Last night we had dinner with Tony, our architect. (Feels impressive to say something like that, right?)
I'm glad we did. We get along very well, and he has a great personality and a sensibility that we find refreshing. We are talking about building "green", but that can be a pompous and trendy statement - and that is not what we're after. Like we told Tony, we're not looking to build a hay and dung walled long-house. Nor are we trying to save the planet by building out of old tires - we just want to make a nice home that matches out lifestyle while making good eco-conscious decisions.
We really just talked about the process of using an architect to build, how we lived, and some of the concepts and building materials we were interested in. For years, we have been tracking all of this in a document, and we basically read it to him.
Every so often he would ask a question about something we said, but more often than not, he would just listen. Sandy and I can talk... and talk... and talk.
During dinner we mentioned that we had seen an open lot for sale nearby and that it was currently priced out of our range - but felt that we could show it to him none the less.
Truth be told, this lot is very promising for us, and I hesitate to post any details to it just yet. Suffice it to say, if we could get it for the price we'd want... it would be a perfect location. He agreed.
We may put a bid in... who knows.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Teardown...
We saw the teardown... and boy is it a shame what some people will do to a property when they are crunched, financially.
This property, 922 Delmont Avenue in Wynnewood, PA was purchased by a local homeowner for their parents. Apparently they were relocating from Florida and needed a house nearby. For some reason, approximately 2 years ago, they had to leave it and it is now in pre-foreclosure status. Basically, this means that the owner and the mortgage company is trying to get as much money for the property that they can before they initiate the legal action of "foreclosure". Once a property gets in this state, everyone lines up and starts taking what they can. This could be contractors, township, or other providers that are owed money from the owner.
Anyway, apparently in this status, the owner just does not care anymore and gets pretty vindictive. In this case, they ripped stuff out of the kitchen like the stove and shelving. Not removed... ripped. The living room has the metal sleeve for a in-wall air conditioner... with no unit. So, if you have ever had one of these, it means that the room is open to the outside - for all intensive purposed. The house smells of mold, radiators have burst and ruined the walls and ceilings.
Rather sad, actually. But, truth is, we would be tearing the house down and starting again. The lot is decently sized, and we would probably be able to re-use a lot of the basement. It seems that the basement foundation is sound, no cracks, no visible leaks. The attic has some very nice old wood boards and the roof seems watertight. We may be able to re-use the wood boards up there for a floor.
The footprint of the house is relatively small, compared to the lot size, and I would think we could build pretty much whatever we wanted there.
The neighborhood / street is actually exactly what we would want. It has some history, large trees, not a cut-through road so traffic would not be an issue. The only issue is that this end of Wynnewood is a little "tired". We would still have to drive a little to get to decent shopping, restaurants, or other shops.
Our architect, Tony Miksitz, got to see the outside and walked the lot with is. It does have potential.
View Larger Map
This property, 922 Delmont Avenue in Wynnewood, PA was purchased by a local homeowner for their parents. Apparently they were relocating from Florida and needed a house nearby. For some reason, approximately 2 years ago, they had to leave it and it is now in pre-foreclosure status. Basically, this means that the owner and the mortgage company is trying to get as much money for the property that they can before they initiate the legal action of "foreclosure". Once a property gets in this state, everyone lines up and starts taking what they can. This could be contractors, township, or other providers that are owed money from the owner.
Anyway, apparently in this status, the owner just does not care anymore and gets pretty vindictive. In this case, they ripped stuff out of the kitchen like the stove and shelving. Not removed... ripped. The living room has the metal sleeve for a in-wall air conditioner... with no unit. So, if you have ever had one of these, it means that the room is open to the outside - for all intensive purposed. The house smells of mold, radiators have burst and ruined the walls and ceilings.
Rather sad, actually. But, truth is, we would be tearing the house down and starting again. The lot is decently sized, and we would probably be able to re-use a lot of the basement. It seems that the basement foundation is sound, no cracks, no visible leaks. The attic has some very nice old wood boards and the roof seems watertight. We may be able to re-use the wood boards up there for a floor.
The footprint of the house is relatively small, compared to the lot size, and I would think we could build pretty much whatever we wanted there.
The neighborhood / street is actually exactly what we would want. It has some history, large trees, not a cut-through road so traffic would not be an issue. The only issue is that this end of Wynnewood is a little "tired". We would still have to drive a little to get to decent shopping, restaurants, or other shops.
