This Old House...

We've been busy.  We have an appraiser coming tomorrow to take a look at our "New" (Old) House.  We purchased the house at auction a few months ago and had plans to gut and rebuild the whole thing (this is still the plan... eventually) and even put our beloved home on the market for sale (but it's not moving).  The results of the appraisal tomorrow essentially determine our ability to get a loan to:

• fix the roof
• replace all the windows
• put up new siding and
• replace the old back porch with a new deck and stairs. 

That's pretty much what we'll be able to afford with this loan.  Due to new regulations, you're only able to apply for a loan for 80% of the "purchase price" for the first YEAR.  Then after the 1st year, you can apply for 80% of the "home VALUE".  This is a BIG difference for us considering it was bought at auction for much lower than it's "value".  No problem, though, we didn't want to carry an additional "full blown mortgage" along with our two other current houses.

Eventually we'll continue to gut the entire house, replacing the old electrical, heating system, insulation, raise the ceilings on the 2nd floor to be higher, add another full bath on the 2nd floor and turn the pantry into a 1/2 bath, enclose the back deck into a screened porch and build a larger deck along the remaining back of the house, widen the driveway and put in a carport... but that'll come later.

In order to get the house ready and deemed "livable" now, we had to clean the house from top to bottom (the house that we originally just planned on gutting... but now we had to clean it.)  So while Shaun worked hard at his job every day of September, my Mom would come help me watch Ava, so I could go clean.

We had already cleared all the jungle backyard outside (still, much landscaping is needed),

 closed up the old septic system, tied into the town sewer, replaced the old waterline (which contained lead) and took down two enormous pine trees which overhung our roof and had filled and rotted the gutters.

Then we hired a plumber to replace all the old plumbing that had been stolen before the auction (people often steal the copper pipes from vacant houses to sell the metal).  We had originally not been put off by the pipes being gone because we planned on replacing it all when we redid the bathrooms and kitchen anyway... except now we needed to replace it and have it hooked back up the the existing bathroom and kitchen (even though these will eventually be gutted and rearranged).

After that was done and the water was turned on, we found everything leaked.  The old septic had also backed up into the drains and clogged them.  So... we had to replace all the faucets, fixtures, toilet and unclog everything. 

More $$$ for things we would eventually be ripping out.

Once we finally had water, I could clean and mop all the floors.  Wash all the windows (there are A LOT of windows) without breaking the antique glass, clean the bathroom and redo the bathroom floor (ugh), clean the disgusting kitchen (I don't think it had EVER been cleaned), and discover under the "yuk" a beautiful antique porcelin sink,

repaint the kitchen cabinets (also vintage),

clean the stove (oh... my... gosh... can you say GREASE???),

purchase a new refridgerator and microwave, stage the kitchen with "guy" food to look like Shaun is living there during construction. 

Shaun shop-vaccuumed the entire basement ceilings and floors to look less "dungeony", and the front porch.

Once that was done we staged "some" of the house to look like Shaun was residing there while the work is being done (the bank won't even consider giving a loan on a vacant property... or one that "looks" vacant)

So, we put up curtains, got a dining room table at a yard sale for $15, added tablecloth, candle and "mail" on the table, bought another twin bed, moved over our existing one and made it look like a King.  Bought King sized sheets, etc, moved over table lamps, end tables, photos of family, alarm clock, laundry, "dirty laundry" a sitting area, a "Living" area with couch, t.v., "guy videos" and more. 

Finished with boots at the entry way door, tidied everything up the best we could and got as ready as possible for the appraisal tomorrow.

Here are the before and afters:

Entry way before:

 Entry way after:

Living Room Before:

 

  Living Room After:

 

Master Bedroom (to be) Before:

 Master Bedroom (to be) After: (forgive the sinks)

Bathroom Before:

 

Bathroom After:

(replace broken glass in mirror... don't need any bad luck)

Kitchen Before:

 

Kitchen After:

Dining room Before:

 

Dining room After (floors still need washing):

Upstairs Family/Play Room Before:

Upstairs Family/Play Room After:

 

Upstairs Front Bedroom Before:

 

Upstairs Front Bedroom After:

 

Upstairs "Small" Bedroom Before:

Upstairs "Small" Bedroom After:

 



Upstairs Back Bedroom Before:

 

Upstairs Back Bedroom After
(Check out how small that KING sized bed looks in this room.  Could fit TWO!:

PLEASE say a prayer that the appraisal goes well and loan goes through so that we can get started on the much needed exterior repairs before winter sets in. Thank you SO much for your prayers!  I'll let you know how it goes.