Our original plan was buy a house in November of 2008 after Aubrey turned 1, our least was up, and we had a lot more saved! Around February we tried to get pre-approved thinking we would get denied and have time to fix it! Well to out shock our credit was perfect(we never used credit cards), and we started casually looking...
After placing 3 offers losing to investors and tons of houses we looked at we came back to this one..when I say WE I mean JEFF! This house was just awful, it smelled horribly, there were punch holes in most walls, wood paneling everywhere, smoke tinge on everything! The whole garage was filled with trash! The first visit I came in and would not move from the kitchen while Jeff looked around! There were beer bottles everywhere, trash, a little dog in paper shavings....ugh I can still SMELL it I know that sounds weird but I can!
After losing another house in our realtors office, Jeff asked the realtor what she thought about offering them 25,000 less then what they were asking! She said why not try its not like your attached to this one in any way. I told her I wanted a day or two to think about it as I HATED this house. We made another appoitment and made the offer!
TWO weeks later we heard we were approved and had to close in 2 weeks or the house would be in foreclosure! We found a few issues in the home inspection but moved on...Came to our walk through that morning and unlike agreed in the papers there was trash in bags everywhere, SEVEN mattresses, I cried...I did not want this house. Jeff kept telling me I cant afford a house you want but I can make this house a home for you!
So on May 1st 2008 we bought our first home! 25,000 dollars later in tools, mishaps, paint, supplies, kitchen etc we have the home we live in today! We have literally ripped apart everything in this house and took it down to the studs and remodeled it! We have a brand new kitchen, two bathrooms, new paint everywhere, ne lights, new flooring, new roof! In a few days we will have owned the home for 2 years now and I swear we have worked on this house at least 75% of the time we were awake here! Its been hard, its been very tough on our marriage, I have cried A LOT, swore some, and have frequently had paint and dirt under my nails :)
All we have left to do is finish the deck, vinyl side the house, replace the playroom and living room window and landscape more and the house will be brand spankin new! The deck will be done this summer, hopefully the windows within the year and the siding in another year or two!
Now enjoy some photos....
Kitchen and Hallway
Master Bedroom:
Kids bedrooms:
Bathroom:
Living Room:
Dining Room:
Front of the house:
Master Bath:
Basement:
AFTER:
Master Bath
Dining Room:
with trim
Kitchen:
Bathroom:
Living Room:
Master Bedroom:
Boys Room:
Aubreys Room:
basement:
WOW A lot of work...That brought back A LOT of memories! A lot of crying, A lot of blood, a lot of sweat, OMG A LOT of work! I hated it at first still do somedays...But we have made memories, our babies are growing here...Wow cant wait to see what 2 more years brings!
