Read the original letter »

Read the original letter »

Read the original letter »

Our New Home!

I briefly mentioned this in my “Matt Needs Help Beading” post, but my wife and I have been house hunting for awhile. After 2 realtors, 50 viewings, and 4 offers, we’ve finally found our house! We close this Wednesday at 10 a.m.

We’re obviously really excited about it. It’s a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1447 square foot colonial with a full basement. It’s nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac and the neighborhood seems really nice. It comes with all of the appliances and a gas fireplace. It’s way more of house than I ever would’ve imagined for being our first.

It was built in 2002, but it hasn’t been lived in for two years. So, the yard is in horrible condition and there are some minor cosmetic updates that need to be done before we can truly enjoy our new home. What was once well-crafted landscaping is now a mix of overgrown shrubs and weeds. The lawn consists of dandelions with grub-infested crab grass. It looks like there used to be sod, but the grubs, or something, has ruined it.

Here’s the Honey-Do list that my wife has so lovingly crafted for me us:

1. The lawn: This is probably the biggest and most rewarding project that we have to work on this summer. I’ve been reading up on how to keep a beautiful lawn, but I have no idea on how to restart a lawn after years of neglect.
2. Paint the living room, dining room and the kitchen: We’ve already picked out colors for those rooms, so the fun part is over. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind painting, it’s just one of those things that can get expensive if you’re not careful.
3. Weed the garden: I really enjoy gardening. I’ve been gardening with my Mom since I can remember, so I can’t wait to get my hands dirty in my own soil. Speaking of “Gardens,” isn’t there a new Lima feature launching tomorrow?
4. Clean the bird doo-doo off of the siding: Some birds have been nesting in our attic vents and trim, so they’ve made a mess of my siding. If only I could charge them for room and board.
5. Level the patio: There’s a patio attached to the back of the house, which is nice, but they must not have packed the ground good enough before they poured the cement. Since the patio is actually attached to the house, it’s pulling some of the siding as it’s falling to one side. I think it’s probably done falling, but I’d like to level it without cracking.

Not a very hefty list, but unfortunately, a lot of these things won’t just happen overnight. It’s going to take a lot of time, hard work and dedication, but it will totally be worth it when it’s over.

If you have any tips or advice that might help me in my homeownership, please post them in the comments below. Wish us luck!

Alden Park Towers

Completed: September 2007

Four 8 story towers. Over 5,000 windows on the Detroit Riverfront.
Property on National Registry of Historic Sites.

Read the Original Letter »

11 story apartment tower and two story condominiums. Approximately 1000 tan sliders and double-hung windows.