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Georgia Renovation : I'm creating this gallery at the moment. When I am finished, it will include before and after pictures of everything I've done. I acquired this property as a near-foreclosure October of 2006. I bought it for less than half of its appraised value. It is a 5.1 acre equestrian property situated in Alpharetta, Georgia, which is 25 miles North of Atlanta. The house is a late 70's cedar/brick semi-modern 3400sq.ft ranch. It had been neglected for quite some time. However, the roof was practically brand new. Some problems with the property included a previous flood in the first floor due to improper drainage associated with rotten gutters (also due to neglect-- leaves collecting at front door), insect infestation, damaged walls/ceilings due to roof leakage prior to its replacement, property shrubbery/weed overgrowth, cracked/horse-cribbed fencing, tree damage to fence, trash/possessions left behind by prior owners, damage to interior of house from dogs, and the property all together needed a serious paint job and update of fixtures, wiring, etc. Most of the above has been able to be completed by me. Several items required a contractor, such as electrical wiring problems. Some of the property's attributes consist of a 7-stall gorgeous HEATED show barn (wooden interior, tack room, office with cable/phone, H/C washrack, upstairs hay storage area, sliding steel-barred stall doors, huge stalls, automated stall waterers), riding arena with lighting, 5 beautiful, green acres with over 250 plants and shrubs, 2 paved driveways, separate barn driveway, nice open ranch floor plan, four bedrooms, 3 full baths, huge attached 2 car garage, attic, and lots of detail in woodwork and stone hearth, and the property is in prime location. I will not be completely renovating this property. I am merely making it more livable, as the primary value is in the land. The Alpharetta area has become an increasingly prime site for real estate development over the past 10 years. In fact, the cul-de-sac in which the property is located is one of the only remaining lush, green acreage in the area. Google an area map of the cul-de-sac, and you will find a multitude of tract homes within .25 miles of the property, and new construction has begun on a subdivision that will sit literally behind the cul-de-sac. Land has become hard to find in the area, and Forsyth County knows it. They have tried to get signatures of property owners in the cul-de-sac for water rights, as all of us have wells and there is a shortage of water in the county due to over-development. My plans at this point are to make the property livable for an equestrian rental property until it is sold to a developer (there was an offer less than a year ago, but one property owner in the cul-de-sac was not ready to sell. That individual has since purchased land in another county and will be ready to sell within the next 2-3 years). So far, I've replaced ALL of the fencing that was damaged (cracked/cribbed/tree damage) which took over 180 1'x6'x8' boards and probably 40 4'x4'x8' posts to fix, the barn has been cleaned thoroughly, grounds cleaned (trash removed, dog cages/dog fencing removed), overgrowth of trees and shrubbery generously cleared by the infamous "Monkey with Chainsaw Landscaping Co" (now you can see the house!), house interior walls painted/repaired, ceiling repaired in basement and bathroom, lighting fixtures replaced, some windows updated, and flooring replaced. All wallpaper has FINALLY been removed and all walls painted. Gutters replaced in the fall, and kitchen/bathroom cabinetry replaced in October. Exterior of the house painted in April 2008, and the fencing will be stained a dark black color (tar base stain). Will post more pics along the way. Property has been re-graded and basement sealed= no more flooding! New gutters help a lot. 3 paddocks have been converted into 1 big pasture. A professional lawn service maintains this property every other week as I travel quite a bit, and mowing 5 acres of grass is a huge task. Have so many photos to get off of 2 other cameras, including cameras that aren't digital and therefore will need to be scanned, so be patient! :) A breakdown of everything I've done: - Painted entire interior of house $2500(October 2007) - Repaired damaged drywall $500 (November 2006 and January 2008) - Repaired holes in ceiling $250(January 2008) - Converted property from well water only to well AND city water $2000(November 2007) - Re-plumbed barn $400(February 2008) - Made some plumbing changes to inside of house $800(November 2007) - Replaced all flooring $3500(Upstairs and downstairs, with the exception of the downstairs living room) (Summer 2007 and Nov. 2007) - Painted fireplaces $30(November 2006) - Replaced trim on all floors $350(Summer 2007) - Replaced front door $1250(October 2006) - Replaced damaged horse fencing $1650(February 2007) - Re-graded property (pastures and around home)$1200 (April 2008) - Removed 28 dead trees $1300(April 2008) - Cleaned grounds thoroughly, clearing brush $750(October 2006- April 2008) - Repaired damaged siding on back and sides of house $250 (March 2008) - Replaced damaged soffits and faceboards $750 (March 2008) - Completed termite inspection $Free(March 2008) - Decks inspected for soundness $Free(March 2008) - Installed home security system $150(March 2008) - Garage door opener purchased $350(old one still works though) (October 2006) - Exterior of house painted $3000(April 2008) - Old gutters removed $100 including disposal fee(April 2008) - Replaced dishwasher $150(May 2007) - All lighting fixtures replaced $1000(Summer 2007) - Junk removal: Aviary, dog cages, misc. horse supplies, portable barn $Free- Donated, plus got tax deduction(mostly April 2008) - Sealed basement, graded outside of basement $650(April 2008) - HVAC inspected, AC Unit/Furnace repaired $770(Dec 2007) - Paint decks $700 including enclosing front porch(September/October 2008) - Enclose front porch with railings ($$ see above)(October 2008) - Install new sidewalk from driveway to front porch ($1700)(October 2008) - Replace closet doors in basement ($600)(October 2008) - Install seamless gutters with leafguards on house ($1210)(October 2008) - Replace a few more damaged pieces of horse fence, fence perimeter of property ($4250) (Oct 2008) - Re-seed pastures ($1200)(September 2008) - Remove/replace kitchen and bathroom cabinets and countertops $6500(October 2008) - Replace flooring/drywall after removal of bathroom and kitchen cabinets (included in above) (if needed) - Rewire house $2400(October/November 2008) - Plant shrubs along front of house ($750)(October 2008) - Paint entire horse fencing ($1500)(October/November 2008) - Touch-up work with paint and flooring ($500)(December 2008) - Replace switch plates so they are all uniform ($300) (November 2008) - Replace some windows ($4100) -Master bathroom renovation ($2500) Status: COMPLETED February 2009

