| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Past Blessings |
Posted - Oct 22 2006 : 10:56:22 PM
We have been looking to buy property and it is very spendy in the area we are looking, but because of schools, it is the only area we are open to. We did finally find one affordable place, but it was built in 1973 and boy howdy does it look like it! Basalt rock, the ugly tinted aluminum windows, scary linoleum and carpet, the whole ugly package deal! But, it has lots of square footage, a large shop, great acreage and a view that is absolutely breathtaking. I am a very artsy-fartsy creative type and so in my mind I see this place completely "re-done" but poor DH just sees work, work and more work. I can completely invision this being our home and feel like it is the right place. DH hasn't said no way, but he has been dragging his feet on checking into selling our home, financing on this one, etc. I don't want to be "Bulldozer Woman" but I also don't want to give up on what I think could be a great home for us. Ideas?
Brenda
Past Blessings . . . Celebrating Life as it used to be . . . when people loved God, loved their families and loved their country. |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| junebug |
Posted - Oct 27 2006 : 04:56:23 AM
I'd love to see some of these old homes, esp. yours Libbie, sounds wonderful!! I too live in a old home (built in the 30's) and I trust the strucure more than the new homes, sure it has it's flaws, not one wall is level, and we've re-done every room, but I trust it and it's home. Good luck!
Visit me at my blogs:
www.countrypleasures.blogspot.com
www.herbalfarmstead.blogspot.com
And my new food blog at: www.homesteadblogger.com/gardencafe
|
| Libbie |
Posted - Oct 26 2006 : 9:06:15 PM
You all are gals after my own heart! I moved into this old farmhouse coming up on eight years ago, and it will turn 136 years old this year. During its life (before me!), it has seen it all - even farm animals LIVING INSIDE!!!!!!! YUCK!!!!!!! But I just love it now - I think it could have qualified as a "Halloween House," too. I'm sending all you old-homers (is that a word?) my very best wishes and love - what an adventure it is!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| Past Blessings |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 12:41:23 PM
Norskema,
I had a friend who did just what you are talking about and she is now closing on an abandoned farm she found. I have spent hours driving looking for such a critter in the area we want, but so far haven't found any. The old "abandoned" homes I found are on property where new homes have been built. But I haven't given up on that idea yet. Thanks for the encouragement and good luck with your new venture. Rats! Yipes! I guess these things build character right?!
Brenda
Past Blessings . . . Celebrating Life as it used to be . . . when people loved God, loved their families and loved their country. |
| Norskema |
Posted - Oct 23 2006 : 5:40:50 PM
Hi Brenda! We should be closing on our 'scarey' house next week on Halloween which I think is hilarious. It has been a nightmare almost from the start! Our situation sounds similar. Our 'dream house' has a huge rat hole in the kitchen floor. I think we found the rat too.. in the form of a carcass on the cellar steps. For now, we're saying that at least one of the steps is carpeted. Okay, it's not that funny but you have to keep your sense of humor. Anyhow, my husband and I agreed that we could see a lot of potential in the place and we made an offer but the offer was contingent on the home inspection being acceptable. We said that any major deficiencies (name your own) would allow you to nullify our offer. If the seller refuses, then they already know that the roof is about to fall in or the foundation is no good, etc. But, if it's just a case of neglect over the years, chances are that your hard work and having a vision for the place would be just what it needs to come back to life. I hope something works out for you. Another thing that we did, which can be time consuming, is to look for abandoned property in the country. If you can determine the aproximate address, you can go to the courthouse and find who owns the property and contact them to see if they would be interested in selling. Good luck and I hope this place works out for you!
Every way of a man seems right to himself but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Proverbs 21:2 |
| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Oct 23 2006 : 11:24:38 AM
Good luck, Brenda! When we first saw our old farmhouse, it looked like a haunted house in an old horror flick. But we had a handyman friend of ours come and look at it with us, and he told us it had 'good bones' and told us what would have to be done. He was right about everything. And my dh had to be convinced(much arm twisting) and now he's as 'house proud' as I am.
