Progress

I'm behind on posting, but here are some updates.

The Basement (AKA former Lower Swamp)
Carpet removed, most of the moldy sheetrock removed. Water is drying up, gutter propped up so it won't overflow onto the side of the house anymore (how the water got into the basement in the first place). Much of the garbage is removed. The water heater was not working properly but I got a new thermostat for it and have not had any problems since! Still smells like mildew, I have a ways to go.

Basement Common Room

Basement Common Room

Basement Bedroom #1

Basement Bedroom #2

Basement Bedroom #2

Main floor (AKA Tolerable with potential)
The wood floors have been scrubbed (to be refinished another time), walls washed, paint bought, wallpaper planned, stove coming in 6 days. A lot still needs to be done, but I'm officially moving in on the 1st of May so I've got about three weeks to get the upstairs livable (and to pass insurance inspections).

Front Room - Soon to be pained a light Sage Green/Green tea on the walls, with Cream trim and a white ceiling

Front Room - I also just bought two wing back chairs in a perfectly matching cream color. Yay craigslist deals!

Lots to do still!

Got the house!!

On March 16 I signed the documents. On March 21, the deed was officially recorded as mine.

Much cause for celebration! I all had a lot of doubts as to whether this transaction would actually go through. All of us involved are still surprised. It has been a year-and-a-half in the waiting but it is finally mine.

Now for the "fun" part: restoration.

Timing is everything. I had to leave on the 16th to go out of state for work for a couple weeks, so in the meantime my family stepped up to start tearing out the moldy sheet rock and soggy carpet in the basement, scrubbing the greasy cupboards and disposing of trash. I return home tomorrow to join in the fun. For your "enjoyment" here are some photos of the pretty gross situation... there's a reason this house was so cheap!

Before

After

Here's an update from my mom who jumped in to help (how awesome is that! THANKS MOM!)

Slowly but surely...
Last of the carpet removed from basement. Probably need a new hot water heater; we had a mini flood but it's better now. Worked more on the perma-grease in the kitchen - all upper cupboards are now scrubbed and disinfected even if they may not look clean. Lower cupboards should be easier as they are lined with linoleum squares.
Your father has now met neighbors behind (R and A with preschool son J) and neighbor to the right as you look at the house (D who has a small white dog that we met first.) He also met some other guy who came asking if we had found his gun holster, which we hadn't and the mail man.

That's it for now. Stay tuned...
Emily