Georgia Renovation

I'm creating this gallery at the moment. When I am finished, it will i ...

Updated: Feb 23, 2009 7:12pm PST

Galleries

France : Went to France for mini vacation (3 days) in February.

France

Went to France for mini vacation (3 days) in February.

Updated: Jun 11, 2008 12:14pm PST

Georgia Renovation : I'm creating this gallery at the moment. When I am finished, it will include before and after pictures of everything I've done. I acquired this property as a near-foreclosure October of 2006. I bought it for less than half of its appraised value. It is a 5.1 acre equestrian property situated in Alpharetta, Georgia, which is 25 miles North of Atlanta. The house is a late 70's cedar/brick semi-modern 3400sq.ft ranch. It had been neglected for quite some time. However, the roof was practically brand new. Some problems with the property included a previous flood in the first floor due to improper drainage associated with rotten gutters (also due to neglect-- leaves collecting at front door), insect infestation, damaged walls/ceilings due to roof leakage prior to its replacement, property shrubbery/weed overgrowth, cracked/horse-cribbed fencing, tree damage to fence, trash/possessions left behind by prior owners, damage to interior of house from dogs, and the property all together needed a serious paint job and update of fixtures, wiring, etc. Most of the above has been able to be completed by me. Several items required a contractor, such as electrical wiring problems. Some of the property's attributes consist of a 7-stall gorgeous HEATED show barn (wooden interior, tack room, office with cable/phone, H/C washrack, upstairs hay storage area, sliding steel-barred stall doors, huge stalls, automated stall waterers), riding arena with lighting, 5 beautiful, green acres with over 250 plants and shrubs, 2 paved driveways, separate barn driveway, nice open ranch floor plan, four bedrooms, 3 full baths, huge attached 2 car garage, attic, and lots of detail in woodwork and stone hearth, and the property is in prime location. I will not be completely renovating this property. I am merely making it more livable, as the primary value is in the land. The Alpharetta area has become an increasingly prime site for real estate development over the past 10 years. In fact, the cul-de-sac in which the property is located is one of the only remaining lush, green acreage in the area. Google an area map of the cul-de-sac, and you will find a multitude of tract homes within .25 miles of the property, and new construction has begun on a subdivision that will sit literally behind the cul-de-sac. Land has become hard to find in the area, and Forsyth County knows it. They have tried to get signatures of property owners in the cul-de-sac for water rights, as all of us have wells and there is a shortage of water in the county due to over-development. My plans at this point are to make the property livable for an equestrian rental property until it is sold to a developer (there was an offer less than a year ago, but one property owner in the cul-de-sac was not ready to sell. That individual has since purchased land in another county and will be ready to sell within the next 2-3 years). So far, I've replaced ALL of the fencing that was damaged (cracked/cribbed/tree damage) which took over 180 1'x6'x8' boards and probably 40 4'x4'x8' posts to fix, the barn has been cleaned thoroughly, grounds cleaned (trash removed, dog cages/dog fencing removed), overgrowth of trees and shrubbery generously cleared by the infamous "Monkey with Chainsaw Landscaping Co" (now you can see the house!), house interior walls painted/repaired, ceiling repaired in basement and bathroom, lighting fixtures replaced, some windows updated, and flooring replaced. All wallpaper has FINALLY been removed and all walls painted. Gutters replaced in the fall, and kitchen/bathroom cabinetry replaced in October. Exterior of the house painted in April 2008, and the fencing will be stained a dark black color (tar base stain). Will post more pics along the way. Property has been re-graded and basement sealed= no more flooding! New gutters help a lot. 3 paddocks have been converted into 1 big pasture. A professional lawn service maintains this property every other week as I travel quite a bit, and mowing 5 acres of grass is a huge task. Have so many photos to get off of 2 other cameras, including cameras that aren't digital and therefore will need to be scanned, so be patient! :) A breakdown of everything I've done: - Painted entire interior of house $2500(October 2007) - Repaired damaged drywall $500 (November 2006 and January 2008) - Repaired holes in ceiling $250(January 2008) - Converted property from well water only to well AND city water $2000(November 2007) - Re-plumbed barn $400(February 2008) - Made some plumbing changes to inside of house $800(November 2007) - Replaced all flooring $3500(Upstairs and downstairs, with the exception of the downstairs living room) (Summer 2007 and Nov. 2007) - Painted fireplaces $30(November 2006) - Replaced trim on all floors $350(Summer 2007) - Replaced front door $1250(October 2006) - Replaced damaged horse fencing $1650(February 2007) - Re-graded property (pastures and around home)$1200 (April 2008) - Removed 28 dead trees $1300(April 2008) - Cleaned grounds thoroughly, clearing brush $750(October 2006- April 2008) - Repaired damaged siding on back and sides of house $250 (March 2008) - Replaced damaged soffits and faceboards $750 (March 2008) - Completed termite inspection $Free(March 2008) - Decks inspected for soundness $Free(March 2008) - Installed home security system $150(March 2008) - Garage door opener purchased $350(old one still works though) (October 2006) - Exterior of house painted $3000(April 2008) - Old gutters removed $100 including disposal fee(April 2008) - Replaced dishwasher $150(May 2007) - All lighting fixtures replaced $1000(Summer 2007) - Junk removal: Aviary, dog cages, misc. horse supplies, portable barn $Free- Donated, plus got tax deduction(mostly April 2008) - Sealed basement, graded outside of basement $650(April 2008) - HVAC inspected, AC Unit/Furnace repaired $770(Dec 2007) - Paint decks $700 including enclosing front porch(September/October 2008) - Enclose front porch with railings ($$ see above)(October 2008) - Install new sidewalk from driveway to front porch ($1700)(October 2008) - Replace closet doors in basement ($600)(October 2008) - Install seamless gutters with leafguards on house ($1210)(October 2008) - Replace a few more damaged pieces of horse fence, fence perimeter of property ($4250) (Oct 2008) - Re-seed pastures ($1200)(September 2008) - Remove/replace kitchen and bathroom cabinets and countertops $6500(October 2008) - Replace flooring/drywall after removal of bathroom and kitchen cabinets (included in above) (if needed) - Rewire house $2400(October/November 2008) - Plant shrubs along front of house ($750)(October 2008) - Paint entire horse fencing ($1500)(October/November 2008) - Touch-up work with paint and flooring ($500)(December 2008) - Replace switch plates so they are all uniform ($300) (November 2008) - Replace some windows ($4100) -Master bathroom renovation ($2500) Status: COMPLETED February 2009

