tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post3875072727426348546..comments2024-03-27T19:04:31.290-05:00Comments on The Amazing Trips: how to buy a house: part ivThe Amazing Tripshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13761348688069779544noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-24030782614704905432010-08-01T00:28:01.162-05:002010-08-01T00:28:01.162-05:00You are helping me decide to be a renter for life!...You are helping me decide to be a renter for life! hahascarfoot79https://www.blogger.com/profile/01291250114236372321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-42714521089626377892010-07-31T23:49:40.093-05:002010-07-31T23:49:40.093-05:00The extra space would be nice with four children a...The extra space would be nice with four children and I'm not sure the extra 6 miles per day will really matter all that much. Just my two cents....Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879753863902363299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-34855890454546851632010-07-31T23:47:14.691-05:002010-07-31T23:47:14.691-05:003 miles can make a HUGE difference in commute in t...3 miles can make a HUGE difference in commute in that area of town. Especially when it snows, the weather is bad and the roads are icy. Seriously you might as chosen a home an hour away...<br />The mosquitoes are horrible in VA. San Diego bugs are way easier. By the way, be sure to do a surgical cleaning of the closets and pantry. You'll see bugs you never knew existed and crazy things will be eating your stuff...not just food, clothing too.<br />Would totally pay the price to have a shorter commute.holly whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330225563028611599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-55637736824346953922010-07-31T23:18:40.209-05:002010-07-31T23:18:40.209-05:00I can only tell you one thing: I do NOT think it&#...I can only tell you one thing: I do NOT think it's possible to get rid of the mosquitos at house A. The property might be nice, but your kids will not be able to enjoy it starting at around 5-6 pm... And if you even leave the doors cracked open on your way in/ out, the mosquitos will come inside...<br /><br />This is the toughest stage. But you will survive and make the right decision - the right one for YOUR family. Best of luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-19344732676644708052010-07-31T22:49:02.365-05:002010-07-31T22:49:02.365-05:00Decisions like that make me crazy. You can see go...Decisions like that make me crazy. You can see good sides to either alternative and bad sides to either alternative.<br /><br />Have you thought of playing darts and which ever house the darts land closest to you buy? LOL<br /><br />Good luck whichever way you choose.winecathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07033530470009978632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-5565408915134838362010-07-31T21:47:56.412-05:002010-07-31T21:47:56.412-05:00You had me as conflicted as you until the "as...You had me as conflicted as you until the "as is" part of the post. I am leery of older houses that sell that way. What is something big shows up in the home inspection? I think at this point you need to think of House A as an older car you have a big repair bill estimate for. How much are you willing to pay to get it now and knowing that more will be needed in the future?<br />I cannot tell you the answer, only you and Charlie know what you can handle (emotionally and financially).<br />KathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-67371588952476261432010-07-31T18:34:01.968-05:002010-07-31T18:34:01.968-05:00After going through a renovation with my sister...After going through a renovation with my sister's fixer upper for years now and then it losing value with the economy I would say run - don't walk from house A. That's just me. It sounds like you really love house A but the 'as is' is scary. My sister ended up replacing the roof, electrical, plumbing, complete kitchen, some floors, painting miles of walls, taking out walls, putting in walls, replacing the driveway, repairing the pool, taking out trees.... I'm tired just typing it! She still hasn't touched the 3 bathrooms yet. I guess I'm just thinking that whatever you think it may cost - add more - and then more! Hers was built in about 1950 and has really solid bones - not sure where yours stands on that.