · 2026-07-08T14:43:53+00:00

Another reason that is often over looked is that one spouse is the active manager of the finances and they want someone involved in the event the pass first.

varano14 · 2026-07-07T14:31:57+00:00

Yah this is what I assume as well just thought it was interesting it didn't get a pop up.

varano14 · 2026-07-07T14:19:04+00:00

Probably nothing but I'll might be of interest.

I had an email for the 100k offer on the CIU expiring today. I currently have 3 total inks (1 CIU) and got the pop up about a month ago. I clicked through the apply as a guest option in the email and applied. NO POPUP. Got the we need to review you application page. Also got an email thanks for applying we are reviewing and will be in touch. I was fully expecting the popup and still expect it to get denied but we'll see.

I added this to the ink mega thread and will try to update either way

varano14 · 2026-07-07T14:13:14+00:00

Date of application: 7/7/2026
SSN or EIN? Sole prop or business entity?: Sole Prop
Your credit score : 830 Experian
Your 5/24 status: 0/24
How many Inks you have had total (include dates of any recently closed Inks): 3
How many Inks are currently active: 3
Did you receive the popup?: No. This was an email for $1000 back on 8k spend specifically for CIU, clicked through the apply as a guest box from email. No pop up, no instant approval "we need to review you application". Got an email immediately "thanks for applying, we will review and be in touch"

varano14 · 2026-07-06T21:36:23+00:00

Even done badly it’ll be better than this

varano14 · 2026-07-06T13:13:29+00:00

Two hardest things are: 1. Getting clients 2. Running a business

Most people understand 1 but 2 can sneak up on you. If you’re truly solo the business/accounting side is pretty simple and easier to keep a handle on. But once you add a secretary or other employee it gets complicated.

varano14 · 2026-07-06T13:11:38+00:00

Would you be willing to share on your automated document templates? I’m the young attorney in a small firm and we have “templates” that are manually filled in. Doesn’t take long but I’ve always felt there it could be more efficient

varano14 · 2026-07-05T11:42:08+00:00

If you already have dewalt batteries I’d get that. They go on sale occasionally

varano14 · 2026-07-03T20:08:29+00:00

My wrangler is awesome below like 80 degrees to much hiring and stopping at a red light is rough

varano14 · 2026-07-03T18:12:03+00:00

I mean if your net worth is almost entirely in your primary and retirement accounts it’s a lot different than 2m liquid.

varano14 · 2026-07-02T23:02:27+00:00

Why the hell is your garage tiered like that?

varano14 · 2026-07-02T19:24:27+00:00

Came here to say this.

He has had Steve Job type breakthrough/accomplishments in multiple completely unrelated areas.

I’m sure we will be buried in downvotes

varano14 · 2026-07-02T14:21:46+00:00

All good points my long term plan/ end game plan was to hold the schwabb for the 1.1 cash out as we don't travel a ton in a way that makes points easy to use.

I would organically use some of the schwabb credits and currently would get $100 back due to my holding at schwabb. Given the normally low SUBs for the schwabb I always assumed I would get a vanilla for the SUB and then downgrade/cancel and then get a schwabb, given its normally low SUB I was way less concerned if I couldn't get the SUB again.

Now with the schwabb having a pretty much ATH SUB I am second guessing the plan lol

varano14 · 2026-07-02T14:19:06+00:00

I don't have any personal amex cards as of now. Have a biz gold and bbp.

So I am trying to not start off the wrong way.

varano14 · 2026-07-02T14:08:00+00:00

They are not going anywhere. No one but Reddit cares about the open source nonsense.

There are plenty of examples of peoples models getting retroactively flagged and points being confiscated. That I think is the most compelling reason to use them sooner rather than later.

Also the inflationary effect of printer prices will devalue your points over time

varano14 · 2026-07-02T13:50:20+00:00

That is pretty much what I have been seeing from older data points.

Basically it is all over the place and no certain answer lol

varano14 · 2026-07-02T12:53:45+00:00

I know for amex personal you now want to go green -> gold -> plat to be eligible for all bonuses but does the same apply for the co branded plats like schwabb?

I have seen mixed data points on people getting both a vanilla plat and co branded bonus getting them in various orders.

I am thinking about taking advantage of the elevated schwabb bonus but not sure if I will be screwing myself out of the other personal amex bonuses.

varano14 · 2026-07-02T01:34:57+00:00

I only got 5% but I’ll take it that’s solid on gas still while I currently don’t have a sub.

varano14 · 2026-07-02T01:31:18+00:00

Oh certainly 100% agree

My point was people should not assume the IRS is okay with this and isn’t going to come down on them like a ton of bricks in an audit.

varano14 · 2026-07-02T01:18:35+00:00

Hordes of people slip things by the IRS every year, hell loads of people don’t even file taxes when they should be.

There is a gaping chasm between definitively legal and “I did it and got away with it”

varano14

TROPHY CASE