On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy

On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (Full Version)

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cjenny -> On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 11:45:07 AM)
I am trying to get my house & property in shape to put on the dismal housing market. With my limited physical ability I'm finding I need a lot more help than previously realised. There have been offers of help from people here on CM, people I haven't met & do not know but they are local(ish) to my area. I have a pretty dismal record with common sense, I tend to trust automatically. So my vague question is this: Would I be stupid to take up some of the offers for help? Without help I can't do it. I've been trying but it has resulted in my doctor ordering me to bed. Needs: drywall, painting inside & out. minor electrical. weeding, dear gods they are huge lol. tree trimming (not cherry picker trimming just basic).

philosophy -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 11:47:55 AM)
..get people to offer to help via this thread. If anyone knows 'em they can give references.......

DiurnalVampire -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 11:51:13 AM)
What I would suggest. Meet said benefactors somewhere other than your house for lunch/dinner to discuss what would have to be done. If you feel comfortable with it, then let them come help out. If you dont, then let them know up front that you dont feel like its a good situation. If its just fr platonic help around the house, it might not be as bad as you think, as long as you dont return the favor in a less platonic manner. Thats where your problem might occur. DV

RCdc -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 11:54:40 AM)
I would like to make another suggestion? Are there any local help groups around - even chariety groups? Maybe contacting someone like the cubs or guides (I don't know what you would call them in the US) and just baking cookies as a thank you for doing gardening/weeding? Peace the.dark.

pahunkboy -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:10:49 PM)
-as part of college and some high schools - teh kids must do x number hours of volunteer work. locate such group and accept their help. eye appeal is everything on a house sale. cosmetics and clutter are paramont. i had habitat for humanity help me here- tho- unfortunately it was just for one day. if u are talking about gutting the place- i wouldnt. contract projects always cost 2-3 times what you plan on. compare your property with the compitition. curb appeal is very important.

cjenny -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:13:27 PM)
philosophy that is a good idea. I think I would feel more comfortable dealing with someone I or someone I know had been bantering with for a time. [:D] So.. gee anyone in the metro Detroit area want some cookies in return for help? DV you betchya it would be platonic only! That is a small concern actually, making sure that it is understood that I'm not seeking a session among the weeds. Honestly I'm so bad at asserting myself in person even when I need to. dark, ohgosh I hadn't thought about that. I'm not sure where I would start looking for that but maybe my local township office has an idea!

velvetears -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:15:27 PM)
Is it possible to do none of the work, bring the price of the home down and sell it "as is" or "handyman special"? i would never tell you yea go do something i would not do myself... so in a round about way i guess i answerd your original question - good luck to you.... i know what it's like to have to do that kind of work, i've done wall papering, laying down tiles, painting, refinishing furniture, putting up book shelves etc.... much of it i can't do anymore, or at least as quickly [;)]

cjenny -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:16:05 PM)
pahunk I won't be gutting it, I can't afford to do that lol. Mostly yes, it is curb appeal and cosmetic help. That just gave me visions of layering pancake makeup on the front of my house [8D] . Dang, it is hard to ask for help. Hmm actually maybe it is harder to realise that I need help?

pahunkboy -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:20:10 PM)
one big thing to watch is the smell of a place. if it is moldy, musty, animals, ect- it is a turn off. most of all- the clutter needs to be out of the place. rent a storage unit if necessary. teh rooms are to look big with plenty of light. if any wall is painted pink-purple- paint it white. pet oder HUGE thing. i watch all those makeoever shows.... compare ur place with the neighborhood- know the market. also- find out about 1st time home buyer programs in your locale- you can snag a buyer this way..... http://hud.gov

pahunkboy -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:25:57 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cjenny pahunk I won't be gutting it, I can't afford to do that lol. Mostly yes, it is curb appeal and cosmetic help. That just gave me visions of layering pancake makeup on the front of my house [8D] . Dang, it is hard to ask for help. Hmm actually maybe it is harder to realise that I need help? ---ok- what i did is i told the group- i selected 2 charities to make a nominal donation in their name. i aalso saaaid i would give freee computer training to the community in return for such help. i selected the batterred womans shelter, and free speech tv. also- being that these were college kids...they are impressed by getting in the newspaper. i got them front page sunday paper. HUGE stroke for their egos! http://sunsetcliff.googlepages.com/sunn3

