Next Project...

Armistead · 07-19-13, 09:31 AM

A few years ago, mostly due to some health issues I was having, my wife and I sold out and moved to her home town. We bought a cheap house and few acres in the country. I've made some good progress with my nerve illness, at least it's stable, considering last year I was told I might live a year to ten years, hard to know. We both love history, old homes, etc., and have always wanted an old home to restore. God help us, we purchased this. Built in the late 1800's with 8 acres right on the edge of town. We paid $46,000.00 for it. For the most part, the structure and wood exterior are intact, really rather good shape, the inside, sound walls and beautiful walnut floors. Other than that...it's a total restore. I was a GC for years, later ran a a large commerical paint contracting business, so pretty much know what I'm in for...if we do it.

The man that built the house owned a large wrought iron business, mostly fencing, post, etc. His business actually sat on the original property when it was a few hundred acres. Why scoping the property and metal detecting, I found vintage wrought iron fencing and gates, some piled, mostly grown over by vines. If I didn't start looking hard I wouldn't have found it. This prompted me to buy the house. I have removed about 500 ft, but lots more. I suspect what I've found is worth about 20K. I'm also have about 40 70-100 year old plus large oak and walnut trees that will be harvested, about $15-20K.

The house is about 2900 sq ft. I'm gonna have the later additions removed, much cheaper that restoring, future electric cost, then secure the exterior structure, roof leak, etc....then a step at a time.

I'll sale the large flagpole to any Subsim member for a discount.

AVGWarhawk · 07-19-13, 09:35 AM

Great looking older designed home. Has character. Many new homes today have lost that character.

fireftr18 · 07-19-13, 10:16 AM

Nice looking house. Have fun with it.

AVGWarhawk · 07-19-13, 10:18 AM

Do you have any more pictures? I would love to see more of this home. It has a lot of charm. Looks extremely inviting. Just reminds me of older times . When you start renovations a thread would be awesome!

Armistead · 07-19-13, 11:03 AM

Yep.

I'll post more later and my friend who is a contractor plans to video the progress.

It's for sale if you want it, but price will go up as we work on it.

It's really bigger than what we want, but once additions are removed, about 2000 sq ft.

Sailor Steve · 07-19-13, 11:07 AM

Looks very nice, the property too. Eight acres is a lot from my point of view.

Wolferz · 07-19-13, 11:10 AM

Good looking home as compared to todays cookie cutter suburban dwellings.

I hope your health continues to improve to the point that you can take on a large project.

You and I share one common denominator. Living on borrowed time.

I'm two years and counting beyond the average remaining life span of a stroke survivor, which averages around ten years.

All I can say is... What a drag it is getting old.

AVGWarhawk · 07-19-13, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

Yep.

I'll post more later and my friend who is a contractor plans to video the progress.

It's for sale if you want it, but price will go up as we work on it.

It's really bigger than what we want, but once additions are removed, about 2000 sq ft.

Location is everything! We just purchased a new home. It is new construction. Although a older colonial design with field stone fascia. Our last home was a semi-fixer-update home. We looked for similar but ended up having one built. The incentives to do so trumped purchasing a already standing home. Our plans are to live here for 10-12 years. Then we sell and make a outright purchase of a smaller empty nester ranch type home. Retire. At any rate, I really love the design of this home.

Jimbuna · 07-19-13, 12:21 PM

Cool looking property...very nice indeed

Red October1984 · 07-19-13, 12:24 PM

Congrats and good luck!

Hope it all goes well.

Armistead · 07-19-13, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Location is everything! We just purchased a new home. It is new construction. Although a older colonial design with field stone fascia. Our last home was a semi-fixer-update home. We looked for similar but ended up having one built. The incentives to do so trumped purchasing a already standing home. Our plans are to live here for 10-12 years. Then we sell and make a outright purchase of a smaller empty nester ranch type home. Retire. At any rate, I really love the design of this home.

Location is everything. Our town died from once being one of the largest mill towns in the SE. The good thing is there was never large growth. Sure, we have a strip with Walmart, etc, but downtown is small, old 1800/1920 buildings. It's a very historical town with it's 3 rivers. I think the goal was for it to be a small historical town, but never quite got there. There are many large mills covering square miles just falling in, 1000's of mill houses, most of these became poor neighborhoods. Slowly many of these hoods are being restored. They're numerous old homes still standing from the 1800's, even some from the 1700's, not to mention dozens of restored plantations. Lot of Revolutionary history here as well. One thing for sure, great place to have metal detecting as a hobby.

Father Goose · 07-19-13, 03:40 PM

I would say this project should keep you out of trouble for a while...but it probably won't!

u crank · 07-19-13, 03:54 PM

Well Armistead the next project looks very interesting. You know what they say, fun is where you find it.

I did this once. Bought a hundred year old farm house, very cheap and gutted it to the frame. The results were very nice and it was our home for twenty years. Got a good price for it when we sold. We moved to be close to our Daughter and Grandson. One thing I said though was I would never do that again. If you have the skills and time the results can be very satisfying. I worked in construction so the know how was no problem but it was a lot of work for one guy. There were times when I thought I would never get it done.

Keep us posted and the best of luck. And the eight acres part sounds really nice.

WernherVonTrapp · 07-19-13, 09:41 PM

Beautiful house you found there buddy.

