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Post by denise15601 on Jun 12, 2023 18:03:54 GMT
I finally got my new bathroom after 8 months of paperwork, etc. I have been afraid of falling getting in and out of my bathtub since I have been falling lately for no reason and also have leg and back problems. The Agency on Aging sent me an application for the USDA Rural Development program, also known as Section 504 Home Repairs. To qualify, one has to be elderly, disabled and of very low income, with no IRA’s or savings. What I find as funny/sad, is that their idea of very low income is under $45,000 for one person (which I consider to be a great income). Even though they counted my gross online sales, I was well under that.
The grant or loan was for $10,000, either for a free grant or a loan at 1% interest payable over 20 years, of $50 a month. The paperwork was extensive and I even had to provide my divorce decree. But I qualified for the free $10,000!
It sure took a while to find a contractor and to figure out what I could get for that amount of money. The tub to shower conversion came to $8,000. But since I had $10,000 to spend, I was able to get a new toilet and vanity. Granted that all of the items were the cheapest possible, but anything was better than my 45 year old stuff.
It took 8 days of working within a 3 week period, since there were a few problems.
The interesting part is that if I die within 3 years, my daughter has to pay back the whole $10,000.
Posting pictures below. The blue stuff is my former and the gray is the new. My carpet is much more gray than it shows.
I think that this program is available in all states and typically bathrooms and roofs are what are replaced. So, hopefully this information will help others as well.      |
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Post by Tabby on Jun 12, 2023 20:13:13 GMT
It's beautiful, Denise. ❤️ Congrats on being able to wade through all of the paperwork and get this done.
Enjoy your pretty (and safe) new bathroom. 👍
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Post by denise15601 on Jun 12, 2023 21:42:10 GMT
Thanks Tabby!
The grab bars are perfect and much-needed.
My first aim was to remove the wallpaper and paint down to the chair rail. It took me hours to gather paint samples to find a coordinating color to match the vanity. It cost me $50 for a gallon of paint. But I couldn't get the wallpaper adhesive off, even with professional adhesive remover. So I had to pay extra to get the paneling to cover up the mess.
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Post by labbypaws on Jun 13, 2023 0:44:32 GMT
That looks really nice. We had the blue and pink toilets and bathtubs in our home which was built in 1976.
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Post by denise15601 on Jun 13, 2023 1:06:44 GMT
Ahhh, my denim blue! My house was built in 1977....denim blue bathroom stuff and harvest gold kitchens. I do like blue, and if I wasn't so old, I would keep it. I sold the vanity and toilet for $40 each. And since I couldn't sell the tub, my contractor took it home so that his live-in girlfriend can put it in their front yard as a planter. Turns out that it matches his house.
So my former bathroom shall live on.
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Post by treetop on Jun 13, 2023 1:44:31 GMT
Very pretty bathroom, I especially love the big walk-in shower!
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val2525
Chaos Manager
Posts: 30,761 
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Post by val2525 on Jun 13, 2023 1:53:28 GMT
Nice job! It looks great!
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Post by jesmelric on Jun 13, 2023 12:52:31 GMT
Denise that is wonderful!! It looks great and is much safer for you, I know you are thrilled 
That is interesting about the program, I have never heard of such a thing, it's nice that they have things to help people. Even if it's a weird thing that if someone passes, their family owes the debt that the person qualified for a free grant.
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Post by thekloset on Jun 13, 2023 13:27:49 GMT
it looks beautiful!
im so impressed that you could get it done under budget--we are looking at doing accessibility mods too and whew, bathrooms are expensive!
im semi familiar with the program you used--we used something similar a bazillion years ago when we were young and poor. the reason for the payback after three years is because there is typically a requirement that you have to live and own the property for that timeframe-its nothing nefarious.
our grant had a 7 year requirement and omg, it was the LONGEST 7 years of our lives lol. we sold almost immediately after time was up...it was a teeny bungalow in a crime infested area and we needed to go.
i will say we did make a huge profit on that sale so it was worth the 7 yr wait in the end.  |
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Post by denise15601 on Jun 13, 2023 16:16:32 GMT
Denise that is wonderful!! It looks great and is much safer for you, I know you are thrilled
That is interesting about the program, I have never heard of such a thing, it's nice that they have things to help people. Even if it's a weird thing that if someone passes, their family owes the debt that the person qualified for a free grant.
I agree! I had heard that it was possible for an upgrade, but it took several calls to find out where. I know that the Agency on Aging will provide wheelchair ramps and stair glides for free, but not tub upgrades. |
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Post by denise15601 on Jun 13, 2023 16:23:46 GMT
it looks beautiful!
im so impressed that you could get it done under budget--we are looking at doing accessibility mods too and whew, bathrooms are expensive!
im semi familiar with the program you used--we used something similar a bazillion years ago when we were young and poor. the reason for the payback after three years is because there is typically a requirement that you have to live and own the property for that timeframe-its nothing nefarious.
our grant had a 7 year requirement and omg, it was the LONGEST 7 years of our lives lol. we sold almost immediately after time was up...it was a teeny bungalow in a crime infested area and we needed to go.
i will say we did make a huge profit on that sale so it was worth the 7 yr wait in the end. I was also told that I couldn't sell my house within 3 years. But the thought of moving anywhere puts me into a panic since I don't have the strength to move.
My second contractor choice (my friend's grandson), pulled out at the last minute, so I called the third guy who priced it at $12,500. But when I suggested eliminating a new toilet, he said he could do it for $10,000. But I had to pick the cheapest possible stuff. TG the vanity was on sale for $500 off. It is cheaply built, but I am thrilled to have real drawers in it. My previous one just had 2 doors.
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Post by frakinfashion on Jun 13, 2023 16:38:54 GMT
Looks great! Enjoy!
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Post by Emerald_Door on Jun 13, 2023 18:32:30 GMT
Very nice!
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