Well we officially closed on April 14. We are no longer debt free with nothing to show for it. Instead we are back in debt with a new home - wooo hoo! The closing went smoothly with no big surprises. We quickly went in the next day and taped and edged the kitchen. I went back in on Friday to paint the kitchen and give it another coat on Sunday. This week Paul's dad has so generously volunteered to help paint the family room and stairway. It will be so nice to have some of the big rooms painted before we move furniture in.
The upcoming days are going to be jam packed with new house activities. Friday will be busy with all of the appliances being delivered and our cable/internet being installed (NECESSITY). Saturday will involve more painting. Sunday is the big move day. Paul and a bunch of our friends have graciously volunteered to pack up the apartment, load it into a U-Haul and unload it at our new home. 5 days from now we will officially be spending the night in the new Hood!
April 20, 2010
March 31, 2010
Down to the Nitty Gritty
Well no new pics for this week. Everything is pretty much the same as last week - just cleaner! We're going through all the motions of getting ready to own the place!
The house was appraised early this week and came in at a good number - high enough that the mortgage will all be covered, but not too high that we have to pay extra taxes. We plan to have a professional inspector (...ahem...Paul's Dad...ahem) go through and inspect the house for structural/electrical/plumbing, etc type issues tomorrow night. We hope to close in the next week or two (do I sound like a broken record saying that?).
Hopefully we'll be able to take possession soon so that I can paint a few rooms before our move in date. We've been brainstorming of what colors we'd like for the kitchen/dining area/family room/foyer. We're currently considering a light smoky gray for the kitchen (I know ... that is the same as the old house!) and possible a light celery green elsewhere in the downstairs, I'm not quite sure they'll coordinate, but we'll see.
We also plan on painting the master bedroom before we move in which will be the same as the old house - tan / chocolate brown - to go with our bedding and gigantic furniture. I plan to start using this blog as a decorating update instead of a construction update, since that phase is now complete.
The sun is shining, the daffodil's are coming up - Spring is in the air! Great time for a new home. Happy Easter :)
The house was appraised early this week and came in at a good number - high enough that the mortgage will all be covered, but not too high that we have to pay extra taxes. We plan to have a professional inspector (...ahem...Paul's Dad...ahem) go through and inspect the house for structural/electrical/plumbing, etc type issues tomorrow night. We hope to close in the next week or two (do I sound like a broken record saying that?).
Hopefully we'll be able to take possession soon so that I can paint a few rooms before our move in date. We've been brainstorming of what colors we'd like for the kitchen/dining area/family room/foyer. We're currently considering a light smoky gray for the kitchen (I know ... that is the same as the old house!) and possible a light celery green elsewhere in the downstairs, I'm not quite sure they'll coordinate, but we'll see.
We also plan on painting the master bedroom before we move in which will be the same as the old house - tan / chocolate brown - to go with our bedding and gigantic furniture. I plan to start using this blog as a decorating update instead of a construction update, since that phase is now complete.
The sun is shining, the daffodil's are coming up - Spring is in the air! Great time for a new home. Happy Easter :)
March 21, 2010
It's almost time!
Today was a great day. In the past week we received updates that the final stages of the home are in progress. We look forward to hearing that it passes inspection this week (fingers crossed) and that our mortgage company has a good assessment of value. We were also excited to invite a few of our future neighbors and friends to come walk through the house with us after church today.
When we pulled up we noticed that the driveway and front walk way were in place. They also finished the columns and put up the house number and doorbell.
On the inside, it appears all the finishing work is complete. The granite island was in place and all the lights seem to be working as we played around with what light switches operate which fixtures.
In the bathrooms the mirrors and lights are in place.
We did some price shopping this weekend for appliances and found that Best Buy had the best bargains for what we wanted. So after walking through the house we headed down to Best Buy to order all our new stuff! We ordered a fridge, stove/range, microwave, washer, dryer, chest freezer and threw in a Dyson pet hair vacuum since we'll have a TON more carpet areas to vacuum.
A few of the appliances we ordered were on backorder and have to be shipped from stores hundreds of miles away. So we aren't having them delivered until April 23rd. With that date, we tentatively decided that April 25th will then be our move in date. We expect to take possession several weeks before that, but it will give us time to paint a few rooms and be ready for the move. We have the apartment until the end of April so this will make it a smoother transition.
Ahhhh!!!! We are getting so excited because it seems so real now - can't wait!
When we pulled up we noticed that the driveway and front walk way were in place. They also finished the columns and put up the house number and doorbell.
On the inside, it appears all the finishing work is complete. The granite island was in place and all the lights seem to be working as we played around with what light switches operate which fixtures.
In the bathrooms the mirrors and lights are in place.
