Good call getting a contractor - the fewer guesses you make and the more professional opinions you take advantage of, the more marketable your house will be.

Start shopping for your destination in terms of climate, cost of living index, etc. now. Nothing says you have to move yet, but the sooner you start thinking about down the road stuff, the sooner you start designing your route to get there. The sooner your mind is informed, the sooner it begins to make a plan. The sooner you have the glimmer of a plan, the sooner you stop saying things like, "I hope we can." and the sooner you begin saying things like, "when we do."

Sounds like loads of fun... One of the reasons I decided to rent. Just a two word suggestion... "Leaf Filter".

You look tired from all your gutter work, my friend! I hope you find a better place soon! You really need a huge break from all these challenges you have been facing! A nice photo of you though! Take care. Better times are approaching!

Still having fun, are we? If you do decide to get new gutters, get the ones that have screen covers. Or as zaqxsw suggests, Leaf Filter for your existing gutters, makes life a bit more enjoyable and no climbing that ladder :)

Well, we got rid of 8 huge trees around the house by having a tornado come through the neighborhood, but I really don't advise that. Take care and remember you're suppose to be relaxing and enjoying your retirement! Stay safe.

Yeah, that doesn't sound like much fun at all.... I'll skip the tornado method.... Hope you didn't have damage to your house.

Good luck with the cleanup and finding a new place. People who want to move usually find somewhere, especially if they are patient. We're all rootin' for ya!

I know the feeling, I bought a single story house for that exact reason. Carry on wayward son!

This one is actually single story, but it has a walk-out basement in the back. Which of course is where all the problems are... 😫

Glad you had one! (a relaxing day) Nice pic!

It looks...muddy! No trees also means no trees coming to visit you inside when the winds get strong, and no squirrels checking out your attic :D

We're under a Dust storm warning tonight. That looks like too much work to me... actually, just going up that ladder looks like too much work.

Oh, trust me, Wolf.... It was! 😜

I wish I could send some of this blasted rain your direction where it's needed. We should have enough here to last us 'till 2027...

It sounds like at least you got a lot done. I wish you good luck on finding a better place quickly!

OMG - You really have to get out of there my friend, this is no more a normal life, in the Bible it is written: 'Who seeks finds'! So finally search! I wish you and Jo a nice Sunday in spite of everything! I feel very sad for you both, that in old age when you would like to have some peace and quiet!

Without a doubt, a well deserved break, good luck to you Rods.

minus your flooding problem, this is a cool pad Rod. glad to see ya hard at work. take care..

In Texas, we have mostly clay based soil. In order to keep our foundations from shifting, we only use gutters over entry ways and patios. This gives even watering around the foundation. Take the gutters down. You will thank me.

Exactly what the gurlz always say, you look damn good and perfectly fit for the next party. Just get a nice, safe and comfortable place. When done, don't forget to make room and open the gates wide, the gurlz will flood in and for very good reasons.
Yeah, please don't forget the grill...
You are a good man, Rod..!

Always an adventure when you own a house. I glad the basement didn't flood again and will keep my fingers crossed you and Jo can relocate before you are totally insane. Yes, get a contractor for the gutters. Thinking of you up on that ladder is giving me heart palpitations.

It's a sellars market. Most homes sell above asking price... which is good when you are selling, but not so much when you are buying....
Talk to a reputable realtor and find out what you need to fix and what you can let slide.

And worst case... Think about French drains that funnel water away from your foundation. Good luck, rest up!!

