We did it. We bought a tech house after viewing five promising and sometimes
weird candidates. Our offer was accepted on number three. It's the biggest
project that we have ever tackled and I am so excited. But it raises the
question, what exactly is a [music] tech house? I am so glad you asked. For now,
it's a house. But [music] when we're done, we will have transformed it into a
dream space for gaming, making, tinkering, and just playing getting
stuff done. And our client Gee is going to be absolutely thrilled with it. But
who is Gee? Ghee is a guy like you, a
tinkerer, an enthusiast. He loves tech and getting the most out of his money,
>> but absolutely hates subscriptions and unnecessary AI. He loves to live on the
bleeding edge, but also needs things to
actually work for his family. So, with his needs in mind, let's take a closer
look at what we're working with here. There's a few things that we know that
we want. A sick theater space in here,
hideaway 2v2 gaming setups here in the bedrooms,
>> a self-hosted security and home automation system with its brains in
here, >> and of course, high-speed networking to
all the things. [music] But what we don't know is how we're going to
accomplish all of that. Ah jeez, what are you doing here?
>> This seemed like an appropriate time to tell you there's some problems with the inspection report.
>> Oh no, what's the damage? >> I'll tell you, but first I want to put
you in a good mood [music] with this segue to our sponsor. >> Sponsor,
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to save 20% on the right plan for you. >> The second biggest one is actually
related to the crawl space that you and James and now I have spent considerable
amount of time in. >> Oh, and that's that there is a lot of pest activity in this house.
>> So much so that like Oh, what? Oh.
>> Oh, I just I thought it was going to be way [music] worse than that. >> No, the first one's worse.
>> Well, we we just need to get a cat. Cat's not going to just pick up all the
rat droppings. >> Your team loves selling robot vacuum
sponsorships. >> Robo Rock just going around. There you
go. Oh, that's not that bad. I recently remodeled/constructed
my home theater. So, I do have some ideas of what I would do if I were in
this space doing it the traditional way. I would block out all these lights. I
might even stuff acoustic panels in here so it's just dark in here all the time.
On this wall, I would do a projector, which I'd throw from about here. Got to
get rid of this thing. Subwoofer replacement. Probably going to be
one there and one there, or maybe four. Four is kind of ideal. And an option for
where you put all the gear because there actually is a crawl space all along
here. So you could actually run all your
cabling and stuff through there and have all your gear concealed in a closet over
here, which is pretty cool, but a little more complicated. For the second idea,
I'm going to put together a little pitch and give it to Lionus when he's done with cold. I'm pretty excited to look at
the lighting and home automation. You can see that there were some attempts
made. This clearly came after the fact, but obviously it's a little
old-fashioned. I've got some ideas on how we can modernize it. >> This here says 99% of foundation not
visible. I hope it's nothing to do with that. >> There's quite a bit to do with drainage
and the foundation. >> I just happened to open to that page.
Yeah. So, all of the things that are bigger that we needed to kind of investigate and deal with. And the
reason this took a few extra weeks is perimeter drainage is not right with the
house. There's no permanent damage. There is uh what they call
efflloresence, which is like there's like this weird powdery stuff on top of
some portions of the foundation which can come from moisture. We need to do
more investigation. So, it may cost us anywhere from $10 [music] to $60,000 to
do. Once the drainage is fixed, everything else will be fine. There's no
permanent damage. >> The house. >> Let's go check in with the other guys.
>> For the inside, I'm thinking millimeter wave presence detection. We could use
those switches from >> or we could use just general standalone
sensors. >> Right. So, you can have switches on the wall, but theoretically you never have
to touch them. But then you said for the inside.
>> Yeah. For outside, we can pair up some
AI with cameras and use presence
detection through AI. >> Now, Gee doesn't want unnecessary AI and
is allergic to subscriptions, but we can
probably do that locally, right? >> Yeah, there's all sorts of options that you can do this locally with.
>> In terms of wiring, I don't think it's going to be a problem. The previous owner was clearly techy in their own way
and has run a lot of wiring through the
crawl space already. Oh,
>> it's not the first time that's happened. >> Yeah, clearly not. Uh, hi.
>> So, what I need to run by you is one of
two options. Option one is go full hem
on this being a feeder room. Second option is what if we scooch
things forward a bit and try to leave a little bit of space here. It's big
enough that I can see where the temptation comes from. But >> or you could actually do yet a third
thing, which would be you have the couch. At the back of the couch, maybe
you have a kind of bar. >> Ooh. >> With stools.
>> Now, that's interesting. >> And then some way to entertain here.
Even if you're just preparing in the kitchen and putting like a platter down,
like some kind of like cool popcorn prep
station or something like that. You got all your spices and then, okay, this is
like unhinged, >> but what if you just had like soda water
on tap, >> plummet in, and then you just have like
those little squirts for flavoring or whatever. So, you got drinks, you've got
popcorn. I think it is worth considering [music] the type of media consumption that's not
so full on locked in. Sometimes you're watching a sporting event or it's the
Olympics, which is also a sporting event. So, a friendly but still very
high-end media experience. >> Are you thinking projector or is there a
world where we can get a really big [music] format TV in here?