<br /><br />Even though I don't know you or your family, I'm so happy for you and your new adventures. Thanks for taking 'us' on the ride with you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-51535900986330587932010-07-31T15:39:15.917-05:002010-07-31T15:39:15.917-05:00Gee. This is another question where the two of yo...Gee. This is another question where the two of you have subconsciously already made up your mind. <br /><br />So what you are asking is. Do I drive an extra 6 miles a day so that our family have extra room and two parents who can go about spending time with their fab family. Or do you cut down the drive by xxx minutes a day and spend the weekends. <br /><br />Also, if Henry has a way of escaping the yard, that creek will terrify you.Jakarta Rockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01122426618548032862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-52194021438994469772010-07-31T15:19:44.620-05:002010-07-31T15:19:44.620-05:00I would go for House B based on just what you have...I would go for House B based on just what you have said. You absolutely never know exactly how much upgrades and remodeling will cost. I have done considerable remodeling on my 2 houses I have owned and each went way over budget and estimates. There is always things that need to be done, fixed etc that you just don't know about until you begin remodeling. Some of them are minor and some are not and have to be done no matter what. Remodeling a house that old can be like opening a can of worms, not to mention what the town/city codes are now versus when the house was built that you will have to upgrade and deal with. <br /><br />More square feet is always a good thing no matter how much more cleaning you have to do. We doubled our house size this last move and I do all the cleaning myself. It is alot of work but I still would not trade the square footage. We are not busting out at the seems and everything has it place and there is no clutter anywhere. We can live hear until our kids are grown and then sell and live comfortably still in a smaller house for the 2 of us with all the clutter gone.<br /><br />Maybe you can take pictures of the houses and post them and have everyone give you their votes?<br /><br />Good luck. Buying a house is sooooo stressful. I was never so stressed in my entire life both times we did it. And to top it off our current buy was a short sale so we were dealing with banks and their demands.Michelle- CAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-39003567482308898092010-07-31T14:57:07.681-05:002010-07-31T14:57:07.681-05:00Bid on House B....three miles is nothing in the gr...Bid on House B....three miles is nothing in the grand scheme of things. House repairs are HUGE in the grand scheme of things; so is a screened-in porch :)Joy Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12746570281283136391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-58981050975464658802010-07-31T13:18:03.488-05:002010-07-31T13:18:03.488-05:00House B. I wouldn't buy a house on a "cr...House B. I wouldn't buy a house on a "crick" - - for safety reasons, for mosquito reasons and other...ummmm....critter reasons. 3 miles is peanuts. If the house looks as bad as you say, trust me there are underlying problems as well. Being sold "as is" tells you ALL you need to know in that respect.twinglesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-79214496971714564592010-07-31T12:40:34.230-05:002010-07-31T12:40:34.230-05:00I vote for House B. The extra bathroom sold me!I vote for House B. The extra bathroom sold me!Geologychickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05326271846932273163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-36270205615470351512010-07-31T11:56:30.026-05:002010-07-31T11:56:30.026-05:00It depends on what type of road the extra three mi...It depends on what type of road the extra three miles are - is it local, neighborhood roads or is it a major thoroughfare or something in between. In this area, 3 miles can add a few minutes or 30 minutes to a commute. Also, keep in mind you are looking in late July/early August - traffic around here is worse when Congress is in session and during the school year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-32517821868058770812010-07-31T11:20:37.816-05:002010-07-31T11:20:37.816-05:00My husband and I nearly divorced when we bought ou...My husband and I nearly divorced when we bought our first home - it needed some work. And we didn't even have kids at that point! Based on that alone, I'm voting for house b! Remodeling is exhausting!!!Leia Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15996757173950376069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-6121724300971558472010-07-31T11:06:28.425-05:002010-07-31T11:06:28.425-05:00So......house B is newer, larger in square footage...So......house B is newer, larger in square footage, larger in closet space, more bathrooms. It has about the same size lot, same school district. And.........about the same price. There wouldn't be a question in my mind....(and 3 miles is nothing)<br /><br />If house B has already gone down in price, I would say there is still more room for movement.....<br /><br />The one thing that might tell the tale for both houses is an inspection!<br /><br />Good luck.....<br /><br />KayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-2956042332626735592010-07-31T11:04:23.412-05:002010-07-31T11:04:23.412-05:00'Avons Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil’ Use the green la...'Avons Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil’ Use the green label not any of the new ones. The new ones do not repel the critters!