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Morning,

Okay, I'll give the details since I know all of you are waiting. The results of the inspection showed three major defects that are going ot have to be addressed. One is the roof, which I knew about. Up on the roof is a brick chimney for the furnace/HW heater flue. It's wobbly and needs to be removed as eventually it's going to come down on it's own. So that means a new flue from the furnace/HW tank up through the roof. Long story short, had to get a contractor out as we smelled gas and notified owner, said it might be HW tank as was turned on but maybe not lit. They called contractor Contractor got the gas issue taken care of but said the tank needs repair and it's so old they won't even consider fixing it anymore. Asked about furnace flue issue and he said that is a waste of time considering the age of the furnace, so both HW and furnace need to be replaced and a whole new flue run up to the roof from crawlspace. The roof will require some patching and repair where the old chimney would be removed before the new roof can be put on. Doesn't look like any issues with the structural part of the roof itself. Water softener is also down in this crawl space which you need to crawl into almost and no way am I going to drag bags of salt to feed the thing. If water test shows it's not necessary, forget it.
Fireplace chimney looks okay. Founds some little things here and there, but nothing that can't be taken care of. Septic and drain field appear to be okay but two big oak trees near the field have roots into the field, so need to be removed before issues arrive from that. I wanted to take one down anyway. I can see that the drive is going to need to be resurfaced, but small drive and not an issue at this time. But I had a chance to really check around inside and boy, there is a ton of stuff that needs pitching out or set aside for a garage sale. i think she or they are hoarders and just kept everything from day one. I swear, I think I could fill a small dumpster with the junk. The exterior of the house needs a good powerwashing but that's pretty much a given for us up here. Deck in good shape. House is on cement beams and one has a crack, but he said he saw no evidence of any struuctural issues with it. I will be getting a copy of the full report complete with pictures, minus the well and radon tests today and the other two as they come in. So soon as my agent and I get the report, we are going to sit down and have a talk. I see two options here. Walk away from it, which I can do. Press for the repairs or a big reduction in price to cover them. My gut instincts are kind of saying, walk away but it is a pretty nice spot on the lake there and one those issues are addressed, should take care of the big stuff. Things like windows, paint, carpet, etc. are personal items in any home. But I wonder if there could be anything else hidden that we don't know about in areas where he can't get. He really did a through job on the place. My next door neighbor's house is on the market too and it's smaller than my current one, about 1,000 sq. ft. in good shape, 3 years older than mine and although about same size property, less grass area to mow. So there is a consideration there too. Brain is busy thinking. And if any of you have opinions, feel free to express them. Maybe some will think up something I havent. Friends are coming up today, that will help in the move later and we will talk too. My biggest thing is, I could take the money and find a nice house up here as there are a lot on the market, but I love this particular neighborhood so am limited. Can also put my stuff in storage and stay in my TT, but I think if that were going to be long term, would look for a different one.

On the good news side. I have sold this house. The people who had the original contingency could not meet the second offer and I signed the acceptance papers on the house yesterday. Could have stayed on the market, but I know those people really want this house and I want to be done with showing etc. and move on. So they are having inspection on house on Monday and close on their house on June 7th. Should close with me 3 days later. So now to packing and getting things ready to move out I don't have much packing left to do but will also have 21 days after the closing date to move out. So things are going along smoothly in that respect.

Thank you for all your well wishes etc. It is mice to have "sistahs" all over the country pulling for me and I know that all the fingers crossed, prayers, etc. have helped. So I am going to wish you all a nice day today, safe travels on the road etc.

Mornin' Sue and all that follow ~~~

Wow, those are some pricey repairs that will be needed on the house. My opinion is that they would really have to come down in price / accept a low ball offer to cover the repairs. I know you've been eyeing this house for quite a while, so it may be a tough decision, but we all know you are a great person for fixing things, so see what the realtor has to say, ask a few friends in the 'hood for their opinion also, since they may know the property also.

Not much going on around the Chitown burbs today. Rain pretty much all day yesterday, foggy today and starting to keep an eye on the long term forecast for travel day to Giant City. Need to start pulling out things for packing also.

