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[OM] Real estate - The other side of the coin

Subject: [OM] Real estate - The other side of the coin
From: Ken Norton <ken@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 10:21:10 -0500
So, a couple months ago we finally sold our condo. Now we are in a
position to buy something else. I REALLY didn't want to do this, but
the rental market is horrid and we don't have much choice.

Meanwhile, I really do miss having my working darkroom.

We placed an offer (a pretty ballsy one, actually) on a house. More
money than I really wanted to spend, but it's large enough AND has a
very specific dedicated space for a darkroom.

Yeah!

A bit on the smallish side, but I've looked at it three times and
figured that I can survive in it. I'll have to have electrical and
plumbing work done right away to make it functional, but that's not
any big deal. The primary space is 3x4 meters and there is a 1.5x5
meter corridor which leads to the laundry room where the sink will be.
Not totally ideal, but better than anything I've ever had before. This
corridor and both rooms are closed off from the rest of the basement
and have no windows. The corridor can be used for various things. If
nothing else, I can place the shelving in there, but will more likely
use those walls for an image gallery. The ceiling is also very tall.
The outer walls appear to be insulated behind the drywall.

Technically, I'm not quite sure the house would be called a "raised
ranch" or not, but it's awefully close. It is also a passive solar
design with significant thermal mass. As it is solar, there is a bit
of geekiness to the look, but that's OK with us. It's contemporary in
design. It was a college designed and built house, so there are some
interesting adventures to it, but overall, it is decent and is in a
small upper-middleclass subdivision which is still having new
construction in it. Several business owners live within a couple
houses away from this one.

There are some issues to the house that need addressing. Siding is
shot, landscaping is out of control, ceilings cracking along a couple
drywall seams and poison oak is climbing all over the back of the
house. Half the carpeting needs replacing. Stuff like that. Things
that really affect the appearance and sellability of the house.

The owner is in the same boat as we were. It's been on the market for
over a year and a half and ours is the FIRST offer on it. In one
aspect, that scares me. But in another, it seems par for the course
around here. He was asking far too much. We'll see how flexble he
gets. If he doesn't come down enough, we'll gladly walk away from it.
No issues there. Too many other houses on the market--including the
one we are living in which needs tons of work, but can be bought
cheep.

Big garage!

The one aspect I'm really liking about this place is the proximity of
the darkroom to the family room (which includes a very nice
fireplace). The problem with my darkrooms has always been the fact
that they are the farthest spot away from the rest of the family. I'm
gone so much already that this does not contribute to domestic
tranquility. By being next to the family room, I can be part of the
happenings and just close the door when I need it dark.

So, now we wait... We've got a couple hours left for the counter-offer.

AG
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