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09804522074384492754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-90484492703289105332010-07-31T10:56:43.381-05:002010-07-31T10:56:43.381-05:00'Avons Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil' really does ...'Avons Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil' really does work for keeping mosquitos and noseeums away, it smells better and it is not poisonous. If I were you I would take house B for the space because when your youngsters are teenagers you will find that they take up a lot of room and that does not even consider the friends they will bring home to eat you out of it. P.S. I’ve been enjoying your journey to a new home!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09804522074384492754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-13358050873245583382010-07-31T09:05:50.889-05:002010-07-31T09:05:50.889-05:00One thing I will say is that when buying an old ho...One thing I will say is that when buying an old house that obviously needs repairs, you can probably bet on their being MORE repairs than you bargained for. The house my parents bought was old, and though my dad is handy, he has spent the last 25 years fixing it. And it STILL needs work in places. I mean, upkeep on any house is always going to present itself, but I've noticed that with older homes, you usually find bigger problems while in the midst of fixing the obvious ones. For example, how do you know that when you go to upgrade the bathrooms that you aren't going to end up needing to redo all of the plumbing, and replace floors that have years of water damage and mold you couldn't even see. So just be wary!Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02570052669027349279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-72315357169396945822010-07-31T08:28:29.864-05:002010-07-31T08:28:29.864-05:00I would go with the house you feel you would be ha...I would go with the house you feel you would be happy with for a long period of time. If House A is one you see yourself in for 20 years then that one. From what I know of you (not much) from your blog, you don't like change and would rather be in a house that you love even though it was a lot of work and never move again. :-) <br /><br />CarolynCountdown till Naptimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060795395196386914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-70276602184918488542010-07-31T08:10:41.272-05:002010-07-31T08:10:41.272-05:00It sounds like you have become emotionally attache...It sounds like you have become emotionally attached to House A before learning exactly what the downsides are... I know that you said that youwill be getting an inspector-- I would suggest doing that SOON... that may make up your mind for you, sooner. <br /><br />More space will be a delight as the kids get bigger and older and want more space. <br /><br />Good luck! It is nice to have choices!Bird's Eye View Photographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08813489889625737678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-21853054763123955572010-07-31T08:10:32.455-05:002010-07-31T08:10:32.455-05:00It sounds like you have become emotionally attache...It sounds like you have become emotionally attached to House A before learning exactly what the downsides are... I know that you said that youwill be getting an inspector-- I would suggest doing that SOON... that may make up your mind for you, sooner. <br /><br />More space will be a delight as the kids get bigger and older and want more space. <br /><br />Good luck! It is nice to have choices!Bird's Eye View Photographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08813489889625737678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-24039114649372314742010-07-31T08:00:07.223-05:002010-07-31T08:00:07.223-05:00From your description, I would buy House B. I'...From your description, I would buy House B. I'm not crazy about the creek thing -- seems like more of a liability than an advantage, esp. with all those mosquitos!!! Wish I could see pictures of both.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-7406244371757285322010-07-31T07:53:19.192-05:002010-07-31T07:53:19.192-05:00House B.
SERIOUSLY.
I know you love House A, but...House B.<br /><br />SERIOUSLY.<br /><br />I know you love House A, but you are talking about the kind of work you can actually see- you'll find more work to be done on the inspection, and a WHOLE lot more once you start pulling stuff apart and working on things, stuff no inspector could possibly find.<br /><br />House B. Please. Learn from our family's mistakes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-8845368748369901522010-07-31T02:53:26.306-05:002010-07-31T02:53:26.306-05:00A screened porch is a necessityA screened porch is a necessityAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24756113.post-18953926077151913062010-07-31T02:01:42.169-05:002010-07-31T02:01:42.169-05:00Wow - can't wait to see how this story ends. ...Wow - can't wait to see how this story ends. I will say that I love that we don't really have mosquitoes in SoCal. We go to Canada every summer and they eat me alive! No matter what, though, you have two good choices.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14956702385571303197noreply@blogger.com