I will not rest till I lay down my head in the house of stone and light
The house-buying process is moving right along!
I found out a bit of the recent history on the house, and how it came on the market. Apparently, the most recent owner (probably the one who started upgrades, like in the kitchen, but then randomly stopped) was renting it out to college students. Trouble was, he wasn’t applying their rent to the mortgage, so it went into foreclosure. College students, they are hard on houses, I should know. So it’s not in the best of shape, just needs a lot of TLC to make it pretty and happy again. Also, previous owners had definitely made some additions and stuff, like the big eating area and the master bedroom.
So, here’s where I’m at right now!
Things that HAVE happened:
- I won the bidding war (DUH. WINNING!).
- I signed my part of the Purchase/Sale Agreement.
- House Inspection and report done! Might write more on that later.
Things that still NEED to happen:
- Get the OTHER half the Purchase/Sale signed. It’s “mine,” but not on paper yet. It got sent in about an hour before the 4th of July holiday weekend, so they are a little behind. But my realtor has the assurance from the asset company that it’s good to go.
- Get the plumbing lines scoped. Since this is bank-owned, apparently there are no records (either at all, or being offered up willingly), so I want to make sure there’s no plumbing problems to anticipate.
- Renegotiate with the bank, based on the house inspection findings (see below). I’m hoping to ask for them to knock $5,000 off the purchase price.
- Close the deal! Probably won’t be until on/after August 1st.
After Closing, but Before Moving:
- Furnace Replacement. The inspection found a lot of little things (a lot of which my dad can fix, and I will be on hand to help/learn), but the most pressing concern is the furnace. It’s from 1985 (nearly as old as me!) and while it “works,” it is in TERRIBLE condition, absolutely filthy, probably never been serviced, no filter, etc. Blech. However, since I work for this snazzy HVAC company, connections: I has them. One of my techs is willing to do side work for me, and will be coming out to check the furnace the same time as I get the plumbing scoped out. 2 birds, one scheduling stone.
- Duct Cleaning and Reattachment. We have a duct cleaning service that we refer out to here at McK, so I’ll be calling them for an estimate. ALL of the ducts need to be cleaned, one needs to be reattached completely, and one needs to be realigned.
- Painting! This is the part I’m most excited about so far. I’ve never painted a wall in my life, and for some reason, that is SUCH a homeownery thing to do - paint your damn walls! I couldn’t (or didn’t want to deal with the hassle of re-painting upon move-out) in my apartments/dorm rooms, so this is exciting for me. And I have IDEAS, y’all. It is going to be GORGEOUS!!! More on that later - probably going to be a separate post, heh.
- Mom will want to bleach everything to high heaven. And really, this place needs it. Actually, I’m considering getting a one-time cleaning service, because it’s just been used SO HARD. Poor house-baby.
- Need to remove certain things in the basement, to monitor some water damage concerns.
Moving Day 2011
- Will probably be late August. I’ve got a sweet arrangement with my landlord worked out, in that my last month’s rent was paid up front, and so I wrote my last rent check for July, and that will give me through the end of August to get the house freshened up before schlepping all of my stuff (all 4 blocks ). My landlord said I was doing a really smart thing by giving myself a month to get the house ready before loading it up with stuff, and saving myself a world of headaches and hassle. Yay! It so worked out.
- Yes, I will be putting out a call for friends to come help me move - I will TOTES provide pizza and beer!
- My parents are helping to coordinate the really big stuff that will require professional movers from Wenatchee. These items include my baby grand piano, the antique hall tree and grandmother clock from Granny (paternal grandmother), and the antique wardrober from Grandma (maternal grandmother), as well as the antique black leather fainting couch (that desperately needs to be restuffed and retufted, eventually), the delightful Laz-E-Boy that my dad has had since the 60’s (needs a slipcover/to be recovered)… and I think that’s it for furniture from there. There are other things, like my prized and priceless gifts from my surrogate grandparents, holiday décor/ornaments, rugs and quilts, etc., that are mine and have been held for me by my parents. But those items will probably come over in my parent’s car, not the movers.
- I am hoping to have a lot of small items moved over before anybody has to deal with them. Things like extra bathroom stuff that is not in use (like bubble bath - I have a standing only shower right now, but the new place is back to a tub!), holiday plates/décor, outdoor patio furniture, all 350 books, kitchen supplies/dishes I don’t use on a regular basis, and so on. Because I’m only 4 blocks away, I can make a lot of short trips with my car packed up each time.
