Preliminary Title Report is in!

We received the preliminary title report last night. The property description is not simple to decipher, but we're trying. I'm headed up to the county offices tomorrow to get all of the information that I can find on the property - permits, surveys, etc. Anything that will give us more clarity on the property and it's boundaries. Armed with all of that, we are headed to the property on Thursday morning with a weed whacker, a GPS, a tape measure and a couple of metal detectors (and a brother-in-law, plus a friend...Thanks, guys!!!). We're determined to find the pins on the boundary - at least some of them. According to the prelim, there should be 8.

This afternoon the appraiser was out. Can't wait to see what he has to say about the property!

We've also been told that the electrician is scheduled to be at the property tomorrow. We're hoping he gets all the work done in one day, but since we haven't seen the punch list, who knows.

We were assured that the water meter would be installed before the end of the week. Hmmm...if we're not careful, we might actually have some progress!

For our part, looks like this weekend will be prime time to get the other inspections done. I'll keep you posted.

Day 32

Property Line???

I've been to the house twice since my Wednesday post. It (still) appears that none of the electrical work has been done. And as far as I can tell, the water meter has not been installed either. Must be a busy time for everyone...

I was at the house on Friday morning showing it off to my mother and another sister & brother-in-law (I have many of these!). I love showing off the house! It's so fun to see everyone's reaction to this giant (in my world, anyway) mystery house. 'Where does this go?' What's back here?' So fun! For the most part everyone has been very excited for us. There is some concern, however, by those that see the work that needs to be done before all the potential is realized. Our friends and family know us well, though, and realize that 'fixing up' is what we (well, my husband with a little help from me) do! The word 'potential' is heard often in the house.  :-)

My husband and I were at the house again this afternoon, after church, and began to wonder about the property line. The yellow caution tape that is up shows the approximate property lines on either side of the house. But if you look at some of the photos you might notice that the tape crosses the deck on the northeast side and it crosses a little patio on the southeast side. We weren't really concerned about this, but we've been thinking...who put the caution tape in place? And, are those the real property lines? It's time to find out! Our neighbors on the southeast (our only adjacent neighbors) have been very nice. We have had many conversations and they have shared much about the house, the property, and the area. We'd like to keep the relationship on a positive note and for that reason, we thought it would be important to make sure we know where the property begins and ends. What's the expression? 'Good fences make good neighbors'? Not sure about the fence, but we'd like to be good neighbors. Time to do some digging in the county records. And maybe hire a surveyor. We'll see how things go. With the bank taking their time, though, it would seem that we have time to investigate! See, an upside to all this waiting!!!

We were just leaving the house today and met one of our other neighbors - a nice gentleman that owns the property across the road (to the south) of us. The more we get to know the people and the area, the more we really can't wait to move!

Day 30

Mid-week Update.

Well, there's not much to say, really...we're in escrow. We're waiting. The punch list of repairs that the county created has not been taken care of, yet. Apparently the owner (bank) has lined up an electrician to come in and make the necessary repairs, but nothing has been done (I was there this morning, showing my sister and brother-in-law around, so I had a chance to take a look). Since the repairs are not complete, the meter can't go in, yet either. So, more waiting. No sign of the water meter, either, but then I'm not sure where that will go or what to look for, even. We're working on the loan paperwork so all of our ducks will be in a row. Hmmm...what else? Waiting for an estimate from the Heating & Air guy.  Decided to wait another week on the septic and termite inspections. The appraisal can't be done without the meters. Not much else.

Day 26

The Rest of the Floor Plan.

Well, today we met the Heating and Air guy at the house to get an estimate. I'm not sure if he's happy we called or not... He did say he was going home to dream about it. Sounds familiar.  :-)

On another note, I sat down and tried to put together a floor plan of the Sunset wing of the house (the part we are most likely taking down). So, here is what I came up with...

 

I placed the master bedroom and bath so you could see where this part attaches to the rest of the house. Views of the city are approximate, of course, but if we stand at the windows on that side of the sunset room, we see Sacramento off in the distance in the direction indicated. The train runs on the other side of the hill (shown here on the top of this photo) and is actually lower than the house, I believe. So although we can see the train through the trees in places, and we certainly hear it, it is quite muffled behind the rocks.