>> I want a really big TV and wiring is
going to be a piece of cake. The guy who owned this place is so cool. There's
light switches in here and a duplex power outlet. Another idea, what if we
uh build storage into this other doorways along the wall to use this to
stow things like blankets and pillows, whatever else.
>> Oh, I love that. You could put like a lap board for gaming on the couch. It's
the kind of thing I love to use, but I hate to see. The question is, what are
we going to do with this window? >> One thing you could do is actually just make a false wall across here, level it
out, and then just fill that with acoustic foam. But you do have this issue with there being a this heater
here, >> right? But if we're redoing this place and we don't put in a heat pump, I don't
think we're doing it right. Is this just running off of there?
>> Yes. And that's the least of your concerns. You need to see the dryer.
>> Do not turn the dryer on when the garage outlet is in use.
>> Rogue Electrical. >> Sorry, that's the name of the contractor
he used for this place. >> What is this?
>> Doorbell. >> More wires. >> More wires. >> Okay, let's go. Let's go look at the
Let's go look at this garage. Okay. So, here it is. We've got a We've got an
RJ11 jack that what? Runs to a CB radio.
What was this guy doing in here? >> Yeah, man. This place is kind of nuts.
Look at that. This is just like morrettes just with wires attached to the thing. Is that even Is that just
plugged into a regular outlet? >> An extension box into an outlet.
>> Oh, yeah. Here, hold on. I got this >> POWER BAR. [screaming and cheering]
>> THAT'S PRETTY BRIGHT. >> Let there be light. Yeah, >> there's a fluorescent light on the
inside of this garage door. No, this this is even better. Check this out. If
just you just got something to write down just right now, real quick. We just
>> Okay, that's actually sick. That's sick. That's cool. [laughter]
>> And closing the loop on another warning sign you saw. This would be the garage outlet that you're not to use if the
dryer's running. >> No, no, no. This is the garage outlet
you're not to use when the dryer's running. It's an extension cord.
I kind of want to keep the spirit of it. Like maybe we just settle for one bay of
actual parking and then the other side is like a really cool maybe slightly
safer maker. >> Well, Lionus, you've already got the rug.
>> There is only one garage door opener.
>> Oh, wow. >> There is. There used to be one here.
>> That's the power for it. But he needed that. >> He needed the power. So
>> he needed this power for other things. I love that he terminated these himself
and that two out of the three are using like inside wall wiring, not extension
cable wiring. >> The only other thing that we kind of
knew of when we >> You keep saying that. >> What's >> the only other thing? And then there
keeps being another thing. >> There is lots of things. >> Something that we were aware of when we
toured the house in the first place is that it's going to need all new Windows. >> All new Windows.
>> All new Windows. Yeah. >> Why? >> That was baked into the price already, though. Original.
>> I mean, this seemed >> They're not good. >> It's clear. They're not. Well, garage might be fine, but you can look right
through it. You can look right through it. >> Hold on. I can see this. >> Watch. Stay here. Stay here. No. No.
Stay here. >> What is this tape? >> Stay here. Let's check something. >> Hold on. Do they actually tape it? What
is this? What was this supposed to do? >> What?
>> The tape. >> We benchmarked the wheel. >> THE OH, IT'S BROKEN. YEAH. SO, it's two
single panes. I'm pretty sure that's >> You think it would cut my tongue?
>> No, you stop. >> Hold the phone. Okay. I'm kicking a
thing right now. >> Why are you kicking that? >> Is there Is there a tube connected to
the built-in vac? >> He has an outside connection for his
shop vac. >> That's amazing. So, he can use his
built-in vac to vacuum out his car. >> This guy whatever he wanted. He didn't
care. He was like, "I'm going to make it happen." And he made it happen. We got to find this guy and interview him.
>> This is another piece that I would unironically like to maintain, though.
Front lawn fountain. That's class. How
many extension cords are embedded in this house? Where does this one even go?
This was the plan just to let this drain [laughter]
into the neighbor's garden bed. Come on,
man. Don't do that.
Holy. This is actually nice. Wa! Buddy,
these are better Windows than the house has. Of course, it's full of power
strips. I can turn this into a nice sauna. >> I knew you were going to say that. I
knew you were going to say that. [laughter] The second I saw the cedar, I
was like, James is going to want to put a sauna in
the backyard. >> I think the shed is pretty new.
>> Oh, there's your little power conduit. You can see it.
>> Oh, yeah. There it is. Oh, wow. Okay, here we go. Let's play find the power
source. >> It's actually just an extension cord.
>> No. [laughter] Come on, man. He's got another dryer
outlet out here. Enough about the wackiness that is the outside, though.
Let's talk some of the cooler plans. >> Well, one of the challenges we have is
how are we going to differentiate this room with the other living room, family
room? They're kind of sy. >> Well, I think we've got to think about
it in terms of what we want to do. I would say that ghee doesn't just video
game. So, if we could have one of these spaces quickly and easily convert into
like tabletop heaven, that would be awesome.
