Re-do existing Kitchen cabinets, wood in excellent shape, would like sanded down to bare wood and then poly urethane. Replace floor with vynyl.

That is a lot of sanding. There are usually some portions that you can not get to for sanding. You might consider using a chemical stripper to remove the finish and when it has dried sand a little. There is also polyurethane that is shaded if you just want to change the color or shade.

I know it is but This is what I want and also all hardwood floors, door & window trims also so they all look about the same as when they were new in 1961. Problem is finding someone to do the work at a reasonable price as I am on a fixed income.

It's not hard to find someone to do this at a reasonable price. What is hard is to realize that it's a large project so that a reasonable price will be very expensive.

Other than all DIY, your least expensive money outlay will be to find someone in the trades who also works on the side. The project will take much longer though.

Since you're on a fixed income, check with your local community to see if they have a "chore service program" and/or if they participate in the HUD minor improvement programs.

If you qualify based on age and income, you might be able to get funds for security fixups such as electrical and/or plumbing.

Cosmetic improvements aren't to my knowledge included though. You could also check with your county to see if they have a homeowner home improvement loan program.

Possibly you could do some of it yourself even if it took a while.

If I could I wouldn't be asking for help.....DISABLED ON FIXED INCOME

They don't and who gives out loans when you can't afford to repay?

well, it's a wonderful time to DIY, but if disabilities prevent doing most of the work yourself, you need to rely on social agencies and volunteers.

these boards are not a clearinghouse for that work. it would be nice if there WAS one for that, but it would probably be limited to making untenable situations liveable, which is the stuff of church volunteers and side programs to Habitat for Humanity such s the paint-a-thon.

I quite doubt that most of the posters here live in showcase homes, even though we aspire to doing the work. a comfortable middle is good enough.

there used to be a program called "DIY To The Rescue," in which cases like yours got the worst barriers to a safe home dealt with. that show has been gone for perhaps 5 years now. but any program can only touch 13 to 20 cases a season out of tens of thousands of requests.

social services in your state would have a list of possible agencies and volunteer groups who could assist you. best of luck

Whatever.

Ok, so now you are ungrateful and rude when you get advice that you asked for! In all your random posts, you never said you were disabled, only on a fixed income. This board gives advice only and you don't seem to want to hear it.
Separate the items you want from the items you need. Sanding you kitchen cabinets and trim is a want. Being able to reach the medicine cabinet or having a safe toilet is a need. There are agencies that can help with needs. None of us get everything we want, so you may have to adjust your expectations. This board will help with questions and advice, but you have to be willing to hear the answers. And not be rude when you don't like the answer.

Me being rude...I apologize, but I felt some of the responses I received weere also rude. Yes I realize some are wants, and others are needs, if I could get the needs I would be happy, those needs being getting restitution for losses, damages, and non completion from the contractor would be good, but it doesn't look like that will ever happen. And yes the toilet mirror and new roof would be a need, and perhaps someone to remediate the mold situation in the basement which wasn't done correctly by the contractor.

quote:

Originally posted by GllntKnight:
Me being rude...I apologize, but I felt some of the responses I received weere also rude. Yes I realize some are wants, and others are needs, if I could get the needs I would be happy, those needs being getting restitution for losses, damages, and non completion from the contractor would be good, but it doesn't look like that will ever happen. And yes the toilet mirror and new roof would be a need, and perhaps someone to remediate the mold situation in the basement which wasn't done correctly by the contractor.

May I ask how you got this house? Was it a foreclosure? How long have you been in this house and were these problems existant when you bought it? Or are you renting it, in which case the landlord would be responsible for mold remediation and health and safety issues.

And was the contractor who did the mold remediator certified? I don't know all the specifics, but I believe that contractors purporting to be qualified to perform mold remediation need to be certified by the EPA. Did this contractor claim to be?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GardenSprite,

quote:

Originally posted by GllntKnight:
They don't and who gives out loans when you can't afford to repay?

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The home improvement loans of which I write have 3 options for repayment: (a) low fixed interest rate, based on your income and ability to pay (i.e., they take into consideration your fixed income and other bills and work out a payment schedule) (2) no payments until the house is sold or (3) no payments until the owner is deceased, in which case the heirs inherit the house subject to the home improvement loan.

No one on this board "screwed you" and most of us are not contractors. The ones that are work hard to do the right thing and take their free time to answer your questions. So remove the chip and if you have a real question to ask, ask it nicely and we will try to help.

Garden Sprite is correct. There are government loans available through the CDBG programs through City or state governments that can make forgivable loans for the issues of safety, health and some blight issues.

Ss but never heard of anyone offering loans to someone who can't pay back.

House was my parents. I grew up here moved out after HS then moved back in'82. Everything in house original. I wasn't disabled then. We replaced the roof 25 years ago and now it is long over due but can't afford it prices have doubled. Furnace is original too and still going hope we don't have to replace that too.

No contractor was not certified but who knew he had to be until after the fact.

We had a flood in the basement when I was in the nursing home.

There are some grant programs out there also, which would be your ideal because you don't pay a grant back. With your situation you should be able to qualify I would imagine. Hit Google and start searching for low income/home improvement grants. I had a huge book of grants...I'll try to find it and see if I can point you somewhere specific to look. Check your actual town also. They may have some type of assistance that you can apply for. I know they have downpayment assistance and the like depending on the town.

So what do you mean by Disabled income? You are not on any job ? Or what?

SS (Social Security) The Average SS income is $12,000. per year which comes out to $1,000. a month before taxes and before they take out for Medicare ($100. + per month)so figure it out, can anyone really live on that? And when your contractor screws you...well you know the rest.