"Fixer-Upper" Homes

Juniper · 06-12-2009, 11:47 PM

Yes, we bought one, 3 years ago. Now, who was it that commented that it might've made more sense just to buy a house we liked in the first place? Probably Jim. Damn near knocked me flat, that comment did.

I've had such a love/hate relationship with this place. Sometimes I feel like we were flat-out stupid buying it. But then I look around...and it's nice. Well, getting nicer anyway.

We live in a suburban area that's still got a rural, small-town flavor to it. It's an affluent area, generally, and in a convenient location, near highways, shopping, etc. In other words, no way could we afford a house this size on a 1.5 acre lot (actually two 0.75 acre lots) if it was a new house. It's on a country road, sort of; we're on a hill and have a nice view of the houses below us across the street and the woods beyond. It's quiet, lots of trees. Nothing behind us but woods and an open field that someone halfheartedly plants in soybeans or corn each spring to maintain its agricultural tax status; often it gets more use from neighborhood kids on 4-wheelers.

So it's cool; we're literally 5 min. from schools, shops, etc. but we can have chickens and shoot BB guns in the backyard, have an enormous fire pit, and feel like we're living in the country.

But the HOUSE! OMG, what a pain. First there were foundation issues. We knew that going in; fixing it was part of our contract. But it's still moving a little bit and there are cracks in the brick, in the plaster inside. Well, that gives the place character.

We needed a new furnace to replace the ancient, smelly oil burner. We needed a new roof. Needed landscaping to fix drainage problems. Put a concrete floor in the pole barn 'cause it was a real mess in there. Now this spring our AC decided to quit - we knew it was going to happen sooner or later.

We gutted the master bathroom because it had a leaky shower stall and really cheesy wood paneling that grew mushrooms in the corner.

Unfortunately, it has stayed that way since Feb. I miss it! We still need to replace the ugly, worn-out vinyl floor in the kitchen, I want to replace the carpet on the main floor with Pergo. We're enclosing the garage and making it my office, and moving the laundry room to what is now my office in the basement, then building a carport up front with a peaked roof that will hide the crack in the bricks. SO much to do.

It's depressing, really, and combined with the fact I haven't been able to do much to fix up the place (paint, organize, decorate, etc.) while I've been in school and dealing with my mom's condo, it's overwhelming and disheartening. My kids visit their friends' houses, and of course they've all got pretty, new subdivision tract homes on cul-de-sacs. We could have had that too, but we opted for the big, shabby place instead.

With the AC not working, the weather hot and humid, boxes and bags full of junk from my mom's all over the place, my daughter commented last week that she was tired of our house being like this. Me too.

Garden needs weeding. Chicken coop needs cleaning. Yard needs mowing. Carpet just got cleaned but you'd never know it.

But today -- today is the first time in a while that I started to feel like we did the right thing and we've got something nice.

We got our new AC installed! It's a heat pump too, so we might save a little next winter; propane is expensive (and since it'll only heat the upstairs, we can supplement with wood downstairs...). We just installed a water softener, and I love it!

My roses are blooming, garden is thriving. Since I can now clean without sweating buckets, my house is clean again. I even cleaned my office, which was getting kind of gross.

It's gonna be OK.

Now I have to get busy and work some more, so I can pay for it all!

xoxoxoBruce · 06-13-2009, 05:00 AM

Quote:

My kids visit their friends' houses, and of course they've all got pretty, new subdivision tract homes on cul-de-sacs.

That are all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just the same.

Nothing wrong with "shabby but neat". And if you make it a home, what the house looks like is quite immaterial.

ZenGum · 06-13-2009, 07:12 AM

I know which I'd rather live in, either as a kid or an adult.

Griff · 06-13-2009, 07:18 AM

ditto.
You've got to put your heart into a place.

Trilby · 06-13-2009, 08:11 AM

Shabby Chic, every time.

I adore those old houses. I agree with bruce about the ticky-tack ones. give me gingerbread any day!

it'll be okay, juni. One little patch of dirt at a time, sister.

Juniper · 06-13-2009, 10:34 AM

Well, it ain't one of those pretty old Victorians. It's a 1965 bi-level.

But it's a solid one - made well, with bricks, not one of those cheap 70s split-levels.

lumberjim · 06-13-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juniper

Yes, we bought one, 3 years ago. Now, who was it that commented that it might've made more sense just to buy a house we liked in the first place? Probably Jim. Damn near knocked me flat, that comment did.

who me?

what the...

smoothmoniker · 06-13-2009, 11:56 AM

I feel your pain, Juniper. I look around here some days, and all I see are things that need doing, and how much money we DON'T have to do them!

Shawnee123 · 06-13-2009, 01:17 PM

J and J probably have the oldest house of any of us, and a very cool one at that.

You're putting love into your place, Juni. I bet it's great.

Juniper · 06-13-2009, 02:16 PM

LJ, I don't think you meant it in a mean way at all. It just hit me wrong at the time, and it may not have even been you. Nevermind.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-13-2009, 02:24 PM

Sometimes a remark makes you say, hey, that's the debate that's been going on it my head/heart, and makes you rethink it all over again. Especially when you're at a point where you're questioning the wisdom of your decision.
But you know what? You did make the right decision, so enjoy.

Juniper · 06-13-2009, 02:30 PM

My daughter just snapped this photo of our living room with her cell phone and sent it to me, so I thought I'd put it here for grins.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-13-2009, 02:53 PM

Oh, homey, lived in, COMFORTABLE! With temptation to kick back like that, it's a wonder you get anything done.

