House has been on the market for about 6 weeks now. We've had a lot of looks, gotten wonderful feedback about looks & pricing, and even made it into the Final 3 for one couple, who, upon "thorough inspection" of the house, found some non-structural mold on the back side where the siding abuts the ground (and occasionally is packed by snow). The mold caused freak-out, apparently, and we were taken out of the Final 3. People act like they never want to put another dollar into a home again--as if my $30,000 worth of floors and $7000 worth of windows and $10,000 worth of an updated sunroom isn't enough... SHEESH! Somebody please buy this house! (Speaking of freak outs...)
On another topic, we are moving. My lease is up at the end of April in my current rental house, and the house is too small for The Boy and both of our children. Our realtor has begged us not to move back into the Forest House, so as not to spoil the freshly painted white walls. The size of my current rental is pertinent because, on March 24, The Boy asked me to marry him--and gave me a sweet ring in a little box. Yes, it was all very perfect and accomplished very much in The Boy's style. And so, we plan.
Equally fun is that The Boy's oldest, a daughter (and her husband), are due a Little Sugar Cookie on September 14. (Because it's the very best description I can think of, I stole the cutesy name from my childhood best friend, who is Mimi to her own Sugar Cookie.) Imagine getting to become Wife and Gigi all in one day! Our Father, Great Creator, You are good.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Hurry Up and Wait....
I'm a planner. It's what I do.
So, it really irks me when I know my current lease expires in a month, but I have no idea where I'm going to live. "I should have already planned this! Hurry up and plan!" is what my subconscious screams. But, we are waiting for Father to work things out for all parties involved, and we have no real direction.
The blessing is that we have a house to move into if we need to do that. The downside is that we will really mess up this beautiful house if we move in it. You know what living does to white wall paint...
So, here we sit. We had another showing on Wednesday afternoon after I wrote the last entry. We got immediate feedback from that one, where the house was ranked a 4 out of 5 with no comment on how the prospective buyer felt about the pricing of the home. When asked if the buyer was interested, the response was "Somewhat." I guess realtors have an eye for this sorta stuff, so my realtor called the buyer's realtor and asked what was up. The other realtor disclosed that the party is interested, and we are on a "final list" for his wife to review when she comes to town. That is encouraging, I guess, except that we have no idea how many other houses are on the "final list." But, it probably means something when a prospective buyer all of a sudden becomes cagey about how well he feels your house is priced. And so, prayers go up...
There is no way to describe the look on The Boy's face when he answered that realtor's call, only to discover that it wasn't an offer--instead, was only an update of the situation, albeit encouraging. Still, the sale will come. It will come.
So, it really irks me when I know my current lease expires in a month, but I have no idea where I'm going to live. "I should have already planned this! Hurry up and plan!" is what my subconscious screams. But, we are waiting for Father to work things out for all parties involved, and we have no real direction.
The blessing is that we have a house to move into if we need to do that. The downside is that we will really mess up this beautiful house if we move in it. You know what living does to white wall paint...
So, here we sit. We had another showing on Wednesday afternoon after I wrote the last entry. We got immediate feedback from that one, where the house was ranked a 4 out of 5 with no comment on how the prospective buyer felt about the pricing of the home. When asked if the buyer was interested, the response was "Somewhat." I guess realtors have an eye for this sorta stuff, so my realtor called the buyer's realtor and asked what was up. The other realtor disclosed that the party is interested, and we are on a "final list" for his wife to review when she comes to town. That is encouraging, I guess, except that we have no idea how many other houses are on the "final list." But, it probably means something when a prospective buyer all of a sudden becomes cagey about how well he feels your house is priced. And so, prayers go up...
There is no way to describe the look on The Boy's face when he answered that realtor's call, only to discover that it wasn't an offer--instead, was only an update of the situation, albeit encouraging. Still, the sale will come. It will come.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Life After Restoration
Life after restoration is different. It is certainly less hectic, but I think it's a little more emotional. We are in the 3rd week of the house on the market, in its current condition, and we've had 3 showings. The single piece of feedback that we received said that the house "presented very well" but that the floor plan was not desirable to that buyer because of a shared upstairs bathroom, which also included the laundry. They felt the house was priced appropriately and had no other criticisms. All in all, I think that is good feedback, considering they didn't say, "Oh they need to fix this or that..."
We are informed of each showing, and it certainly builds expectations. I feel like we are on pins and needles all the time. So, we have gone back to doing some of the things we used to do with fervor but had to give up for a while, like swimming. The Boy also had a serious, stubborn bout of tennis elbow for the past 1 year, which required 3 separate physician interventions. It seems to be finally improving, and he has taken back up weight training in a very minimized capacity for now. This past Sunday, we went to the house for 2 hours to dust and sweep and get it ready for the noon showing, then we came back to town and stared at each other, as if to say, "What do we do now?" So, we saw a movie, The King's Speech, with Colin Firth. I highly recommend it.
