We will at some point be in the market for a house. It needs to be good, because we likely will not be moving away anytime soon once we plant our roots. Jacob has a job he likes in an area he likes, and he likes to pay things off, he likes something being HIS, owned, so I imagine we will need the first one to be a good one right away. No big DIY thing. As he is too often busy to do work on it. Here is my blog on the thoughts we have now.
Red front door, white trim, shingle roof, windows with the white trim inside them (I love the look of it), neutral color exterior made pref of anything but siding. Unless its very dimensional detailed house like a Victorian or something. Love shingle, rock/stone, stucco, and brick exteriors.
Want small lawn, flat. Pref shaded, then I can have moss lawn (low maintenance) If not I want either Tall Fescue or St Augustine. No Bermuda grass or hybrids of. It dies in winter leaving an unappealing lawn. I want a year round lovely lawn.
We would not mind a shaded spot, because it lowers the ac bill. But I do not wish a yard full of pine trees and evergreens! Not only are they on the allergy list, I think that they are unappealing for the most part. Other plants that cause allergies? >>> CLICK HERE <
A quick summery:
Garden Foes
Grasses - Bermuda, Fescue, Johnson, June, Orchard, Perennial Rye, Redtop, Salt Grass, Sweet Vernal, Timothy.
Shrubs - Cypress, Juniper.
Trees - Alder, Ash, Aspen, Beech, Birch, Box Elder, Cedar, Cottonwood, Elm, Hickory, Maple, Mulberry, Oak, Olive, Palm, Pecan, Pine, Poplar, Sycamore, Walnut, Willow.
Weeds - Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac, Cocklebur, Pigweed, Ragweed, Russian Thistle, Sagebrush.
Garden Friends
Flowering Plants - Begonia, Cactus, Chenille, Clematis, Columbine, Crocus, Daffodil, Daisy, Dusty Miller, Geranium, Hosta, Impatiens, Iris, Lily, Pansy, Periwinkle, Petunia, Phlox, Fose, Salvia, Snapdragon, Sunflower, Thrift, Tulip, Verbena, zinnia.
Grasses - St. Augustine
Shrubs - Azalea, Boxwood, English Yew, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Viburnum.
Trees - Apple, Cherry, Chinese Fan Palm, Fern Pine, Dogwood, English Holly, Hardy Rubber Tree, Magnolia, Pear, Plum, Red Maple.
More info HERE
Roofing. More into that. I like normal shingles. I like tile roofs, and could even handle the unattractive metal roofing (tin) if it was in a style that mimicked that. Though Jacob said "No, its noisy". Roof should be darker than house color, in my opinion.
The house we get needs to have a good roof, Jacob knows that they are expensive too, but most worries about possible inside damage from a bad roof. Unattractive outside colors, and in, can be painted.
however.....
THIS (
is a NO GO!
No wood paneling inside, wallpaper, or brick. We like a certain look that these, even painted, would not go great with. WOOD PANELING does not include various moldings, railings, wainscoting, etc. Things that make a house look more expensive.
Now...do I hate wallpaper? no. Three examples of stylish WP.
Plus there are now stylish "wall decals" and such that can add a touch of wow. But all those are up to the new owner, who is decorating, and not to be decorated around for buying a house with it.
ceilings. Well, I have to say I like the trey ceilings, catherdral/vaulted, and normal. I like molding (which I can add later) and flat clean smooth ceilings. No popcorn, or pattern. Smooth can have so much done with it decor wise. its another canvas.
For a kitchen, we want beams. We can add later also.
We will need basic BONES to the house to be good. Jacob does not want to have to do anything really period, but I think small jobs like painting and all would be doable. Just as close to movie in ready as we can get. I.E. - Decent kitchen esp cabinets, floors, structural, doors, ceiling, rooms, layout, bathroom (main things, sink, tub, shower, tile, etc.) flat easy yard, no big TLC or DIY things.
Reason? Well, more than one. He likes the idea of living in a house that is not always being fixed up, since he is use to being in them that are. He does not like extra work. And had a friend tell him he bought a house to fix it up, and never got around to it with the job keeping him busy, so now they are in a house they don't like. Jacob did not like the idea of that.
KITCHEN - gas gas gas gas. I pref gas stove. Can I use electric? yes, but I won't be content cooking with it. Gas cooks better. So, no buying a house unless its already got or set up for gas stove/oven. No cheap laminate counters. We likely will not be able to afford changing them any time soon after moving in, so best we can handle them. Cabinets. Hopefully, not plywood. No broken or busted. We can paint white, though would rather find white kitchen with dark counters if at all possible.
Bathroom. I like tubs. I need a tub somewhere in the house. Also, shower Jacob and I can both fit in, as we often bath together. Master needs TWO sinks. We get ready for bed together and etc.
There are things I'd like, as in example : Apron farmhouse style enameled cast iron sink for kitchen, granite or quartz counter tops, all wood floors (my love is pecan wood) except in kitchen bedrooms and bath. Kitchen is to have possible slate tiles, bath to have a neutral more spa like warm tone. windows that look cottagey, a laundry room next to the walk in closet by our bedroom, a half bath for guests near living room, a butlers pantry or walk in pantry, an elegant entryway, a stone/brick patio, in ground pool, etc. Things I realize I probably wont get in a house for our range. But as I said, there are things I won't budge on.
No modern manly contemporary log cabin looking or any other overly manly looking house. A cape cod, craftsman, shingle style, or something in that range will suite me best. Though I have a list ten miles long of yes and no styles. Including details that say the same about a house, like windows.
I like colonial, contoured, diamond, craftsman, half colonial, etc. I like the grids, they often appear in homes that are richy or even in cute cottage style homes.
So
wrap up
What are we looking for in a house?
Must Haves
* 2+ Bedrooms
* 1.5+ Bathrooms
* 800 sq ft or MORE
* Public Water
* Decent Closet/Storage Space
* Safe Decent Neighborhood
* Range $30,000 - $100,000
* Payments Under $600 Month
* Good Condition Roof
* Some kind of outdoor space
* Working Heating and Air
* Minimal to No work Needed
Wants
* Gas Range/Oven
* Walk In Closets
* Patio, not deck
* Master Suite
* One Story
* Four Bedrooms
* 2 Car Garage
* Cul-de-sac
* Under 20 minutes to work
* Sewer Connected
* Flat (ish) Yard, Small
* 2000 sq ft (ish)
* Open Floorplan, With Dining Room
* Decent Ceilings
* Large Kitchen
Icing On Top
* Pool (in ground)
* Built In Bar
* Stone or Brick Exterior
* Austell Georgia
* French Doors
* Cute Windows
* Entryway
* Nice Community, and/or Gated
* Sidewalks, Close to Shopping
* Nice Flooring, Trim, Windows
* Vaulted and Trey Ceilings
* Privacy Fenced yard
* Kitchen Needs No work, Large Gourmet
Deal Breakers
* Wood Paneling
* No Gas Hookup (oven)
* Main Road/Busy Street
* Wrecked Kitchen
* Over Abundant Wallpapering
* To Much Work Needed
* Bad Neighborhood or Area
* Bad History (ex: Termite damage, flooding)
* Too far (30+ drive to work)
* Tiny Crappy Kitchen
* Noisey or Stinky Location
That's at least some of it. Appliances already in would be a plus. Yard half acre-ish. Walk in closet a plus. Good floors a plus. Few more pluses, but right now, that is all.
Well, Jacob wants a cul de sac, that is something he is pretty set on trying to get.
