Here we are, my last post on Oak Ct.
Let me start with this, I have PTHRS - Post Traumatic House Renovation Syndrome. It's a new DSM classification :)
As I look through all of these pictures and go through this experience, again, I have realized that I've forgotten a lot about remodeling.
I forgot how overwhelming it can be to pick out a single faucet from the hundreds of options. Whether we should go with oiled brass, antique brass, brushed nickel, etc. etc. for the door handles, cabinet knobs, light fixtures and it goes on and on. I know, you would think picking out your own vanities and toilets would be amazing - I'm sure there are lots of people who would love the chance to do so but for me, it's been overwhelming. the choices are endless. Also, we have to think about what others would like, what would make the house feel warm and inviting and we must stay within our means (budget). So whether I think potential buyers would like a french door refrigerator or not, doesn't matter if in the end we can't buy floor boards because we ran out of money. We have to make a lot of sensible and wise decisions. Yes to this, no to that, somewhere in between. With two kids running around it can be a bit tricky. The funny thing though is, I forgot about this kind of stress until I entered back in to it. I once heard from a wise woman that God does something incredible in us that makes us forget birthing pains. When we begin to remember, than we no longer want to do it again. I think I'm starting to see the truth to that statement and how it fits in other areas of my life.
Don't get me wrong, we are blessed. We GET to live in a house! In a beautiful neighborhood of which I adore. I can't believe we get to do this. We get to live here.
When we went under contract on Oak Ct. and began searching for our next endeavor, I felt the Lord saying, "don't settle for less than what I have for you." I know it came from him because he knows my heart well. I have a tendency to become impatient and move before I've been told to move. I want action - I can't wait. This house that we are working on now is wonderful and much more than we expected to get in such a tough market. So, we are blessed and I'm not taking it for granted. But more of that God boasting story later!
All of that to say, wow! God did a lot with Oak Ct. He provided in so many ways and really made everything come together. And he made me forget how hard this process was so that we would do it again. In my mind it just means He didn't want us to lose sight of the goals he's put on our heart for our family (to flip a few houses so that we can pay close to nothing on a mortgage and invest our income into sending our boys to a good school). Those goals may change depending on how the next few years go, but he has a purpose and plan for giving us these desires so we'll work hard and see what's possible.
Here are the last few pictures of Oak Ct. before and after, starting with the basement.
The basement was "partially finished". It had wood paneling on the walls and fun ceiling panels.
All ripped out...
Dry wall.
And paint!
And here's our office!
That back wall was destroyed by a leak while we were in Texas, right after we went under contract. Our buyer's inspector is the one who came upon it. Thankfully we think the leak had only taken place over the evening and so much damage wasn't done.... We did have to tear out and rebuild that whole wall though, and a portion of the ceiling.
My mom made the fun curtains for the windows. I bought a sewing machine just so she could sew when she visited. Aren't I a loving daughter (more like slave driver...)? lol.
Here was the living area of the basement.
There was a guest bedroom and a utility closet. The pictures of those are on my other computer which is being stored in a box somewhere right now...
Here is what the yard looked like when we moved in. The fence had fallen down on both sides of the house so we fixed what had fallen. The neighbors told us that the former owners wanted to make a driveway that came into the front yard and so they scrapped the yard and tore into the sprinkler system... I have my own thoughts about circular driveways in middle class suburban neighborhoods but I'll save those for now...
Here are the weeds that we mowed that summer after moving in. Hey, it looked like grass once it was mowed! At least from about 2 feet or more away...
In the summer or 2011 we began working on the yard. Our friend Chad helped Nathan spread out the new dirt (a semi truck bed full, Nathan could tell you how many yards, I can't.) and build this retaining wall.
The entry stairs had sunk and cracked so right before we put the house on the market we had new steps put in.
When our realtor came over she recommended we do something about the bald patch in the front yard. It was really hard to get grass to grow in our yard with the Colorado climate and without a sprinkler system. Nathan and I hand watered everything every other day. Anyways, here is what we did about the grass-less area for "curb appeal".
When we moved in the back yard was dry but at least it wasn't scrapped which made it easier to work with. I picked a lot of weeds... (Not again, how small Harrison was!)
We loved this deck and got a lot of use out of it!
See, no fence. The side of the house had a driveway for an RV. Sadly enough we didn't purchase an RV while living there... Though really, to "fit in" in that neighborhood, we should have had at least one...
We turned the side area in the backyard into a dog run. We built a fence and used some of the stepping stones that were around the yard into a path. We also collected the barrels from around the yard and repurposed them.
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It kind of turned into a "secret garden" feel. I loved it!
We found some deck paint and repainted the deck as well as bought a new table for the deck and hung some lights.
This is what the corner of the yard looked like before we cut out the tree. The storage shed in back fell over when you touched it so that went in the dumpster. We realized after cutting down the tree, what it was there for. You could see right into the neighbors back yard... Not great...
With a little pebble and great help from our neighbor who converted a riding lawnmower into a small tractor, we made a play area!
It's amazing what some pebbles and bark dust can do to a backyard! We put that all in in June and listed the house around July 1st before heading to Texas for a week. I was kind of sad that we didn't get to enjoy the backyard for very long.
That's Oak Ct. Our first risk. We put a lot of sweat and tears into that home and the hard work paid off. God provided and blessed us in more ways than we even know and for that we are grateful.
We hope and pray that the new owners of Oak Ct. will be blessed by that house too!
Goodnight!
-Libby
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