Pie · 06-13-2009, 02:57 PM

We have a small damp patch in our upstairs hallway ceiling. Looks like there is a leak between the siding and the shingles where our roofline changes.

So even if you buy the house in "perfect" condition -- you will still run into $$ problems.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-13-2009, 03:02 PM

Maybe it's ghost pee.

06-12-2009, 11:47 PM	#1
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	"Fixer-Upper" Homes Yes, we bought one, 3 years ago. Now, who was it that commented that it might've made more sense just to buy a house we liked in the first place? Probably Jim. Damn near knocked me flat, that comment did. I've had such a love/hate relationship with this place. Sometimes I feel like we were flat-out stupid buying it. But then I look around...and it's nice. Well, getting nicer anyway. We live in a suburban area that's still got a rural, small-town flavor to it. It's an affluent area, generally, and in a convenient location, near highways, shopping, etc. In other words, no way could we afford a house this size on a 1.5 acre lot (actually two 0.75 acre lots) if it was a new house. It's on a country road, sort of; we're on a hill and have a nice view of the houses below us across the street and the woods beyond. It's quiet, lots of trees. Nothing behind us but woods and an open field that someone halfheartedly plants in soybeans or corn each spring to maintain its agricultural tax status; often it gets more use from neighborhood kids on 4-wheelers. So it's cool; we're literally 5 min. from schools, shops, etc. but we can have chickens and shoot BB guns in the backyard, have an enormous fire pit, and feel like we're living in the country. But the HOUSE! OMG, what a pain. First there were foundation issues. We knew that going in; fixing it was part of our contract. But it's still moving a little bit and there are cracks in the brick, in the plaster inside. Well, that gives the place character. We needed a new furnace to replace the ancient, smelly oil burner. We needed a new roof. Needed landscaping to fix drainage problems. Put a concrete floor in the pole barn 'cause it was a real mess in there. Now this spring our AC decided to quit - we knew it was going to happen sooner or later. We gutted the master bathroom because it had a leaky shower stall and really cheesy wood paneling that grew mushrooms in the corner. Unfortunately, it has stayed that way since Feb. I miss it! We still need to replace the ugly, worn-out vinyl floor in the kitchen, I want to replace the carpet on the main floor with Pergo. We're enclosing the garage and making it my office, and moving the laundry room to what is now my office in the basement, then building a carport up front with a peaked roof that will hide the crack in the bricks. SO much to do. It's depressing, really, and combined with the fact I haven't been able to do much to fix up the place (paint, organize, decorate, etc.) while I've been in school and dealing with my mom's condo, it's overwhelming and disheartening. My kids visit their friends' houses, and of course they've all got pretty, new subdivision tract homes on cul-de-sacs. We could have had that too, but we opted for the big, shabby place instead. With the AC not working, the weather hot and humid, boxes and bags full of junk from my mom's all over the place, my daughter commented last week that she was tired of our house being like this. Me too. Garden needs weeding. Chicken coop needs cleaning. Yard needs mowing. Carpet just got cleaned but you'd never know it. But today -- today is the first time in a while that I started to feel like we did the right thing and we've got something nice. We got our new AC installed! It's a heat pump too, so we might save a little next winter; propane is expensive (and since it'll only heat the upstairs, we can supplement with wood downstairs...). We just installed a water softener, and I love it! My roses are blooming, garden is thriving. Since I can now clean without sweating buckets, my house is clean again. I even cleaned my office, which was getting kind of gross. It's gonna be OK. Now I have to get busy and work some more, so I can pay for it all!

06-13-2009, 07:12 AM	#3
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I know which I'd rather live in, either as a kid or an adult. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

06-13-2009, 07:18 AM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	ditto. You've got to put your heart into a place. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-13-2009, 08:11 AM	#5
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Shabby Chic, every time. I adore those old houses. I agree with bruce about the ticky-tack ones. give me gingerbread any day! it'll be okay, juni. One little patch of dirt at a time, sister. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

06-13-2009, 11:56 AM	#8
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	I feel your pain, Juniper. I look around here some days, and all I see are things that need doing, and how much money we DON'T have to do them! __________________ to live and die in LA

06-13-2009, 10:34 AM	#6
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	Well, it ain't one of those pretty old Victorians. It's a 1965 bi-level. But it's a solid one - made well, with bricks, not one of those cheap 70s split-levels.

06-13-2009, 01:17 PM	#9
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	J and J probably have the oldest house of any of us, and a very cool one at that. You're putting love into your place, Juni. I bet it's great. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-13-2009, 02:16 PM	#10
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	LJ, I don't think you meant it in a mean way at all. It just hit me wrong at the time, and it may not have even been you. Nevermind.

06-13-2009, 02:24 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Sometimes a remark makes you say, hey, that's the debate that's been going on it my head/heart, and makes you rethink it all over again. Especially when you're at a point where you're questioning the wisdom of your decision. But you know what? You did make the right decision, so enjoy. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-13-2009, 02:30 PM	#12
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	My daughter just snapped this photo of our living room with her cell phone and sent it to me, so I thought I'd put it here for grins. Attached Images

06-13-2009, 02:53 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Oh, homey, lived in, COMFORTABLE! With temptation to kick back like that, it's a wonder you get anything done. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-13-2009, 02:57 PM	#14
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	We have a small damp patch in our upstairs hallway ceiling. Looks like there is a leak between the siding and the shingles where our roofline changes. So even if you buy the house in "perfect" condition -- you will still run into $$ problems. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

06-13-2009, 03:02 PM	#15
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Maybe it's ghost pee. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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