Posts tagged with “home”
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Can you Buy and Live in an Abandoned House?

I've heard and read bout properties in Detroit, Michigan, US, being abandoned and then offered for sale (via foreclosure) by the city for as little as $500 (US dollars of course). It may seem an amazing deal, like winning a lottery, to someone who never thought they could have a home of their own, or for those who think to buy them, fix them up, and then flip/sell them to someone else.

Myself being someone who would love to find a home, a place I could live in and feel I finally have a home... this would sound like a dream come true. But, as so many things are too good to be true, this is yet another of them.

Plus, being Canadian there would be other difficulties and risks involved in buying and owning property in a foreign country. Add to that the tariff thing with the US now. I don't know how that would work. Or the issue of crossing the border multiple times, and immigration to move there from Canada. The list of problems can grow pretty fast.

Demolishing dilapidated properties and building from the ground up can be cheaper than rehabbing. But some buyers choose renovation to save historic architectural details found in much of Detroit’s early 20th-century housing stock: turrets, gingerbread trim, pillars and antique woodwork amid broken windows and sagging rooftops.

Duong bought a house in Detroit for $1,100 and spent $100,000 on roofing, wiring, plumbing, appliances, drywall, flooring, and new bathrooms and kitchens. He speaks reverently of preserving the 100-year-old maple floors, and wanted a quality renovation to attract good tenants. It’s located in a privately patrolled neighbourhood near a hospital, so he sees it as a good investment.

But beware of hidden costs and scams. Properties may come with liens, water bills and back taxes totalling thousands of dollars, in addition to renovation costs. It’s also not unusual to hear of homes sold to buyers in other states and countries, with purchase prices rising with every flip. Check with your accountant or tax lawyer; a Canadian purchase and sale might bring taxes that would cut in to any profit.

Original link to the quoted part of this is broken.

Other issues:

  • Squatters or people who were tenants while the original owner had the property. Squatters and angry or frustrated tenants could not only be a legal hassle but cause a lot of damage just because they don't care and don't have to worry about what shape the house is in.
  • Looting, vandalism and salvagers, or just plain thieves. Salvagers are looking for freebies they can take from old buildings and resell to customers elsewhere. I don't know what percentage of them are all that ethical that they don't remove items (including big things from the structure like fireplaces, staircases, windows, flooring, copper pipes) from a building which hasn't had an owner present for awhile, or even a short enough time to seem like a good risk versus reward. Of course, vandalism and looters are self explanatory.
  • Timing. The city has a time limit set for these houses to be renovated and lived in, or sold to someone who lives in them. The city does not want yet more absentee landlords or owners for a property which has already been vacant and left to deteriorate. A bit more time is given for historical properties but how much benefit is that - an historical property will have more standards set for what is and is not allowed and need more time.
  • City services may be cut off. Not just from your property but the entire street. It helps if you buy in an area where at least most of the other properties are not abandoned. Even so, an area which is in financial hardship may not have the budget to provide stellar services to the city. You could be in for more issues with spotty service which would affect your renovations as well as living there.
  • Having a budget for unexpected expenses. Not just for the renovations, but surprise taxes, or fees, or... well the unexpected.

Overall, I think keeping your $500 US, would be a safer plan. I sometimes look at properties here in Ontario, in small towns and see what comes up in a cost range I can manage, somewhat. Usually these need a lot of renovations. But, now and then they are in good shape, just outdated looking. I can live with an outdated, less trendy or fashionable house. If it is in good shape I can gradually update it cosmetically, or just not worry about it. Cosmetic things would make more difference in reselling the house. If I'm planning to live in it, which I would prefer, then the cosmetic things are secondary.

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Don’t buy that old house — not if it has any historical or architectural…

Don’t buy that old house — not if it has any historical or architectural merit. Let it die gracefully amidst the shady maples and crowding lilacs. That is, unless you are that rare species of owner whose restoration would be harmonious with the aims of the original builder.

But too often is an early 19th-century house bought by “city” people, in search of the proverbial “old stone house”, unhappily destined to become a bastard composition of half old, half new; half country, half city. Out come the old small-paned windows, and on go the aluminum storms. Picture windows reign triumphant (right). Off comes the old cast or wrought iron hardware, and on go the new “rustic” artsy-craftsy hinges, which take up half the door.

In rooms where delicate mantel mouldings complemented the painted walls and trim, now raw new pine covers up all traces of the glowing rose colors, blue-grey trims, and gay foliage of the old wallpaper. In our enthusiasm for those “pioneer” days, we have forgotten that most of our existing old houses are post 1812 War, in a day when bare wood panelling had been out of style for 60 years or more. Where split lath and plaster had discreetly covered up the rafter and joist construction of the ceiling, we expose it and call it “open beam”. A Regency gentleman, haunting his 1830 home in 1971, might quickly yearn for the grave again.

Tired of modern mass-produced high-rises and prefabs, we long for an old lived-in home. Yet the first thing we do upon achieving our dream is to plane smooth all those wear marks on the house. We sand down all the floors, and remove the bumps and signs of human habitation, until we get the surface of “straight from the factory” pine boards.

Forgetting that spinning wheels were relegated to the upper hail or attic, we sit it out on the front lawn, only to complement the wagon wheel fence, a feature which our ancestors never dreamed of.

I don’t mean to suggest I am advocating 19th-century living at least, not totally. The benefits from central heat over fireplaces and woodstoves can be attested to by anyone who has sat in front of a raging fire, and roasted his front, while freezing his back. Not to mention the questionable value in those early morning nature excursions to the privy in our Canadian winters. But one should consider the best type of heating system for an old house. At least with electric heat, you are not tempted to add those awful brick exterior chimneys to get rid of the fumes from a furnace. The bathroom can be discreetly located in a less important room, such as a storeroom or small bedroom.

