Writing documentation for your house • Hacker News Board

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#291

Post by data-ottawa » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 12:54 PM UTC

efitz wrote: post #17

For my last house, I had spent years on smart home automation, I had a binder that contained clear instructions I wrote for everything, and receipts for every upgrade I ever made on the home, warranty docs, QR codes to download smart home apps to control the devices, plot maps, floor plans, a 1-page list of repairmen for everything- you name it. I made short YouTube videos for everything like turning the water on/off…

When I was new to house shopping my wife and I found this house we loved. It had intricate patterns of mixed woods in the hardwood, French doors closing off a super nice dining room with wainscotting, and this super cool mid century river stone fireplace.

We had made all these plans to renovate the upstairs which was all that was needed. Then the day of the sale came, we got massively outbid, it sold at a silly price. We figured whoever bought it loved it equally.

Nope, a year later it was back on the market. The dining room had been torn out to make the ground floor open plan, the hardwood was completely replaced with cheap grey vinyl floor boards, and the fireplace was replaced with a small dining area.

It was painful to look at was clearly a well finished house turned into a cheap looking listing on AirBnB.

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#292

Post by misnome » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:05 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #263

apwell23 wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

She couldve planted that herself to make livestream more interesting with some sentimental drama.

Interesting that your first thought upon reading something like this is that it could have been faked, complete with reason. I think that says more about you than that it does about the person described in the story.

I have bad news for you about Ted the Caver

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#293

Post by spikej » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:25 PM UTC

ff317 wrote: post #249

t0mas88 wrote: post #236

Many stories from people creating documentation only for it to get thrown away. Let me share an opposite one: I bought a house that was empty after divorce, both had moved out some months before. We mostly dealt with the agent, only saw one of the previous owners for a very short time at the signing meeting with the notary. Then in the house we found a "congratulations on your new place" card, a bottle of sparkling w…

I bought a new-construction place, and I was around during the process. After they were done with all the plumbing/wiring/etc, but before they filled in the insulation and sheetrock, I walked the whole house and took cellphone pictures of every bare wall to show where all the pipes and wires are run, and then labelled it all up by room. I plan to hand those off if I ever sell the place! I don't know why builders don'…

Someone gave me an added tip to include a tape measure in the shots so you can more easily line up where things are after the wall's closed.

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#294

Post by spikej » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:29 PM UTC

efitz wrote: post #17

For my last house, I had spent years on smart home automation, I had a binder that contained clear instructions I wrote for everything, and receipts for every upgrade I ever made on the home, warranty docs, QR codes to download smart home apps to control the devices, plot maps, floor plans, a 1-page list of repairmen for everything- you name it. I made short YouTube videos for everything like turning the water on/off…

I did similar -- not to the level of Youtube videos -- but have that list for spouse in case something happens to me.

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#295

Post by AndrewKemendo » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 1:43 PM UTC

Over the last years I’ve mortgaged and maintained and sold 4 homes and in only one did anyone do any kind of documentation on the electrical that was functionally useful.

Home inspectors aren’t it either, as they don’t really give any idea of “technical debt” that isn’t glaringly obvious in my experience.

I’d pay good money for a static analysis of my home

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#296

Post by eddieroger » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:15 PM UTC

robertlagrant wrote: post #203

eddieroger wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Big use cases can be overkill, but I like to take on the small things as automation projects. Easy one - if everyone has left my house for a time, turn off all the lights. If we have left but the dog is home and the sun sets, turn on a few lights for her (my dog has a wifi collar). If I arrive home after dark and open the garage door, turn on the mudroom lights so I don't walk in to a dark house, then turn it back of…

Or if you're on holiday - turn the lights on at certain points. For top marks, have a train set with cardboard cutouts on and party music playing loudly every evening.

I used to travel for work, and would call a similar automation "Home Alone mode". Rocking around the Christmas tree with Michael Jordan.

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#297

Post by stikit » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:25 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #263

apwell23 wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

She couldve planted that herself to make livestream more interesting with some sentimental drama.

Interesting that your first thought upon reading something like this is that it could have been faked, complete with reason. I think that says more about you than that it does about the person described in the story.

Maybe consider not questioning motives or disposition ? My first thought was that it was staged. The lack of critical thinking in todays world is appalling and enables the exploitation of the vulnerable.

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#298

Post by rossdavidh » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:32 PM UTC

Yikes. My daughter, now age 18 and in college, is going to inherit our house in a few years, when we move out. Why have I not done this? [clears schedule for weekend to get on this]

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#299

Post by sigzero » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:45 PM UTC

apwell23 wrote: post #289

jacquesm wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because you didn't precede it with anything nicer.

That doesn't make any sense.

In fact, it does make sense.

Re: Writing documentation for your house

#300

Post by yial » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 2:53 PM UTC

rpearl wrote: post #245

ozim wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Home automation is for me exactly the same as designer kitchen or designer day room. Yeah it was great for the previous owner but it sucks for me as I have different tastes and needs. I am going to rip it all off and do what I want. But in reality I just don’t buy anything that is advertised “one of a kind” because I know it will be more of a hassle to deal with it even if it looks cool. For me cool looking fancy stu…

I put in a bunch of Caseta smart switches. They are indistinguishable from normal light switches without any smarts, but if I want to, I can also control them via local network. It's nice to go to bed and turn off the entire house with one button. Lights turn off automatically when we all leave. The thermostat is an ecobee, which is a pretty polished IoT device but I'm frustrated i couldn't get something _more_ local…

I love my ecobee.

However with switches I go hard opposite. Reproduction push buttons, with antique brass plates acquired at auction.

The downside is perhaps that when someone encounters them for the first time, they spend 10 minutes flipping them on and off.

I would however install in a moment motorized blinds like you describe.