Our architect, Tony Miksitz, got to see the outside and walked the lot with is. It does have potential.
View Larger Map
Land Ho!
A piece of land has come up!
Actually, how fortuitous since today we had planned on meeting with an architect at the tear-down lot.
More to come.
Actually, how fortuitous since today we had planned on meeting with an architect at the tear-down lot.
More to come.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Land or Tear Down?
The first issue we're going to have to deal with is where we want to build our home.
We really have three choices, as we see it, find
So far, we've seen a number of properties in the #3 category. Unfortunately, they are all priced at a level where we can't afford to buy them and then make changes. This area is expensive.
We have seen one promising tear down online and are going to try to see it tomorrow.
We really have three choices, as we see it, find
- ...a totally undeveloped plot of land. Basically, find someone that has a field somewhere that is willing to sub-divide and sell. This is a little tricky because we would have to run power and utilities to the plot. Clearly this is a non trivial cost. Plus, here on the East coast, there is not much undeveloped land that is within a reasonable distance of civilization.
- ...a plot of land which once had a home that has been demolished. This would, obviously, already have utilities to the plot and probably be in a more populated (and desirable to us) are.
- ...a tear-down home. By tear down, we mean a real "handyman special" situation. A home that is so old, or in such a state that it is better to remove or significantly renovate than to use as is.
So far, we've seen a number of properties in the #3 category. Unfortunately, they are all priced at a level where we can't afford to buy them and then make changes. This area is expensive.
We have seen one promising tear down online and are going to try to see it tomorrow.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Here we go...
We have always dreamed of building a home. So, we've decided to try.
I suppose it all stems from the fact that we are both pretty creative (in different ways) and have rather strong opinions about things and life.
For years, even before we were married in 2002, we would clip articles or bookmark websites of interesting products, new ideas, or impressive architecture - really unsure of what we would do with this information. I think we have found an outlet - build a home. Not just A house, but R house. One where we could live the way we wanted to live - not just in someone else's idea of what a home should be.
See, we just moved back to PA after living in Portland, OR for 6.5 years. The West changed us - in a good way. We're not tree-hugging-smelly-hippies, mind you... but people who grew up, and were educated in the East coast with a significant bit of West coast attitude toward life. What does that mean? Well, we see it as being more aware of, and enjoying, what is around you and remembering that your actions have consequences.
It is just different out West - in good and bad ways.
We hope that we can take back the good habits we have learned on the left coast and merge them with our new life on the right coast. Can't hurt to try.
So, it all comes down to this... lets build R perfect home and do it while thinking of the impact we are making on the world. No, that does not mean we want composting toilets and to grow hemp in the back yard for our herd of goats... it just means that if we select one material over another it should be for the right reason... not just cost or looks. If we have the chance to make a decision that will positively impact the world around us, we will try to do so. Or, if we can't we will think twice before walking blindly into it.
Sure, it is going to be a long, uphill climb - perhaps even a wall or two. Barriers are there to show how badly you want something. One of my favorite anonymous quotes out there seems to sum it up for me:
I suppose it all stems from the fact that we are both pretty creative (in different ways) and have rather strong opinions about things and life.
For years, even before we were married in 2002, we would clip articles or bookmark websites of interesting products, new ideas, or impressive architecture - really unsure of what we would do with this information. I think we have found an outlet - build a home. Not just A house, but R house. One where we could live the way we wanted to live - not just in someone else's idea of what a home should be.
See, we just moved back to PA after living in Portland, OR for 6.5 years. The West changed us - in a good way. We're not tree-hugging-smelly-hippies, mind you... but people who grew up, and were educated in the East coast with a significant bit of West coast attitude toward life. What does that mean? Well, we see it as being more aware of, and enjoying, what is around you and remembering that your actions have consequences.
It is just different out West - in good and bad ways.
We hope that we can take back the good habits we have learned on the left coast and merge them with our new life on the right coast. Can't hurt to try.
So, it all comes down to this... lets build R perfect home and do it while thinking of the impact we are making on the world. No, that does not mean we want composting toilets and to grow hemp in the back yard for our herd of goats... it just means that if we select one material over another it should be for the right reason... not just cost or looks. If we have the chance to make a decision that will positively impact the world around us, we will try to do so. Or, if we can't we will think twice before walking blindly into it.
Sure, it is going to be a long, uphill climb - perhaps even a wall or two. Barriers are there to show how badly you want something. One of my favorite anonymous quotes out there seems to sum it up for me:
What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
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