The Great Remodel

I've been a serious slacker when it comes to posting about our remodel project.  Its just that actually doing the remodeling gets in the way of blogging about the remodel.  But fear not - I have taken photos of every step of the way!

I'm going to be breaking down the project into several smaller parts, probably room by room.  Otherwise, it'd take the page 10 years to load all the photos, and your eyes would be bleeding from reading/viewing it all.  And you'd be bored to death, I'm sure.

Here are some before photos.  Most of these were taken the day we got the keys to the house.  Some of the stuff the previous owner left was still in there at the time of the photos.  I'm warning you - this house was is rough shape when we first bought it!!

 This is the laundry room.

 And the living room.

 The spare bedroom.

 The hall bathroom (just looking at this picture makes me want to hurl... the bathroom was SO BAD!)

 The master bedroom.

 The very messy kitchen (and of course, the piano).

The spare-bedroom-with-the-hole-in-the-wall-turned-future-dining-room.

Up next: the hall bathroom project!

Life Happens

I have been badly neglecting this blog lately.  It just seems like one thing or another gets in the way.  I have some much more detailed posts coming up in the next week (with LOTS of pictures!), but for now, here is a brief update:

• We are living in our house (YAY!) although it is not yet finished
• We are in the middle of mudding/sanding the bathroom sheetrock, which will be followed by texturing the bathroom and dining room, and then painting both rooms.  The bathroom will then get the tile flooring installed, and then its a matter of putting the toilet, new vanity, and new towel bars in before its finished!
• The rest of the house still needs carpet - hopefully within the next two weeks or so.
• Molly is 12 weeks old, and a handful.  She's a ton of fun, very entertaining, and a very sweet, sweet dog.  But she is still a puppy, and therefore likes to chew, climb, bark, run, and generally misbehave.  We are consistently working on her training though, and "sit" and "heel" are almost 100% learned!
• We are looking forward to a summer of camping, bonfires, hiking, Sea-Doo riding, and spending time with family!

That's it!  The house consumes most of our time/energy, and whatever is left over goes straight to Molly.  But I wouldn't want it any other way!

Crafty!

I've been feeling rather crafty lately. I go through phases like these, where all I want to do is be creative and make things with my own two hands. Here is my latest project:

In case you don't know, Josh and I both love Americana-style things.  Framed pieces of art, rustic signs, anything red, white, and blue.  We have decided to go with this theme in our living room of our new house!  While at the craft store recently, I stumbled upon some wooden letters and decided to make a little Americana piece of my own!

The materials:

Acrylic Paint in Red, White, and Blue
Crackle Medium
Varnish
Paintbrushes
Wooden Letters
Sanding Block

To start, I sanded some of the rough spots on each of the wooden letters.  Then, I painted each letter a different color.  This color was the base coat; the "U" started out white, the "S" started out blue, and the "A" started out red.  (I apologize for the out-of-focus bottom of this photo!)

Then, after the paint had dried, I applied a coat of crackle medium, which went on clear and was very sticky!  I let that dry until it was still just barely tacky, and then applied a contrasting color of paint over top.  It went from looking like this....

.... to this in a matter of minutes!

Here are all three completed letters! 

I still haven't figured out exactly what I am going to do with these yet, but I will be sure to post photos once I do decide!

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 8

Here is another bullet-point update on our home process:

• Yesterday we had the home inspection done, as well as a foundation inspection that was required for our loan.  Both passed without a problem!
• The seller also had the septic pumped yesterday - no problems there!
• Our loan officer ordered the appraisal today, but we don't yet know when exactly that will take place.
• We are currently obtaining quotes/doing some research for homeowners insurance.
• I have continued to buy things for the house, such as more cleaning products, a paper towel roll holder, and other miscellaneous items.
• And...... our estimated date of closing is March 25th!!  That is exactly 3 weeks from today!!  I still can't believe this is all happening so quickly!

Before we actually move in, we plan on painting the entire interior of the house, along with installing new carpet in all of the rooms.  And, mom and I are going to team up to do some deep cleaning.  The only problem is, since I am having my tonsils removed on March 29th, I may not be too much help during that week.  I will undoubtedly be feeling crummy, and possible a little groggy from the pain medicine I will definitely be needing.  So, cross your fingers and pray that come April, I will have a new address!

