Demolition day 1

We were super excited to get down to Denton and meet Dan today to start the walk-through and demolition. We knew we had a lot to get out of the house--and I think we were all pretty excited to tear out the living room wall/floor and really SEE what was in there.

The work started by marking a lot of the walls where things would be ripped out, then before I knew it, Scott, Scotty and Dennis were carrying out arms full of materials.

Dan got in on the act too--he went right at that wall before the guys even got their tools unloaded.

After things got rolling, Dan sent us to look at counter surfaces for the kitchen.

By the time we got back, the wall and floor had been opened up, the 80's golf course built-ins had been ripped out, and so had most of the carpet.

The surprise reveal though, was that there was a fully bricked fireplace, complete with log storage, behind those built ins--I couldn't believe it when mom texted me the picture!

After all the carpeting was out of both floors, the guys (now numbering 6-7) since lunch--went to town on the kitchen, removing soffitts, the island, the stage, and the laminate flooring, over particle board, over pine subflooring--but those guys did it with ease and with a smile on their faces.

It was a pretty amazing day. The house seemed to just open up--it SMELLED better, and the light and energy seemed to just come from everywhere. It was pretty cool I have to say and I'm so glad that mom and dad and E and I were there to join in first hand.

ALL the wallpaper comes down

The running joke of the house--well, one of them, is that the previous owners LOVED their wallpaper. it was in almost EVERY room on the main floor and even showed up in boarders upstairs too.

With the rain moving in, it was perfect weather to be inside, so with the girls down for nap, dad, G, mom and I got started on the big room--the parlor as we call it.

G was a machine, mom brought some great stripping compound and we all got right to work.

After nap, Eric brought the girlies out.  He also brought a sprayer and vinegar to try out dad's latest solution and it worked great!

Amara was happy to help G while Cora wanted to play in the barn (in between showers) and it seemed like we made short work of that big room!

We still had many more rooms to go, but I was really excited by how that first room went.  As luck would have it, I woke up Monday with stomach flu, but Eric, Mom and dad continued on--finishing the dining room and most of the downstairs bath. I couldn't believe the progress and I can't wait to pick out something amazing to go in its place.

First bonfire: The cleanup continues

After all the stick-picking up on Friday, we decided to bring the girls out on Saturday (before the rain on Sunday) for a little work and a little play.  The girls were thrilled to run around, while Garhett entertained them and worked too--he was excellent with the grass catcher!

Eric had plenty to do with his new wagon--he has told me many times he LOVES it.

Around 5, Amara couldn't stand the anticipation anymore and asked if we could start the bonfire. Daddy got it rolling for her and in a second it was ready to go. ( a few years worth of sticks in the yard will do that) 

We all enjoyed some dogs and smores and grandpa even stopped off of the tractor for a quick hot dog before getting back out to the field.  The MOST special treat though, while we were all sitting together, was a train engine that happened by.  The girls were so excited and the engineer blew his horn and waved at them.

Our bonfire wasn't long-lived, but it was sweet and we all had a blast. Sure it's April, and borderline too warm--but it was perfect.

Cora (in true fashion) stole Grandma's chair, and found the perfect position to relax.  I had to throw the girls in the bath when we got home from all the sticky marshmallow, but it was SO well worth it.

I love the things this house is doing for and gives our family.

First official work day

After having closed on Thursday, Eric and I took Friday off to work on the house.  He and dad finished assembling the wagon and then started on switching out locks.

Mom and I got started raking leaves and making piles, filling wagon after wagon and making a nice bonfire pile of twigs.

We spent ALL DAY making loads and piles--it was a perfect day to work, probably barely hit 60 degreees--and was even chilly when you stopped working.

Mom and I trimmed, then we all took turns picking up, dumping, burning, and moving around--it worked really well and we got a ton done.

After dumping loads and loads into various piles, we decided just to burn a few of them--the back yard needs seeded anyway--from all the years of leaves smothering the grass.  It looks pretty different to us, but to the casual visitor, you probably cant't tell we did a thing.

We got the garage door open and started parking things in there, so we aren't taking as much back and forth too.

That barn is HUGE and the girls will love it for years to come--as will we. It didn't use to be high on the list to finish the bathroom and kitchen, but now i'm reconsidering moving that up.

We picked up the girls and made plans to come back Saturday and have a bonfire with some of the twigs we'd gathered.