Georgia Renovation

I'm creating this gallery at the moment. When I am finished, it will i ...

Updated: Feb 23, 2009 7:12pm PST

goofin' off : Fun pics from around the world!

goofin' off

Fun pics from around the world!

Updated: Nov 11, 2007 6:28pm PST

Beach Trip : I went to visit my parents at their beach house over the 4th of July.

Beach Trip

I went to visit my parents at their beach house over the 4th of July.

Updated: Jul 12, 2006 11:23pm PST

Ohio Property BEFORE renovation : Take a look at my home BEFORE the renovation. It was fully-carpeted, and had linoleum floors in all of the bathrooms and in the kitchen. Also, being a new home, there were virtually no ceiling lights. There was also no landscaping.

Ohio Property BEFORE renovation

Take a look at my home BEFORE the renovation. It was fully-carpeted, a ...

Updated: Nov 14, 2005 11:14pm PST

Ohio Property AFTER renovation : Between the months of March '05 and November '05, my home underwent some major renovations. The first of the upgrades was a deck and fenced-in yard, followed by extensive landscaping, including bushes, shrubs, and flowers, all enclosed in an elevated 30 foot stone wall. Next, I upgraded the lighting using Tech Lighting, a state-of-the-art contemporary lighting manufacturer. Track lighting was installed in the great room, master bedroom, office, and kitchen. Under-cabinetry "puck" lights were installed under each of the kitchen cabinets, followed by pendulum lights over the kitchen island, along with recessed lighting in the ceiling of the kitchen. Finally, I removed all carpeting and linoleum in the home, and used the excess carpeting to cover the basement floor (to allow soundproofing in my music room, which contains 5 guitars, a banjo, a 5 pc drumset, a piano, and a violin). I replaced the carpeting with hardwood laminate surfacing by Columbia, which is a hardwood substance with the look and feel of hardwood, without the scratching and upkeep of hardwood. I also replaced the linoleum with 12" square Ceramic tile with metallic inserts for added design to match our stainless steel appliances. I also upgraded the kitchen sink to a bigger, deeper porcelain sink with brushed nickel faucets. I am done. :)

Ohio Property AFTER renovation

Between the months of March '05 and November '05, my home underwent so ...

Updated: Dec 29, 2005 8:11pm PST