Yesterday I made an offer on a house. My first offer on any house ever. The second house I looked at, ever.
This house:
I do not think this house is cute. I only looked at it because I was looking at other houses in the neighborhood that day, so why not glance at this one too? It is ugly and it smells like piss.
The front, with its ancient awnings and the lopsided windows reminds me of a sleepy owl.
The living room floor is in desperate need of refinishing. Or possibly replacing. The baseboard heat DEFINITELY needs replacing.
The kitchen is missing a fan and an oven.
The paint is boring and the trim is ugly.
The bathrooms are tiny.
This room is terrifying.
My arms hurt just THINKING of repainting this ceiling.
The plumbing from the kitchen drains through here.
BUT, this house has a new roof. It has a solid foundation. It does not need to be resided any time soon. The electricity appears to be modern– though I’ll let the housing inspector make the determination on that. It is exactly where I want to live.
I can make this house cute.
I can paint the red shutters black so the lopsided effect of the front is lessened, and plant some trees and shrubs to break up the sleepy owl look. I can remove the weird awnings.
I can refinish the floor, or get a couple of friends to come put a new one in with me.
I can afford to put in a furnace.
I can paint and re-trim. I will buy a miter saw. It will be awesome.
I already have plans for the bathrooms.
I can take pain killers when my arms ache after repainting that damn ceiling.
I can live with the plumbing.
So I’m doing it. Before my First Time Homeowner’s class. Without looking at other houses. Alone. With cash. I’m buying a house.
Lady With a Hammer 