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I've been thinking about this a lot in the context of moving out of an old house that needs constant care. Will the next residents understand that the drip-wat

I've been thinking about this a lot in the context of moving out of an old house that needs constant care. Will the next residents understand that the drip-watering system 'blows out' sometimes, and needs fixing? How did I understand that? I've never lived in a house with a drip-watering system. But I heard these noises (high-pitched weeeeeee! as the air gets pushed out of the line; sound of water through pipes even though I hadn't turned a tap on), I wondered what it was, I investigated, I figured out it was the watering system. And then one day those noises changed. Interesting. Investigate! Oh, one of the connectors has come loose. I should fix that. Next year, the drip-watering system just doesn't work. Nothing happens. I remember when it turned on I could hear the solenoid tapping in and out. Now, nothing. A bit of figuring out later and I realise it froze in winter. The tap was full of water, it closed its relay, night came, it froze, it expanded. Damn. I bought a new unit and now I drain it come late autumn. --- This plus one hundred other things. --- So can I tell all this to the incoming residents, whomever they might be? I thought to write a 'house manual'. Maybe knock up a little website. But, no. I can't. Because this is what we refer to as 'common sense'. Can I teach a stranger common sense? Alas. Invent a thing that can teach an adult common sense and there's your next unicorn.

omnimus 2y ago
More custom setup more this happens. Every system has its quirks and hot fixes applied.
jjav 2y ago
> I thought to write a 'house manual'. Maybe knock up a little website. > But, no. I can't. Because this is what we refer to as 'common sense'. Can I teach a stranger common sense? Those hidden details about the house aren't really common sense. You know because you either set it up or had to figure it out. I have started writing a house manual because I've owned this house since before it was built and there are a lot of little details I know (like what's inside walls where and why, where buried pipes and utilities are, etc) that would take a lot of trial and error for someone else to figure out.
1dom 2y ago
I think there's a personality type for old/high maintenance houses. Having said that, a first time buyer will always be a first time buyer, and a house will probably suffer initially whilst they learn the skills to support their purchase. This is what makes old houses a thing though: they're tough and built to tolerate a certain amount of stupidity - they wouldn't still be standing otherwise. I try to take notes about things I do to my old house that I don't hear my peers with newer houses talk about, and if I do sell this house, I probably would offer to share all the notes when the buyer picks up the keys. Notes are also beneficial for my partner and future me.
xorcist 2y ago
> I thought to write a 'house manual'. Please do! Make it on paper, too. I got a few old school binders with the house, and it's been a life saver. It's sorted by room, and all sorts of useful things are in there: Exact model number of the water heater. Wiring diagrams of the garage and cellar. Location of the master water valve. The location of the tool to reach inside the ventilation ducts. Where the stones are dug in the garden. How water flows when there is flooding. How to replace filters in the rain spouts. The garden roof may take damage from heavy snowfall, but that the incline of the garage roof is enough. I am extremely grateful for this binder and try to keep it updated for the next owner. It seems a bit elitist to call it common sense. Sure, it's a house, everything can be repaired. But it's good to know why things are built the way they are. And it is much more useful to find out that the watering system needs to be drained late autumn before the fact.
drewcoo 2y ago
Common sense is what you wish other people knew. Yes, you can teach people your common sense.
joshstrange 2y ago
> I thought to write a 'house manual’ My parents are real estate agents and have seen this a handful of times. The buyers are always very appreciative. In fact, their house came with a plastic bin with filing folders containing manuals/warrantees/etc for stuff in the house (Fridge, Oven, Dishwasher, Pool stuff, etc). I’ve not gone that far but I have a rough floor plan with the circuit breaker noted for each switch and most lights. Also a 3D version I built of the house in a cad-type app. I’d happily give it (and info about the smart home devices, like switches) to the next owner but I have a feeling it would be mostly useless.
seba_dos1 2y ago
I drain the watering system in autumn because the previous resident has told me to. Didn't have to watch it break. It worked.
relaxing 2y ago
How do you make the jump from “I got bitten by this gotcha” to “can’t teach common sense”? Seems like you made the leap from not knowing to knowing alright.

omnimus 2y ago

More custom setup more this happens. Every system has its quirks and hot fixes applied.

jjav 2y ago

> I thought to write a 'house manual'. Maybe knock up a little website. > But, no. I can't. Because this is what we refer to as 'common sense'. Can I teach a stranger common sense? Those hidden details about the house aren't really common sense. You know because you either set it up or had to figure it out. I have started writing a house manual because I've owned this house since before it was built and there are a lot of little details I know (like what's inside walls where and why, where buried pipes and utilities are, etc) that would take a lot of trial and error for someone else to figure out.

1dom 2y ago

I think there's a personality type for old/high maintenance houses. Having said that, a first time buyer will always be a first time buyer, and a house will probably suffer initially whilst they learn the skills to support their purchase. This is what makes old houses a thing though: they're tough and built to tolerate a certain amount of stupidity - they wouldn't still be standing otherwise. I try to take notes about things I do to my old house that I don't hear my peers with newer houses talk about, and if I do sell this house, I probably would offer to share all the notes when the buyer picks up the keys. Notes are also beneficial for my partner and future me.

xorcist 2y ago

> I thought to write a 'house manual'. Please do! Make it on paper, too. I got a few old school binders with the house, and it's been a life saver. It's sorted by room, and all sorts of useful things are in there: Exact model number of the water heater. Wiring diagrams of the garage and cellar. Location of the master water valve. The location of the tool to reach inside the ventilation ducts. Where the stones are dug in the garden. How water flows when there is flooding. How to replace filters in the rain spouts. The garden roof may take damage from heavy snowfall, but that the incline of the garage roof is enough. I am extremely grateful for this binder and try to keep it updated for the next owner. It seems a bit elitist to call it common sense. Sure, it's a house, everything can be repaired. But it's good to know why things are built the way they are. And it is much more useful to find out that the watering system needs to be drained late autumn before the fact.

drewcoo 2y ago

Common sense is what you wish other people knew. Yes, you can teach people your common sense.

joshstrange 2y ago

> I thought to write a 'house manual’ My parents are real estate agents and have seen this a handful of times. The buyers are always very appreciative. In fact, their house came with a plastic bin with filing folders containing manuals/warrantees/etc for stuff in the house (Fridge, Oven, Dishwasher, Pool stuff, etc). I’ve not gone that far but I have a rough floor plan with the circuit breaker noted for each switch and most lights. Also a 3D version I built of the house in a cad-type app. I’d happily give it (and info about the smart home devices, like switches) to the next owner but I have a feeling it would be mostly useless.

seba_dos1 2y ago

I drain the watering system in autumn because the previous resident has told me to. Didn't have to watch it break. It worked.

relaxing 2y ago

How do you make the jump from “I got bitten by this gotcha” to “can’t teach common sense”? Seems like you made the leap from not knowing to knowing alright.