[mjkolb02tj]

Well the Wife and I are settling on our first house at the end of September. It is a nice small Cape Cod style house which will be good for us and will allow me to work on the house without feeling overwhelmed. I am both excited and nervous, I think mainly because we pretty much have everthing taken care of and are just sitting around waiting for closing. Here are some pics.

Front of the house


Rear of the house


Backyard

[mjkolb02tj]

Dining Room


Living Room


Kitchen


First Floor Bedroom


Second Floor Bedroom

[LandRover]

let the projects begin.

[mjkolb02tj]

Originally Posted by LandRover

let the projects begin.

The projects began the day we went to look at the house, that day I started to think of the things that I would like to change and add. I guess thats because all I do all day is design houses. My father-in-law who is a roofer has already offered to install dormers for us and my brother-in-law who is a tile layer will be retiling our shower before we offically move in.

[JFamily]

Originally Posted by mjkolb02tj

The projects began the day we went to look at the house, that day I started to think of the things that I would like to change and add

it never ends.

Even if you spend 5 years drawing up your house the EXACT way that you want it before you build it.

Congrats.

[VinoTJ]

Congratulations. I live in Malvern, PA and I can assure you that a screened-in porch is the best! When it is between 60 & 90 degrees, that is where my family gathers for drinks, dinners and conversation.

Work on upgrades that will improve the value of your property - especially curb appeal. Don't waste time and money on huge projects that will not benefit you today and will not increase the value of your property. Make sure you have one of the nicer houses on the street (but not the nicest). We made a 50% return on our 1st house by practicing these simple rules (from 1999-2002).

[Puhly]

Pole Barn !!!!

[dopod]

The first think I would do is get rid of that paneling!

[Rule303]

Nice house, and perfect for a couple. So many buy huge houses they can't afford and then let them fall apart. I'd rather have a quality smaller home. When the kids finally leave I dream of moving back into something like that.

[dawnskaybug]

X2 on what you do to teh house to get a return on it.. I paid 125 for my house in Dover sold it for 230 Govt paid my mortgage the whole time. I refaced the cabinets and pergoed the floor with the cheapest stuff I could find (actually bought it at Ollies ) My relator who I bought it from and she sold it for me said that increased the value about 7500 I had 1100 in to it.

[malone]

Originally Posted by VinoTJ

We made a 50% return on our 1st house by practicing these simple rules (from 1999-2002).

I think everyone made a 50% return in that time frame.

[Tom95YJ]

Looks like a good deal. I see that it doesn't have central a/c, that's something you should add in time it helps with resale but can be costly to install . I would ditch the paneling cause well its not 1980 and no one likes it unless your in your 70's .

If it was mine I would put azek or coma trimboards around the wood porch frame it will make it a lot more visually appealing and add a drive way that goes to a 24x24 garage in the back ward

[ovrlnd]

congrats! the projects never end and it's always something. everyone thought i was crazy for buying my house. it was a fixer uper and got it for dirt cheap. it hadn't been updated since the 70s, no garage, etc.... I redid the hardwood, brand new kitchen, last december gutted the bathroom and redid it. now since the economy is **** here in this state and people are losing their huge homes i am enjoying my small mortgage balance and builng my garage the way I want it.

[Rule303]

Originally Posted by malone

I think everyone made a 50% return in that time frame.

Exactly! Everyone is so quick to pat themselves on the back because their home went up in value. Thats all about to change here in the next few years.

[mjkolb02tj]

Well the paneling will deffinitely be one of the first things to go along with the carpet covering up the hardwood floors. Nothing will be done that will not add value, being an architect I understand what will help me get more money for the house in the end. Also the screened in porch is pretty run down, was never really maintained, so that will be torn down and rebuilt.