In rooms which once glowed with the soft flickering light of candles, fire places or oil lamps, we unmercifully illuminate with fluorescent or over head light. Electric table lamps can be much more pleasant to eat by or to converse by, due to their softer lighting effect.

If you do have the privilege and pleasure of redoing an old house, go slowly. Initial enthusiasm can destroy all signs of unusual features of the house, such as the original floor lay out, bake-ovens stenciled walls, and so on. Try to assimilate the aspirations of the original owner. Was his mood predominantly folk-builder tradition, neoclassic, Regency or Victorian? How was this expressed in his building?

While we are willing to invest thousands of dollars in an old house, as we are impressed by the rising value of all things antique, we are not willing to invest the time in doing proper research on the period of the house, or to invest the money in hiring a sympathetic restoration designer to advise us.

Therefore, do not invade the countryside with your sheets of knotty pine to rape and plunder, but rather let those once proud country seats die inviolate.

I found an article by Jennifer McKendry. She is a history enthusiast in Kingston, Ontario. On her site she has written about antiques, architecture, old houses, and researching historic properties.

Source: In Praise of Older Houses - Jennifer McKendry (1971)

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A Dragon Guarding your Jewels

Originally posted to Squidoo. The Amazon link and image are gone.

Why settle for an average, mundane jewellery box when you could have a Celtic designed jewel box with a dragon guarding your hoard. Of course, there is the slight problem of the dragon not wanting to let you into the box either. But, you know they will be well guarded. Isn't that worth a few scorch marks?

Before you bring home your dragon check for likely places to set one down in your home. Dragons take up space, but they also love to be featured where they can preen and make sure everyone sees them in their best light, on their best side. A dragon jewellery box will be set off nicely on a tall dresser - not too near a window lest the dragon get ideas and fly off with your hoard of jewels.

Also, keep your dragon box free of clutter. They do tend to eat the oddest things and they never give anything back once they get a good grip on it.

It is very trusting of you to let a dragon guard your jewels, actually. Not just the whole sharp teeth, claws and fire breath thing... but you do know they will think they look better in your jewels than you do yourself?

Overall though, a dragon jewellery box is a pretty fancy thing. Not many people will own one. (For all kinds of reasons).

If you are thinking of a great gift for a Pagan, fantasy gamer or other such person - a jewellery box with a dragon decorating it is a good choice. It is a gift which is both attractive, practical and unique. Unless someone just doesn't like dragons, it is nearly the perfect gift.

More than one dragon in your home?

Handy if your hoard expands and you need a few more dragons. Although, wasn't one dragon in your home enough? They do tend to take up quite a lot of room, eat a lot of chocolate and expect they can light up and smoke whenever or wherever they choose.

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Organize and Display your Luxury Soaps and Shampoos

I love scented shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shower gel and all the rest of them. I spend extra to make sure I get better soaps and shampoos so my skin won’t have a problem. This means I’m spending more on them. But, it’s worth it to me. I love the different smells I pick out and I like seeing them all together. When I go in for a shower it’s like choosing which garden flower I want. Though I mainly pick scents like vanilla, mint, peach and orange. But, they are my flowers and every time I shower I feel like I’m treating myself to a little luxury. When I smell the mint, peach or citrus on myself later it gives me some of that feeling back.

So, I like to have a way to keep all my selection organized and stored in a way that I can see them and yet not have them take up too much space. I do have space on the bathroom shelf, with the towels in the linen cupboard. But, I can’t really see them all in there, only the few in front are displayed.

My brother’s girlfriend gave me the wonderful idea of using a shower caddy (as it is sometimes called). She gave me the perfect shower caddy/ shampoo organizer for my birthday one year. I had it for years until I lost the hanging metal part during a move from one place to another. I still had the fabric part with all the pockets so I tucked it away somewhere. I just eventually forgot where. I have been missing the shower caddy for ages.

One day I was poking around, browsing in a department store (in the bathroom section) when I noticed a shoe rack across the aisle in another section. It was full of pockets and meant to be kept over the door, just as my shower caddy had been. But, the clear plastic pockets would not be a great choice for wet shampoo and soap bottles.

But, I was on the trail of an idea and I went looking for shoe organizers which were made of fabric, could be seen through and hung up on the back of a bathroom (or bedroom in my case) door. I found a few which were meant to hang on the shower rod. I don’t want anything extra hanging from the shower rod though – same for the shower head (I’m not messing with the plumbing).

What to look for in a great shower organizer

  • It is mesh so the bottles in it will be able to dry and not stink with mildew at some point.
  • It looks like it can hold up to the weight of shampoo and soap bottles (not every shoe organizer can).
  • I can hang it over the back of my door so it is out of the way and yet visible.
  • Also, the pockets look deep and wide enough for bottles versus some which are on the narrow or shallow side.
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Apartment Life

Found on Twitter: #ApartmentLife

Most of us have lived in an apartment at some time in our lives. I have, a few times and places. It is a good experience in spite of small things like limited space, smells from other people living in the same building, old buildings which could use more TLC and so on. My only real problem with apartment living was knowing it was all temporary, eventually I would be moving again. I came to need the feeling of having roots in one place and knowing I had some say in what happened with the place I hung my hat.

Have some fun on Twitter (or just make a few up without posting them) and come up with thoughts on your own difficulties with #ApartmentLife.