Lockit -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:32:30 PM)
Boy can I relate to this one! I sure hope you can get the help you need cjenny. I have seen where you have some health issues and my heart went out to you. I am very ill and am now caring for my son who is brain damaged. I had to move a couple times to fit his needs and have ended up in a friggin mobile home. Yup... I finally made it to trailer trash! I am so friggin happy! To make matters worse... it was a basic shell of one. We couldn't take a shower here for over three months! This home repair diva is burnt out, fried... cannot go another inch and yet I must. I wish we could team up and help one another... but that can't happen. So I hope that you can find the help you need and that whoever helps you will be straight up and doing it because it is a wonderful thing to do rather than having an agenda. I have found that craigslist is a wonderful source of cheap items and help. I had one young man who didn't know me from adam, that came to help move things in and didn't ask for a dime. When a dime was offered, he refused it. Just smiled and said.... good luck to you and your boy. I thought about purposing right there! lol I have tried all the charities... I have learned to be humble and try not to beg... but at this point... I'm almost ready for a collar and to be a little pet begging because this really sucks! lol I wish the best for you cjenny! I really do! Lockit

mnottertail -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:39:39 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cjenny I am trying to get my house & property in shape to put on the dismal housing market. With my limited physical ability I'm finding I need a lot more help than previously realised. There have been offers of help from people here on CM, people I haven't met & do not know but they are local(ish) to my area. I have a pretty dismal record with common sense, I tend to trust automatically. So my vague question is this: Would I be stupid to take up some of the offers for help? Without help I can't do it. I've been trying but it has resulted in my doctor ordering me to bed. Needs: drywall, painting inside & out. minor electrical. weeding, dear gods they are huge lol. tree trimming (not cherry picker trimming just basic). Here, is the perfect (and one of the only) cases for a collar of protection. By this, I mean find a big ugly nice friend, who can meet and greet these people with you. Some guy or gal you know that has alot on the ball. Have them help you sort it out in terms of people. Most of the people I know on here are OK folk, but don't know what kinda perverted, filthy, depraved, sex maniacs you are hanging out with, it might be the bad kind--(yanno, people who pose as that, but aren't) My two, Ron

Wildfleurs -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 12:43:06 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cjenny I am trying to get my house & property in shape to put on the dismal housing market. With my limited physical ability I'm finding I need a lot more help than previously realised. There have been offers of help from people here on CM, people I haven't met & do not know but they are local(ish) to my area. I have a pretty dismal record with common sense, I tend to trust automatically. So my vague question is this: Would I be stupid to take up some of the offers for help? Without help I can't do it. I've been trying but it has resulted in my doctor ordering me to bed. Needs: drywall, painting inside & out. minor electrical. weeding, dear gods they are huge lol. tree trimming (not cherry picker trimming just basic). There's a pretty interesting program called Time Dollar (http://www.timebanks.org/directory.htm) where you volunteer services to go in a virtual bank (1 hour of service = 1 dollar) that you can cash out to recieve services. So you can spend an hour baking a cake for someone and in exchange get an hour of someone doing something for you. On the directory it said that there was one in Ann Arbor Michigan, I have no idea how close that is to you, but it may be worth looking into. C~

petdave -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/20/2007 5:08:37 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cjenny dark, ohgosh I hadn't thought about that. I'm not sure where I would start looking for that but maybe my local township office has an idea! Hell, with the job market being what it is there, you could probably put up a "help wanted" ad on Craigslist and find somebody who would be willing to work for cookies. [&:] Have you gotten involved with the local community to the point where you might be able to get references? If nothing else, i'd suggest at least talking to someone on the phone before giving them your address... speaking of which, if you're really concerned, you might also employ the "safe call" idea that is often suggested for first meetings. Good luck to you, ...dave

cjenny -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/21/2007 8:20:28 AM)
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'm going to place an ad on Craigslist later today. Oy, it took me five hours to pack just one room of dust catcher items that I want to keep! It's amazing though, as I go thru my stuff I'm finding a lot that I can easily do without. That stuff is going into boxes then put on the sidewalk up in Flint where people can just grab what they want to. I mean sheesh, how many vases does one woman need? [sm=flowers.gif] Please if people have more ideas or suggestions of help I sure could use them. Just a bit of help lessens the stress & worry, so thanks a lot to those that are sharing ideas with me.

pahunkboy -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/21/2007 9:43:11 AM)
cj, you could ask a realtor. often they have a list of people they can call cheap. BTW- dont ever be afraid to ask when you are truly in need. I have ssurprised myself by doing things i thought i could not. i guess perhaps im abit concernd that- well the reasons u r moving- as you dont seem to have a destination per a pre post.

cjenny -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/21/2007 10:03:08 AM)
I guess cuz the destination doesn't mean as much to me as selling my home means? I don't really want to move but I haven't the choice. If/when I sell I can go anywhere. I'm looking strongly at Austin Texas cuz there is no snow and it is close to my dom & I have some sisters in Dallas. My priority is to reach the point I can sell my home. I wish I were technically adept, I would love to have pics of my house and woods up for people to see!

Trampler -> RE: On Accepting Help From Strangers With Candy (6/21/2007 10:09:47 AM)
if I had a car, I would be glad to help and ask for nothing more then lemonade or iced tea. Do you participate at all with the local community? a member on the yahoo lists? I think if you posted a helpwanted on there, there will be plenty of people who would be willing to help, and that way, easier to check them out ;)

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