Closing

After a long, LONG time in this whole process, we FINALLY got a clear-to close on Friday afternoon.  We knew we'd missed the 2nd appraisal from the selling bank, that much was unavoidable for the most part.

We kept waiting and waiting for that appraisal to come in, and finally--Wednesday afternoon, we got a clear-to-close from the SELLER!  It was about 2, and Susan asked us if we could close at 4 on Thursday--of course!

We were running up to see Kamryn after work--as she was just home from the hospital, but then we raced back home to get ourselves ready for closing.

Eric and I went to Menards and got $400 worth of new locks (the house has 5 external doors, one on the playhouse, and we needed to secure the barn too), and a wagon for the lawn mower.

We finally got a closing figure around noon, so Eric went to get the check while I waited back.

The closing was at 4, and the closer wasn't there when we got there. At 10 after 4, she called and said she was running :45 minutes late--what?

I left and went to pick Amara up from school, because that delay would throw off the whole evening--so i returned with Amara and her dinner and she got to help pass papers back and forth, when the closer FINALLY showed up at 5 o'clock.

We hustled out the door (no keys in hand...there aren't keys for a bank-owned, very anti climactic) and off to gymnastics. In a way, it was kind of cool that Amara got to be there, even though she had no concept of what we were doing, and Susan did her best to keep in entertained with coloring books too :)

The negotiations begin

This property will be Eric and my 3rd bank-owned or HUD house purchase within the last 7 years.  You might think we enjoy this...but the purchase process is NOT for the faint of heart.

We placed our first bid at the end of January.  2 agonizing days later, we had a counter from the bank.  We had gone in pretty low--almost 95k under asking price--but knowing no one else was looking at it (or wanted the headache) we figured we'd try.

Getting excited (and nervous) we took the counter and we were fine with that.  We were still getting it 80k under asking.

Dave was scheduled to come out for an inspection and we started holding our breath.  He uncovered a fair amount of concerns, though nothing 'deal-breaking' for us; however, it was enough to open up negotiations with the bank again.

We countered another 20k down from the accepted bank counter.  They countered us a day later and we accepted (again) and then we waited.  And waited, and waited--and after 2 agonizing weeks, countless sleepless nights, and worry, we FINALLY got our singed contract back--now, under what our original bid even was--with the bank agreeing to give us more leeway for repairs.

Pretty much EVERY person we had out at the house, who asked about the bank process, was pretty impressed with our negotiating and end price--and so were we.

Cleaning up

Since mom has a bit of an obsession with trimming, I didn't mind at all that she took advantage of this weeks' warm weather to prune a bit...

I did however, mind the clean up.

It needed done, it had to be done.  Overgrown roses, peonies that were suffering under 2 years of old growth and not enough light getting through, and remnants of some sort of woody, reed type plant which escapes me.

I filled dad's truck and a few lawn bags before Eric got there.  G'ma and g'pa Young kept watch over the girls at home for a bit so we could pick up the dangerous stuff.

The afternoon wasn't complete without a bit of drama too.  After not heeding the warnings from Eric, I attempted to drive through the yard and got dad's truck stuck--to the point he LITERALLY had to drive out and save us (uh oh.)

Garhett helped me load up a few bags too--and in a matter of a few hours, we had 2 trucks and half a dozen lawn bags full and ready for the burn pile.

Mind you--we still have a back yard full of sticks and leaves, and we realized that under all that, the grass is non-existant and consists of mostly moss...but we'll get there.  Plenty of sunlight pours through that tree canopy and we just need to get it some air.

Contractors

As  soon as we had the contract, I got busy meeting contractors.  Bless Susan's heart, she met me out there with over a dozen contractors--and even met some of them out there WITHOUT me when I couldn't make it.

Septic, electricians, carpet guys, general contractors, mold remediation, and architects.  I got my sales pitch on the house and list of requirements so down pat, I started a spreadsheet and just started sending it to potential guys we talked to.

Over about 6 weeks, I set up or met with no fewer than 8 general contractors.  Why? Because (as we learned) contractors are flaky.

One blew us off entirely, several didn't want to do the work, some clearly had NO idea what they were doing, and still more tried to politely price themselves out of the work.  WHY is it so hard to get someone who wanted to work?