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 7

So, so, so much has happened since my last "Adventures..." post!  Here is a brief update:

• The house we originally put an offer in on didn't end up working out.  After the inspection, we found out there were some major structural problems with the house.  The money it would have cost to update the house would have put us way out of our price range.
• We then found another house we loved, and looked at it the day after it went on the market.  We were all ready to put an offer in on it, but then found out that it had in fact sold that first day on the market.  We were very disappointed, but there wasn't anything we could do.
• We have now found the house that really seems like it will be the one.  It is (or was) for sale by owner, which means we are able to eliminate all of the costs of the realtor.  It is being sold for way less that our original price range, which is always good!  The house sits on approximately 2 acres, and is very secluded (just what we wanted!).  The paperwork is being started today, and our inspection will hopefully be next week.  We know the owner of the house already, from prior circumstances, and he has been very helpful and easy to work with.  He is ready to move out ASAP, and says we can move in as soon as we are ready!
• I have been stocking up on supplies for the house, such as laundry soap, paper towels, bathroom cleaner, sponges, etc.  Buying all of this at once is expensive!  But, its stuff we are going to need regardless of where or when we move, so I figured I might as well get a head start on it!

Well, that's it for now!  I will post more when I know more!

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 6

Today was the day our counteroffer to the sellers' counteroffer expired. We have been trying patiently all day to await the results.

Will they counteroffer again?

Will they just flat-out say no?

Or will they accept our offer?

Josh called me about this afternoon, sounding pretty bummed.  He told me he had some bad news.  I have had the flu for the past 3 days, and really wasn't looking forward to hearing that they in fact, didn't accept our offer.  He then proceeded to tell me that they didn't counteroffer, and that they were stuck at their original price.  I was sad - but tried to not make a big deal of it.  THEN, Josh asked me for the home inspector's phone number that had helped with our First Time Homebuying class, becuase they had indeed accepted our offer!!  Josh always gets the biggest kick out of trying to fool me.  I know I should come to expect it now whenever we are waiting on big news!

So, there you have it!  We are moving forward with our plans of buying this house.  The sellers are having the property lines surveyed within the next 10 days, and we are having the home inspection done in that same time frame.  If all of that goes well, we will (hopefully!) be closing on our home around the end of March!  (The loan program we are using is severely backlogged currently; they are still processing applications from December.)

I will, of course, post more as details come available!

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 5

Alot has happened since I last updated about our homebuying process!

Late Tuesday morning, we received the counteroffer from the sellers.  In out initial offer, we offered approximately $11,000 less than their listed price, plus we asked for them to pay for a lot of the costs associated with purchasing the house.  Our thinking was that it would give us bargaining room.

In the counteroffer, they offered to sell at around $3,000 less than their listed price, which was about $9,000 more than our offered price.  They did, however, agree to pay for everything else we asked for.  The price they wanted was just slightly out of our comfort zone.

So, Tuesday night, we met with Joe again to make a counteroffer to their counteroffer.  We agreed to keep everything the same as the previous offer, but we asked that the price be reduced an additional $2,000 below their counteroffer.  We also included a statement that this was our highest and best offer; if they came back with an offer any higher, we would not be purchasing the house.  We don't want to put ourselves in a situation where we are constantly struggling with our mortgage and bills, especially if I go back to school.

Our offer was valid until today (Thursday).  So, today we either received a decline of our counteroffer, or we have reached mutual acceptance.  Which one was it?  I guess you'll have to wait for Part 6.......!

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 4

It seems crazy that I am already writing part 4 - and we don't even have a house yet!

Saturday evening after Josh got off work, we met with our realtor to make an offer on the house we want.  We were there for about an hour or so, with Josh signing/initialing/dating about 100 times.  Everything from Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Forms, to a Well Addendum, to a Septic Addendum, and everything in between.  Joe (our realtor) was great about going over every piece of paper with us, making sure we completely understood what is was we were signing.  He really has held our hands through the entire process, and guided us towards home-ownership.  Thanks Joe! 

Joe also made sure to put in specific requests we had discussed earlier, like Extended Coverage Title Insurance, and a specific foundation inspection.

Now, we play the waiting game!  The listing agent is here in Tumwater (as is Joe), and the sellers are in Reno, Nevada.  Our offer is valid until 9 PM tonight, so we are anxiously hoping to hear back either tonight or tomorrow morning!

I will post more as soon as I know!

P.S. - For those of you who don't know, I am not actually buying this house; Josh is.  We are (obviously) not married, and decided it was in the best interest of both of us to not yet make a purchase of this magnitude together.  We have however, both been included in every step of the process.  Joe makes it a point to address both Josh and myself equally; he realizes Josh and I are a team in this.  So, even though I am not signing/initialing/dating on all those forms, I am there for moral support.  After all, four ears is always better than two!

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 3

FINALLY! Progress!!

We have a meeting set up for tomorrow evening, around 7:45 PM (after Josh gets off work), to finally put an offer in on the house we want.  This is a huge step!  This is the first house that Josh and I have both agreed on, and also the first house we have even considered putting an offer on.  I know this is only the first step towards purchasing, and is by no means a guarantee that we will indeed end up with this particular house.

But it feels so good to be one step closer to Josh and I having our own home.

