Searching for our perfect “last” home took over 15 years. Once we found the perfect fixer-upper we knew it had hidden potential, but we never imagined the wonderful adventure we would have. Our historical farm entertains family gatherings, garden club events, weddings, hen parties and all sorts of hootenannies.
I was going to only blog about our home on the farm, but as I was telling my daughters about the blogs, they encouraged me to start at the beginning. They knew what their father has put me through and knew I had some great stories. I may not have great pictures of all houses, or the process of renovation, but wait till you get to the end on the two farms. So, let’s get started with our first house purchase.
The big beautiful Victorian house was our first stop on our search for our first home, back in 1975. The asking price was $25,000. It needed all new updated plumbing and heating. It also needed a new kitchen and bathrooms. The turret (tower) needed renovated, because of some water damage. Other than that, it was beautiful. The rooms were large with woodwork that was elegant and just perfect in my eyes.
“Honey, if we buy this house, we will never have to move anywhere else. I will be satisfied to live in this house the rest of my life. This is my dream house. It’s perfect!” I pleaded my case.
“It’s a little over budget. We could afford the house, but we can’t afford all the things it needs to renovate it.” He responded.
Disappointed,
but still hopeful, we went to see another house. In was a regular
non-expressive house, on the corner of a very busy intersection. It was in our price range of $20,000, with no
renovations. (So, we thought.)
Hubby decided that the non-expressive house was the best deal. My hopefulness for my beautiful, Victorian house turned into only a passing dream.
Fixing up a few things in the bathroom, Hubby found the floor was all rotted out. Digging in deeper he found out the house had termites. Yes, TERMITES! Not only that, we found out the kitchen cabinets needed to be replaced.
Both of us were soon overwhelmed. Hubby, more than me, because of all the work he had to do to the house. I was pregnant with our second child, so I wasn’t much help, and I was really concerned about living on a busy corner with two small children. So, we had the added expense of putting in a chained-linked fence.
So here we were, putting in a new kitchen and bathroom. That is what the Victorian house needed. I could have had that beautiful Victorian house, probably for the same cost. OK, maybe not. But I wonder, would we still be living in that Victorian house if we had bought it? I don’t think so. But I still love that house and for over 40 some years, that Victorian house still comes up in our conversation. What I know now, that I didn’t know then. Hubby would have talked me into some new adventure anyways. Also, I would not have had the wonderful experience of getting myself in all sorts of construction work that Hubby felt I could handle. Needless to say, I will not be satisfied to live in the house on the corner the rest of my life.
Hubby, only twenty-four years old, thought he was over his head with problems. He was discouraged and thought to himself. What in the world have I done? I don’t think I will ever do this again! What happened to his attitude, for he would come to build and renovate nine places in his lifetime? Blogs to come will only tell.