>> Is that really a good use of space? Even though it would be great here by the
Windows where there's lots of light, >> right? >> While you have a dining room table right
there, so wouldn't you just use that? >> But the problem is, we've all been
there. You get midway through a game, you're not done.
>> Yeah. >> And life happens. >> Mhm. >> I would love it. Okay, this is stupid.
We won't do this, but like how cool would it be if we had something that we
could like lift up. Okay, it's actually
not that dumb. >> It's pretty dumb. It's [laughter] cool.
Okay, but if you are going to do a gaming room like that, I would think that this is the better room for it cuz
that room over there opens to the kitchen. So, that's a way more social
entertaining living >> and it should have a TV probably.
Whereas I actually like the idea of not having a TV in your entertaining space
where you've got your couches, where you want to converse. >> As long as there's good speakers.
>> Oh yeah, we definitely want speakers in here. By the way, I found something fun
in addition to yet another one of these.
Did you guys see this? This just goes to
the outside. >> It's to bring fresh air into the fireplace. Otherwise, you end up sucking
all of the air from the rooms in the house and
>> out it goes. >> Yeah. >> Wait, wait, wait, wait. Is this a wood
burning fireplace? >> That is a wood burning fireplace.
>> Maybe it's been decommissioned. >> Let's talk bedroom gaming setups. The
bedroom setup in this place is kind of funny. These two bedrooms are actually
one room with pocket doors.
So, what we were kind of thinking is that we wanted them to Man, they're
really not that big. We wanted them to be able to accommodate a twin bed and
then some kind of hideaway desk or gaming setup that would allow, you know,
you and your friend who's sleeping over to play games with your sibling and
their friend who's sleeping over. >> I think the layout that makes sense is
bed in that corner >> and then desk this way. So that that way
when you open the door, you know, you're sitting here and then you have your ey line with your
>> right there. >> Like Yeah. You see that? Head shot, baby. What is this?
So many things about this place that blow my mind. But this is one of the
best ones so far. Anyone got any idea why they did this?
It's just patched through. Why? Hey, look at this. Over here, there's yet
another one. And this one
Oh, wait. I thought that was this. This is a different thing. What is
what? It's a BNC connector. But to
where? >> The crawl space. >> To what end? There was definitely a
captive in that basement at some point. [laughter] This probably was the camera that was
used to monitor them. >> Oh my god. >> Seriously, give me another hypothesis.
How bad do you think this bathroom was? Such that they felt the need to do that.
This looks like it was done just to sell it. Like, how bad do you think this
place was? This is brand new. Like, there is not a tiny bit of stain on this
grout. >> That's definitely a Costco shower. >> What do you think the state of this
place was? >> I don't know, but I bet it had a lot of power.
>> Do you think he has an outlet in the shower? I mean, I Justine had networking
in her shower. >> Hey, a walk-in.
I'm walking in. >> I get it.
>> Would we use this for anything other than a closet? >> Because we want this to be not just a
meme. We want this to be a house that anyone would actually want to live in.
Then I could see doing like a like a
panic room, right? Like putting a a monitor that has the the feed for the
home security system and then doing like a reinforced door or something that like
like bolts shut or something. But by and large, I'd want it to be a closet.
You're [music] >> right. So, is there a space that you imagine being the mechanical room,
server rack kind of equipment room, or is that going to be the crawl space? I
was thinking it would be that closet that Pancrats kind of highlighted at the
beginning, but that would impede our access to the crawl space. And yeah, if
we have the crawl space. >> Check this out, though. There's another option. >> Oh. Oh, okay.
>> This is just a small linen closet, but it does have a vent in it.
>> Oh, look at that. So, it does. >> I wonder if it's 19 in wide in there.
Imagine you just have rails and just
>> James, why is there an RJ11 outlet next to the
toilet? >> I saw that. [laughter] >> Well, LOOK AT THAT ONE.
>> THERE'S ANOTHER THING. WAIT, WHAT is this? It just keeps going. Where does it
go? I don't understand it. Uh, hello.
Yes, I'd like to SPEAK TO WHOEVER DESIGNED THIS HOUSE. >> Order a pizza. [laughter]
>> This is going to be a heck of a project. There's good bones here. It's just uh
>> the circulatory system needs updating. >> Needs a bit of an upgrade and we're
going to do all that and more and we want you guys to be a part of it. I can
promise you we'll be reading every comment on this video. If you guys have
any really good ideas, we're totally open to them. If you guys have any
[laughter] ideas of what you think certain things
are, we're open to those, too. That seems to be some kind of stopper that
doesn't do anything.
>> You think it keeps it open? It can't be because then how do you
>> It's not on a closer >> and then you can't get your foot in
there anyway. >> Like what? [laughter]
>> What is this? What is this? Segue to our sponsor.
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your 20% discount. If you guys enjoyed this video, why not check out part one
when we went house hunting? We kind of lay out what the purpose of this project
is. And some of the other houses, although we didn't end up with them,
were cool in their own right as