Frame it up!

this week we're continuing the re-build of the interior.  the floor beams have been replaced [mostly..some are actually in good shape for being 100+ years old] and new sub-floors have been installed.  next, the 2x4s went up and you can get a sense of what the space will look like.  here are pictures of the initial phase, where the top floor is mostly framed up and the main floor was just getting started.  I'll head back over this weekend and take another look, because they expected to have the whole house completed [framed] by 3/26.

if that's the case, then we'll have it inspected, request some more cash from the bank, and wait "patiently" for the next draw [ha]

then we'll get going with the utilities: electric, plumbing, HVAC and a new roof.

forward progress....

Putting it all back together [Part 1 of several dozen]

today, I saw a glorious mess at my place.  it was truly a sight to behold.  dust-filled air. piles of rotten wood.  noisy generators.

we're back baby.

it took about 5 weeks, half of which the city was frozen and I was away for most of the other half, but now, that is all forgotten.

the crew got back to action yesterday.  these PHOTOS are from this morning when we went over to take a look at the progress.

this phase: they're ripping out the old floor joists and replacing them with brand new ones [reinforced, too] then they will lay down the plywood subflooring and make sure that the floors are even-steven throughout the house.  next is the actual framing, where they will start to block out the rooms with 2 x 4's.

at that point we'll be ready to install HVAC, Electric, and Plumbing.

and: despite the delay, it's all coming together VERY FAST.

exciting stuff

On Cash Flow....

this process is all about the cash flow.  I have a construction loan, so whats where the cash is coming from for this renovation.

and when you're dealing with a contractor [who ALWAYS needs $$] and a slow bank and a SLOWER mortgage company and a title company, that cash flow is, at best, a trickle.

So its beginning to put the squeeze on our schedule.  we can still do this in the 6 month window, but we'll need to pick up the pace a bit.

you'd think that one could get better service after dropping all that cash, but then I remember that I'm not anywhere near close to being Donald Trump...so to the back of the line/bottom of the pile my requests go...

but have no fear.  I intend to be the squeaky wheel over here...they WILL know my name [they kinda do already]

Just got a transom

I've been looking for a stained glass transom window to go above the entryway of the house.  I went to the main antique/home renovation shop in town to see what they had.  I figure it wouldn't be cheap, but a reasonable item to splurge on.  once i saw their prices, i began to change my mind on the whole thing.

$1000 for a piece of glass?  $1000!?!  are you CRAZY?!

so i went browsing on craigslist and eBay.  Nothing much popped up, but I put a google alert on the case to scour the web while I wasnt.  and just the other day...BINGO

this is what I got from a nice lady somewhere in Minnesota....and it only cost $140 [plus shipping]

classy, I think.  you agree?

We. Have. Permits.

Let the building begin...getting re-started on monday. Yesssss.

How we met...

most people find a house the old fashioned way...they look through listings online.  They hire a real-estate agent.  Find something you like. Then you go to take a look in-person.  Maybe make an offer.

Not this guy. [not exactly]

I first saw the house on Q St NW on RedFin in late October 2009.  There was no photo of the inside [or outside for that matter] and it was listed as "for sale by owner."  A quick Google Maps Street view search showed an intriguing red brick exterior...a mid-sized Victorian.  nice.  but it looked like it had been abandoned or at least in crappy shape at best.  The price told the story really [about half the cost of the neighboring homes]  but, in my seemingly endless home search, and countless disappointments along the way, checking out this place couldn't do me any more harm.

So I decided to add the listing to my next trip out with my agent, Cam, but since the owner didn't have an agent, he was a little bit impossible to track down.  No email or active telephone # with his online listing either. Hmmmmm...Did they really want to sell this place?

So I had an idea.  My girlfriend Jenny is a big fan of looking up info on the DC Real Estate Tax site. [its actually very informative]  and I looked up the place to see what I could find out.

it had the owners name...and I could see that he was a little behind on his taxes.  but who knows if this is really a lead.  so I put on my super sleuth hat and followed the trail.

I went to one of those peoplefinder.com-type sites and typed in the name.  It located a man who lived in DC that seemed to match the info on the homeowner.  for $1 i could get his home number.  I've spent more on a roll at the craps table.  so i went for it.

a man picked up the phone.  I told him who I was and why i was calling.

he said "would you like to see the place this saturday?"

[TO BE CONTINUED....]

Deeee-lays

Economic stimulus, at least in the District of Columbia, could be better achieved by approving my damn permits and getting the contractors to work!  These fellas are just sitting on their rear ends waiting on a frikkin piece of paper that will let us build the place out.  Now, I know there are rules & regulations in this game, but its not like we're trying to erect a 12 story building.  Common sense should prevail and get us on our way....COME ON PEOPLE.

update: Looking like we're getting the magic piece of paper by the end of the week....I wont hold my breath....

New Entrants to the Blog-o-Sphere

I'd like to give a virtual shout-out [and congrats] to my good friends "The SilverSpungs!", who just bought their first house in Silver Spring, MD.  To document the occasion [and to share their musings on the greater Silver SRUNG area] they have also started a blog:

http://silverspringblog.wordpress.com/

I guess I'll need to start putting up more posts so I don't look like such a slacker