OUR NEW PROJECT
We are under contract for the next Haymount Home!
YIPPEE!! I am happy to announce that our next project is underway! We are under contract for our next Haymount Home and could not be more excited to get the ball rolling on this historic charmer. This home will be our smallest home, but we are planning to pack it full of charm and make a wonderful happy home!
There is a LOT to do with this home, so I figured I would give you all a little glimpse on my planning process at this stage in the game. We are conducting our due diligence on this home (meaning we have a week to determine if it is more than we want to handle). Once that window is complete, we are going forward with the contract. Currently, we are set to close 2/1/18.
The rehab work on this little gem is going to be slow and steady because we plan to save up money and pay for everything in cash as we go along. In our efforts to avoid too much debt, we figured that it'd be better to take this approach with this darling little home. Though it will take a little longer, it will be fun to have the time to really think through the decisions and try to optimize this home for it's next occupant.
During this time period of due diligence, I usually do several things to determine what potential work is required for a home. I figured illustrating my thought process might be helpful to someone in the same situation or looking to get into the rental market. However, my brain tends to go all over the place, so just strap-in and take the ride! One disclaimer: Pictures are deceptive. Although adorable, this little home home needs quite a bit of help. The pictures don't fully illustrate that. Once we have the home closed, I will be going through to take more detailed photographs for our projects and repairs needed. For now, you'll have to trust me on these things!
Let's begin.
EXTERIOR
Siding - Pretty good shape. A couple of holes (repairable I hope)
Roof - Time for a new one
Front Porch - some rot - will either repair or replace
Front Porch Trim - damaged - needs replacing
Screen Door - rough. either will clean up or it will get a new one
Front Door - hoping to preserve this with paint
Windows - yikes. Old and charming with pulley systems still in place. Super cool, but not that efficient and difficult to operate overall. Poor painting in the past. We'll see. Either clean them up well and see what we have left, or replace.
Shutters - probably will paint. If need be, we'll replace.
Mailbox - Missing - needs one!
Porch Light - functional, so that will probably stay
Foundation - so far so good, but there are some soft spots inside the home, so I question some of the joists below. I am going under the house on Sunday to inspect everything with a contractor friend.
Backyard is awesome - private and cute - needs some clean up (cannot really see from this photo)
Back Door - Jam is rotting out. Will probably just replace the whole thing. This house is on a hill and water likely heads that way. We are going to have to consider some options for controlling that issue.
Rear Door Light - ugly and needs a new one
LIVING ROOM
Check out those hardwoods! They are lovely however someone did a really bad patch on the side of the room. I will photograph it later, but I am going to see if magic can happen and they can be repaired...then the entire house is desperately in need of refinishing. I wonder what stain we should go with??
Replace Shoe Molding - for some reason, it was removed in this room. Needs to go back!!
Fireplace - no clue if it works. It is also sunken a bit on the right. Not sure it is still sinking, but need to find out. Back to under the house. Either way, it is still charming.
How about that awesome window trim? Love the thickness and detail. probably will loose the window cornices though.
Walls all need some addressing. Ceilings need some crack repair. Work.....
KITCHEN
Yikes. Lots to do here. This is just one side of it. There is actually quite a bit of space for such a small home. Normally you find a lot of galley kitchens in homes like these, so I am excited to have a little room for play here.
Flooring - going to be getting new flooring (unless the budget gets too tight)
Cabinets - replace. We need to add more and these have seen their time. Time to go.
Sink - double stainless steel. Will likely keep unless I find a great deal on something amazing!
Faucet - old and boring. Could work but I would like a better one.
Appliances - time to replace. They are actually nice functionally, but they are unattractive and I would like better ones. Unless something gets crazy on the budget, I plan to replace.
Walls and Ceiling need some work.
This is going to add up in this room, but I cannot wait to see it happen!
DINING ROOM
Floors - again, refinish
Wall and Ceiling repair
Definitely a new light fixture (something beautiful needs to happen here - it will be gorgeous then!)
Loose the window cornices
BEDROOM ONE
Refinish Floors
Repair walls/ceilings
Clean up the closet
New Light fixture or Ceiling Fan
BEDROOM TWO
Same thing, clean it all up by doing the floors, cleaning up the closet, fix walls and ceiling, and then get a new light fixture or fan
BATHROOM
This has to be great for a one bathroom house to work well for anyone. This one is going to be a bit pricey with all the needed work.
Tub - lovely original porcelain tub. Might need a reglaze, but mostly it looks like it needs its own deep cleaning bath first. We'll see. It stays for sure.
Tub surround - this is less appealing. If the budge allows for all new tile in the bathroom (walls and tub included), then I will go for it. We'll have to see what the money looks like. At a minimum, some things need repair.
Vanity - functional, not that old. Might be repainted, but ideally, I will replace this. I love pedestal sinks for beauty, but they do lack storage. We'll see.
Toilet - seems okay, but house is winterized so there is no plumbing to check. It's not ugly though! Needs to be re-grouted at the base.
Mirror - dull. We can do better.
Light - rusted. time for a new one.
Closet - small inside but there - yay storage! Needs repainting.
Floor - OH MY. Mostly rotted out. Not good - needs complete repair and replacement.
BACK PORCH
Enclosed back porch. Loving that ceiling actually. Hating the paneling (what's new?)
Lots of potential on this, but needs to be thought through. I am not sure it is wired and vented for heating and air, so I am meeting with my HVAC man on Sunday to look at options.
If we can get this space heated and cooled, I want to make it an awesome laundry and mud room. I know it has great potential, but at what cost? That is the question. The floor is a little angled away from the house to prevent water being an issue (remember the rotting door - that is at the back of this room). I am wondering if we level the floor with concrete leveler (expensive) if it would elevate the floor more and prevent water issues. Not sure. I need to discuss the options with my contractors.
This would also require re-routing water lines. I would like the water heater and the washing machine (both currently in the kitchen), to find a new home out here. That will require a new plumbing. It will also require my electrician to complete some changes too.
However, if we can finish off this space and make it "finished square footage", we will add nearly $10,000 or more to the value of the house. Not bad, but it could cost a bit in the process. We'll see.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Hallway has need for floor repair and refinishing
Attic access is difficult and small. I have no clue what shape it is in. This house also lacks any storage building or garage, so my easiest place to claim the storage would be the attic. I need to install an attic pull down and stairs in the hallway.
Attic storage - going to likely have to floor part of the attic for storage and I anticipate there being almost no insulation left up there. I am just hoping it is not a disaster up there as who knows when it was last looked at.
Access to wiring. The house looks like it has been somewhat updated for wiring, but getting up to the attic will help further determine that. It will also help create the ability to adjust the wiring in the future. Clearly, we need to get into that attic!!
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!
Thanks for joining my home tour. What are you thoughts? Have we lost or minds or does this little home have potential to be great? Would you take on a project like this? Does the idea scare you? I would love to hear your thoughts!
I will keep you posted......
- Casey