Will update after we know more!  For those of you who missed the first and second parts, here are the links:

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 1

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 2

Adventures in First Time Homebuying: Part 2

When I last posted about this adventure, we had just found the house we wanted to put an offer on, and were waiting to verify a property line that appeared to intersect the shop/garage on the property.  We have since cleared that issue up!

In the meantime, however, we received the Seller's Disclosure Form, which stated the house belonged to a homeowner's association.  This particular house was the original property on a large chunk of land, which was then subdivided.  Approximately 12 new houses are on the same private road as this house.  They are all beautiful, large homes with meticulously landscaped yards.  Our house is the one that doesn't match the others!  Since it is part of a homeowner's association, there are certain CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) that apply to the community.  Our realtor contacted the listing realtor and asked for a copy of the CC&R's, but we have yet to hear back.  We want to go through all of those rules before we make an offer and put earnest money down.

It has been frustrating, to say the least, to have to wait on this listing agent.  Our realtor first contacted the listing agent a week ago, and has not been able to get him/her to respond.  This is the only thing holding up the process!  We would hate to lose this house on something that could so easily be moved along.  We have the pre-approval letter from the bank, an inspector we want to use, our USDA loan paperwork begun, and we are now just playing the waiting game.

We did look at one more house this past weekend, since it was vacant and seemed like a steal of a deal, but what they say is true: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.  This house was too scary for me to even begin to describe! 

So, here we stand, playing the waiting game.  I'll keep you posted!

Adventures in First Time Homebuying

Josh and I begun the hunt for our first house several months ago.  And what an experience it has been!

We took our First Time Homebuyer Education Class this summer, which involved us sitting in a hot classroom for 8 hours, watching PowerPoint slideshows.  And I think we both came out of there more confused than before we walked in!  I do admit, however, that we did get some really great information.

We recently (as in within the past week) found the house we want to buy.  This has made everything we've learned lately seem so much more relevant.  What's the assessed value of the house?  What are the property taxes?  Which school district is it in?  Is the septic up-to-date?  What about water quality testing?  How much should we offer?  What happens after we make an offer?  When will we close?  Who is going to pay the closing costs?  What does homeowner's insurance cost?  AHHHHHH!!  I always thought buying a home was so much simpler.

It is an exciting time for us, and I'm so glad we have family around us that is able to help us through all of it.  We would be lost without them.  We have one more thing to check on with the house, and if that goes as planned, we will be putting an offer in tomorrow or Thursday!  I will keep everyone posted on the progress!

Updates on Us

Things sure have been crazy around here lately! Here is a quick rundown of what's new with Josh and me.

• We are still looking for a house.  The few that we have found that we actually liked have been short-sales, and those are tricky to get into.  We are hoping the First Time Homebuyer tax credit will be extended into 2010, but if not, we still plan on buying in the next few months.
• I have been busy taking, editing, and printing photos lately from various adventures.  I have a real-live session coming up with a friend of mine and her toddler son.  I would love to someday make photography a full-time gig, but for now I will settle for it being a much-loved hobby.
• I recently went on a hunting trip with my dad, and while tromping through the woods, I strained my lateral collateral ligament in both legs (it runs along the outside of each knee), which is in turn causing the meniscus of each knee to be pinched (the meniscus is the cushion in the knee joint).  I am using oral anti-inflamatories, and also an anti-inflammatory cream.  That is in addition to doing my own physical therapy both at home and in the clinic I work at.  All of this has put a serious damper on my hunting season.  Its hard to walk through clearcuts when each steps brings you to near-tears!
• I have just begun (today, actually) my Esther bible study by Beth Moore.  It took me a while to track down the book, but I finally found a local store that carries it.  I also downloaded the mp3's off of iTunes, and am all gear up to begin!  I already have three more 90 day devotionals lined up for once this one is completed.

That's it for now!  God bless!

Roloff Farm.... Here I Come!!

This weekend will prove to be a busy one!

Tonight, after I get off work around 7 PM, Josh and I have plans to either go to dinner, or to a movie, or something of that nature.

Saturday morning, Josh is going fishing, and I will be cleaning!  After he returns, we are going to watch his 10-year-old cousin J. play football!  I am so excited, because this kid looks so stinkin' cute at everything he does!  He's a hoot.  Then, we are meeting our realtor to look at a house!  I am VERY excited for that!!  Then, Saturday night will be filled with hanging out with one of Josh's co-workers and his friend.  We have a very full day planned!

Then, Sunday, my family is taking a trip down to Oregon to visit the Roloff Farm, from the TLC show "Little People, Big World".  They have pumpkins and all sorts of other attractions there!  I think Jess is coming with us too!  I wish Josh could come, but he will be busy working.

I plan to take my camera along everywhere this weekend, and hope to have lots of pictures to post soon from this weekend's adventures!

Ciao!