We did some price shopping this weekend for appliances and found that Best Buy had the best bargains for what we wanted. So after walking through the house we headed down to Best Buy to order all our new stuff! We ordered a fridge, stove/range, microwave, washer, dryer, chest freezer and threw in a Dyson pet hair vacuum since we'll have a TON more carpet areas to vacuum.A few of the appliances we ordered were on backorder and have to be shipped from stores hundreds of miles away. So we aren't having them delivered until April 23rd. With that date, we tentatively decided that April 25th will then be our move in date. We expect to take possession several weeks before that, but it will give us time to paint a few rooms and be ready for the move. We have the apartment until the end of April so this will make it a smoother transition.
Ahhhh!!!! We are getting so excited because it seems so real now - can't wait!
March 15, 2010
Oh the progress...
Oh the progress that has been made in just two short weeks! I went by the house last weekend but I didn't have Paul or the camera so I decided not to post. But since I've posted much has progressed.
On the exterior, the stone facade of the columns have been put up on the bottom half (top half still missing). Our door is now the "iron mountain" color that it is supposed to be and we have lights next to our garage door.
On the inside, there is wood-ish flooring in the foyer and powder room, as well as the sink and toilet have been installed.
The carpet has been installed in the rest of the house which makes a HUGE difference. It definitely is feeling like a home in there. Although after going through all three floors Paul and I began to realize that vacuuming may become a 2 day job. They also installed the light fixture in the dining area. 
We're a little bit concerned about this "blue" dishwasher... we thought we ordered stainless steel ;)
The countertops, kitchen flooring and cabinets have all been installed. We're still waiting on the granite for the island. We took measurements of all the appliance holes as we think of taking on the fun task of buying new appliances. 
In the master bathroom, both of the sinks and vanities have been installed. Paul and I aren't the best at sharing some things so we're pretty excited to have our own sinks and cabinets. Paul even noticed that there is an electrical outlet in the perfect place for my electric toothbrush (oh how I've missed you....)
Down in the "man cave" it is truly looking like another room of the house and not a dingy basement. Carpet and finished walls make a huge difference. 
So according to the agent from the developer this week is going to be tying up loose ends in the house including getting in a driveway. We know since Paul sends her a friendly weekly email each Monday after we walk through the house with all our praises (and concerns). We also hope to meet with our mortgage guy this week to nail down some of the details of the house. In a few short weeks - we hope it will actually be ours!
On the exterior, the stone facade of the columns have been put up on the bottom half (top half still missing). Our door is now the "iron mountain" color that it is supposed to be and we have lights next to our garage door.
On the inside, there is wood-ish flooring in the foyer and powder room, as well as the sink and toilet have been installed.
The carpet has been installed in the rest of the house which makes a HUGE difference. It definitely is feeling like a home in there. Although after going through all three floors Paul and I began to realize that vacuuming may become a 2 day job. They also installed the light fixture in the dining area. 
We're a little bit concerned about this "blue" dishwasher... we thought we ordered stainless steel ;)
The countertops, kitchen flooring and cabinets have all been installed. We're still waiting on the granite for the island. We took measurements of all the appliance holes as we think of taking on the fun task of buying new appliances. 
In the master bathroom, both of the sinks and vanities have been installed. Paul and I aren't the best at sharing some things so we're pretty excited to have our own sinks and cabinets. Paul even noticed that there is an electrical outlet in the perfect place for my electric toothbrush (oh how I've missed you....)
Down in the "man cave" it is truly looking like another room of the house and not a dingy basement. Carpet and finished walls make a huge difference. 
So according to the agent from the developer this week is going to be tying up loose ends in the house including getting in a driveway. We know since Paul sends her a friendly weekly email each Monday after we walk through the house with all our praises (and concerns). We also hope to meet with our mortgage guy this week to nail down some of the details of the house. In a few short weeks - we hope it will actually be ours!
February 28, 2010
Found the cord
Here's a few pictures from the last few weeks to complement the previous post.
The workers left behind a box of doughnuts. Paul's dad decided to test for freshness.
Here's the future nursery with drywall up.
They've started work on the columns on the front porch. They still need the white upper half and stone facade on the bottom.
The walls are now painted and have trim.
The workers left behind a box of doughnuts. Paul's dad decided to test for freshness.
Here's the future nursery with drywall up.
They've started work on the columns on the front porch. They still need the white upper half and stone facade on the bottom.
The walls are now painted and have trim.
I'm not a slacker...
I just can't find the camera cord so I can't download the house pictures. It really can't be that far, our apartment is only so big.
Anyway, we have been to the house each Sunday for the past three weeks and have noticed improvements each time. Here's the lowdown on what we've seen.
