My Mom and I met an agent and went looking at houses on January 4th. I'd had my eye on one that seemed to have potential and was within the budget. We saw it and it lived up to its pictures and had some really good points: desirable location, a nice size property, and a little cottage in the back (where the madre can stay when she visits now and then possibly live out her golden years later). We didn't actually get in to any other houses, but drove around and saw what other similar properties were available. A no go to all. They were either right on the main drag or over on the Bay side. I'm a Beach side girl, all the way. #islandproblems
We put in an offer and a little back and forth later we had ourselves a house under contract! When all was said and done we closed escrow exactly a month from when we first looked at the house. I keep vacillating between moments of pure excitement and utter dread. I daydream of all the things that can be renovated on it and it looks amazing in my head and it's done quickly and cheap to boot (I blame you for that HGTV and your miraculous renovation shows!) Then I stop by to check it out and realize just how much work there is to get done. My hope is to document the renovation on the blog and glory in the before and after shots. I've been tempted to watch "The Money Pit", but fear it might bring me to tears.
Luckily, the timeline allows for a few weeks before I have to be out of my apartment. This is lending itself nicely to getting a jump start on some of the repairs. Step 1: Evicting the termites. I didn't get a picture of the house clad in its tent of shame. I was a bit sad that it wasn't the striped circus tent I've seen on other places around here. I've decided that if I had a termite repair business my tents would have emblazoned with bedazzled termites, to keep it classy.
This weekend leads us to Step 2: Paint. I haven't painted since my high school community service days. Luckily, youtube offered up some quick tips on taping so I got cracking on that today. The past few weeks have seen me scurrying between Home Depot and Dunn Edwards trying to find the perfect light grey. (Which leads me to the first lesson learned re: home repair shopping. Single ladies: DO NOT go to Home Depot on a Saturday morning, it is overrun with cute and eager couples. DO complete home repair shopping during business hours during the week. Hot contractors abound!)
Tomorrow some friends have been nice enough to offer up their time to come and help me paint. I'm hoping to crank out the living room and entryway. Here's to hoping!
Step 3: Refinishing and staining the hardwood floors. That's going down on Monday which should leave enough time for them to cure so I can get all of my stuff moved in next weekend. Then it'll really be mini projects along the way.
The realtor gave me a nifty toolbox filled with goodies that I got to practice using today. My favorite task so far has been spackling nail holes. So easy and so rewarding! I went searching for more to do, but alas think I got them all for now.
It's been a whirlwind month to say the least, with seemingly more minutiae to take care of every time I turn around, but it's amazing how smoothly it's all going. I'm grateful for this new venture and the many learning opportunities it's sure to afford.
Here she is in all her glory:
We put in an offer and a little back and forth later we had ourselves a house under contract! When all was said and done we closed escrow exactly a month from when we first looked at the house. I keep vacillating between moments of pure excitement and utter dread. I daydream of all the things that can be renovated on it and it looks amazing in my head and it's done quickly and cheap to boot (I blame you for that HGTV and your miraculous renovation shows!) Then I stop by to check it out and realize just how much work there is to get done. My hope is to document the renovation on the blog and glory in the before and after shots. I've been tempted to watch "The Money Pit", but fear it might bring me to tears.
Luckily, the timeline allows for a few weeks before I have to be out of my apartment. This is lending itself nicely to getting a jump start on some of the repairs. Step 1: Evicting the termites. I didn't get a picture of the house clad in its tent of shame. I was a bit sad that it wasn't the striped circus tent I've seen on other places around here. I've decided that if I had a termite repair business my tents would have emblazoned with bedazzled termites, to keep it classy.
This weekend leads us to Step 2: Paint. I haven't painted since my high school community service days. Luckily, youtube offered up some quick tips on taping so I got cracking on that today. The past few weeks have seen me scurrying between Home Depot and Dunn Edwards trying to find the perfect light grey. (Which leads me to the first lesson learned re: home repair shopping. Single ladies: DO NOT go to Home Depot on a Saturday morning, it is overrun with cute and eager couples. DO complete home repair shopping during business hours during the week. Hot contractors abound!)
Tomorrow some friends have been nice enough to offer up their time to come and help me paint. I'm hoping to crank out the living room and entryway. Here's to hoping!
Step 3: Refinishing and staining the hardwood floors. That's going down on Monday which should leave enough time for them to cure so I can get all of my stuff moved in next weekend. Then it'll really be mini projects along the way.
The realtor gave me a nifty toolbox filled with goodies that I got to practice using today. My favorite task so far has been spackling nail holes. So easy and so rewarding! I went searching for more to do, but alas think I got them all for now.
Here she is in all her glory:
