Saturday, January 30, 2010

House Hunting

I looked at a house yesterday. I'd like to find a place of my own by mid summer, but I'm beginning to wonder if I can afford a place in Damariscotta. Most of the houses for sale more than I can afford and most are not "in town." The house I looked at was very small and had been badly remodeled in the past. The good thing is its location. Since it's only a block from where I'm renting, it means I could continue to walk to the downtown. The stairs to the second floor, where there are two small bedrooms, are impossibly narrow. They in no way meet building code. I would guess they were originally attic stairs. The bathroom is miniscule (on the ground floor) and the living room has space for a small sofa and maybe one chair. The kitchen space is more than adequate and the bedroom space is ok. I wonder if the amount of money it would take to redo the house so I would be comfortable there would be worth it. At my age I don't really want to take on a major re-modeling project. I'm still thinking about it though, since the price was pretty good.

11 comments:

Brian R said...

Know all about this. Each house I look at seems to have good and bad points. However do not buy a house in which you will not be able to grow old comfortably. My prayers for a happy and successful choice.

June Butler said...

Amelia, I'll add my prayers to those of Brians's, that you find just the right house. The stairs sound iffy. How does one get furniture up the narrow stairs?

PseudoPiskie said...

I agree with Brian. If you plan any improvements, make sure they include easily widening all doorways for a wheelchair and living on one floor. If those aren't possible, leave the house for younger folks.

Doorman-Priest said...

I shall leave my current home feet first.

June Butler said...

DP, I had to laugh. Tom says the same.

WV: "hunks". No kidding. DP and Tom R hunks.

motheramelia said...

Good advice all of you. The ground floor does have a bedroom and full bath (tiny as it is). I could not live there even before I'm wheelchair bound because of the layout and size, so remodeling would be an absolute necessity. Usually in April the real estate market begins again so new houses will appear then. The houses available now are those that haven't sold. I could probably get a good deal on this one, but it would mean months of rehab and I'm not sure I'm up for that. And yes Tom and DP are hunks.

Leonard said...

What Hunks? I'm in Florida for a week and I heard that! I also agree with GM regarding the staircase...I think that part is essentially safe and the incline/tread is comfortable...I'm still operating with one eye until early March (Surgeons will replace the natural lense they removed with a artificial one) and I KNOW what it's like to be slightly incapacitated...I keep thinking I'm practicing for the REALLY OLD part...take good care of YOU and remember to keep your eye on the ball (the one I currently keep tripping over).

Abrazos fuerte,
Leonardo

June Butler said...

Leo, you're a hunk and Brian is a hunk, too, and I believe I've told the two of you that already.

I've been up and down many stairs in my long life, and I often give credit to the designer of my house for giving us very easy stairs.

motheramelia said...

Leo, you are definitely in the "hunk" group. I know what it's like to operate with one eye. It was six months between cataract surgeries and I couldn't pour wine into a glass without pouring it outside. I learned to put one finger on the rim of the glass. Mostly that helped. If I buy that house the stairway will have to be redone. Izzie agrees with everybody on that. The upstairs would be for guests.

Have fun in Florida.

Rick+ said...

     I hope you find the right house!

motheramelia said...

Me too Rick.