Getting IN the House

If you're super-cool and read my last post about our new house then continue reading, if not then you should click HERE  and become part of the super-cool kids. Then continue reading =)

So after all of our legal red tape was completed, our next task (and so far the biggest) was simply to make the house livable! 

Because the home was a bankruptcy , we couldn't have it inspected unless we wanted to pay someone a lot of money to look at everything EXCEPT for the electrical, water, heat and air unit, etc. Not my idea of a good time. 

We knew going in that the first things we had to replace were the electrical meter box and breaker box, hot water heater, and have the water turned back on. 

Luckily enough I married a pretty handy redneck whose brother is a contractor (and a much bigger redneck) and whose father was a civil engineer. Combine that with a Realtor who was very patient and willing to meet us multiple times to comb through the house top to bottom, so we were pretty darn sure it was structurally sound when we made an offer. It was risky with the unknowns of water and electrical, but like I said earlier, we got it for a heck of a deal.

Push Mower?? What's that?
I have NO problem imagining the Smith boys doing this.... 

So we made an offer, waited on the courts to wade through 3 months of red tape, and came out smelling like….a 3 year empty house!!

First up was electrical. The hubby, living on a farm (like I said, certified redneck) and being a mechanic, was fairly certain that with a little help he could do the work himself. I was a bit skeptical, but he really did his homework, called in some favors, bought the permits and got everything installed, connected and PASSED inspection with flying colors!!!

Big man in a little closet =P

Pop diligently helping with the electrical

 The inspector was pretty tough, but he was also very thorough and helpful, giving some tips on things we needed to do for us to pass the next inspection (once we hooked up the heat and air unit, stove, oven, etc.).

Next was water, we called the in-laws to help with that adventure. We placed ourselves strategically throughout (and under) the house to yell if anything…ya know…started spewing gallons through a wall. Joyfully it was a very unexciting adventure. No leaks, no burst pipes, and no wet walls (YIPPEE).

The last step before moving in was to paint the master bedroom. Easy? No. But that’s a WHOLE other story…..

Blessings!

~Andrea