Have a good day ladies and stay safe on the roads.

Gmorning Sue, Cheryl & all to follow

Congrats on signing the papers to sell your house, Sue! Many issues with the one you want to buy, so will be thinking good thoughts for you as you make your decision. You do live in such a lovely neighborhood, so I totally understand your desire to stay there.

Cheryl, will also keep good thoughts for you to have nice weather so you can proceed with your camping plans.

Settling into my routine here at home. Much yard work & getting used to being in a house again. Will live in my HB for 10 days starting tomorrow--camping in my cousin's driveway to pet/house sit while she is off to Vegas. However, I'll still need to get home several times during that period to keep up with my yard.

So nothing exciting from me. Hope all is well with y'all! Have a great day & be safe always

Good morning everyone... congrats on the sale of your house Sue... as for the other one I would want to be on new adventures and not be tied down with all that work but that's just me at my age I don't have this much time left to have adventures... but you all know I'm all into downsizing anyway good luck on whatever you do... keep us posted we are all interested... sitting here waiting for a 9:15 and a taxi to arrive and take me to the Eye Institute for the removal of my left cataract will be glad to get all this done... have a good one & B safe...donna

Good morning. Good news from you, Sue! Congrats on the sale of your house. I have to agree with Cheryl, those are some big ticket items for you to have to take on. Your realtor will probably be able to give you an idea of the costs and seems like the seller should be responsible for them not you. Bad enough she's leaving a mess inside for new owner to clean up! Just my opinion!

Not much happening here. Same thing, different day! More rain in the forecast! But the temps are supposed to go up a bit by the week end. This damp cold is starting to get to me! But a fairly typical spring, I guess! SIL is moving on with her plans to move. She has a couple of realtors coming to look at putting her house on the market in the next couple of days. Have to keep reminding myself this is a good thing for her! Just a new phase in our lives.

Poor garbage guys are going to have quite a load from me tomorrow! I started going through the pantry last night and threw away a bunch of stuff and more to do today! I'm in the mood again!

Will be thinking about you, Donna. At least now you know what to expect! Still think how cool it was that you met up with your pup's brother! Small world! Alice, great you have a key now! It is a big thing! Hope everyone has a good day and travel safe. Still lots of bad weather across the country!

Sue, I really hope they come down enough on the white house -- because I think you'd really enjoy living on a lake. If that doesn't work, yeah, walking away sounds about right.

Martha, I'd like to have seen that rabbit hutch! The first thing I'm working on is re-making the privacy fence, which will probably take most of the summer. I want to rescue as much of the wood as I can, and I have an idea for varying panels so it looks a little better, too. I swear I will never understand the suburban mentality. They think those weathered gray boards are goodlooking! To me it just looks like neglect. Cuts the life of the fence roughly in half when the boards are not protected. Ok, rant over.

Judy, I'll be really careful with the saw. I too grew up around construction, and I've known several people who lost bits of their fingers to power tools. It's mostly due to carelessness -- people get too comfortable with the tools and forget to be properly cautious, or they're tired and/or hurrying. None of which apply to me. I'm properly scared, I quit when I'm tired, and I don't hurry for anything. Boy, I love being retired!

Today is mostly about moving stones, I think. Also napping, when the stones tire me out!

Lots of decisions Sue. I dislike renovations and would want to move into, I think they call it a turn key on HGTV, where everything is fixed. But then not everyone feels that way and enjoys remodeling process to suit their particular style. Your first thought was walk away and they say listen to your gut reaction. I do understand about location and wanting to stay in the same neighborhood. Maybe you can get it at a price where you could pay someone to do a lot of the clean up and repair as it sounds a bit overwhelming.

I have a nice young man here washing my windows on the outside this morning and the dogs are driving me crazy. I'm very happy though to have found someone to help.

Great story Donna about Pheebe meeting her brother and remembering him!

Congrats on selling the house, Sue. I'm sure you'll make the right decision about what to do next. You are amazingly resourceful and capable. Can't wait to hear the next chapter of your story.

Donna, what a nice story about Pheeb's brother.

