House update
Another update for those of you tracking. We did take possession of our "new" house but it was on Sunday the 13th not the 12th Saturday. You know things aren't going to be pretty when you pull up and there is a gigantic tractor trailer sized dumpster 2/3rd's full in the front yard, debris in the agriculture building, tires on the lawn, and the previous owner hands you the keys to your "new" place without ever getting out of the drivers seat of his running automobile.
The one kindness from the former owner was he did tell me I could throw away "Whatever I didn't want into the dumpster." Besides that gesture Frank had been very hard to deal with for the last month and a half (ever since the purchase contract was signed.) Frank asked me if he owed me an additional day on our lease since the dumpster and his truck were still there but would be picked up the next day in the morning. Although our purchase agreement entitled me to take possession on the day of recording at the county I extended to give the Wilson's some additional time to move out so they could take possession of their new home. This was done so the Wilson's could have a few days to move into their new home although this required I spend additional time living out of a suitcase at my Mother-in-laws home. Although my temporary lease contract required an additional $200/day charge for extending past Sunday I told Frank if the dumpster and Truck were picked up the next day he didn't owe me anything extra. To thank me for my unnecessary kindness (twice now, one for renting to him and two for giving him a free extra day) Frank ripped up his copy of the lease agreement in my face.
I had to chase him down to ask for a forwarding number if he were to receive any mail, etc... Which he declined to provide "for privacy purposes." After entering the home I could see why he wanted privacy, additionally the curteousy of a walk through would have been beneficial so I could figure out where water shutoff's, etc... are located at but it was not provided.
Next came the damage assesment. We walked in the house and it was filthy but everything was removed except some new stains on the floor and some paper, etc... When I say filthy I mean multi inch dust on fixtures, spilled garbage or leaking stains on the floor (new stains since I saw the place a month ago) and the smell of filth and urine (dog in the living room and kitchen, human in the carpeted Master Bathroom) was strong throughout the rooms.
The entire first day was dedicated to defilthifying the place. Major help was assertained via the dirt destroying hero Maria (my Mother-in-law.) Whose disgust turned into a cleaning rage. While she took charge inside My father, Father-in-law, brother and myself took to fulfilling the favor granted by the former owner and stocked the dumpster full of used tires that were "decorating" most of the property. We estimated there to be close to 100 tires that had been left on the yard for years filled with rain water, dirt and filth. We could not remove all of them but did rid ourselves of most.
Additionally we took some time to assess the acreage, outbuildings and "features" of the property. The property contained four outbuildings, the first an open front Agriculture building. It's features include a Dirt/gravel floor, Wood post building construction with a brand new roof that was paid for by the insurance company after a wind storm according to the previous owner (which seems consistent as his work was substandard and this work was done well.) I will likely enclose the front and put some rollup doors on it, fix any siding issues, install a concrete floor and build a retaining wall around the building as the ground is erroding away from it. The retaining wall will be first. Additionally we found three 45 gallon drums full of Sodium Hydrate, a caustic chemical that upon some research was discovered to be commonly called Lye, as my father noted it's used to make soap but it has additional uses since it is a strong base it was likely going to be used to balance the PH of the soil in the garden.
The next building was a barn. Built on a slope it was in major disrepair. As you walk into it at the top of the slope you enter a loft room with hay in it. The streaking on the wood frame is evidence of major water penetration and is not suprising as the rust on the roof and wall corrugated metal is evident as the color of rust nearly overwhelms the green building. As you enter below where the animals would enter you can easily notice from quite a distance that the wall is pushed out. My father theorized based off the unclean manure, that cattle were kept here and kept kicking the walls thus pushing the wall out. I believe he was implying the cattle did this kicking because of the unsanitary conditions. The back side and bottom side of the building could not be examined as the blackberry bushes were not navigable and had taken over both of those sides. Plans to fix this building include removing the blackberry bushes, lifting the roof trusses and pushing the wall back into position, residing and reroofing the building, cleaning out the stalls and setting up areas for edible farm animals.
The third building was a small chicken coup. Although county records indicate it was built in the mid-80's judging by the paint (or lack thereof, as most of it has wore off) it looks much older. The wood is still in good shape and the water penetration is minimal. Plans for this building include painting, roof repair or replacement and general repairs to bring it back into it's use as a coup.
The fourth building to be assessed was a screened sitting room on the back side of the house. Full of dust, and empty glass jars, etc... it would still be in good condition after some cleanup. My dad has determined that I "must" save this building even if we have plans to demolish the house and move it. We will likely due that. Cleaning appears to be the only work needed although when we move it we will likely provide in a proper footing to rest on instead of the current cinder blocks.
