Jersey Girl
Morning Mountain Madness
It has seemed like forever, but really the renovation has been pretty quick considering the amount of work that has been done. But finally I was able to stay in the house during my last visit. Sure, it was like camping out – indoors. I slept on a leaky inflatable bed The heat didn’t really … [more…]
High & Dry
We started construction right after Labor Day in early September. One of the first things to do was to begin ripping off the roof. The project was risky because without a roof the interior of the house could be damaged by rain or snow or hail. Weather in the mountains is always hard to predict … [more…]
Getting To Work
Labor Day signals the end of summer vacation and time to get back to work. For our renovation it is the beginning of the next phase – real construction, to be preceded by real demolition. Last week our construction plans were approved by the Department of Buildings and a permit was issued. Crews have been … [more…]
The New Old
In life it is important to know when to stop. And when it comes to renovations on an old house it is important to save that old feeling while updating aspects that don’t function or aren’t appropriate. We have been working with the architect since January to design renovation to the cabin without ruining the … [more…]
Reality Meets Fantasy
Sort of like the woman who marries a man saying “he is the man of my dreams”, and then tries to change him into some dreamy man… Now that the place is ours it is time to change it. There is a lot to love about this house and property: the view, the flat-ish ten … [more…]
Fantasy Meets Reality
In my haste to close the deal there was no way for the Jersey Girl to visit the place until after the closing. Our beloved dog Petey was sick with cancer and she had to stay home with him in case he took a sudden turn for the worse. Buying the place unseen by her … [more…]
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
Happy Holidays! Mine were, because all the tests and due diligence came out acceptable and the negotiations worked out well. The seller even reduced the price a little. I made airplane reservations to fly out to Colorado for the closing on January 8th. I planned to arrive the day before the closing, drive straight to … [more…]
Last Minute Insanity
The deadline is rushing towards me. As we headed down the home stretch the closing statement arrived – there was only a small amount of propane left in the tank – just enough to get to the closing. The seller let it get low to save money, not realizing that I would have to pay … [more…]
Nowheresville
Trick question: Did you ever hear of a comedy group named Firesign Theater ? They were a big deal in the 1960’s and 70’s and had a line that I love: “How can you be in two places at once if you are not anywhere at all?” While they still have their own website, … [more…]
If You Snooze You Lose
I knew this would be an adventure – buying real estate is one of the most stressful things in our “first world” lives. Even the least expensive property is a big amount of money, more than a candy bar, less than an airliner. But I was determined to keep this process fun. While trolling the … [more…]
You never know
On our second trip to see The Dome we have extra time to explore other areas. The Jersey Girl is a good sport, but when I drive to the end of a cul-de-sac in the more distant town of Pine and park to walk out to look at some raw land she stays in the … [more…]
Do I seem that stupid?
I can’t help myself, I can’t stop surfing the Real Estate websites looking for THAT place. Still considering raw land to build on, but if the right house at the right location comes along I’d prefer not to build. Then there is The Dome, it is intriguing. It has the right location, it has a … [more…]
The Hunt, and The Chase
Buying real estate can be one of the most stressful endeavors in modern life. The search requires soul searching first, and looking within is always troubling. You never know what demons will be uncovered when you ask yourself “What do I REALLY want?” Everything gets put on the table, everything can be reconsidered, even the … [more…]
Eleven and a half?
I have lived in a few places in my life — in my life so far that is… but I haven’t moved as much as the average American. According to the statistical geeks behind the FiveThirtyEight Blog the average is 11.5 times in a lifetime. OK, I haven’t lived my entire lifetime yet either, but … [more…]