Maybe a Homeowner?

I believe this blog entry will only focus on my potential future home.    Lots has been happening lately so I figured I'd give an update.

My realtor sent a document to the seller's agent on Friday that lists things we want fixed before I would take possession.    We were asked to keep in mind the house is older so some of the things we aren't thrilled with can't necessary make the list.    An example is the windows.     A couple locks are broken and a couple panes of glass are broken.    The windows were likely that way for the current owner. 

We have two items on the "need to fix" list.    The first is a small hole in the garage roof.    They've been told to have a contractor come and look at the roof and apply the repair at their cost.     The second request is for a company to come and scope/video the sewer line from the house.    A) We want to see the tree root situation.   B) We want to see what kind of tile is associated with the sewer line.    Older homes sometimes use a tile made from Orange Burg (spelling?) and it turns into swiss cheese over time, especially with tree roots factored in.    It makes sewer lines collapse.   The good news is that with research, we are finding out that type of tile wasn't commonly used in older homes in Ames.   But there have been some occurrences in the community.    It seems to be more popular in older homes in Des Moines.    If we don't like what we see with the sewer line I would likely pull out of the deal unless the seller fixes the situation. 

We'll see how the seller and their agent react.   They can agree, negotiate, or say no.   My realtor thinks they'll agree because the list is so short and simple.    Plus the seller lives in Australia and likely wants this house sold and done with.    My realtor says he's used to having at least 10 items on the "fix it" list and sometimes up to 30. 

The inspection went very well.     He did put the concern in our head in terms of the sewer line but that's just a precaution type of check.    Radon testing gave an appropriate level.    My main concern was the attic and moisture in the ceilings upstairs.    Everything is dry--whew.   The inspector was pleased with the house.    He was very happy with the grading outside of the house that is causing water to move away from the house nicely, hence a dry basement.    In terms of his report and our own observations, here is our list of things that would need to be done with the house in no particular order:

1) gutters need to be cleaned on both the house and garage
2) add window wells to some basement windows to maintain the grade away from the house
3) trim tree limbs as many are hanging over the house
4) likely take down a tree east of the garage as it's too close to the structure and if it falls....good-bye garage
5) seal a couple of sets of windows upstairs as they are carriage windows and are very drafty

The main priority if I get the house would be the gutters and the trees.

In terms of things that need to be done and added as we move in would be:

1) buy a chest freezer for the basement
2) get shelving for a closet in our kitchen/dining room as it would need to be a pantry
3) figure out what we can move ourselves and what we'll actually need movers for (I'm not hurting my back)

It will feel weird to start making decisions about utilities too as I need to figure out what garbage company to use, Internet company, etc.    We are only going to use Netflix for awhile and not get cable or satellite.   And if Dan wants something more than Netflix he's going to handle it and pay for it.    I can't really switch over utilities but will have utilities on at both my apartment and the house for a couple months.    If we get the house, Dan would officially be living in it come April.   We'd use March to move him and move some of my stuff.    I'd continue to stay in Ankeny and slowly move more and more stuff to Ames in April.    Having Dan officially move in the house in April allows me to pay rent in Ankeny and pay a mortgage starting in April too. 

I had free time last night and took my "first time homeowner" course offered through Wells Fargo.    I paid $75 but it gives me $750 toward the homeowner process.    The money can go towards closing costs or my escrow fund.    Easy class and learned a lot from it.    Easily earned my A. 

After we get an answer on Monday about our requests for repairs, we can let the bank know we want the house to be appraised.    We've been holding off until we knew what we wanted the seller to fix and wanted to see their attitude toward fixing those items.   Tuesday is the deadline for ordering the appraisal for the timeline associated with my mortgage process.   Times a ticking.   We need to see if the house appraises for at least the amount I'm offering the seller. 

I decided to make it more public that I am trying to move to Ames so I shared a post from Facebook that my realtor posted on his business area on Facebook. 




Last but not least here are some of my pipe dreams if I do get this house and want to make changes to it in the distant future when the Money Fairy leaves me money to use for home improvement:

1) enlarge the 2nd floor bathroom and put in a modern shower/tub
2) put laundry in the area that is the 1st floor bathroom and not have a shower in that spot
3) connect the back of the house to the garage (breeze way idea)
4) before the breeze way addition, add a gate so the backyard can be completely closed off for a dog
5) the area in the back of the house has red brick for walkways...make the gravel driveway brick to match.   Add more brick to back yard for a flat area for a grill/patio


That's enough for now!   Fingers crossed for good news this week!

Week One Done

The first week of the semester is in the books.    It went really well.    I met with my DMACC class Monday night and most seem eager to learn about health and wellness.    The online DMACC classes are going OK too.    They have to turn in an assignment by January 17 to not get kicked out of class.     We'll see how many get the boot.