Tomorrow we're headed back up to make sure things look good for the appraisal. We'll also be on a mission to find the septic clean out, etc. so we can save a bundle when they come out to check the system. Yesterday when I called, the woman kept listing possible charges. I wasn't prepared for that many notes - I was using a 3 x 3 post it! $175 if they have to hunt for the drains, $175 if they have to dig for the drains, on and on. Welcome to the country, huh? Anyway, we'll get out there and save ourselves some money - and get to know the property a little better!

Day 21

Floor Plans...

...not to scale! I have been trying to put together some images so you can see how the house is laid out. So, keeping in mind that these layouts do not take measurements into account since I was just trying to show placement, here is what I came up with.

I apologize for the bad copy. I was using an online program to give a quick and dirty layout - that's what I got!

Now you can see what I mean about them not being to scale! Bedroom 1 upstairs is directly over bedroom 1 downstairs. Bedroom 2 upstairs sits directly over the kitchen/livingroom downstairs. Nobody is allowed to laugh at my efforts! Except me...well, okay, go ahead and laugh. At least you can see where the rooms are. Sort of.

I didn't even tackle the part of the house that we plan to take down. Mostly because I ran out of room in the program I was using. Literally. Ran out of room on the page. Can you imagine? Anyway, I may try to put something together to show the layout of that part of the house soon. We'll see.

I don't have any new and exciting pictures to show you, but we are meeting the Heating and Air guy up at the house tomorrow morning to get an estimate. Maybe I can find some more things to take pictures of for tomorrow night's post. Until then, have a great Friday!

Day 20

Laughter is Good!

The other night at dinner, our youngest daughter was making fun of me, the blog and the house project. She's not nearly as excited as the rest of us about the house, but she is very excited about having her very own shoe closet. She was laughing at me and said, "Day 1002. The Shoe Closet Renovation." Go ahead and laugh, Little Girl! One day you'll absolutely LOVE this house. And, if you don't, well, you'll probably be ready to move out, anyway!
Shown here, the closet goes in and turns the corner to the left. It measures about 5'6" wide and 4'7" deep on the left side. As I said in an earlier post, this walk-in shoe closet in in addition to her already 3-times-the-size-of-her-current-closet.

I promised you pictures of the front. On the left side of this picture you can see a little bit of fence showing. That is the main gate (the one that doesn't easily open right now). The hedge has taken over the fence, and in places I think the fence has disintegrated and the ivy/whatever-else-is-in-there is all that is left. Another surprise for us to find!

Moving to the right...

 And now we come to another interesting aspect of the property. This 'indentation' in the road is apparently county owned. But sometime in the past someone carved out enough space to park about 3 cars here. They also put down gravel. The building(s) you see on the right belong to the previous owner of this house (the one that lives next door - on the other side). The property the buildings are standing on, as well as the property in front of the white car parked there, belongs to the railroad and is being leased by the former owner of the property we're buying. The neighbor's daughter is trying to talk her dad into letting the lease go. If/when this happens, we are hoping to be able to lease the property. Then we can make a little more room for parking - we hope. In the meantime, street parking is the local choice. The street is just wide enough for one car to pass a parked car - a little wider in some spots. Up here, though, that's not really a problem since there are only 7 houses on the hill, itself. Not much excess traffic.  :-)

Sometime in the not too distant future, we are hoping to take out the section of fence/ivy that you see directly to the left of the white car. We we would like to fill in behind the rock wall that's on the other side of the fence and pave a space for us to park one car/van. Placing some sort of carport or other covering is highly desirable for working on our cars (or unloading groceries, etc.). If you look at the picture in the header of this blog, you'll see what's directly on the other side of the fence. The shed will come down, but the stairs will remain and to the right-back of the stairs would be the cement slab with covering. I know it's hard to picture, but we will be updating photos as we go! Now, if we could only get started...

Our broker/friend called me a little while ago to say that the water meter has been approved and will be installed in the next few days. She also said that the county inspector had been out and made a punch list (absolutely has to be fixed) and that an electrician will be out in the next few days to take care of the issues (on their dime, not ours!). Then the electric meter will be installed and signed off. The seller's agent seems to think all of that will be completed in the next 10 days or so. Then we get to move ahead with our inspections! I was surprised at the speed with which things are happening and mentioned to my broker that maybe we actually would close about the 15th of September (as the contract states). She informed me that, yes, we will absolutely close by the 15th, maybe sooner! I'm so excited!!!! Apparently, the bank wants out from under this house. Should we take that as a warning??? Naw, didn't think so!  ***HUGE GRIN***

Day 19

The Sunset Room

Picking up where we left off yesterday, we make a right turn from the sunset dining room we begin to see the sunset kitchen.

