Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Adoption
We are currently on hold with our adoption agency. We have a home study next week on our almost renovated house. Once we have finished some key elements like the install of a kitchen counter and a banister for the stairs we should be cleared to be put back on the wait list. All for now.
Thanks for visiting!!!
Thanks for visiting!!!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
We are alive!
It is hard to believe that I have been absent since the middle of September! Time has been flying so quickly and so much has been happening. I will catch you up. There is so much to say so I apologize I am a bit scattered.
July/August: Knew we had to move. Found a house we loved. Went on hold with the adoption.
September/October/ beginning of November: Went back and forth with our wonderful realtor, Steffen Kaufman and the listing agent for the bank. We fell in love with a foreclosed property- sometimes this happens. Putting in an appeal so to speak with the appraiser who didn't flag 3 large price tag issues. In the end, the bank paid for and fixed the roof, sewer line (cracks in clay pipes) and a new furnace. We pretty much made real estate history! And were grateful we took such a huge gamble (we would have had to pay out of pocket for all 3 had the bank not done it- which meant we would have had to walk away). Figure I am leaving out huge chunks considering all of this took place over nearly 3 months of negotiations.
November 14th: We are officially homeowners! We signed the paperwork. Which may I add was such a breeze in comparison to any adoption paperwork. Went to our new house. Popped a bottle of champagne. Went to dinner and that was the last time we had a break. But it's been worth it!
End of November/December: Lots of phone calls to contractors. Hardwood floor guys. Electrician. Plumber. Duct and Gas Guy. General contractor. Etc. Scouring the big box stores and antique shops for everything under the sun. Demolition on the main level starts!!!Christmas and retirement (Dad) 2 day surprise in Indiana to visit my parents (another nice break).
January: Work. Work and more work at the house.
Looking back to November seems like ages ago. Every weeknight and every weekend has been us working. With the exception of Christmas (2 days) and my cousin visiting (Leah from Minnesota- we had the best time!) (2 days). It is hard to believe where we are in the house now, nearly complete with the main level.
A quick run down.
November: Foreclosure. 1930 Bungalow. 3 bed. 2 bath. Extended ranch with basement on a double lot. A HOT MESS with gobs and gobs of potential.
Today.
Living at Nate's townhouse and keeping it spic and span as it has sometimes multiple showings close to every day. It has been on the market for 1 week and 1 day. Take a look here to see where we have been living for the past 6 years.
Our new lovely house is starting to really look up and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's amazing to think that we will actually live there one day, hopefully soon and make it a home.
A few things we have done so far on the main level, aka phase 1.
Almost done with this step!
Tape and primer and paint all walls, ceilings and built-ins.
Next steps:
Refinish and stain hardwood floor throughout main level with the exception of the bath.
Have appliances installed.
Counter top in kitchen installed.
Finishing touches with plumbing, electrical and duct work.
Change fireplace back to wood burning. Prime and paint brick.
Find and put up bath hardware like towel hooks, etc.
Install customized marble shelves (over toilet for more usable space) to mimic shower insert shelf- an Abby original.
Prime and paint all milled wood and install where needed to baseboards and window/door trim.
Touch-up paint.
I think after those remaining steps we can actually move in! After we pack of course!
A big thanks to all of our helpers and workers. We could not have done it without their help in this time. Helpers: Linda and Len Jepson, my parents. Jan and Veryl Berry, Mat's parents. Eric Baliruno (and Jeremy) our brother by friendship. Yvette Berry, our sister by blood and marriage. We love you all and we are so grateful for your help. We can't wait to have you over for a thank you dinner in our new place!
I will create a collage from all of our pictures and a before and after post too. Both to follow in the next couple months. I hope not to take a 5 month hiatus this time.
Abs
 |
| The Berry Bungalow |
July/August: Knew we had to move. Found a house we loved. Went on hold with the adoption.
 |
| Sewer Line Fix |
 |
| First roof removed- wood shingles |
September/October/ beginning of November: Went back and forth with our wonderful realtor, Steffen Kaufman and the listing agent for the bank. We fell in love with a foreclosed property- sometimes this happens. Putting in an appeal so to speak with the appraiser who didn't flag 3 large price tag issues. In the end, the bank paid for and fixed the roof, sewer line (cracks in clay pipes) and a new furnace. We pretty much made real estate history! And were grateful we took such a huge gamble (we would have had to pay out of pocket for all 3 had the bank not done it- which meant we would have had to walk away). Figure I am leaving out huge chunks considering all of this took place over nearly 3 months of negotiations.
 |
| Cheers! |
November 14th: We are officially homeowners! We signed the paperwork. Which may I add was such a breeze in comparison to any adoption paperwork. Went to our new house. Popped a bottle of champagne. Went to dinner and that was the last time we had a break. But it's been worth it!
