As some of you may know, we have been looking for a new house since last fall. There's not a lot on the market right now, but hopefully with spring coming, more choices will pop up. I've seen a couple of real stinkers, but the one I looked at last week took top prize. Mind you, this was certainly no dump - over 3500 square feet, 5 bathrooms, 6 bedrooms (although 2 were in the basement). Nice neighborhood, decent price. I had high hopes.........
I met my realtor there, who didn't mention that the owner was home. Isn't that awkward? What seemed to be Imeldo Marcos' sister answered the door. I was immediately overwhelmed by the mirrored panels covering the entire foyer. To the right was a dining room with floral wallpaper on a black background. I don't even want to talk about the kitchen, but the 5 bathrooms? Tubs and toilets were all in black, chocolate brown, mauve or goldenrod. I didn't understand how a house built in the '80's could possibly have bathroom fixtures from the 1960's/70's??? There was not one salvageable room in the house. The entire thing would need to be gutted.
To make matters worse, the woman lived alone and was clearly a hoarder. Sure, there were paths to walk, but she hadn't thrown anything away since moving into the house 30 years ago. It was like stepping back into time.......an electric typewriter sat on a desk in one of the kids' rooms; a construction paper card announcing 'Happy 16th Birthday' was taped above a bed. I'm guessing the card's recipient is probably my age now! It was truly awful and somewhat creepy. If the Brady Bunch or Partridge Family want to film another season, this is just the house for them! They wouldn't need to buy a thing!
I met my realtor there, who didn't mention that the owner was home. Isn't that awkward? What seemed to be Imeldo Marcos' sister answered the door. I was immediately overwhelmed by the mirrored panels covering the entire foyer. To the right was a dining room with floral wallpaper on a black background. I don't even want to talk about the kitchen, but the 5 bathrooms? Tubs and toilets were all in black, chocolate brown, mauve or goldenrod. I didn't understand how a house built in the '80's could possibly have bathroom fixtures from the 1960's/70's??? There was not one salvageable room in the house. The entire thing would need to be gutted.
To make matters worse, the woman lived alone and was clearly a hoarder. Sure, there were paths to walk, but she hadn't thrown anything away since moving into the house 30 years ago. It was like stepping back into time.......an electric typewriter sat on a desk in one of the kids' rooms; a construction paper card announcing 'Happy 16th Birthday' was taped above a bed. I'm guessing the card's recipient is probably my age now! It was truly awful and somewhat creepy. If the Brady Bunch or Partridge Family want to film another season, this is just the house for them! They wouldn't need to buy a thing!
5 bathrooms? Where do I sign? . . .
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few of those free-standing hot-tubs in the middle of the room. They always make me think of some sort of 'high altar', and then I wonder what the owner is worshipping?
;)
I dunno, the photos don't look that bad. You obviously need to show pics of the dining room and bathroom.
ReplyDeleteBut I particularly love the tropical feel that the plants around the hottub give...
Craig - The appeal of an indoor hot tub has about as much appeal for me as an indoor swimming pool. I don't like either!
ReplyDeleteMe - Yes, I wish I had some bathroom shots. They were unbelievable. Like I said in my disclaimer, some people might be able to overlook the clutter, but for me, it just seemed filthy!
Ha ha, if that's too cluttered for your tastes my Mom's house might just kill ya!!
ReplyDeleteShe's no hoarder but she is, um, messy. Messy enough that she was once on the radar of local social workers. I had to walk 'em through the place to prove she was just a clutter-bug.
X - But can she park in her garage, or is there too much crap in it? That's my definition of a hoarder.
ReplyDelete"Mind you, this was certainly no dump - over 3500 square feet, 5 bathrooms, 6 bedrooms (although 2 were in the basement)."
ReplyDeleteHoly cow....that house is HUGE!!!!
I died laughing at this....
"If the Brady Bunch or Partridge Family want to film another season, this is just the house for them! They wouldn't need to buy a thing!"
OMG...how funny!
But, I'm with you....I detest clutter because it always makes me feel anxious and nervous. I like a clean, simple, and airy home space, so I can BREATHE.
GREAT shots because they really gave us a good feel for the way the house was decorated.
OVERLOAD!
Have a super weekend, my friend!
X
On the upside, there's lots of great light. My house was a cluttered outdated mess when I bought it, but once I'd fixed it up, I love it.
ReplyDeleteThe house looks curiously unfinished and unlived-in. Just lots of things thrown together any old how, like a rented place. As you say, you'd have to gut it and start again to make it at all cosy.
ReplyDeleteJenny and I hate clutter too. My 89 year old mum is a hopeless clutterer. She lives now in a one-room flat and you can hardly move for all the newspaper cuttings, books, clothes and goodness-knows-what.
Ron - The crazy thing was that the house felt small, possibly because of the clutter, or also they may have been counting the basement in the sq footage (we've been noticing this trick lately). You should have seen me cringing everytime my realtor opened up a door to a bathroom.....I couldn't wait to escape that monstrosity!
ReplyDeleteAgent - After we paid for that house, we wouldn't be able to afford the $200K it would take to remodel the kitchen and 5 bathrooms. And then the real question becomes, why are we moving?
Nick - The lady was a widow and I would venture to say she spends a good part of the year elsewhere. My realtor said that the other realtor had begged the lady to get rid of some stuff before putting it on the market, but she declined.
No garage, no car ..... she gave that up a couple years ago. I can walk through her shed, tho, does that count?
ReplyDeleteHi Bijoux,
ReplyDeleteI can shake your hand after that "hoaring" statement. I have been clearing out with family(at our pace), about 50 yrs worth of accumulation after my FIL's passing.
I don't want to sound "extreme" but, my views about "stuff" have radically changed.
Otherwise, you are getting "bad vibes" from this place. Yes, it will mean major renovation and expenses. I think that you already decided when you left that place.
Barb - My sincere sympathies to you. I have concerns about what's ahead of me with my own parents....my mom is constantly giving me 'stuff' which I promptly put in the garbage or give to charity.
ReplyDeleteUm, well it does look spacy..
ReplyDeleteWe don't have realators over here, we have estate agents, they tend NOT to accompany you to the property, and usually, unless it is unoccupied, set you up with an appoinment for the house owner to show you round - and yes, it can often be VERY awkward!
When we bought our present place, we virtually did gut everything, replacing every bathroom and the kitchen, plus knocking down and rebuilding the main living areas! I wouldn't recommend it for the faint-hearted, that's for sure! Good luck with the house hunting, hope you find something you love.
Five bathrooms? Sweet merciful crap! Who would want five bathrooms to clean??!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the house hunting. I'm the kind of snoopy person who actually enjoys checking out other people's homes... but there is a certain kind of "dirty" (and even some uncluttered homes can be like that) that makes you want to go wash up after spending time in them.
Shrinky - Well, that's an interesting concept: the homeowner, who knows everything there is to know about the home, showing the home! But yes, I can see how awkward that would be....and I'd personally be worried about safety, letting strangers into my home when it's just me here.
ReplyDeleteFlutter - Haven't seen too much dirt, but I'm amazed that folks are too lazy to paint over scuff marks on walls or clean carpet stains!
5 bathrooms would be the turnoff for me. no way i want to clean that many of them.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who loves, loves, loves getting rid of things, even these photos gave me an itch to get in there and start tossing! First to go would be that hot tub!
ReplyDelete