As I do some preliminary searching today, I note that 4 other properties have popped up for sale in the Forest in the past week. Here is the situation:
Only the properties circled in the center are truly equivalent to mine (and, actually, only 1 of those is). The two in the upper left are along the Palmer Divide (pardon my misspelling in the snippet!), and the Divide is a Blustery Hell. It's high, cold, and gets a ton of snow because it's at the point where the high plains abut the forest. It takes a special person to want to live there, and it's even further out from the Springs than our house.
The two properties on the far right are on the plains, no trees at all on the lots. These lots are less valuable. Also quite cold out there. (OK, as I'm writing this, I realize I should just write "cold everywhere.")
Here is the realtor.com URL for our property.
Here are URLs for some of the other competitors:
House 1
House 2
My only competitor is here.
Here are a couple of "sort-of" competitors:
House 3
House 4
Here is a beautiful property--one of the two on the Palmer Divide. I think it's lovely, but I'd never live there.
On a happy note, I notice that a couple of the houses are now removed from realtor.com, presumably because they sold. I think they were on the site for a couple of months. As there are really no other options, I suppose we will persevere (I sound encouraged, huh?).
On the happiest note, The Boy and I have been together for 1 year, next Monday. I remember my dad telling me, "He's nice to you now, and it's charming. If he's that nice to you in a year, it's character."
We are informed of each showing, and it certainly builds expectations. I feel like we are on pins and needles all the time. So, we have gone back to doing some of the things we used to do with fervor but had to give up for a while, like swimming. The Boy also had a serious, stubborn bout of tennis elbow for the past 1 year, which required 3 separate physician interventions. It seems to be finally improving, and he has taken back up weight training in a very minimized capacity for now. This past Sunday, we went to the house for 2 hours to dust and sweep and get it ready for the noon showing, then we came back to town and stared at each other, as if to say, "What do we do now?" So, we saw a movie, The King's Speech, with Colin Firth. I highly recommend it.
As I do some preliminary searching today, I note that 4 other properties have popped up for sale in the Forest in the past week. Here is the situation:
Only the properties circled in the center are truly equivalent to mine (and, actually, only 1 of those is). The two in the upper left are along the Palmer Divide (pardon my misspelling in the snippet!), and the Divide is a Blustery Hell. It's high, cold, and gets a ton of snow because it's at the point where the high plains abut the forest. It takes a special person to want to live there, and it's even further out from the Springs than our house.
The two properties on the far right are on the plains, no trees at all on the lots. These lots are less valuable. Also quite cold out there. (OK, as I'm writing this, I realize I should just write "cold everywhere.")
Here is the realtor.com URL for our property.
Here are URLs for some of the other competitors:
House 1
House 2
My only competitor is here.
Here are a couple of "sort-of" competitors:
House 3
House 4
Here is a beautiful property--one of the two on the Palmer Divide. I think it's lovely, but I'd never live there.
On a happy note, I notice that a couple of the houses are now removed from realtor.com, presumably because they sold. I think they were on the site for a couple of months. As there are really no other options, I suppose we will persevere (I sound encouraged, huh?).
On the happiest note, The Boy and I have been together for 1 year, next Monday. I remember my dad telling me, "He's nice to you now, and it's charming. If he's that nice to you in a year, it's character."
Sunday, February 27, 2011
We are finally finished!
I thought you might enjoy some before and after photos.
On my facebook, I had a nice discussion with several people about whether to attempt to preserve, or get rid of, these blue sinks. I decided to go with a friend's idea to recreate a spa-like atmosphere. This is my attempt, anyway. I used the following photo (and others) as inspiration:
ENTRY & GREAT ROOM: BEFORE
ENTRY & GREAT ROOM: AFTER
Outside of the flooring, this room was basically a face lift: white paint, $6 wall hanging (Chalone Vineyards), $8 Target lamp, recycled artificial greenery, chair & ottoman $200 American Furniture Warehouse (previously in my office), and $10 door wreath from Michaels.
More face lift: White paint, cream paint on stairs & accent wall, wall hanging (hidden behind the beam) given to me by my section chief when I first joined the LSU faculty. The biggest improvement to the room was the painting and preservation of the French doors.
I replaced the entry closet doors with hanging solar shades from Domestications ~ $100
Entry landing is sparsely furnished with white paint, a $400 upright piano that I've had for years, the stove, and a foyer table ($75 from Platte Furniture Consignment). Framed wall hanging $1.99, Uruguay key $.50, candle stick $1.00--all from Good Will. Maddie found the cool key. The foyer table holds the requisite candy dish (pewter gift) and welcoming book.
