The long and the short of the story is that we are not moving into the house cited in my last post. The home inspector came to inspect it and there were major water issues that could have been dealt with, but we did not want to. Water is such a force of nature. Water always wins. The yard did not drain well, the sump pump was "jury-rigged", the washer and laundry tub drained into the sump pump. Several electrical safety problems existed as well. The longer we were with the home inspector, the sicker my stomach got.
After a couple of days of thought, we decided to take the contingency we had in the contract and back out.
But, there was a house we always had in our back pocket. I've had my eye on it since it came on the market, via Realtor.com. We gasped when we went for a showing, it was so wonderful. The reason we did not snatch it up when we first saw it was that Taciturn did not think he wanted to live in the town in which it was located. As time went on, though, he realized what I had known all along--the town is a pretty special place. I think that realization helped him to come to the decision along with me to cancel the first home contract. So the same day we cancelled the first contract, we put an offer on the other house. After a few rounds of negotiation--the seller is a lawyer--mainly over occupancy date, we signed a contract on the house we have viewed almost as a dream house for months. The kitchen has everything I've ever wanted in one. Truly it was built for a cook. The entire front of the house has clear views of the Adirondacks across the lake in New York state, yet most of the large lot is wooded. It is a lovely home by a quintessential Vermont town. I can roll out of bed in the morning and walk a block and a half into town, then another couple of blocks to the bakery for a bagel. The New Haven River runs along Main Street. Water, mountains, view, walkable town--there you have it.
BUT--the home inspection looms next week. If that is ok, we press. Even if it is ok, we can't move in until mid-June. But anyway, the time will pass. After the home inspection, I'll post some photos.
Showing posts with label home inspection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home inspection. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Loose Ends
Describes what I need to tidy up, and also at which I am today.
To start with, I'm sick. There has been a vicious virus tearing through our neighborhood (Amy's husband, who is immunocompromised, bought a lengthy ER visit the other night due to said virus), and it found me the day before I fly to the Midwest to see Granddaughter's ballet recital on Saturday. Oh joy! I had to cancel a luncheon date with my dear friend Beth, which sucks. I really was looking forward to it; I leave this area in a little over two weeks and there simply isn't much time left.
My cell phone broke. That was really annoying while I was in Rapid City, as my phone simply did not ring. I had to retrieve voicemails and then reply to them. I have a new handset now but it has issues of its own. I've had it to the shop between naps today and they want to wait to replace it. But, at least it rings and I can speak on it. The remaining problems can wait for resolution.
Home inspection from last Friday: Our Rapid City house needs new siding and a new deck. The driveway sustained extensive damage from the recalcitrant tenants' heavy vehicles and also needs repair. The only good thing the home inspector had to say about the outside of my house was that the roof was in excellent shape. Those unexpected replacements (we had anticipated repairs for the deck, not replacement, and the siding blindsided us) will eat up 60-70% of our remodeling budget. We had planned to totally repaint the interior and buy a lot of new furniture, since we no longer will move every 18-24 months. The interior can go forward, but the furniture will have to wait.
Got a lot of trash tossed yesterday, but always there is more. Amazing what one amasses in 18 months--which is the length of time we've lived in this house! Still much to do before the packers come next Wednesday. I need to separate what books I want to haul with me and which to put into storage, for example, and get my electronics packed up in their own boxes. Etc, etc.
To start with, I'm sick. There has been a vicious virus tearing through our neighborhood (Amy's husband, who is immunocompromised, bought a lengthy ER visit the other night due to said virus), and it found me the day before I fly to the Midwest to see Granddaughter's ballet recital on Saturday. Oh joy! I had to cancel a luncheon date with my dear friend Beth, which sucks. I really was looking forward to it; I leave this area in a little over two weeks and there simply isn't much time left.
My cell phone broke. That was really annoying while I was in Rapid City, as my phone simply did not ring. I had to retrieve voicemails and then reply to them. I have a new handset now but it has issues of its own. I've had it to the shop between naps today and they want to wait to replace it. But, at least it rings and I can speak on it. The remaining problems can wait for resolution.
Home inspection from last Friday: Our Rapid City house needs new siding and a new deck. The driveway sustained extensive damage from the recalcitrant tenants' heavy vehicles and also needs repair. The only good thing the home inspector had to say about the outside of my house was that the roof was in excellent shape. Those unexpected replacements (we had anticipated repairs for the deck, not replacement, and the siding blindsided us) will eat up 60-70% of our remodeling budget. We had planned to totally repaint the interior and buy a lot of new furniture, since we no longer will move every 18-24 months. The interior can go forward, but the furniture will have to wait.
Got a lot of trash tossed yesterday, but always there is more. Amazing what one amasses in 18 months--which is the length of time we've lived in this house! Still much to do before the packers come next Wednesday. I need to separate what books I want to haul with me and which to put into storage, for example, and get my electronics packed up in their own boxes. Etc, etc.
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