Barnyard Annex
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:43 pm
Several years ago there was a vacant house across the road from us that I thought would be neat to have as a fixer-upper. It sat on a corner lot with an acre of ground. I told Rosie that with the old wire fence removed and a new picket fence it would look like it came straight out of Mayberry. The owners were a real friendly, elderly brother and sister who lived two doors down and never bothered to do anything with the place but cut grass.
A couple of years ago the brother died and the sister went into a nursing home. Rosie and I decided we would approach the family about buying the place, but within a week they had sold it to someone down the road from us for their son and daughter but it still sat empty. In mid June we saw a “For Sale by Owner” sign in the yard. By then the house had gone way down hill and fixing it was a long stretch. We thought we would still check it out. Even if the house was beyond repair, it had a decent six car garage. I called my daughter to see if she might be interested in the lot to build a new house on after she is married in November. She and Nick came out and we went over to look at it. Holy smoke, the signs had been taken down that day. We missed again. That place went fast both times.
About three weeks ago Rosanne called me at work and said she saw someone putting for sale signs up again and went over to get the phone number. I called as soon as I had the number and found that the house never sold because the potential owner found out it was in the flood plain (I knew it was). I asked what they were asking for it and I made an appointment for that night to look it over.
When we went over, my suspicions were right, the house needed a smack with a wrecking ball. I asked the owner what it would take to get it. He said he didn’t want to dicker back and forth and threw a price at me much lower than I was going to offer. Needless to say we plan on closing on it in a week or so. The house is ate up by termites. The siding is falling off on all sides, the floor has collapsed in the kitchen and the raccoons and other critters have taken up residence in the walls and ceiling. It is well beyond trying to save. We have talked to our local fire chief and offered to them for training. After they have their fun I will haul off what is left. The good news is, we picked up a nice lot with a 1200 square foot building for a really nice price.
I wonder what will find its way into that garage!
A couple of years ago the brother died and the sister went into a nursing home. Rosie and I decided we would approach the family about buying the place, but within a week they had sold it to someone down the road from us for their son and daughter but it still sat empty. In mid June we saw a “For Sale by Owner” sign in the yard. By then the house had gone way down hill and fixing it was a long stretch. We thought we would still check it out. Even if the house was beyond repair, it had a decent six car garage. I called my daughter to see if she might be interested in the lot to build a new house on after she is married in November. She and Nick came out and we went over to look at it. Holy smoke, the signs had been taken down that day. We missed again. That place went fast both times.
About three weeks ago Rosanne called me at work and said she saw someone putting for sale signs up again and went over to get the phone number. I called as soon as I had the number and found that the house never sold because the potential owner found out it was in the flood plain (I knew it was). I asked what they were asking for it and I made an appointment for that night to look it over.
When we went over, my suspicions were right, the house needed a smack with a wrecking ball. I asked the owner what it would take to get it. He said he didn’t want to dicker back and forth and threw a price at me much lower than I was going to offer. Needless to say we plan on closing on it in a week or so. The house is ate up by termites. The siding is falling off on all sides, the floor has collapsed in the kitchen and the raccoons and other critters have taken up residence in the walls and ceiling. It is well beyond trying to save. We have talked to our local fire chief and offered to them for training. After they have their fun I will haul off what is left. The good news is, we picked up a nice lot with a 1200 square foot building for a really nice price.
I wonder what will find its way into that garage!