SOLARIUM: BEFORE
We got rid of the awful blue shades & brown accents that drew the eye instinctively to the ceiling.
We added the ceiling. Unfortunately, I have no photos of the room before the ceiling was added.
The previous home owner was an anthropologist--about as far from me (philosophically) as a person can be!
SOLARIUM: AFTER
We painted everything above the window frames one color.
The eye naturally stays in the intimate surroundings.
This room was the most expensive of the updating; we had to hire someone to take down the shades, paint, and build the ceiling. The furniture in this breakfast room is Rick's (except the cute little animals in the hutch; those are mine!)
Again, saving the "barn" doors by painting them really made a huge improvement in the room.
The doors required 2 coats of primer and 1 coat of paint (or 5 coats of paint). Furniture is Rick's.
This side of the solarium is furnished with things I've accumulated throughout my life.
We spray painted the wicker and just assembled things together that looked like they belonged.
One of the realtors really liked the giraffe.
The French doors, from the other view.
KITCHEN: BEFORE
Notice the stove and microwave are actually connected. Probably from the 70's era...
The kitchen, after I replaced the appliances (but not including my original stove--which lives with me currently, in my rent house). This black stove is a less expensive alternate, which I will sell with the home.
That is a 1980's trash compacter.
We found that make-shift laminate desk area to be entirely non-functional, so we tore it out.
The area in front of the back door was set up as a make-shift pantry, with the shelves pictured below.
Notice the awful orange laminate counters.
We tore out this shelving and made a mud room area.
The yucky goo dripping down the wall? I have no idea...
That isn't my mess...
KITCHEN: AFTER
Polyurethane clear satin applied to the cabinets.
Orange laminate counter tops were painted using the Giani Granite product $80.
Recycled greenery; fruit bowl $1 from Good Will; artificial fruit $10 Walmart
3 tea light copper candles in the window $4 Good Will
Tile mosaic table $75 World Market (on sale last summer)
Wall hanging in frame $6 Good Will
Close up of the counters
In the place of the previous built-in laminate desk and trash compacter, we moved the refrigerator and added this wine buffer $200 Craig's list (which will not sell with the house).
Recycled greenery
DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOM: BEFORE
Laminate flooring
Laminate counter and wooden mirror
DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOM: AFTER
Apricot paint for accent walls
Laminate counter and floors replaced with this Italian tile
Candelabra $2.99 Good Will; candles $1 Dollar Tree
Mirror $75 American Furniture Warehouse
White paint
White towels $8 Walmart
Wall hanging in frame $3 Good Will
Vase $.50 Good Will
Red poppies $1 Dollar Tree
The note is written by me, informing prospective buyers that the house has been winterized, and water is not available.
MASTER BATHROOM: BEFORE
On my facebook, I had a nice discussion with several people about whether to attempt to preserve, or get rid of, these blue sinks. I decided to go with a friend's idea to recreate a spa-like atmosphere. This is my attempt, anyway. I used the following photo (and others) as inspiration:
My inspiration photo... I liked the turquoise and white, although the Forest House bathroom is baby blue. |
The horrifying 1970's flower wall paper.
Running along side the wall paper is terrible white wood border.
The mirrors were entirely too large and not centered on the walls.
The light fixtures appear to have been brought into the house pre-1970's.
Prior to the wall paper, the walls were a lovely baby blue, presumably to match the sinks.
I pulled off the wall paper.
Oh, and the top layer of the dry wall, too. Oops.
MASTER BATHROOM: AFTER
We thought a spa-like atmosphere would take minimalist approach.
The mirrors are polished edges, and we used translucent lights in the fixtures.
We kept the blue sinks, which I think turned out just fine.
Soap dishes and candle holders ~ $ 3.50 Good Will
Hand towels $5.00 Walmart
Shower rod $1 Dollar Tree
Recycled shower curtain from my previous apt.
Replaced closet doors with solar shade from Domestications ~ $100
Multi-colored blue marbles in a glass candy dish: $3 Walmart + $1 Good Will
Candlestick $.50 Good Will
Plastic plant $10 Target
Stained glass "SPA" sign: $1.99 Good Will
FRONT PORCH: BEFORE
I don't have a true "before" photo. Prior to this, the porch was covered in paneling that warped from water damage, because the roof wasn't properly caulked.
PORCH: AFTER
Rick crawled up on there and properly caulked this awning with tar.
You can see the finished product peeking out from under the awning.
More of the porch ceiling peeking out...
Also, the new front walk (stones and pebbles), which replaced rotting deck boards.
Rick replacing the ceiling with tongue-in-groove wood from Lowe's ~ $100 (+ the nail gun, which was really more of a recreational product for Rick)
And, after we finished everything today (the only thing left to do is mop...), we saw these two lovely visitors in the front yard--a nice reminder that we are incredibly blessed to live in this beautiful place.
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