House Floorplan

A lot of people (as they find out we're moving) have been asking what the house is like. It's like this:

• The floorplan is a L shape split. If that doesn't mean anything to you, it's OK. It didn't mean anything to me either. You know how a split foyer house has a door in the middle of a rectangular house, and stairs right in front of the front door that go up and down? This is a similar concept, except the house and garage form an L shape pattern (looking down from the top). The garage forms the shorter side of the L, and the house itself forms the long side. The door is right between the house and garage, so the stairs are off to the side rather than right in front of you. The advantage over a split foyer is that the house is a little bigger (the garage is not tucked under like a typical split foyer, hence freeing up more lower level space) and the space inside the front door more spacious (so everyone can get in without tripping over each other).
• Upstairs, the living, dining, and kitchen areas are pretty open to each other. For those who have been in our current house, you'll see the new house has more space in the dining and kitchen, and a living room that's more of a square than a rectangle. Off the dining room there is a nice screened in porch, with steps that lead down to the backyard.
• Upstairs there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Beds are just like our current house in size and location. The extra bath is a master -- somethiing that Michelle HAD to have in order to even consider moving.
• Downstairs, the living space feels much more open than our current finished ranch basement. There are daylight windows in a large family room. Also a gas fireplace. The lower level also has a full bath, a bedroom, utility room, and a spare little room we will likely use for school and toy storage.
• The total house is about 300 square feet larger than our current (1900 sq ft as opposed to 1600). But it feels to me even more so.
• The yard is typical. Very flat, some old ash trees. It has a grape trellis, and we hope to move some of our strawberry and raspberry plants over. There is a nice storage shed in back, and a wood swingset for the kids. The are excited about the yard. Average size, easy to mow, bla, blah, blah.
• A Avenue in Marion is the last of the old streets before you hit the new construction on Marion's southwest side. The house was built in 79, and is near the end of a dead-end street that will someday have new construction popping up on it.
• House has dark brown, wood exterior, brown trim. Not my favorite color, but it will do until the house needs painted (or siding). I hope that's five years down the road.
• We locked at a 5.25 interest rate, paying points. Our house payment climbs about $110 a month, partly due to higher taxes on a more highly assessed property than our currently.
• Our house is priced at $124,988. I think we could get more, but we don't want to mickey-mouse around much getting it sold. We had one showing yesterday and two more later today. That makes 7 single showings, and an open house that netted three individuals. Like to see our first offer soon.
• Everyone wants to know why we're moving. Well, as previosuly posted, I had been thinking about building. But after crunching the numbers for the better part of six months (and seeing my work suffer for it), I concluded that it wasn't going to happen. Moving into an existing house, or staying put, were out on the table, as was an addition to our current house. A short discussion with a local contractor ruled out an addition (too expensive and not a great return on investment). Should we stay, or move? I gave our realtor, BJ Fuhrmann with Marian Arens, a list of necessities and dared her to find a house that fill the bill, within our price range. Three weeks later she had one, and after walking through three times, we were ready to offer. The rest is history.

Still looking at a December 3 close, with hopes of being able to get into the house a week before to do a little painting and carpet work. I hope some of you will join us for a moving party about that time. More details to come, of course.

That's the gist of things. I'll respond to your comments with more details, if desired.