Rod alway at work even in relaxing day ;-)

I use to make a living climbing ladders. I need to get the rest of my exterior work done and get it painted. I hired a company to install some gutters where there never was any and replacement on the front porch.

my former clients would ask me why does their gutters not drain. they said they paid some big bucks to have gutter covers installed. I looked at their gutters and found so many leaves inside the gutters. they asked me how could they have leaves. I said because the crew never removed the litter before putting the covers on. be careful Rod, falling off ladders is no fun at all. I fell off a 8 foot roof years ago and luckily my leg took the worst, but it recovered. I have been asked if I use skin protection from the sun. I have said that with all the dirt I would get on myself and washing it off several times a day, the sun care lotion would be useless. it was so much fun working on high 2 story homes on the soffit , and have carpenter ants and their dirt fall on top of my head

work...work...work! :)

wow you got some heavy duty stories in your comments! Heavy duty comment from Richard. And Barb had tornadoes! (She mentioned that to me as well---in Massachussetts---just shows ya no place is safe...I can't picture a twister with a boston accent...) I'm really sorry for all this, Rod, and I hope you two will be able to move, as I said in another comment, when you want to and not a minute later or sooner. I can't wish you enough, you have worked long and hard to finally leave this place.

Kudos to Jo for a really good photo---If you helped her, kudos to you too. I know you're exhausted in this shot, and filled with the remains of your gutter, roof, and whatever else you confronted, but it's really a good shot of you after a long day of work, resting on a ladder, in beautiful shade. I'm serious---this is a seriously good shot. The light, the contrasts, even those big chunks of whatever on the lawn (siding? wood flooring? Ok: At first I thought those were gravestones---sorry, lol, I'm not hinting at anything! I just was very tired when you posted this, and in my half conscious state, I thought: Does Rod have a graveyard in his backyard??? How come he never told us! And then, someone needs to tell rod that the stones are all fallen over! The thoughts you have when you're half daydreaming.)

For someone who just came off a ladder cleaning out a gutter, you strike a serious pose of repose here: Again, I really like this photo, it's beautifully composed, consciously or no. But I hope the days of struggle are over soon for you. (And isn't it amazing that we're getting rain and cooler temps while the West is getting 120 degrees and no moisture anywhere? Such lopsided weather.) All the best to you both, Rod, I hope you see an end to this soon.

"Gravestones..." 🤣 I'm tired, Mark, but not THAT tired! 😆😆 Those are actually bits and pieces of the old wrap-around computer table system I built years ago. I used 'em a couple times to set the ladder on to compensate for uneven ground.

I looked my address up a couple hours ago to get the square footage, and found it on Zillow (not listed on market). They estimated its value at - get ready - $145,000.00. 😲 I just about shit myself! That's just an estimate, of course, and I have a number of things to do with it, but that REALLY boosted the old Hope Factor! 😁

Rod...let me just say this...you are one hard working man! You are a perfect example of what this country was built on! Gone are the days when people used to do all the work themselves and hiring someone was something one used to do as a last resort. This picture of you is well done...my compliments to the photographer that took it! It reminds me of the great pictures I used to see in LIFE magazine. You have my best wishes going forward and sincerely hope everything turns out well for you and Jo. :-)

You really had to bust some ass on this one. I can see it in your face ... My hopes and all my good thoughts are being sent your way. I should also probably send a case or two of Irish Whiskey your way. But given that cluster-f^7* you've been through, you might be tempted to drink it on the spot. Then comes the big fall and the paramedics. So how bout this ... If we ever meet, drinks are on me.

Hang In There ... Dag

Very nice shot!!!

Fun to see you and the house you have told us about so often! Your stories, I have to say, make me grateful to be an apartment dweller at this time. 😁

Nice to put a face (and body) to the name! I don't climb ladders any more - the knees etc complain too much. So I get workmen in to fix anything my sons can't.

What a lot of fun ..... not!!! Great to "see" you. Sorry about all the leaves and muck. I grew up in the mountains in Colorado, and now live in the desert like area of the Four Corners - the tallest tree on our place is an 8 ft tall juniper. The down side is no shade from the sun, but that's better than worrying about the wind blowing a tree over on the house.

Good luck on finding a new place, not an easy thing to do right now!

Hi!

Nah, save yourself the hassle of the contractor. Just drill a few holes in the ground for the water to drain into. LOL Don't you wish it worked like that. I feel for you, man, bad drainage can be a real PITA. Hope you can get it all sorted out soon.