Settling In - Future To-Do’s
- Knock out a partial (non-load-bearing wall) just inside the front door, that leads to the front bedroom, in order to put in French doors and make it more a part of the living/front room. Possibly run more bamboo flooring for a more seamless effect. This will be the music room, and the French doors will allow it to be more open and inclusive, while still keeping it with “bedroom” status (for house value).
- Replace all the carpeting in master bedroom, loft and basement.
- Yardwork. All of the vines encroaching up the side need to go. Grass/lawn needs to be de-dandelioned. Start an herb garden. Want lavender and rosebushes in immediately, and then go from there. Also: Chickens.
- Back “patio.” There was an old shed there once upon a time, and the shed is gone (there is electrical run out to it, though), and there’s a solid cement foundation. It’s ugly now, but I have PLANS to lay down nice paving stones, a barbeque, and a cute firepit (yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as a “cute firepit,” and I have one already on my wishlist :D). Also, possibly an awning, pretty twinkly lights and maybe a fancy doghouse for Teddy Bear.
- Basement has a LOT of potential. Unfortunately, it also has a lot of concerns, like water damage in one corner, and mold along an interior wall. There’s 3 areas to the basement, and I’d like to make them specific areas: laundry room, storage room, and movie room. The movie room would be big comfy squishy things to sit on, get a projector for the big open wall, and there’s an odd little platform area (we think it was the old coal chute/storage) with maybe a small fridge for snacks and drinkies, and so on. Possibly, depending on the huge effing hassle it would be, also put a bathroom downstairs. It would be a pain in the patoot I bet, but it would also make it a 3 bed/2 bath house, and would add expontentially to the value of the place. Basement also needs new ceiling - or rather A ceiling, as it’s currently just cloth tacked to the rafters, and enclose the hot water heater/furnace areas properly to be tucked out of sight, out of mind.
I’m sure more will get added to the list as I go. I mean, I still have crafty projects to do that have NOTHING to do with a house! And books to read! And things to knit! People to see and dog to walk and boys to love!
I’m so excited! * cue Jessie Spano * I’m also overwhelmed, nervous, terrified, thrilled, and accomplished.
I found out a bit of the recent history on the house, and how it came on the market. Apparently, the most recent owner (probably the one who started upgrades, like in the kitchen, but then randomly stopped) was renting it out to college students. Trouble was, he wasn’t applying their rent to the mortgage, so it went into foreclosure. College students, they are hard on houses, I should know. So it’s not in the best of shape, just needs a lot of TLC to make it pretty and happy again. Also, previous owners had definitely made some additions and stuff, like the big eating area and the master bedroom.
So, here’s where I’m at right now!
Things that HAVE happened:
- I won the bidding war (DUH. WINNING!).
- I signed my part of the Purchase/Sale Agreement.
- House Inspection and report done! Might write more on that later.
Things that still NEED to happen:
- Get the OTHER half the Purchase/Sale signed. It’s “mine,” but not on paper yet. It got sent in about an hour before the 4th of July holiday weekend, so they are a little behind. But my realtor has the assurance from the asset company that it’s good to go.
- Get the plumbing lines scoped. Since this is bank-owned, apparently there are no records (either at all, or being offered up willingly), so I want to make sure there’s no plumbing problems to anticipate.
- Renegotiate with the bank, based on the house inspection findings (see below). I’m hoping to ask for them to knock $5,000 off the purchase price.
- Close the deal! Probably won’t be until on/after August 1st.
After Closing, but Before Moving:
- Furnace Replacement. The inspection found a lot of little things (a lot of which my dad can fix, and I will be on hand to help/learn), but the most pressing concern is the furnace. It’s from 1985 (nearly as old as me!) and while it “works,” it is in TERRIBLE condition, absolutely filthy, probably never been serviced, no filter, etc. Blech. However, since I work for this snazzy HVAC company, connections: I has them. One of my techs is willing to do side work for me, and will be coming out to check the furnace the same time as I get the plumbing scoped out. 2 birds, one scheduling stone.
- Duct Cleaning and Reattachment. We have a duct cleaning service that we refer out to here at McK, so I’ll be calling them for an estimate. ALL of the ducts need to be cleaned, one needs to be reattached completely, and one needs to be realigned.
