aljdewey
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2002
- Messages
- 9,170
What a wild ride it has been!!!! After three months (which felt like an eternity, even though it''s relatively short) of INTENSE househunting, I think we''ve finally found a home!
We have done ridiculous amounts of homework, and I think our poor real estate agent needs a new pair of shoes from us wearing out the treads on hers with all the showing. We literally went into more than 35 homes, and we separately drove by at least another 30. The benefit: Not only did we learn very definitely what we want and what is a good value, but we''ve learned a lot more about where local streets are.
This is new construction on a single lot in an established neighborhood....the lot used to belong to the next door neighbor, and he sold it to the builder. It''s a center-entrance colonial.....last house on the right on a dead end street. It''s nearly .50 acres of land, but much of it is conservation land (protected plants and a small stream that is 50 ft. from the house), so the portion we have to mow/maintain is probably closer to 7500 sf. (F&I, thanks for the suggestion, but Rich dismissed the goat idea----he''s now decided it would make him ultra cool to get a riding mower......hehehehehe. Men and their toys!)
We saw this house when it was roughed, but Rich is more visual and less visionary, so it helped for us to go back last weekend and see it again. It now had siding/shutters, walls, and began to look like a home. We''ve also angsted because we really didn''t want to chip up the extra money, but since we won''t "upgrade" or move until retirement, it seemed wise to stretch a bit. Also, the builder came down a bit more, and that''s rare on new construction, so we felt like it was a fair price.
Our offer was accepted last Saturday (after which I had an "oh, damn, now we have to PAY for this" moment!), and we met on Monday night with the builder to go over finish details. We are closing FAST.......November 30! Kind of scary, and it''s been absolutely CRAZY trying to get details covered in such a short time, but due to the weather potential in the Northeast, I''m largely glad we''re not closing a month later. If all goes as planned, we are signing the P&S today......Monday at the absolute latest.
Details: It''s a center-entrance colonial with a walk-through to the kitchen. On the right is a front-to-back living room with a wood-burning fireplace trimmed in Marble on the sides and a wood mantle. On the left of the entrance is the dining room. The kitchen runs along the rear of the house left to right and has a set of sliders to a deck. A half-bath and small coat closet complete the first floor. The dining room/foyer are hardwood; we''ve decided to upgrade to hardwood on the stairs and the living room now.
The second floor contains the master bedroom (runs front to back over the living room on the right) with a big walk-in closet and a door to the bathroom. The bathroom is a large (12.5 x 9.5) bathroom that connects to both the master bedroom and the hallway for the other 2 bedrooms. Next to the bathroom is the laundry (YAY - 2nd floor laundry!!!). On the left side, there are two good sized bedrooms with oversized closets (one will be a guest and the other Rich''s study/office). There is also an enormous walk-up attic (fully constructed stairs, not the pull-down).
The basement is unfinished and will be used primary for storage, and there is a 2-car garage underneath on the left side with a walk-out to the back-yard. It''s grey (vinyl sided) with black shutters. It''s gas range, gas heat, and central a/c ready (we just need to add the coil/condenser....the heating unit is already set up for it.).....city water/sewer.
We are going today to pick paint, and we''ll pick flooring/carpeting tomorrow. We were too late to pick the cabinets (but what builder picked is likely what I would have chosen), and we''re haggling right now over the countertop (already ordered and cut, but not what I want).
We are elated.....and in disbelief! I''ll put up some pictures in a few weeks when we do the walk-through and the finish work is nearly done.
We have done ridiculous amounts of homework, and I think our poor real estate agent needs a new pair of shoes from us wearing out the treads on hers with all the showing. We literally went into more than 35 homes, and we separately drove by at least another 30. The benefit: Not only did we learn very definitely what we want and what is a good value, but we''ve learned a lot more about where local streets are.
This is new construction on a single lot in an established neighborhood....the lot used to belong to the next door neighbor, and he sold it to the builder. It''s a center-entrance colonial.....last house on the right on a dead end street. It''s nearly .50 acres of land, but much of it is conservation land (protected plants and a small stream that is 50 ft. from the house), so the portion we have to mow/maintain is probably closer to 7500 sf. (F&I, thanks for the suggestion, but Rich dismissed the goat idea----he''s now decided it would make him ultra cool to get a riding mower......hehehehehe. Men and their toys!)
We saw this house when it was roughed, but Rich is more visual and less visionary, so it helped for us to go back last weekend and see it again. It now had siding/shutters, walls, and began to look like a home. We''ve also angsted because we really didn''t want to chip up the extra money, but since we won''t "upgrade" or move until retirement, it seemed wise to stretch a bit. Also, the builder came down a bit more, and that''s rare on new construction, so we felt like it was a fair price.
Our offer was accepted last Saturday (after which I had an "oh, damn, now we have to PAY for this" moment!), and we met on Monday night with the builder to go over finish details. We are closing FAST.......November 30! Kind of scary, and it''s been absolutely CRAZY trying to get details covered in such a short time, but due to the weather potential in the Northeast, I''m largely glad we''re not closing a month later. If all goes as planned, we are signing the P&S today......Monday at the absolute latest.
Details: It''s a center-entrance colonial with a walk-through to the kitchen. On the right is a front-to-back living room with a wood-burning fireplace trimmed in Marble on the sides and a wood mantle. On the left of the entrance is the dining room. The kitchen runs along the rear of the house left to right and has a set of sliders to a deck. A half-bath and small coat closet complete the first floor. The dining room/foyer are hardwood; we''ve decided to upgrade to hardwood on the stairs and the living room now.
The second floor contains the master bedroom (runs front to back over the living room on the right) with a big walk-in closet and a door to the bathroom. The bathroom is a large (12.5 x 9.5) bathroom that connects to both the master bedroom and the hallway for the other 2 bedrooms. Next to the bathroom is the laundry (YAY - 2nd floor laundry!!!). On the left side, there are two good sized bedrooms with oversized closets (one will be a guest and the other Rich''s study/office). There is also an enormous walk-up attic (fully constructed stairs, not the pull-down).
The basement is unfinished and will be used primary for storage, and there is a 2-car garage underneath on the left side with a walk-out to the back-yard. It''s grey (vinyl sided) with black shutters. It''s gas range, gas heat, and central a/c ready (we just need to add the coil/condenser....the heating unit is already set up for it.).....city water/sewer.
We are going today to pick paint, and we''ll pick flooring/carpeting tomorrow. We were too late to pick the cabinets (but what builder picked is likely what I would have chosen), and we''re haggling right now over the countertop (already ordered and cut, but not what I want).
We are elated.....and in disbelief! I''ll put up some pictures in a few weeks when we do the walk-through and the finish work is nearly done.
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