It was super frustrating for us especially, because we HAD to use a GC.  The components of the reno mortgage specifically outlined that we couldn't do the work ourselves, but rather had to do things according to the structure of the Wells Fargo mortgage.  Boo.

Once we finally found our GC--the one who we liked, actually did what he told us he'd do in terms of estimates and contracts, we were excited to get started.  On the way home from our initial meeting with him, I mentioned that he and I had discussed that he used to be a college football kicker.  Eric about made me run off the road when he realized that Stultz Design and Build was Dan Stultz from OSU 96-00 fame, and he was sold.

Taking a look

The first time an opportunity presented itself to take a look at Denton, it was just Susan and dad and I (Eric was at work).  It's OLD.  In fact, the auditor's website--where it should list the year the home was built, says "OLD."  It's become a running joke.

Coming up to the driveway (keep in mind, this was January) there were pretty big trees down, near the entrance and you can't see the house from the driveway.  As it snaked to the right and over a tiny stream, it curves back left along a giant pine tree lined, curvy entrance. 

Heavily wooded on the left and with the pines on the right, you really don't know what you're coming up to.

The barn is on the left.  Good size (noted.)  Of course, LOTS of overgrown and neglected landscaping all over the place.  Container trees left to die, brush in need of a haircut, but the potential was overwhelming.

Taking a peek inside, it was pretty cool.  9 ft ceilings with 5 inch base and crown molding, fireplace, glass French doors to a formal parlor room with huge windows all around...and the house kept going.  Past the wood staircase with runner, the 5th bedroom, full bath, into a cool--centralized dining space, where another set of French doors led out onto an awning-covered, screened in patio.

The kitchen is a great, cool space.  (Lots of potential)...but old, stinky and ready for demo!

A mudroom, entrance to the outside and garage and back bonus room, and powder room all rounded out the first floor.  All of us kept commenting that the house went on and in--I described it like a Tetris puzzle piece.

Upstairs are four more bedrooms, all pretty good sizes with nice closets, ceiling fans, 2 more baths.  Cool banister, large light fixtures, and a nice landing and wide hallway.

The basement has a wooden spiral staircase and leads to a cellar, straight out of a slasher movie.  Timbers, railroad ties, fieldstone and concrete make up a crazy maze of additions, upgrades and original foundation.  A giant furnace, humidifier, water softener, and an array of crazy electrical panels and meters round out the (clearly un-finish able) space...but maybe a wine-cellar down the road...

Outside, just off the kitchen, is a neat old building, stone or cement--hard to tell, with a roof and bright yellow door--a 'park ranger' placard next to the door, but locked (dang it.)  Looks like an old pump house maybe?

Lots of flower beds, a big old barn, and some railroad tracks in the back finish off the back of the over 6 acre lot

Even though I tried to contain my excitement, I couldn't wait to call Eric on the way home and tell him "you just have to see this place."  I reserved my poker face for Susan and dad.
 

The backstory

One late summer evening, after dinner and a light shower, the girls were playing outside watching a rainbow (really.)  I was clearing dishes and Eric was keeping an eye on them--when out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Cora, over by the raspberry plants, helping herself.

If it wasn't for the fact that corner of the house is all of 20 feet from Buckeye parkway and a MAJOR intersection and busy corner, I woudn't have minded--but I 'kind of' panicked.

We started looking for a place with more greenspace.

In September, Eric and I found a great place LITERALLY 2 roads away from us on Copper, on Holton road.  It was a ranch that was in great shape, on 6 acres, but hadn't been updated (not a THING) since they built it in 1960.

Eric and I started getting our hopes up that we could gut the whole thing and really make it ours, but unfortunately the old woman's three grown children wanted to fight over money and woudn't budge off of the EXTREMELY inflated pricetag.

After a few weeks of negotiating and waiting, in late October, we decided that ship had sailed.

We continued our search for a few weeks--but with the holidays rolling around, nothing came up on the radar.  Susan kept looking for us, but everything was either late mid-century with no character, brand new, or on a lot without a single mature tree--something looking at the Holton house really made us think about what we wanted.

In January, one night tooling around on Zillow, I found the Denton house.

I emailed Susan that night and within 24 hours she had the backstory for me.  That she actually used to work with the lady who owned it and that they were trying to (or were) running weddings out of that property and that Susan herself had attended a few parties there.

hmmmm...intrigued...