ISU is going well too.    Things went as planned with my health class.    I did cancel class on Thursday so I only saw my PE class once this week for syllabus day.     Thankfully I can put some work online for them to do so we'll have a jam-packed Tuesday next week.    For the first time in awhile, I don't know the majority of the students in the PE class.   Out of the 29 students, I have only had four before.   

I have the day off for both DMACC and ISU on Monday due to Martin Luther King Day.    I am signed up for two yoga classes that day.    I am also proud to say I worked out at the Exercise Clinic at ISU twice this week.    I had to skip on Wednesday as I had a noon meeting.    One of the administrative assistants is supposed to be working out too but she hasn't come yet.    I am hoping she comes next week but she's openly admitted she doesn't feel motivated to work out. 

I don't have a whole lot of free time at ISU because I'm hiring life guards/swimming instructors for Swim & Gym.   Most days are peppered with interviews and showing people our ancient pool.    I am teaching a CPR/AED class next week too.   Not my favorite task but I try to do it at least 1-2 times a semester to keep my certification valid. 

We went to view another house tonight.   I was a bit excited until we started walking around it.   Sweet Lord it was bad.   It was built in 1894 so it has potential to be a really cool house.   We don't know if it's the current owners or past owners but the attempted updates in the house are horrible.   And we saw many things not up to code.   It sucks because the price is fantastic but we don't want a house that needs that much work.    We took a look at our house-hunting app tonight and found two in Ames that are appealing.    Hopefully we can see those next week to get an idea.   

On Thursday, when I didn't venture to ISU due to the weather, I got a lot of cleaning down around here.    The Internet wasn't working so I couldn't get much done for work.   I swept and mopped all of the apartment.   The greatest success was cleaning Gavin's shower.    It was horrible.   I'm also starting to strategize how to start packing.    I have items that I barely touch or use so I figure I can start doing some packing.   I've asked the front office staff at work to start keeping boxes for me.    We get so many deliveries in the department that collecting boxes should come easy in the next months.   I know a lot of the breakable stuff I've gotten from Grandma could be packed away securely so I can display it in the future.   

I'm trying to be social in the next weeks too so I don't just bury myself in work.    We have our Christmas/Gavin's birthday celebration on January 20 in Boone.    I am going to visit a friend from grad school next week as she lives in Ames.    I organized a meal with family in Ames and Ankeny for Thursday too.   It looks like Rachael, Jessy, Mary, and Shirley (maybe Stewart) can all gather for supper.    I am going to try and meet up with my past neighbor too since she's still in Ames too.   

I guess that's all for now.    It's 2am and I cannot sleep so I thought being productive with a blog entry would be a good way to make me tired.    No luck!


And no, I'm not angry about anything.   Just thought it was funny!

Crisis Averted

It's my weekend off before both ISU and DMACC start on Monday.    The day has been mixed with doing things at home, running errands, and going to a movie.    Early this morning I finally admitted the fitted sheet on my bed needed to be retired so I pulled it off and threw it in the garbage.    It's torn and worn out (some of the sheets that came with the bed when it was given to me).    Well later in the day I realized I couldn't find my Blankie.    Searched all over my room and then the light bulb turned on.   Thankfully I hadn't taken the garbage out yet.   When I unballed the sheet, there it was.   Scary thing is that I almost took the trash out about three times today.   Sigh. 

The holidays were great.    I feel my time up in Waukon was the longest I've spent in years.   There was a lot of driving but it was worth it.   I feel Christmas was more simplistic which I think everyone enjoyed.    The joy of us all getting older and the fact we want/need less.   Nevertheless, I'm appreciative of all I received.   It was nice to attend the Christmas goodie party down the street at Larson's and see Grandma too. 

Yes, the visit home included a spill down the stairs.   I can say today that I'm 100% better from it.    The tip of my elbow still hurts if I touch it but that's it.   I took Wednesday off because I was feeling too off.   It was taking way too much thought and energy to pick out clothes, breakfast, etc.   I did work on Tuesday but only a half day.   Thursday went better and the major meeting I needed to lead went OK.   ISU is switching from the system that allows online content for classes.   We've used Blackboard for years.   We are now using CANVAS and the meeting was to help prep our TAs for the change.   Friday was a day full of meetings. 

Today Gavin and I went to see the movie "Wonder".   It's a very good movie.   We were surprised by how full the theater was as it's not a brand new movie.   Of course with my career, I wasn't pleased to see how PE was portrayed in the movie (always dodgeball).    I wish they had explained the boy's physical appearance a bit better too.   

I'm still working on the book "The Girl that Kicked the Hornet's Nest".   It's a very good book.    I've only read 44% of the book on my Kindle so I have a long way to go still.   

We still have one more Christmas and we are going to celebrate it on January 20.    We'll merge it with Gavin's birthday.   Still need to exchange gifts with Dan's Mom and her husband Ray. 

I'm sure I'll have another entry soon to report on the start to the semester.    I feel very prepared so Week 1 should go well.