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
| Past Blessings |
Posted - Oct 23 2006 : 11:15:46 AM
Thanks for all the good advice. We will definitely get a home inspection if we get to that point. Around here, you can't do an inspection until an acceptable offer has been made and accepted. Then you make it contingent on the inspection, but we can't have an inspection before making the offer. I do think structurally it is fine. It has a good gas furnance, newer central air and updated wiring. I actually wish it was older not newer . . . I love old farm houses and the character they have, but we can add character with moldings, turned rails instead of metal, etc. Just need to get hubby to "embrace" it with me! Brenda
Past Blessings . . . Celebrating Life as it used to be . . . when people loved God, loved their families and loved their country. |
| MsCwick |
Posted - Oct 23 2006 : 08:42:14 AM
I think no matter how old the house, as long as it is salvageable, like when you push on walls, they DON'T move! Stomp on the floor, and the whole house doesn't shake. In my opinion, there are so many diamonds in the rough and it's a shame that people don't see the reward in making a rough diamond shine again. I think the house is relatively young. 30 years isn't much in the life of a home. There is such a reward in making something new again, instead of just paying for a home to be built, or buying one that is "turn key". Our home turned 50 years old this year, and it's PERFECT! I agree with the inspection idea. The termite inspection is required by the bank, and I think maybe water damage? But they will not finance until the current OWNER has treated, IF it has termites!(my dad used to have his own extermination business) Also, if you get an inspection, and anything is not up to par, but easy enough for you guys to fix, you could propose this to your lender, and then bargain with the OWNER saying they house needs $5,000 worth of work to be livable. You could use it's imperfect condition as a bargaining chip! Maybe you could get them to come down on the price a bit. Best of luck! In my opinion, I would never live in a new home! It has to be older..it gives it character...
Cristine |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Oct 23 2006 : 07:48:14 AM
Our first house was a diamond in the rough. I loved it and still miss it. We lived in it for 30 years. When we first saw it, it had a hole in the roof which I think I was the only one that saw it. No inspection. It was originally built in the 20s and added onto in the 50s, and it was small. One bedroom down and a finished attic room up. One bathroom and we raised 4 girls there. We added on after the lastborn and had 4 bedrooms. The first winter we were in the house rain ran through all the light fixtures and finally the ceiling in the front room came down. Fortunately I have a handy husband. But I loved the land and it had walnut trees and apple trees and in the end suited us just fine. Developement took it all. I left practically screaming and kicking. It was home!
Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!
|
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Oct 23 2006 : 05:13:14 AM
Ha! boy do I sympathize. DH and I took a ride yesterday to look at a property that is up for auction this weekend. Oh my oh my your house sounds like a dream home compared to this place. It had an older mobile home and about 10 outbuildings, most of which were in major disrepair, like the roof had collapsed. There was farm equipment and junk sitting all over the yard. But it was 180 acres! Probably will go for cheap! We could burn the buildings down and build what we want! hubby just said "no."
I will join the chorus of those who say to get it inspected, if you can do so without having to make an offer first. That saved me one time, I actually backed out of the deal when I found that the walls inside the siding were rotten and no insulation at all and a dozen other problems. I might have still been paying for that house.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| Horseyrider |
Posted - Oct 23 2006 : 04:00:11 AM
I agree with Diane; a good inspection can save you a ton of heartache. If the structure, electrical, and plumbing is okay, you might have a real diamond in the rough here! I don't think the 70's look would bother me much; heck, I was there the first time.  But if you can take it one step at a time, and you have the vision and the skills, I think you should go for it. And sometimes these guys don't mind the work itself, but they don't like to have to make all the decisions along the way. If you already know what you want and can relieve your hubby of that, it might be a winner.
Styles are funny. I personally find stuff from the fifties (all the chrome and pearled formica) really ugly, but that's when I was growing up. Others, especially younger people, find it kitch and fun. I know people tore off all the gingerbread from Victorian homes in the thirties, when the style was to be streamlined. A few years ago I put it all back on my old house.
I also love to see the natural grain of wood, and now everyone's painting it over in white. I guess that shows my age. |
| DaisyFarm |
Posted - Oct 22 2006 : 11:55:35 PM
Do you have home inspectors where you live? Here we can call an inspector that will go out and do a complete report on any home you are wanting to purchase. It can vary from $50 to $300 depending on how indepth you want the inspection. At the very least, I would have the electrical and plumbing checked by a qualified inspector to make sure they are up to code and perhaps an inspection for insect damage. That may make the decision right then and there as both are very expensive to repair. A new roof can be a major as well. At least if you get a good report back, you have something to base your argument on. Cosmetics are the easy part.
My two cents...
Di
ps..Welcome to the Connection Brenda, nice to have you here! |
|
|