- Painting! This is the part I’m most excited about so far. I’ve never painted a wall in my life, and for some reason, that is SUCH a homeownery thing to do - paint your damn walls! I couldn’t (or didn’t want to deal with the hassle of re-painting upon move-out) in my apartments/dorm rooms, so this is exciting for me. And I have IDEAS, y’all. It is going to be GORGEOUS!!! More on that later - probably going to be a separate post, heh.
- Mom will want to bleach everything to high heaven. And really, this place needs it. Actually, I’m considering getting a one-time cleaning service, because it’s just been used SO HARD. Poor house-baby.
- Need to remove certain things in the basement, to monitor some water damage concerns.
Moving Day 2011
- Will probably be late August. I’ve got a sweet arrangement with my landlord worked out, in that my last month’s rent was paid up front, and so I wrote my last rent check for July, and that will give me through the end of August to get the house freshened up before schlepping all of my stuff (all 4 blocks ). My landlord said I was doing a really smart thing by giving myself a month to get the house ready before loading it up with stuff, and saving myself a world of headaches and hassle. Yay! It so worked out.
- Yes, I will be putting out a call for friends to come help me move - I will TOTES provide pizza and beer!
- My parents are helping to coordinate the really big stuff that will require professional movers from Wenatchee. These items include my baby grand piano, the antique hall tree and grandmother clock from Granny (paternal grandmother), and the antique wardrober from Grandma (maternal grandmother), as well as the antique black leather fainting couch (that desperately needs to be restuffed and retufted, eventually), the delightful Laz-E-Boy that my dad has had since the 60’s (needs a slipcover/to be recovered)… and I think that’s it for furniture from there. There are other things, like my prized and priceless gifts from my surrogate grandparents, holiday décor/ornaments, rugs and quilts, etc., that are mine and have been held for me by my parents. But those items will probably come over in my parent’s car, not the movers.
- I am hoping to have a lot of small items moved over before anybody has to deal with them. Things like extra bathroom stuff that is not in use (like bubble bath - I have a standing only shower right now, but the new place is back to a tub!), holiday plates/décor, outdoor patio furniture, all 350 books, kitchen supplies/dishes I don’t use on a regular basis, and so on. Because I’m only 4 blocks away, I can make a lot of short trips with my car packed up each time.
Settling In - Future To-Do’s
- Knock out a partial (non-load-bearing wall) just inside the front door, that leads to the front bedroom, in order to put in French doors and make it more a part of the living/front room. Possibly run more bamboo flooring for a more seamless effect. This will be the music room, and the French doors will allow it to be more open and inclusive, while still keeping it with “bedroom” status (for house value).
- Replace all the carpeting in master bedroom, loft and basement.
- Yardwork. All of the vines encroaching up the side need to go. Grass/lawn needs to be de-dandelioned. Start an herb garden. Want lavender and rosebushes in immediately, and then go from there. Also: Chickens.
- Back “patio.” There was an old shed there once upon a time, and the shed is gone (there is electrical run out to it, though), and there’s a solid cement foundation. It’s ugly now, but I have PLANS to lay down nice paving stones, a barbeque, and a cute firepit (yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as a “cute firepit,” and I have one already on my wishlist :D). Also, possibly an awning, pretty twinkly lights and maybe a fancy doghouse for Teddy Bear.
- Basement has a LOT of potential. Unfortunately, it also has a lot of concerns, like water damage in one corner, and mold along an interior wall. There’s 3 areas to the basement, and I’d like to make them specific areas: laundry room, storage room, and movie room. The movie room would be big comfy squishy things to sit on, get a projector for the big open wall, and there’s an odd little platform area (we think it was the old coal chute/storage) with maybe a small fridge for snacks and drinkies, and so on. Possibly, depending on the huge effing hassle it would be, also put a bathroom downstairs. It would be a pain in the patoot I bet, but it would also make it a 3 bed/2 bath house, and would add expontentially to the value of the place. Basement also needs new ceiling - or rather A ceiling, as it’s currently just cloth tacked to the rafters, and enclose the hot water heater/furnace areas properly to be tucked out of sight, out of mind.
I’m sure more will get added to the list as I go. I mean, I still have crafty projects to do that have NOTHING to do with a house! And books to read! And things to knit! People to see and dog to walk and boys to love!
I’m so excited! * cue Jessie Spano * I’m also overwhelmed, nervous, terrified, thrilled, and accomplished.