Looking at a house. - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

stp1971 · 09-17-2006, 11:16 PM

Oh man I have got a headache this big!!!!! It seems a house will be in the near future. Went and looked at one tonight that we ("J" and myself ) are seriously considering. 2700 square feet total. WHOA!!!!! Here is the details.

Originally built in 1973. Original square footage around the 1800 to 1900 foot range. A split level where the main den and kitchen is a walk-in off of the two car carport or the front door which is level with the front yard. Originally it had a downstairs area that was off of the den that went into a half basement. The upstairs is where the original 3 bedroom and two bath were located. The master bedroom has a shower, toilet and a sink. The other two bedroom share a bathroom with a tub, toilet, and a sink.

In 1997 they added another full bedroom (HUGE ROOM) with a full bathroom complete with the garden tub and shower. With that addition came another side room that holds the new dining room.

The lower basement has been converted into a haircutting parlor where the wife works out of complete with another bathroom and another room where the furnace, hot water heater, and the washer and dryer is now stored.

Here is the cool part. Not only does the left side of the house have a driveway which pulls up to the two car carport,, but the other side of the house has a full asphalt driveway which runs beside the house to the rear of the house to where you can park four to five cars. This was done to have parking spots for her cliental. Not a whole lot of grass to contend with since half the backyard is paved and 80% of the front yard is shaded by the trees. Which are all hardwoods.

Here is what we are thinking. The second driveway will lead to a new two to three car garage and since 70% of where I would want a garage is paved that will save a huge amount of dollars for the foundation. "J" said that would be perfect to where I can build my garage and I could put me a lift back there to help work on the cars. Plus I could have plenty of pavement in case I need to move the car outside for wetsanding, sandblasting etc.

The basement is where "J" says we can convert it to a guys room for me so I can put up all my man stuff and put a pool table down there with my exercise bike and a big tv. Did I mention I have the perfect woman yet??? The upstairs we will renovate, upgrade, etc. It has a fireplace already and somewhat decent appliances. The upstairs has real oak hardwood flooring,, the older thick stuff. Not this cheap newer stuff.

So what does this place need. For one thing she has a cat and a dog inside. Since I have miserable allergies and cats are the worst for me we will have to get all the vents professionally cleaned as well as the carpets.

The roof has a couple places that are in disarray. So it will need a new roof. Lucky for me,, almost all of "J"s family are roofers. There is a couple of places in the den that the leak got to and caused the sheetrock to buckle. SO new sheetrock will be needed as well. But guess what,, my brother is really good at sheetrock work and I have a sourse for all of the material that will hook me up at wholesale prices.

It does need new carpet upstairs but she is thinking hardwood floors up there as well,,,hmmm,,if I get new garage and a huge man room,,,,,,ok,,sure babe!!!!

It will need new cabinets and all,,but most of the stuff is work in progress stuff. The only thing I need to do is to get up in the attic and really check the place over for any signs of mold and mildew. Plus I need to get into the basement and under the house and check for any foundation problems. But with it being that old of a house I think all the house settling will be done by now.

It sits on about 1/2 acre but it is a pretty secluded lot though.

I talked to the next door neighbor and he rides and said he welcomes the fact that a rider might possibly move in next door.

So you might ask,,,what does all this cost...... they are asking $139,000 total. And the next door neighbor said that he knows for a fact that they will take $135,000 and are even a little negotiable off of that. I am thinking of offering him $127,000 if everything else checks out.

Not a mansion,,not a new home,,but if it works out,, it could be something for plenty of room to grow in and will also be paid off in less than 20 years. Maybe more like 13 to 17 years if we are dilligent and no major changes in our careers. This way we will have plenty of extra to be able to enjoy life and do what we want to in the future.