It stormed last night and early this morning, lots of big thunder, but not a peep from the dogs, which usually set up a racket. Weather will be hot and humid today.

Today I get the windshield of the car repaired. I was attacked by a rock.

Got eyes checked and ordered new glasses yesterday. Glad to have that done.

Happy Trails to All,
Nikki

I'm with BJ on disliking reno projects, I always ended up finding more stuff wrong the further in I got. Now I seek out turn key.

Hope everyone is having a great day, I'm cooking at trying to relax a bit before heading into work.

Good morning from Riley, Kansas!

Parked in aunt and uncle's yard at the farm. No electric as their system is many years old. Woke to a cardinal singing this morning.

Sue, happy about the sale, but will be interesting to see what you decide about taking on all those problems and the expense. Louise, worst thing that happened to me when using a table saw was a wasp stung me on the back of my leg! Donna, it will be so nice to have cataract removal behind you! Carolb, what's a routine??

Phone has decided not to recognize the SIM card so I'll be going to town a little later. Had planned to wash the truck and do laundry while in town but wind is more than I want to tackle. To clear a little this afternoon so SS can take me to Verizon store.

Worst of that is that with no phone, I didn't get the severe thunderstorm warning overnight! We watched the late weather report and nothing serious in sight so I wasn't concerned about warnings! No big deal but was a grand storm.

Make the most of your day and stay safe!

Wow, Sue! That is a lot of repair. I don't know how old this house is, but maybe you need something a little newer with fewer current and potential problems. And, hey Sue, how come you show a photo only of Molly? Where is Piper?

Positive: I cleaned out my two utility bins yesterday, defrosted the freezer, used coin-operated car wash to wash RV, washed windows when I got home, and did some vacuuming!! Still need to reorganized one kitchen cabinet, but I was beat. Right now I am doing couple of loads of laundry and then headed to Grand Canyon.

Negative: My computer has arrived----in Ohio!!! It was supposed to be shipped to where I am in Page, AZ, to arrive yesterday. Instead of shipping it to the shipping address on the order and invoice, these brilliant folks at Dell shipped it to my billing address!!!!! It took two phone calls yesterday (calling to confirm my address) and a lot of spelling and shouting to these guys who are all in India and barely speak English, to convince them that Ohio was not close to Arizona. So, I think now they get it, and they have changed the shipping address to the Grand Canyon, so I hope I will be able to receive it there. I am really furious with Dell.

I ordered several computers from Dell but I said never again when I had a problem with the last one. I had paid for maintenance which meant they were suppose to send someone to my house. I called and someone in India wanted me to put it in the floor and open the case and he was going to tell me what to do. I don't remember what I did but it wasn't fix it myself.

Sue, if they come down on the price enough to make it worth fixing the house maybe you could camp in the driveway while you were working on it.

I got the new valve extenders installed yesterday and things were looking good. I went out about dark and the tire monitor was going off. The pressure in the inside tire was down to 50. I aired it back up and it held air over night. These things are going to drive me crazy.

Nikki, if you were having storms last night I hope it's not headed this way. There's not much on the radar but a big area in the gulf. The weather channel is saying moisture is coming in from the gulf. That means someone is going to get rain. It's still windy but not as bad a yesterday.

I have to go get Hank after while. The vet was going to check him for a urinary infection. I had brought him a sample but he wanted to take one. I told my sister that we might go fishing next week but looks like there might be rain coming. I would like to go during the week so we would have electricity. There will be so many people on the Memorial Day weekend that we wouldn't be able to run the air conditioner.

Martha

I gave up on Dell years ago. Had so much trouble with tech support and not being able to understand every second word that I decided I will never buy another Dell product and I have not. Hope you get your computer and dont have any issues that you have to call India about.

karen

Me, too. I had similar problems with Dell and won't buy another Dell product.
Don't remember why I started doing this, but now whenever I suspect that I'm talking to a company rep outside the US, I ask to be transferred to someone in the US. I ask where they are, and so far I've believed them. Of course I can't know for sure that they're not in India, but I believe I can tell if they actually speak English fluently and are understandable. I've never been told that I can't speak to a stateside rep.