EdFred
Taxi to Parking
Well, it's the reason I moved out of a condo, and into a house. IT was nice to not to have to cut the grass, shovel, plow, etc... but I also don't have to worry about my neighbor crashing through my wall.
Gas appliances installed, possibly no permit
- Thread starter woodstock
- Start date
Well, it's the reason I moved out of a condo, and into a house. IT was nice to not to have to cut the grass, shovel, plow, etc... but I also don't have to worry about my neighbor crashing through my wall.
woodstock
Final Approach
It's crossed my mind a few times. But this is a really nice, big townhouse in a good neighborhood and it's convenient to work, getting out of town, etc. For the most part the neighbors are nice (even this tool I just smile when he's pontificating and then roll my eyes when he leaves). Plus the inertia of having to actually MOVE.
TMetzinger
Final Approach
That's an option, the NoVA market seems to have bottomed out a year ago and is on the rise again.
When we had work done on our house five years ago (Fairfax CO), which was a new furnace and new upstairs wiring, our electrician was able to go to the county and get a list of all permits issued to the address (single family home) in the last decade. This let him find that some previous electrical work had NOT been permitted, and he checked it and covered it in his permit along with the new work he was doing.
So you may just be able to pull the permits for the address, and find out for yourself if the work was done and inspected, and you won't have to trust the word of the neighbor tenant or the owner.
If the permits exist, then you're trusting that the county inspector verified proper installation.
If they do not, then you're trusting that the person who did the work did it according to code and best practices.
You can then decide if you want to report the modification to the county to force a re-inspection.
woodstock
Final Approach
It's a thought (and I've thought it) but think I'm going to sit this out for a while, at least until the economy looks more stable anyway. Both houses are in striking distance of being paid off which means NO debt. My utils are apparently a joke despite the size of my home/all the windows, compared to what I see on that utilities thread. 
Debt free and $ in bank means I can consider retiring early. Not working (or working at something I really love doing despite not making as much money) is a pretty good idea.
Debt free and $ in bank means I can consider retiring early. Not working (or working at something I really love doing despite not making as much money) is a pretty good idea.
EdFred
Taxi to Parking
Gotcha. Just shows how much California doesn't know.
TMetzinger
Final Approach
It's a thought (and I've thought it) but think I'm going to sit this out for a while, at least until the economy looks more stable anyway. Both houses are in striking distance of being paid off which means NO debt. My utils are apparently a joke despite the size of my home/all the windows, compared to what I see on that utilities thread.
Debt free and $ in bank means I can consider retiring early. Not working (or working at something I really love doing despite not making as much money) is a pretty good idea.
If I were in your financial position, I'd do exactly what you're planning.
wsuffa
Touchdown! Greaser!
Tim, I'm also in Fairfax County - you can see all the permits and inspections online. Very easy... when I bought my house, I looked at the permits/inspections and determined that the attached deck was not permitted as required. Made seller fix that.
And sometimes the county inspector is wrong. When I had furnace and AC replaced last year, inspector improperly failed it initially (something about the floor drain) - but contractor called county office, confirmed that it was done right, and the problem was quickly addressed.
woodstock
Final Approach
Well, it's a tradeoff. As much as I'd like a big house on a lot of land, it's a headache, I'd have to take care of it, and I'd be saddled with debt for a lot longer (and higher utils etc). Why? I'm fortunate that I bought before the big housing run up and that I stayed well well under the debt-income ratio needed - my then-income, too.. Why max out on house?
EdFred
Taxi to Parking
If you leave the DC metro area you can get a big house on a lot of land cheap. You could sell your townhouse, buy the house out away from the metroplex, and still have money left over to pay for someone to maintain your yard for years.
Ted
The pilot formerly known as Twin Engine Ted
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iFlyNothing
I spent over 20 years in apartments with good neighbors (mostly) and still hated it. When I moved to Pennsylvania, I told that I wanted to live someplace with land and with neighbors far away. I'm at the end of a dead-end street with 2+ acres. I do have neighbors, but they aren't bad. Taking care of the land is a pain, but it's worth it. And the new lawnmower is awesome, makes that so much easier.
I understand your safety concerns, but this is the sort of situation that exists with living near others. I would agree with those who've said that you don't have to deal with this so much as you have chosen to. Going into a whistleblower situation I think will primarily cause you additional headaches with a benefit that isn't guaranteed.
Your best bet is to move. And yes, working at something you love for less money is absolutely worth it. Doing that now, hoping I don't have to go back.
I understand your safety concerns, but this is the sort of situation that exists with living near others. I would agree with those who've said that you don't have to deal with this so much as you have chosen to. Going into a whistleblower situation I think will primarily cause you additional headaches with a benefit that isn't guaranteed.
Your best bet is to move. And yes, working at something you love for less money is absolutely worth it. Doing that now, hoping I don't have to go back.
woodstock
Final Approach
Guys, I appreciate the thoughts (really, I do) but I'm not currently planning to move. I have a good thing, my living expenses are a fraction of ONE paycheck and that's a plan that works for me. As long as I'm with my company I'm staying put. Too much money coming in and not all that much going out (unless I care to spend it, see: frequent trips abroad) to tip the applecart.
Leaving metro DC isn't a bad idea but that's where the job is - and it's financing my lifestyle and my planned early retirement. Living on more land in a quieter area can happen when I'm ready to make the change.
But thanks anyway. Back to the topic...
Leaving metro DC isn't a bad idea but that's where the job is - and it's financing my lifestyle and my planned early retirement. Living on more land in a quieter area can happen when I'm ready to make the change.
But thanks anyway. Back to the topic...
Everskyward
Experimenter
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Everskyward
Interesting. I have never seen natural gas water heaters anywhere but on the floor here in CO. My old one was like that and the new one I had installed recently is the same. The furnace is on the floor too.
jtheune
Ejection Handle Pulled
I seem to recall the gas hot water heater in my house in San Diego was on a shelf but here in Maryland it's on the floor and I just had it replaced 2 years ago. They had to add a expansion tank and change the flue from 3 inch to 4 inch to meet current code.
Brad Z
Final Approach
You could alway anonymously call the gas company and report smelling gas in the vicinity of your neighbors' location. The gas company will show up and sniff around each of the gas appliances. If the neighbor doesn't let them in they will shut off his gas until he does. He won't get busted, but if there's anything too weird, the gas company will tag it until it's fixed.
JoeSelch
Pattern Altitude
THIS is not the worst idea I've ever heard.
(Although I'm sure nobody will hesitate to tell me why I'm mistaken!)
