New (Old) Development!

So, remember how I wrote about not having “before” pictures in an earlier post? Well, that’s true. I didn’t…but the appraiser did. Stuffed into all of my loan information were a few pictures snapped by the woman who did a walk-through on the bank’s behalf. She also included a rough floor plan, which is helpful when you’re not familiar with the place but trying to piece my pictures together. I’ve included little signals so you can see exactly where the pictures were taken from so you can gain a little more insight.

From a design standpoint, the floor plan will stay almost exactly the same. We have moved a door here or there (not to mention added a garage), but the square footage of the living space remains.

1. Entry - new wiring, insulation, and drywall completed.

2. Living room - new electrical/audio wiring, insulation, and drywall completed.

3. Dining room - removed the partial chimney and corner hutch in addition to wiring, insulation, and drywall. 

4. Bedroom/Office - new wiring, insulation, and drywall in addition to the reconfigured closet layout and bookshelf addition.

5. Bathroom - removed paneling and massive amounts of unexplainable concrete, updated plumbing/electrical, and replaced the subfloor and wallboard. 

6. Bathroom - Pt. 2

7. Kitchen (facing Dining Room) - currently demo-ed. Planning for new cabinets and countertops.

8. Kitchen - Pt. 2

9. Laundry - a new door to the garage will take the place of the windows seen here.

10. Master Bedroom - moving the door and closet to improve the room's function. More to come!

Splainin' to do.

So, why – you might ask – would I buy a house that looks like this one? With the rotting, twisted garage and the layers and layers of shingles piled atop its tiny roof, it doesn’t make a very strong case for itself at times…and that’s before you see all the wallpaper and the knob and tube wiring.

The answer is that old real estate mantra: location, location, location!

Not only will my tiny, little house be about two blocks from my office, it’s also the same distance to several restaurants, a small grocery, the library, City Hall, and the microbrewery. Key among them: the microbrewery J Not only that, but my tiny, little house is located in one of the most architecturally diverse neighborhoods in town – something I really enjoy. So while the garage may have you spooked, or the next-door neighbor’s house with all its ills may be an eyesore for the moment, check out the views across the street!

And down the block:

Behind me:

Around the corner:

And, a couple blocks away:

Yes, my tiny house has its issues. But I’m sold on the big-old trees, the big-old houses, and the small-town charm. That’s all for now – come back soon!