And just a little more.

Looking into the Sunset room. This room measures approximately 15'6" x 18'10".

Left of the gas fireplace...

...and further left. This picture was taken while standing in the kitchen. We're looking through one of the 3 8-foot sliding glass doors in the room, over the deck, through the woods (just kidding) clear down into Sacramento and beyond (on a good day).

To the right of the fireplace. These are (obviously) the other two sets of glass doors. These look out onto the deck and hillside with it's huge granite rocks.

Some more of the hillside (although reflections are a problem, I see!).

Here we've stepped into the sunset room and are looking back on the sunset kitchen.
This kitchen measures approximately 7' x 14'5".

A small cubby that was obviously used to hold the phone. We could tell by all the phone numbers written within!  :-)

Looking out on the deck we see the dining room window and the master bedroom window.

This is the pantry that is on the right hand side of the kitchen (when standing in the sunset room). Oh, and someone left us a computer desk instead of a stove. The stove actually belongs to the right, just out of the picture. This desk was over there when we first saw the house, but someone coming through obviously didn't like the placement! The pantry is about 5' x 6'.

Sorry for the blurriness! The door straight ahead leads to the walkway that runs behind the redwood bathroom and connects to the covered patio. The door on the left is the...

...wine storage room. We know this because it's very cool inside - plus it was advertised in the listing. I only have this shot, but the other side pretty much mimics this one. Although we didn't measure this room, it's got to be about 6-7' wide and at least 8 feet deep.

This is the space to the left of the outside french door...another pantry! Who eats that much? Maybe stocking up for the end of the world? This pantry is about 6" deep and 5' wide, with two wooden folding doors (hard to see at this angle).

 The ceiling in the kitchen.

 And just a couple of other shots so you can see placement better.

The cabinets from this kitchen will most likely be replacing the mix of cabinets in the downstairs kitchen. The fridge? Not so much. It's seen better days!

This is a picture through the open door at the back of the sunset kitchen. The first window on the right is in the funny little sewing room/office. The second window is in the redwood bathroom. As I said earlier, follow this path and it opens up into the covered patio.

I think that's about it for tonight. A few pictures of the street view tomorrow, plus parking...or not?

Day 18

More waiting.

The picture on the left is taken in the master bedroom. The doorway leads to the newer part of the house. The opening in the wall leads (we think) to an attic space and the reason it was never closed was because there is a swamp cooler. This is where the air came down (again, we think). The right hand picture is taken in the hall, on the other side of the master. Notice it has 2 such openings up on the wall. Interesting, right?

 Stepping out of the master bedroom, we step in to a hall/entry way (yes, another outside door) that measures about 7'7" x 5'5".The covered patio is directly out that door on the right. The closed door that you see on the left is the door to the redwood bathroom.

Directly across the hallway is the redwood bathroom. The bathroom measures about 5'6" x 6'2". The shower is a mess, as is the linen closet shown below.

We'd like to take the best parts of this bathroom and move them to the guest bathroom (possibly). Really, it depends on what day you ask. Some days we think we might keep this bathroom (with improvements, of course!). Through the window you can see the latticework on the side of the covered patio. Although most of the covered patio is directly to the right of this bathroom, there is a walkway that runs along that side and leads into the sunset room kitchen, near the wine storage room. We'll go the other way around (through the house) and I'll show you a picture of that soon.

Turning left, we look down the hall (about 15 feet) into the sunset dining room and out to the deck. There is a linen(?) closet directly to your right. On the left is another linen(?) closet and next to it, the current placement for the washer/dryer.

 This shot is above the linen closet that's next to the redwood bathroom. As you can see, there is space above - and a box! More surprises!!!

Closet on the left.

Washer/dryer space.

 Standing in the dining room (that measures about 7'9" x 8'8"), looking back at the hall/laundry closet.

Although we somehow managed to not have a direct shot of the dining room, itself, we did manage to capture the fact that there is a ceiling fan in the room! In our defense, all I can say is that this house has kept us busy looking at the weird turns, doors that open into strange cubbies, and the incredible amount of work that will need to be done to make it shine!  :-)

I almost forgot about the strange room across the hall from the laundry closet. It's very hard to see (sorry!) but the room measures about 9'8" x 7'ish. I originally called it a sewing room (I can dream, right?) but we have since learned that the previous owner used it as her office. Either way, it is strange!

