Ok gals here it is

Kate you have a wonderful idea but, right now all they could do is clean, no money for repairs. We are trying to figure out where we will get the money to move after we get the key. But don't worry we will get the job done and his sister and her family are more than willing to help us with the move. As far as my family is concerned, they just want us GONE and I don't want them anywhere near my home. Not after what they have done to me.

Kate XXXXXX wrote:

Sunny, what a wonderful picture. I was afraid you would all regret sending money after you seen the pictures. But, it is just what I wanted, except for the fact it is in town, even seeing benefits in that. I even have my windows I wanted, tired of liveing in the dark with a light on all the time. I counted and if I coundted right, except for the little dimond in the attic, I believe there are 16. If anyone comes up with something different let me know. Had to count from the pictures. Will count when I go back again if I remember.

Sunny wrote:

What a lovely house! It reminds me of the house my stepfather's stepmother grew up in. It was a big house like yours, but it was right in the downtown area of a very small town (her father was the town doctor). That house was so amazing to me (they still used a wood cook stove in the kitchen) I just loved it.

Your house is much nicer than the one I was looking at one time. We lived in a very small apartment with a baby and a toddler. We went for a ride out in the country and I saw a house that was gutted. No windows, no doors, no electricity, no plumbing. No one of the face of this earth will ever know how much I wanted that unpainted shell of a house, just so we could call it our own. I'd have given up anything to have that house.

Of course, no one could have lived in it and we had no money to repair it, but it was the biggest wish of my then 20-year-old life and I still remember what that house looked like and it is now 48 years later.

Enjoy your house as is, get to know its nooks and crannies, and come spring maybe we can all send you some seeds to plant a vegetable and herb garden. God bless you, and may God bless your new home.

Toledo,Ohio

You need a couple of good pals with a free day and a horse box! :)

Here in the UK you can get Gift Vouchers for places like Homebase (a big DIY chain). Start a campaign for next Christmas... ;)

When I win a plane ticket, I'll be over there with a BIG can of paint and my brush... And I run a mean line in dirt-busting when I get up a good head of steam!

That is a wonderful idea, Butterfly! I wish I had started that when I moved into my current home. All the little tics (and all the big ones, too, thanks to DBs and DBIL and especially DS) would seem pretty impressive after

8 years!

LOL, Kate! My family has done things that way for years. Gather all the brothers and brothers-in-law and nephews, and whatever female family members who care to swing a hammer or climb a ladder or ply a paintbrush; buy several cases of beer and pop, and lots of hamburger and hot dogs, get Mom to make some potato salad........the sky's the limit, as they say. Mom and Dad built their house in Sandstone in about a month, working just weekends with the family members who pitched in to help. And amazingly, the little kids love to contribute, bringing materials (and beer) to the workers, pulling nails, steadying the ladder. Sure makes for some wonderful memories!!!

When Auntie Mo Next Door bought her house it was uninhabitable. She was on a VERY limited budget, and the house needed:

Some repairs to the roof! A few tiles were missing... Complete re-wiring Complete replacement of water pipes Installation of gas boiler for hot water and central heating Complete replacement of ALL ceilings! Replacement of most of the floors! Removal of old gas pipes for now extinct gas lighting! Replacement of gas pipes for heating boiler... Removal of some walls Replacement of some plaster Complete set of new windows! Total redecoration!

I remember our local builder chap at the time (father of the one who built my new conservatory last year!) sending a couple of lads (one being a teenaged dan - my bu8lder!) up a ladder to the loft space, and them sitting on the rafters kicking the plaster down from above! Oh, what a glorious mess! Then a team of Large Big Lads with wheelbarrows shifted it out to the skip...

Mo managed the lot for under £10,000, which, even 20+ years ago was damned good going for the amount she got done! She was lucky that she didn't have to live in the house while it was fixed, though she did move in before the walls were painted and the carpets in.

This is an old section of town and there are several houses rundown and some being repaired. Nope, this house is liveable as is, it just don't look very pretty right now inside.

Susan Laity Price wrote:

What potential - its gorgeous already, so what will it be like 'after'.

How big is this house Kathy ? It looks huge !

Just remember to take lots of before shots. It looks like you have done that from the outside, dont forget the inside. That has been our biggest mistake. My best piece of advice is not to make any major changes until you have lived in it for a while. We purchase our home

11.5 years ago and still haven't redone the bathroom, something we thought was going to be our first priority and gosh have our ideas changed a number of times.

Most importantly get us all posted on your progress.

Dee in Oz

GrammyKathy@.....com wrote:

Dee the house is BIg. As soon as we get the key I am takeing pictures of each wall, ceiling and floorl If ya all would like I will post the size of each room. Once we start on the inside, I want the first thing to be done is the downstairs bathroom. Once I take the pictures you will understand,

Dee > How big is this house Kathy ? It looks huge !

I am looking forward to seeing the inside pictures Kathy. I really do enjoy looking at other peoples renovations especially in other countries as the availability of things over 'there' is completely different tp what we have here.

Dee in Oz

GrammyKathy@.....com wrote:

I had trouble yesterday, some pictures just wouldn't come, not available message, but clicked the Back button and they came - all except the last one.

I've just tried again, starting with the last one (!) and went backwards, and got them all until picture 2.

What potential! I love older homes. And I bet this will be a real charmer when you're finished with it. Congratulations!

Nancy in NS