Looking for a new house.

[Charley]

Title says it all. We're currently trying to move into a new place, hopefully in time for Dragoncon shenanigans. Here's our current major prospect, figured I'd put up a few pictures for you guys as we continue through the process.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house01.jpg
Here's a little damage that will need to be fixed up.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house02.jpg
Big yard that slopes down to the street. Some old tree stumps and stuff. Lots of room here to plant fruit trees and stuff.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house03.jpg
House front. Sort of a mediterranean/tudor/cabin mishmash thing. I kind of like the bushes but they'll need trimming. The porch needs weatherproofing and there's a step that needs repairing.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house04.jpg
More of the underhang. Looks a little better here.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house05.jpg
I don't like the monotony here so I'll probably plant some bushes or something.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house06.jpg
Broken stucco at the foundation. Christin likes the look of it so I guess its okay.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house07.jpg
Back of the house, and the "deck" We'll have to do something with it at some point, but it's servicable right now.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house08.jpg
Deck and back yard. It's patchy but it's got a lot of sky. I'll till this out, get some rocks out, and plant in a garden.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house09.jpg
Our agent says the property line runs to the far trees by the red building. We'll dig post holes and put up a chain link fence for the dog, and also use the fencing to maybe support tomatoes.


http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house10.jpg
View of the back of the house.

[Charley]

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house11.jpg
Some wood panel damage here.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house12.jpg
There's some concrete foundation poured under the deck. Will check and see what its like.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house13.jpg
More wood panel damage here.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house14.jpg
View inside living room. Note the hardwood floor.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house15.jpg
More of the living room. The color looks okay, may keep it.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house16.jpg
Fireplace. It's a propane fireplace which is a bummer. I'd like wood but its a real bear to install the chimney here. Rather a fake fireplace than none at all, so its alright.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house17.jpg
Living room ceiling. I like it.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house18.jpg
More of the hardwoods. There's a small warp there but its otherwise really nice.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house19.jpg
View of the front door area. I like that the door doesn't directly open into the living room.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house20.jpg
More ceiling.

[Charley]

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house21.jpg
Hallway, which has more hardwood. There's another small warp in here but its not big.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house22.jpg
Secondary bathroom. I regret not getting a pic of the basin, it's a one piece porcelain basin and its nice.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house23.jpg
More of the secondary bathroom. The first pictures I saw I didn't like the color, but seeing in person I like it.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house24.jpg
More hardwoods.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house25.jpg
Washer and dryer included. Our washer is nicer so we'll probably craigslist this one.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house26.jpg
Door leading into second bedroom.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house27.jpg
Shot inside master bedroom. Pretty big in there.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house28.jpg
Inside the master. Two big windows, lots of natural light. View of master bath.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house29.jpg
Inside master bath.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house30.jpg
Really roomy walk-in closet.

[Charley]

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house31.jpg
Da throne.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house32.jpg
I think the counter surface here is the same as the stuff in the kitchen. It's really pretty.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house33.jpg
View from within the master bedroom out into the hall.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house34.jpg
Inside the second bedroom. The paint is ugly and will be changed.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house35.jpg
More of the second bedroom, including window and closet.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house36.jpg
Third bedroom which was a baby room. Paint will change.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house37.jpg
More of third bedroom, window shot.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house38.jpg
View into third bedroom.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house39.jpg
This kitchen is gorgeous. Fully furnished. Range, dishwasher, and fridge all remain. Smoke vent included.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house40.jpg
Counters are all wood, custom, with bronze fixtures. Countertops are marble.

[Charley]

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house41.jpg
A lot of counter space. It looks a lot roomier in person.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house42.jpg
View to the back yard from the kitchen.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house43.jpg
Bar counter that faces the bistro dining area and french doors.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house44.jpg
More countertops.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house45.jpg
I really like these light fixtures. Very french. Good view of the fridge.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house46.jpg
View from dining area to living room.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house47.jpg
Dining room. There's a tile or two on the floor with cracks on them, and the paint on the wall needs to be re-applied, but I love the color in here. It's got such a great bistro feeling.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house48.jpg
Countertops

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house49.jpg
View of the windows leading out of the living room. Notice the bushes blotting the sun out? Those will be trimmed down.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/house50.jpg
View of fireplace from the kitchen.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Good luck!

And don't paint that baby room, as soon as you do that you'll need it. ;)

WINK

[Charley]

NOOO!

(Hurls phaser rifle into starship display case with rage)

NOOO!

[Lilaena De'Ville]

If that's your attitude at the thought of kids, you better not have any. :colbert

Ever.

[Droo]

That's a really lovely house. And so much garden! We just don't have anything like that around here, it's terraced houses with miniscule back yards for miles! :grumble

[Captain Untouchable]

That's a really lovely house. And so much garden! We just don't have anything like that around here, it's terraced houses with miniscule back yards for miles! :grumble

I echo your disgruntled Britishness. :grumble

That's an amazing house! I *love* the kitchen - not just pleanty of workspace, but it looks like they've actually applied a few brain cells in how they've set it out as well, so its all useful, usable space.