Maybe a little better shot? That's the closet on the right. On the bottom left is a wooden box that covers...well, more surprises, I guess!

A better shot of the closet, with it's water damage. The shower in the redwood bathroom is next to this closet on the left. That explains the water damage.

Turning around (the door into the room is on the left) you can see the door that goes nowhere. On the other side of this nice french door is the sunset kitchen.

I think I'll leave you with that for tonight. Tomorrow we enter the sunset room!

Day 17

Still Waiting.

More pictures, though!

This picture was taken inside one of the front gates. On the left is one of the big windows from the livingroom, with the chimney beside it. Straight ahead is a portion of fence (not an open gate). On the other side of that fence is what we think was meant to be the main gate - since it opens closest to the front door - but it needs some repair before it will open. Confused yet? Yeah, this house is a little mysterious.

Turning 180 degrees, we see what might be the approximate property line. Nobody seems to really know for sure, though. Thankfully, our neighbors on that side (the only direct neighbors) are very friendly. Beyond the trees is a nice walkway with steps leading down to their front porch and to the outside entrance of our basement apartment.

(Pay no attention to the people you think you see!) We've turned the corner here and are on the southwest side of the livingroom. The lockbox for the property is on the door that goes into bedroom #1.

I can't remember if I showed a picture of the girls' bathroom. Don't be fooled, though! It may be pink now, but it won't stay that way for long!

Don't ya just love the way someone knocked a hole in the wall? That's one way to get in to fix the pipes! This bathroom measures approximately 6' x 8'.

These pictures were taken in the bathroom behind kitchen #1. Think of it this way. Come in the front door. Pass through the kitchen and into the hallway beyond, then take a right turn and walk about 8 feet, crossing into the bathroom. The shower is straight ahead, with the toilet to the right. Turning right, you'd see the sink Left picture), with closets on either side. The bathroom itself measures approximately 5'9" x 8'4". The closet on the right is 26" deep and 71" wide (right picture). The left side closet is 26" x 49". Our plan is move things around in here to create a half bath for guests and our laundry room (since the current laundry room will more than likely be torn down). Oh, and place a door out into the courtyard area.

Going back for a minute to the cubby to the right of the front door. Remember I said the doors will go away and the window be uncovered to show off the beautiful Japanese Maple that's right outside. We have an old church pew that will fit here, with enough room on the side for an umbrella stand. Hooks will be placed on the wall to either side of the bench for coats, and shoes will fit under the pew. Can't wait!

 

I realized I never showed you a picture of dining room #1. This room is right off of kitchen #1 and from here you see the steps down into livingroom #1. This area measures just over 9' square. The left picture shows the doorway into the girls' hallway. The right shot shows the doorway into the kitchen and beyond that is the hallway down which the guest bath is located. Sorry about the blurry picture!

Going back into the master bedroom, we've stepped into the walk-in closet and although we don't seem to have any pictures of straight ahead, these are the shelves on either side of the door. Random, I know.

 Stepping out onto the deck from the master - facing the Sunset room.

From the deck. There are many beautiful mimosa trees on the property. I love the color and the fragile appearance of the leaves. Yes, I'm well aware that they make a mess in the fall. It's okay, I can take it!

Moving out to the end of that portion of the deck, we take a right and begin to see the damaged areas of decking. The right side photo is taken from the other end, looking back.

 Stepping out further, you can see the this side of the deck opens into a circular shape.

 A look back at the house. The caution tape is not because the deck is unsafe (although, it is sketchy). It's because the bank is trying to show potential home buyers where the property ends (although that information is sketchy, as well!).

This picture was taken just off the deck, looking down the hillside (I was standing on a large boulder).

 Looking back toward the north side of the sunset room.

Turn left to look at the hillside next to the house. Under the overgrown bushes are steps cut into the side of the hill. I've only followed them a short way, but I believe they lead to the top of the ridge where you can look down on the train. I know, I haven't mentioned that the train tracks go right past the house. You may laugh, but for us, that's only a selling point.
We love trains!

More tomorrow, when I'll take you into the portion of the house that will most likely be torn down!

Day 16