As AVGWarhawk said, older homes have more character, and personality. I love that covered wrap-around porch. Hope you're gonna leave that there. Hard for me to tell from the picture, but that looks like 3 large Oak trees in the front, and maybe a Norway Spruce on the right rear?
I'm glad to hear that you're doing better with your health. Any improvement is better than none. Keep us up to date on the repairs. I love old houses and have been in many of the old mill homes in Paterson. The wood working, moldings and carvings on some of those old homes is nothing short of astounding. I especially liked some of the old pressed-tin or cooper plate ceiling tiles I've seen. Anyway, best of luck to you and your wife with it.

@Wolferz:
I've seen enough death of all kinds and between all age groups to say that we're all on borrowed time here.

Platapus · 07-20-13, 10:41 AM

A house and 8 acres for $46K

I don't think you can buy a driveway for that amount where I live.

Good luck to you.

07-19-13, 09:31 AM	#1
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Next Project... A few years ago, mostly due to some health issues I was having, my wife and I sold out and moved to her home town. We bought a cheap house and few acres in the country. I've made some good progress with my nerve illness, at least it's stable, considering last year I was told I might live a year to ten years, hard to know. We both love history, old homes, etc., and have always wanted an old home to restore. God help us, we purchased this. Built in the late 1800's with 8 acres right on the edge of town. We paid $46,000.00 for it. For the most part, the structure and wood exterior are intact, really rather good shape, the inside, sound walls and beautiful walnut floors. Other than that...it's a total restore. I was a GC for years, later ran a a large commerical paint contracting business, so pretty much know what I'm in for...if we do it. The man that built the house owned a large wrought iron business, mostly fencing, post, etc. His business actually sat on the original property when it was a few hundred acres. Why scoping the property and metal detecting, I found vintage wrought iron fencing and gates, some piled, mostly grown over by vines. If I didn't start looking hard I wouldn't have found it. This prompted me to buy the house. I have removed about 500 ft, but lots more. I suspect what I've found is worth about 20K. I'm also have about 40 70-100 year old plus large oak and walnut trees that will be harvested, about $15-20K. The house is about 2900 sq ft. I'm gonna have the later additions removed, much cheaper that restoring, future electric cost, then secure the exterior structure, roof leak, etc....then a step at a time. I'll sale the large flagpole to any Subsim member for a discount. __________________ You see my dog don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it. Last edited by Armistead; 07-19-13 at 09:44 AM.

07-19-13, 09:35 AM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,255 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Great looking older designed home. Has character. Many new homes today have lost that character. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

07-19-13, 10:16 AM	#3
fireftr18 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,528 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Nice looking house. Have fun with it. __________________ Of all the forms of Martial Arts, Karaoke causes the most pain!

07-19-13, 10:18 AM	#4
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,255 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Do you have any more pictures? I would love to see more of this home. It has a lot of charm. Looks extremely inviting. Just reminds me of older times . When you start renovations a thread would be awesome! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

07-19-13, 11:03 AM	#5
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Yep. I'll post more later and my friend who is a contractor plans to video the progress. It's for sale if you want it, but price will go up as we work on it. It's really bigger than what we want, but once additions are removed, about 2000 sq ft. __________________ You see my dog don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

07-19-13, 11:07 AM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Looks very nice, the property too. Eight acres is a lot from my point of view. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-19-13, 11:10 AM	#7
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Good looking home as compared to todays cookie cutter suburban dwellings. I hope your health continues to improve to the point that you can take on a large project. You and I share one common denominator. Living on borrowed time. I'm two years and counting beyond the average remaining life span of a stroke survivor, which averages around ten years. All I can say is... What a drag it is getting old. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

07-19-13, 12:21 PM	#9
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Cool looking property...very nice indeed __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

07-19-13, 12:24 PM	#10
Red October1984 Airplane Nerd Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 6,243 Downloads: 115 Uploads: 0	Congrats and good luck! Hope it all goes well. __________________

07-19-13, 03:40 PM	#12
Father Goose Sonar Guy Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Matalava Island Posts: 378 Downloads: 59 Uploads: 0	I would say this project should keep you out of trouble for a while...but it probably won't!

07-19-13, 03:54 PM	#13
u crank Old enough to know better Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Posts: 11,744 Downloads: 136 Uploads: 0	Well Armistead the next project looks very interesting. You know what they say, fun is where you find it. I did this once. Bought a hundred year old farm house, very cheap and gutted it to the frame. The results were very nice and it was our home for twenty years. Got a good price for it when we sold. We moved to be close to our Daughter and Grandson. One thing I said though was I would never do that again. If you have the skills and time the results can be very satisfying. I worked in construction so the know how was no problem but it was a lot of work for one guy. There were times when I thought I would never get it done. Keep us posted and the best of luck. And the eight acres part sounds really nice. __________________ “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

07-19-13, 09:41 PM	#14
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Beautiful house you found there buddy. As AVGWarhawk said, older homes have more character, and personality. I love that covered wrap-around porch. Hope you're gonna leave that there. Hard for me to tell from the picture, but that looks like 3 large Oak trees in the front, and maybe a Norway Spruce on the right rear? I'm glad to hear that you're doing better with your health. Any improvement is better than none. Keep us up to date on the repairs. I love old houses and have been in many of the old mill homes in Paterson. The wood working, moldings and carvings on some of those old homes is nothing short of astounding. I especially liked some of the old pressed-tin or cooper plate ceiling tiles I've seen. Anyway, best of luck to you and your wife with it. @Wolferz: I've seen enough death of all kinds and between all age groups to say that we're all on borrowed time here. __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

07-20-13, 10:41 AM	#15
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,362 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	A house and 8 acres for $46K I don't think you can buy a driveway for that amount where I live. Good luck to you. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.