What's wrong with the lime green on purple colour scheme, though? My mum has a shell suit in those colours. ;)

[Charley]

If that's your attitude at the thought of kids, you better not have any. :colbert

Ever.

A joke, obviously. We most certainly want to have kids, but we've got a year or two of living left before then, I think. Besides, Christin says the paint is ugly so its gotta go :)


That's a really lovely house. And so much garden! We just don't have anything like that around here, it's terraced houses with miniscule back yards for miles! :grumble

There are some advantages of living in a place with property values and costs of living lower than Kazakhstan ;)



That's an amazing house! I *love* the kitchen - not just pleanty of workspace, but it looks like they've actually applied a few brain cells in how they've set it out as well, so its all useful, usable space.

What's wrong with the lime green on purple colour scheme, though? My mum has a shell suit in those colours. ;)

Yeah, the kitchen is one of a few we've looked at that have been just fantastic.

As for the color scheme of the second bedroom, it would be awesome if I was the Joker or something.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I just can't believe how cheap it is, for what you're getting (new construction, basically - 2005). But then, it IS Alabama. ;)

Our house is about 1200 sq ft and I think our lot is the same or bigger than yours would be... and we're worth about $250,000. But we live in a state that has decided that everyone should live in condos or apartments, and sets the urban growth boundary to reflect that. That's one of the reasons our housing market bubble stayed intact for longer than everyone else's.

But, blahblahblah, the house is great and I hope you guys get it. :) And a pool. ;)

edit: well I'm glad it was a joke, sometimes with you I can't tell. :)

[Charley]

I don't know about a pool. I don't think we have room for that in the back, and also enough room for the sort of garden I'm wanting.

Then again we have multiple lakes that we get access to with the terms of our HOA ;)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Not even a kiddie pool? :(

[Captain Untouchable]

I don't know about a pool. I don't think we have room for that in the back, and also enough room for the sort of garden I'm wanting.

Then again we have multiple lakes that we get access to with the terms of our HOA ;)

Take some inspiration from Tracey Island. Have a retractable vegetable patch with the pool underneath, or something.






...why do I actually think that's a good idea? >_<

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Well I would have said 'hot tub' but I wouldn't be able to enjoy it, so I didn't mention it. :)

[Charley]

Not even a kiddie pool? :(

Oh one of those gaudy plastic redneck pools you fill with the garden hose? Yes we'll get one of those and also fish out of it. Christin won't let me have any overalls so I have to embrace my redneck renaissance carefully.

[Figrin D'an]

Good luck on the housing hunt, I hope you get the place you want. My fiance and I are going to be closing on a house within the next few weeks, so I'll try to get some pics of our new place posted before we move in.

We were pretty impressed with what we were able to get for the price range we set for ourselves. But, we also live in an area with very affordable cost of living and reasonable property values. My only gripe is the property taxes, but I'll cope.

[Dasquian Belargic]

What is all this jibberjabber about kids? Stop that :twak

The house looks ver nice.


I echo your disgruntled Britishness. :grumble

Thirded, le sigh.

[Khendon Sevon]

Oooo. House.

Good, you guys will have a place for me to crash in super style whenever I manage to get away from making video games for long enough to visit ya'.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I am hopefully moving out into a new place next month, so thought I might as well flaunt my potential new home out here too :mneh It's got nothing on the houses you guys have been looking at, but I love it anyway.

http://dsjproperties.co.uk/newcastle.html
http://dsjproperties.co.uk/newcastle2.html

:love

[Droo]

Looks like you've got plenty of space to work with there, Jen, and you have a garage! :shakefist

[Peter McCoy]

Really nice houses guys (Charley and Jenny).

But Droo, if you're so disheartened by the property choices nearby, you mustn't have seen some of the really great-looking houses on Southport Road.

[Dasquian Belargic]

UPDATE: Our references were all approved, the landlords are happy, and we have got the house! So, pending us signing the lease tomorrow, we are going to be moving in on August 1st :eee I'm not sure which bedroom I'll have yet, but they are all pretty awesome (and someone else wants the tiny room - I'm sharing with 3 others if you hadn't guessed) so I'm sure to end up with something I like.

[Charley]

Congratulations on that! It looks really awesome :)

Coincidentally we just submitted our offer today. Should be waiting for the counter offer soon, and we hope to close within the next few weeks!

[Dasquian Belargic]

You guys know when you're moving in yet?

I am eeexcited for Saturday.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The closing date is on the 11th, so within a week after that. I've been doing some prelim packing, and there's quite a few boxes cluttering up the livingroom.

And yay for Jenny's new digs!! You know this means pictures, right? ;)

[stevenvdb]

Loverly little place.

Hmmmmm, I think that MB needs just a few more electrical outlets.....not nearly enough..... :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Oh of course there shall be pictures once we all get settled in :eee