I will write more later of the work we are currently doing to the house as there is much and I have not been able to take Work in progress pictures as we have many family hands working constantly throughout most of last week and it will continue for atleast another couple weeks but at a point of being able to move in tomorrow.)
The one kindness from the former owner was he did tell me I could throw away "Whatever I didn't want into the dumpster." Besides that gesture Frank had been very hard to deal with for the last month and a half (ever since the purchase contract was signed.) Frank asked me if he owed me an additional day on our lease since the dumpster and his truck were still there but would be picked up the next day in the morning. Although our purchase agreement entitled me to take possession on the day of recording at the county I extended to give the Wilson's some additional time to move out so they could take possession of their new home. This was done so the Wilson's could have a few days to move into their new home although this required I spend additional time living out of a suitcase at my Mother-in-laws home. Although my temporary lease contract required an additional $200/day charge for extending past Sunday I told Frank if the dumpster and Truck were picked up the next day he didn't owe me anything extra. To thank me for my unnecessary kindness (twice now, one for renting to him and two for giving him a free extra day) Frank ripped up his copy of the lease agreement in my face.
I had to chase him down to ask for a forwarding number if he were to receive any mail, etc... Which he declined to provide "for privacy purposes." After entering the home I could see why he wanted privacy, additionally the curteousy of a walk through would have been beneficial so I could figure out where water shutoff's, etc... are located at but it was not provided.
Next came the damage assesment. We walked in the house and it was filthy but everything was removed except some new stains on the floor and some paper, etc... When I say filthy I mean multi inch dust on fixtures, spilled garbage or leaking stains on the floor (new stains since I saw the place a month ago) and the smell of filth and urine (dog in the living room and kitchen, human in the carpeted Master Bathroom) was strong throughout the rooms.
The entire first day was dedicated to defilthifying the place. Major help was assertained via the dirt destroying hero Maria (my Mother-in-law.) Whose disgust turned into a cleaning rage. While she took charge inside My father, Father-in-law, brother and myself took to fulfilling the favor granted by the former owner and stocked the dumpster full of used tires that were "decorating" most of the property. We estimated there to be close to 100 tires that had been left on the yard for years filled with rain water, dirt and filth. We could not remove all of them but did rid ourselves of most.
Additionally we took some time to assess the acreage, outbuildings and "features" of the property. The property contained four outbuildings, the first an open front Agriculture building. It's features include a Dirt/gravel floor, Wood post building construction with a brand new roof that was paid for by the insurance company after a wind storm according to the previous owner (which seems consistent as his work was substandard and this work was done well.) I will likely enclose the front and put some rollup doors on it, fix any siding issues, install a concrete floor and build a retaining wall around the building as the ground is erroding away from it. The retaining wall will be first. Additionally we found three 45 gallon drums full of Sodium Hydrate, a caustic chemical that upon some research was discovered to be commonly called Lye, as my father noted it's used to make soap but it has additional uses since it is a strong base it was likely going to be used to balance the PH of the soil in the garden.
The next building was a barn. Built on a slope it was in major disrepair. As you walk into it at the top of the slope you enter a loft room with hay in it. The streaking on the wood frame is evidence of major water penetration and is not suprising as the rust on the roof and wall corrugated metal is evident as the color of rust nearly overwhelms the green building. As you enter below where the animals would enter you can easily notice from quite a distance that the wall is pushed out. My father theorized based off the unclean manure, that cattle were kept here and kept kicking the walls thus pushing the wall out. I believe he was implying the cattle did this kicking because of the unsanitary conditions. The back side and bottom side of the building could not be examined as the blackberry bushes were not navigable and had taken over both of those sides. Plans to fix this building include removing the blackberry bushes, lifting the roof trusses and pushing the wall back into position, residing and reroofing the building, cleaning out the stalls and setting up areas for edible farm animals.
The third building was a small chicken coup. Although county records indicate it was built in the mid-80's judging by the paint (or lack thereof, as most of it has wore off) it looks much older. The wood is still in good shape and the water penetration is minimal. Plans for this building include painting, roof repair or replacement and general repairs to bring it back into it's use as a coup.
The fourth building to be assessed was a screened sitting room on the back side of the house. Full of dust, and empty glass jars, etc... it would still be in good condition after some cleanup. My dad has determined that I "must" save this building even if we have plans to demolish the house and move it. We will likely due that. Cleaning appears to be the only work needed although when we move it we will likely provide in a proper footing to rest on instead of the current cinder blocks.
I will write more later of the work we are currently doing to the house as there is much and I have not been able to take Work in progress pictures as we have many family hands working constantly throughout most of last week and it will continue for atleast another couple weeks but at a point of being able to move in tomorrow.)
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