A Claw-Footed Bath Tub

So while brainstorming about renovation ideas, my mom made the suggestion of getting a claw-foot tub for the 3rd full bath that we are adding upstairs- and I really like it! A friend suggested Craigslist, which I am aware of but never used personally. There are a bunch within Pittsburgh range- good stuff.

The Wiring Begins

Yesterday I met Jeff at Lowes and purchased the beginning supplies to rewire the entire house. Bought a spool of 1,000 ft which should hopefully do the entire house, man that things heavy...i rolled it across the street. We started in the attic, which simpy had 2 light fixtures. It will end up with 2 additional light fixtures and about 14 outlets throughout the floor. Now open space, the attic will be getting walls to divide it at the top of the stairs into 2 extra bedrooms or whatever is needed. (office, storage, etc) it will be another floor of the house instead of an attic. Between the garage and outbuilding I have more than enough storage space. Fortunately I can make that floor liveable space. I'm learning a lot about electricity and wiring, and am enjoying deciding where outlets and light switches, etc will go based on the ideas I have for all the rooms.

The papers are signed, I am now a home owner.

After a short meeting to sign my life away at my lawyers office in Richland, and getting a cashiers check from my mortgage bank, I was finally handed the keys. Talk about a scary yet awesome feeling. Despite not feeling good, and the weather being ugly, we spent the entire day starting the clean-up process which involves sorting through everything left in the house in 'keep' piles, 'burn/trash' piles, and 'donation' piles. Once you actually start going through it, you realize how much there actually is..... Went to Lowes, bought 4 giant trash cans, and a new mailbox as the old one was taken by a plow!

I LOVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

Wow, these guys are amazing. I don't have garbage service at home currently, I don't create a lot, and I burn what I can. At the new house I have Waste Management, and I think I'm pretty set. Because of the landfill in the community (part of my property is actually on the other side of their fence) they treat everyone pretty good. Before the fence went up, I understand that there was occasional debris that would come into the property, and as a result the prior owner never paid for WM. It appears that will continue. Not only do I have free garbage service, Mondays around noon, but they take anything! In the first 3 weeks of clearing out the house, I put out the equivalent of a large garage sale for 3 weeks in a row. Windows, chairs, dishwasher, you name it. Love these guys.

Mortgage Shopping!

So after the Wells Fargo debacle I dedicated a day to 'Mortgage Shopping.' I went to Richland and hit several credit unions, local banks, and big banks. Very diverse. Some reps were very knowledgeable and helpful, some had no idea. Mostly disappointing interest rates and terms, I had one in mind as a back-up in case I didn't find something better. On the last stop I did. I didn't even really want to stop at 1st Summit, but I'm glad I did. Seeing as how they keep the mortgages local, and don't sell them to Freddie and Fannie May, they were able to do so much more for me than anyone else- and they were polite and friendly. They had a first-time home buyers program that was a great 20yr term with the best rate anyone had offered me. DEAL.

Wells Fargo can stick it- Yeah talking to you Lloyd Rager!

My cousin who recently bought a house (and paid more than they were asking) had a good experience with Wells Fargo. You've probably seen their commercials on tv, they are a 'major' and recently got Wachovia Securities. I had worked with a rep online who got me an estimate on how much I would be able to spend on a home and it was good. My real estate agent is buddy buddy with a local Wells Fargo rep (surely getting a kickback) and confidently made me an appointment that he thought would result in the best rate I could get. Well, we met Lloyd Rager and I walked out of their Richland office vowing not to do business with them. The rate he offered me was lame, told me that because of the spring water system I wouldn't qualify for pretty much anything governed by government agencies without offering suggestions despite the fact that we had signed paperwork from Jackson Township that city water was being installed once the ground thawed, and was pretty much being an all-around dick. Not to launch into a rant, but I believe in doing business with people who do an honest quality job. It's not all about price. Customer Service and personality count for something. Ultimately I am thankful for Lloyd, his poor personality and demeanor encouraged me to hit the streets and find a better deal- and I did.

Lloyds contact info is below, if you ever need to kill some time:

Office: 814-269-5911 Mobile: 814-421-3714 Fax: 866-359-8990 Toll Free Phone: 800-547-9598	2458 Bedford St Johnstown, PA 15904 Directions
Email me: lloyd.l.rager@wellsfargo.com

A Cottage?

On the way from from several disappointments, we just happen to pass a sale sign on a road I don't travel very frequently. This has massive potential. The good: It's 5 acres, the back yard borders Yellow Creek State Park (I can get to camp in less than 5 mins!) a pavilion, and it's surrounded by woods! Just a little ways from the road, you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere and seem to have no neighbors. The real estate company that has it is out of Pittsburgh, so I had to have a local rep not familiar with the property take me through it (Little did I know several months down the line I would end up buying my house from him) Anyhow, we toured it....and it needs a lot of work. It's very much a hunting cabin type place-probably never used as a year-round residence.....lots of paneling, inadequate heating system, dreadful bathroom, etc. It really isn't an upgrade in terms of space either which is a minus. If bought cheaply enough, it could be doable. Really love the location, the building itself- not so much. Long story short, I lost almost 2 months to pursuing the property, making two offers on it. Ultimately, it was an estate sale, the parents had died and the children who live far away want way too much- (unrealisticly confirmed by my agent) Oh well, ultimately something so much better came along!