What if someone gets sick and dies - who's left holding what (yourself included)? Hmm, good question. I wonder if we could arrange to have it in writing, who the property goes to if someone gets hit by a truck. Because he is a landlord, can he change the lease agreement once the prior lease expires? Is is a yearly lease agreement that is able to be altered each year? I think we would probably look at a single long lease, at least 2 years, with our option to buy at the end of the lease protected. it appears that you made up your mind and you won't listen to what anyone else says no matter what No, that isn't true. Just because I don't agree with other people's conclusions doesn't mean I'm not thinking about the points they bring up. I don't understand why you're so certain that you would be unable to get a rental that you like better than your current one. Three months of research. Main thing is relationship between employer & employee. I my own self would not like to have a business contract interfere with that. Unless there's a friendship outside of work hours, isn't the relationship between employer & employee exactly a business contract? In the event of a disagreement, the boss almost always wins, & you could find yourselves with no home & no job either. People have said this several times but no one has offered a plausible scenario to *how* it would happen that couldn't happen now or in another rental. I mean, if you have one, I'm all ears, I just haven't seen one. I'm going to call several lenders Monday and see what they accept as a down payment from a rent-to-own situation, because I agree having a third-party lender would be a way safer option. And thanks for the reference to mrlandlord. I'll read there this weekend.

I might be the last, but got a good laugh in rereading again! I, too, love my label maker. I alphabetize. I (quoting STBX) can load 10 pounds of crap into a 5 pound bag. Referring to me loading the DW. It's astonishing how space-wasteful some people are! I only stand on my counters to paint my cabinets. Where I struggle moving a ladder, I never hate to worry about the cabinets being in the wrong place. Of course, until very, very recently, I just had plywood countertops. When picking up fixtures for the house in 2006, I convinced DH I had found some "on sale" online. My Cifial kitchen and 1 bathroom faucets and a couple of other things. He'll never know that I'm SO good, I can convince eBay vendors to let me do a "lay away" with them, where I'm paying them on time. I confess the 12" tall wall cabinets I'm building and putting on top of my 30" cabinets for architectural detail will remain empty. I can't reach them, and if I put anything in them I'll never, ever think of it again. But they look cool! I confess I buy doors, cabinets, hardware, and other sundries at the Community Forklift because I might have a use for them, or they're too cool not to buy. I can, however, load up my truck and take a lot back when I just plain can't figure something out for them. They become a (re)donation. For $5.00 a cab, or $15 an antique door? I'm fine with it. And finally, after work today? I'm going to spend my 1st Christmas in 3 years of work and about 4 years of other crap, (my DH's hospitalization, then a fire, then his depression, then unbeknownst to me, his blah about xmas because he was running back and forth to his chick's, kind of killed any Christmas we were to have) I am going to be home tonight, tomorrow and Monday. I am going to get my Fein MultiMaster and cut out some existing drywall (can't believe I'm doing that) to fit cabinets into the MBR. I'm going to use my fabulous orbital sander to sand my butcherblock countertop again. I'm going to hopefully change out some pocket doors for antiques I got at Comm Forklift. And? I'm going to make myself some Crown Rib dinner and sit on the couch and DO NOTHING. Merry Christmas to you all! And happy other holiday I can think of. Be safe and spend it with people you love. Christine

No, no. The bottom stuff is the water pump. It has nothing to do with oil. I can't seem to find my manual although I was just using it last month. However, I went to CHpower.com and found (under service for power washer section) a manual for similar washers. However, it didn't include the Briggs and Stratton engine. I believe you could find the exact manual for your engine at their site. I had been looking so I could suggest the appropriate oil although it likely doesn't really matter that much. The thing is, your machine looks very clean and perhaps unused. It may not even have oil in it. You certainly shouldn't try to run it until you find out and either add oil or remove and add oil. To remove, you hand unscrew the big black oil filler cap on the top left of the engine as shown in your first pic.; tip it over; pour it out. Yes, that seems odd, but that's the way some engines need to be emptied because (in this case) the pump is probably in the way of any regular drain port. But since it appears lightly used, you really shouldn't need to change oil.

Thank you, thank you all. This has indeed been an interesting journey. DH retired 3 years ago and he resisted the idea for a long time. But one day last year I mentioned that one of the larger homes that backed up to the woods had just come on the market and he surprised me by agreeing to see it. Then he floored me by making an offer. Most of the homes in this community sell quickly, usually by word of mouth which is how I found this one. My friends who live there told me the day it went on the market. Joanie - You asked how we chose this community. That was probably the easiest part of this process. We used to drive past the entrance when we took the dog to the vet and every now and then DH and I would drive through. This community is 13 years old, has 235 individual homes and 30 townhouses reserved for lower income seniors. There is a clubhouse, outdoor pool, tennis and bocce courts and a very active group of residents. As with so many other real estate decisions location was key. We have many over 55 communities in this part of South Jersey and I know of 5 more that are being built. Most of the newer ones have larger units and more options but they're not necessarily better construction and most of them are in towns with high taxes. Toll Brothers is building one on a golf course in my town. These are all townhouses and the taxes for a 2100 sq ft home are over $15,000. Our development has 8 different models ranging from 1500 sq ft to 2150 sq ft - we choose the larger one in hopes that some day we might have grandchildren who'd like to visit. We have a 2 car garage, a kitchen, family room, living room/dining room, master bedroom and guest room on the first floor. The second floor has another guest room and a loft. The lots are small and the houses are close together which is why we wanted one in the rear with a private patio and backs up to woods. The monthly HOA fee is $135 which covers yard care, snow removal and recreational facilities. Once DH realized that this move made sense he threw himself into planning the remodel. He comments that if we're giving up this home that we love then he wants to make the next one 'ours' too. So while they all seem to look alike on the outside we're completely remaking the interior. I've heard him talking to our friends about our move and he now says that he should have done this earlier. Giving up our big home, yard and pool will free us from many of those home ownership worries plus there is the financial savings - our taxes will be halved, utility costs will be significantly lower and we plan on spending more time at our vacation home in NE PA. DH is near 70 and I'm a few years behind and he has health limitations that prevent him from strenuous activity. We won't have to switch doctors or hospitals, all 3 adult kids now own their own homes and live within 30 minutes. I'll actually be closer to Wegman's and the Wellness Center where I try to do pool exercises 4 or 5 times a week. I can easily drive or take the Hi-Speed Line into Philly or take NJ Transit to NYC. I'm the social butterfly in the family while DH is reserved, quiet and definitely not a joiner. They have regular card games in the clubhouse but DH wouldn't dream of just walking in. I'm hoping he'll met someone who will ask if he plays pinochle - that would make him a happy camper. My girlfriend and I have already signed up for the September bus trip to NYC. Thanks again everyone for your encouraging words. Maire