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Good morning friends! I am back, I had mistakenly thought that I would be able to post during the chaos that has been my life for the past week but it was not to be. The short explanation, we found a house and we have moved. The longer explanation follows.
It has been a long and wild ride to find this house, in fact we started in 2018 and only ended on July 2, 2021. For those of you that have been here a bit you might remember back in 2018 that we decided to downsize and to start looking for a house. We pondered moving back to the Mid-West(for about 5 seconds) to be closer to family but decided that over the last 21 years we have become pretty wimpy when it comes to cold weather and winter. We love one snowfall a season and we do not want to go back to a life where there are two seasons, winter and construction. Then we thought of going back to Florida but it has gotten pretty crowded there and frankly we do enjoy 4 seasons. We also considered Arizona, Tennessee, and Texas but they did not make the cut either.
Once we narrowed our search area we made made several attempts to buy a house over the last 3 years; one was an old historical cottage and needed a lot of work that would require permission for any changes, another one was two big and had too much land and one was just “perfect”. Unfortunately the one that was “perfect” did not work out then Covid happened so along with the rest of the world we changed plans and stayed home for a year. At the end of April we put our house up for sale and it sold the first weekend. Since then it has been a whirlwind of road trips, a couple of offers for houses sight unseen, and the prospect of waiting it out and living in an extended stay hotel with 3 dogs for a few months.
Thankfully God had plans for us and we found a house just before Memorial Day. The house is in the community we wanted to live in, close to my brother, it’s a ranch and it is ready to be customized by us! It is a house that we previously saw online but someone else made an offer before we could then they backed out so we made an offer sight unseen and now we own it! The house is perfect for us, it is a brick ranch on a golf course, the yard is on one level( which is rare in this area), and it has lots of potential.
It has been a long week, packing and moving. We gave the furniture from our family room, master bedroom, 2 guest rooms, dining room, several other misceleaneous pieces, and outdoor furniture to the buyers who were moving from a 1 bedroom apartment. We also donated hundreds of books, clothing, furniture and more to the thrift stores and what was left(which will never fit in this house) barely fit on the truck. Thank God my parents came with their Airstream and we were able to put a lot of artwork and valuables in it to transport. The movers we hired do not transport wine(a problem if you have a wine cellar), or plants(I have 23 containers full) or anything with gas(we had to store yard implements at the neighbors until a later date).
There were several mishaps with the move, and the closings(the seller of our house is in bankruptcy and sadly is very ill) but we finally have the keys to both the house and a hotel. The house is getting a little work done over the next 18 days and we are in an extended stay hotel with 3 pups. So far so good, I will keep you posted.
The house has great “bones” but we are personalizing it to suit our life and tastes. Here is a small list of things we are doing and by we I mean the experts. This is a bit challenging at the moment because of Covid but we are patient and frankly the longer we are in this 2 bedroom hotel suite the more we realize what we do and do not need.
1.Removing all popcorn ceilings(being done now).
2. Gutting the kitchen and expanding it( currently being designed).
3. Gutting 3 bathrooms(currently being designed)
4. Painting the interior.
5. Removing and replacing all hardwood.
6. Walling up 2 windows, and interior doors.
7. New light fixtures.
8. Gutting the laundry/mud room.
9. Painting brick exterior white.
10. Re-landscaping yard.
It is funny because even though we do not have one piece of furniture in the house it already feels like home. The only thing I miss from my last house is the front porch. We loved the house for 141/2 years but we are excited for this new chapter.
Thanks for taking along on the search for the house. I will keep you posted on the renovations! Have a great day friends.
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Thank you!
Wow, Elizabeth! That was fast. I guess leaving much of what you had helped. I’m so glad your search is over. I’m still looking, but as you probably know, it is very much a seller’s market. Very little inventory of houses or condos to even consider.
Brenda
That is such exciting news that you found a house. How fun to be working on new projects and making the house your own. I can’t wait to hear about all of the work that you’re doing! Congratulations!
Wishing you an lifetime of happiness. Sounds like you have the perfect home.
Helen Tilston
Yay! I am so excited that you have a home! Can’t wait to see all of the new changes! So very happy for you, friend.
Good for you!
Congrats on the new house and the move! Sounds like you have amazing plans for your new place and I look forward to following along! xo
Congratulations, Elizabeth! I’m so happy for you. It sounds like all the stars aligned on this house.
It is SO satisfying to do a renovation. Imagining the possibilities, looking for the materials, seeing the transformation, really making it yours. I look forward to reading about your journey.
I’m coming to the end of my renovation. Last weekend, I spent 250€ and drove for four hours to pick up three antique crystal chandeliers from three different places. They are magnificent. The drives were absolutely gorgeous, through the French countryside. And all of the sellers were charming as can be. The thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of finding something second-hand that’s far more beautiful and of better quality than new, plus a fraction of the price. The electrician’s eyes popped when he came to put them up and I told him the prices I paid.
I’m glad you finally found the right place and I look forward to you covering your renovation and decorating here. I love seeing what people do to their houses to make them homes.
Best of luck in your new home, Elizabeth!!! Can’t wait to hear all about your renovations.
I;m a little jealous. And a ranch…! We like that area. But most likely we will not move because of our kids plus. Hope the renos and hotel living all go well or better.
Maybe I missed it, but WHERE is this new home? I’m back to blogging again after almost a year absence, and I’ll be following along. My goal now: FIND A NEW HUSBAND & NEW ADVENTURES. I really really really do not like being alone all the time. Sending love, my friend……
Congratulations! Having moved in the last year I feel your pain. 2 dogs and several hotel stays later we moved in 8 months ago and still haven’t found everything. Good luck and best wishes for the future.
Congratulations, Elizabeth! I know the journey well and promise that once you’re in, you’ll forget all about it except to refer to it in “remember when…” terms. It’s just wonderful how things always work out for our highest good. I was SO hoping for a little teaser photo. Cannot wait to see how you make this house your new home.
SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF REMOLDING!
I WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES………….
WONDERFUL NEWS YOU FOUND A HOME CLOSE TO YOUR BROTHERS!
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE ADS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG MAKES THE WHOLE PAGE SKIP AND THE READER LOSES HER PLACE!I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON OTHER BLOGS AS WELL……THERE IS SOMETHING WITH THESE ADS THAT IS VERY ANNOYING!JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE AWARE OF THIS……….
XXX
Good luck with all the upcoming work ahead to make your new home beautiful. Lucky you being able to get workers so quickly at this rather difficult time in the building/reno business – and the crazy real estate market!
Glad things are working out and that you will be close to your family – they must be thrilled to know you are
nearby.
Keep us posted Elizabeth and take care.
Hugs – Mary
It sounds super exciting! I wish you all the best in your new place and in your journey to turn the ranch into the home of your dreams.
Thank you Kim!
Congrats on the move! I’m excited to watch the progress of your new home!
Thank you Cindy, it will be a long process with all of the Covid delays.