End of November/December: Lots of phone calls to contractors. Hardwood floor guys. Electrician. Plumber. Duct and Gas Guy. General contractor. Etc. Scouring the big box stores and antique shops for everything under the sun. Demolition on the main level starts!!!Christmas and retirement (Dad) 2 day surprise in Indiana to visit my parents (another nice break).
January: Work. Work and more work at the house.
Looking back to November seems like ages ago. Every weeknight and every weekend has been us working. With the exception of Christmas (2 days) and my cousin visiting (Leah from Minnesota- we had the best time!) (2 days). It is hard to believe where we are in the house now, nearly complete with the main level.
A quick run down.
November: Foreclosure. 1930 Bungalow. 3 bed. 2 bath. Extended ranch with basement on a double lot. A HOT MESS with gobs and gobs of potential.
Today.
Living at Nate's townhouse and keeping it spic and span as it has sometimes multiple showings close to every day. It has been on the market for 1 week and 1 day. Take a look here to see where we have been living for the past 6 years.
Our new lovely house is starting to really look up and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's amazing to think that we will actually live there one day, hopefully soon and make it a home.
 |
| Kitchen demo! |
A few things we have done so far on the main level, aka phase 1.
- Demolish and gut the kitchen to the plaster and lathe and original flooring (hardwood- a wonderful surprise). The kitchen had 2 inches of flooring that we tore up, somewhat similar to the roof having 4 layers. Also removed tv stand built in to upper corner of kitchen.
- Remove drywall and plaster to uncover brick chase in kitchen.
- Remove door in kitchen/dining room and make pass thru.
- Remove arch in kitchen/nook area to make kitchen one cohesive larger space.
- Design new kitchen layout with Cliff at Lowes. Our new favorite saying... WWCD? What would Cliff do?
- Install kitchen cabinets and sink.
- Cut hole in roof for venting out - none before in kitchen. Move gas line to accommodate stove (still on the to-do list).
- Demolish and gut bathroom to the plaster and lathe. Remove flooring. Design shower inserts in between studs. Tile shower and floor.
- Patch large hole in bedroom 1 wall. They had that hole built in to bedroom number 2 closet for a large tv.
- Patch large hole in the side of the house- bedroom 2. Which was to house a tv stand for the outside patio area.
- Remove hideous ghastly entertainment wooden structure in bedroom 2. For a tv.
- Patch all other smallish holes.
- Mud over thick plaster texture on all walls. Sand, repeat. Primer, mud, sand, repeat. Outcome- beautiful flat walls.
- Strip 80+ years of paint off of most baseboards, window and door trim. Sand, repeat.
- Take in original baseboard sample and window/door trim to wood mill. 120 feet total. Original character will stay intact.
- Remove carpet in bedroom 1.
- Remove door and window trim that was not original to the house.
- Rent dumpster for all trash. Then load it which took almost 2 days and 2 sore bodies.
- New electrical throughout kitchen since our guy found a nest of sorts of tangled unsafe wires in the attic. Other electrical issues and reorganizing panel.
- New plumbing in bath.
- New fan in bath.
- I know there were other tasks but I am forgetting right now.
 |
| In kitchen looking at dining room. Removing doorway and creating pass thru. |
 |
| First tile off in the bathroom. |
 |
| Tile is gone! |
Almost done with this step!
Tape and primer and paint all walls, ceilings and built-ins.
Next steps:
Refinish and stain hardwood floor throughout main level with the exception of the bath.
Have appliances installed.
Counter top in kitchen installed.
Finishing touches with plumbing, electrical and duct work.
Change fireplace back to wood burning. Prime and paint brick.
Find and put up bath hardware like towel hooks, etc.
Install customized marble shelves (over toilet for more usable space) to mimic shower insert shelf- an Abby original.
Prime and paint all milled wood and install where needed to baseboards and window/door trim.
Touch-up paint.
I think after those remaining steps we can actually move in! After we pack of course!
A big thanks to all of our helpers and workers. We could not have done it without their help in this time. Helpers: Linda and Len Jepson, my parents. Jan and Veryl Berry, Mat's parents. Eric Baliruno (and Jeremy) our brother by friendship. Yvette Berry, our sister by blood and marriage. We love you all and we are so grateful for your help. We can't wait to have you over for a thank you dinner in our new place!
I will create a collage from all of our pictures and a before and after post too. Both to follow in the next couple months. I hope not to take a 5 month hiatus this time.
Abs
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