2/14/10
Dry wall is up, not yet mudded. The rooms are starting to look like actual rooms and not just a bunch of boards in the same shape of the floor plan. We also took Paul's parents through the house with us. We let them know that one of the four bedrooms was going to be a nursery in September.
2/21/10
Dry wall is now mudded and coming together. All the seams appear to be closed up.
2/28/10
They've started the columns on our front porch. They also apparently changed the lock on the front door so our key doesn't work. One of the windows was unlocked so Paul did a good job breaking into our own house.
The walls are now roughly painted "Builder Beige". We anticipate having to paint every room over again but at least it serves as a primer. They've also started putting up trim in most of the rooms and have doors on the bedrooms and bathrooms. We hope they start doing cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms in the upcoming week. As well as give us an updated key.
Paul also got the chance to meet our new neighbor across the street when he backed into their mailbox. Apparently the snow plow's already hit it a few times this year so that's why it popped off the stand so easily. No big deal. Paul made a new friend.
Hopefully I find the camera cord so I can update this post with a few pictures!!!
Anyway, we have been to the house each Sunday for the past three weeks and have noticed improvements each time. Here's the lowdown on what we've seen.
2/14/10
Dry wall is up, not yet mudded. The rooms are starting to look like actual rooms and not just a bunch of boards in the same shape of the floor plan. We also took Paul's parents through the house with us. We let them know that one of the four bedrooms was going to be a nursery in September.
2/21/10
Dry wall is now mudded and coming together. All the seams appear to be closed up.
2/28/10
They've started the columns on our front porch. They also apparently changed the lock on the front door so our key doesn't work. One of the windows was unlocked so Paul did a good job breaking into our own house.
The walls are now roughly painted "Builder Beige". We anticipate having to paint every room over again but at least it serves as a primer. They've also started putting up trim in most of the rooms and have doors on the bedrooms and bathrooms. We hope they start doing cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms in the upcoming week. As well as give us an updated key.
Paul also got the chance to meet our new neighbor across the street when he backed into their mailbox. Apparently the snow plow's already hit it a few times this year so that's why it popped off the stand so easily. No big deal. Paul made a new friend.
Hopefully I find the camera cord so I can update this post with a few pictures!!!
February 10, 2010
Good from the front
We drove by the house on Sunday to find that the exterior is mostly finished. It is a light blue color with dark grey shutters and cedar shakes. It's still missing the columns on the front porch, the garage door, and the front door will be dark grey, not white like the temporary door.
We were surprised when we got there to find that both the front door and the garage door were locked. Thankfully, the insulation wasn't very secure and Paul was able to crawl through a fallen piece of insulation in the garage and unlock the door for me. We'll have to get a key from the builder for future visits!
While we were there we also experienced a train going by for the first time. We heard the whistle blow a few times but then couldn't hear the actual train from the inside of the house. That's a relief!
On the inside of the house they have completed all the pipes for plumbing, lines for gas and electrical wires. They have also insulated all the walls on all three floors. They have all the dry wall in the rooms, just not up on the walls. We hope it will be done this week.
In other news, we got almost 10" of snow yesterday. It's been a weird winter with not much snow but we made up for a small portion of it in 24 hours it seems. Paul and I have had a hard time adjusting to apartment life and often complain about all the silly nuances that apartments bring. But with this large snowfall it reminded me of something that I'm thankful for this apartment for. In our old house, it could take up to a week after a snowfall for the city to remember to plow our little cul-de-sac. Paul and I would spend our afternoons shoveling the street by hand and trying to push cars around the corner who would get stuck. As I pulled out into the well plowed city street this morning, I was reminded of the little things to be thankful for.
We were surprised when we got there to find that both the front door and the garage door were locked. Thankfully, the insulation wasn't very secure and Paul was able to crawl through a fallen piece of insulation in the garage and unlock the door for me. We'll have to get a key from the builder for future visits!While we were there we also experienced a train going by for the first time. We heard the whistle blow a few times but then couldn't hear the actual train from the inside of the house. That's a relief!
On the inside of the house they have completed all the pipes for plumbing, lines for gas and electrical wires. They have also insulated all the walls on all three floors. They have all the dry wall in the rooms, just not up on the walls. We hope it will be done this week.
In other news, we got almost 10" of snow yesterday. It's been a weird winter with not much snow but we made up for a small portion of it in 24 hours it seems. Paul and I have had a hard time adjusting to apartment life and often complain about all the silly nuances that apartments bring. But with this large snowfall it reminded me of something that I'm thankful for this apartment for. In our old house, it could take up to a week after a snowfall for the city to remember to plow our little cul-de-sac. Paul and I would spend our afternoons shoveling the street by hand and trying to push cars around the corner who would get stuck. As I pulled out into the well plowed city street this morning, I was reminded of the little things to be thankful for.
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