Just got the news. Will be making a move.

Well, actually just a small one...staying in the same county BUT buying a 60-year old farmhouse in the country.

The nice thing is that the house has new plumbing, new electrical, new doors and new windows. It has been re-insulated and structurally in excellent shape. It has central air and heat, but also has radiant heaters/window units to offset those. Cosmetically? Not so much.

I LOVE the house! It has hardwood floors in good structural condition, but need to be stained and sealed. The rooms are huge. There is plenty of room for the entire family--including grandkids.

There is a existing garden, clothesline, rain barrels, and utilizes co-ops for water and electricity.

But here is the nice part.
I will cut school driving by 60 miles a day by being able to utilize the school bus.
I will cut work driving by 60 miles a day because it is closer to work.
Utilities will be much cheaper.
The house, although not as pretty, is much more efficient than my current house.
I have a place to raise a calf and a pig to put in the freezer. We will also get some chickens.
I will use the existing garden, BUT plan on using my boxes too.
BUT the nicest part is that my house payment will be cut in half.

I haven't yet been able to figure out how much savings this will be each month--but I know just the gas will be an extra $80/week.

Wish me luck and I will be posting pictures of the renovation in the DIY forum.

yes, please post pictures! Congrats on the new digs.

:hi:

Congratulations!

Do not name them. If you do, you won't be able to put them in your freezer..you might better get several of each so they are more "animals" than pets. My uncle did that and the kids named the calf, and when it was grown and put into the freezer, none of the kids would eat it.

but that is sound advice.

On the other hand...we ate Melvin while visiting my brother a few weeks back...;)

or Jeffe :)

:smoke:

If you are going to refinish them (sanding/staining/coating) spring for an experienced pro to do the sanding (with a floor sander) if you can. Most people can handle the staining and topcoating, but getting a good NON-WAVY sanding with a floor sander is much easier done by someone experienced. A pro can get it done pretty quickly, and with very minimal dust.

With all those upgrades to modern code that you mentioned (electrical, etc.) it sounds like you've taken the headache out of owning an older home. Enjoy!!

When we bought our own "mid century rambler" my husband and his friend, both engineers and fix-it types, thought they could do the sanding themselves; but less than a quarter of the way into the job, the sander slipped and the friend ended up taking a little trip to the emergency room. That was the end of that experiment. Applying the oil finish wasn't difficult, but it was well worth the money to get a professional to do the sanding.

When we bought our current house, we ended up springing for a water based finish applied by a pro - and we've been thrilled with the results. It's the toughest finish we've ever seen, and quite beautiful. Having wood floors in great shape makes a huge difference in the "cosmetics" of a house.

Enjoy your new place!

Luckily--they already sanded them down and all I have to do is the staining and sealing.

I was very fortunate stumbling upon this house. A friend of mine owns it and they were in the process of re-doing it. BUT, they got sick of it. I suggested they move out of it for a couple of months and hire someone to come in and finish--would be cheaper than buying a new home--but they weren't just sick of the work, they were sick of the house. They had the hard part done.

They bought a NEW home.

I am sure they will regret this decision, but it was a fortunate mistake for me.

heavenly in fact. enjoy!

congrats! sounds divine

and Fertility & Good Fortune in your new digs.
Sounds like a dream come true.
:hi:

When I bought this and envisioned what I wanted from it--your farm comes to mind.

You are my inspiration. Thank you.:hug:

And the reduction in your house payment should offset your gas cost.

For 10 years. This house was such a gift.

Sounds like an excellent place to plant oneself and grow. Best of everything to you! :woohoo:

LOVE how you'll be saving gas, saving money, being more sustainable....SOOOO GREAT!!!! :hug:


And, if you believe in serendipity, I'm thinking of this as a harbinger of good fortune like this coming my way too!!

MAY we ALL have JOY for our friends' successes, as our own!!!

:hug:

:hug:

whinney! (that was a horse joke :P )

It isn't even May 21, 2011 yet.

You have been very, very good. But then we DUers all know that.

Enjoy your reward.

It sounds great.

Have fun. If you pretend it is somebody else's house while you are renovating, the decisions seem easier. That is how it works for me anyway...

I'm looking forward to watching your renovation in DIY.

I am so happy for ANYBODY who can do this! It's my pipe dream, too.

ETA: You absolutely must now get ahold of Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living. It's the bible of home food production and processing, among other things.

http://www.carlaemery.com/country-living-book.htm

Carla passed away a few years back, a huge loss to the homesteading community. But her classic book lives on. I recommend buying it from her website so her widower gets the proceeds instead of a megacorporate bookseller.

is done it sounds like. Have fun spiffing the place up!

Here's to new beginnings.

wood work in them.

Sounds wonderful also very smart.
Given the times we seem to heading for, it's wise to be more self-sufficient.

Sometimes they have really good seasonal sales. And if you don't see it, type it! I got the best zinc sulfate for my pecans and they are booming like all get out! Also some kick ass strawberries with great planting instructions.

http://www.groworganic.com/

:applause:

your own house and to make it into what you want. Sounds like your life just got less complicated as well as expensive. Mazel tov!