Here is the before:
The After:
We hope to add some landscaping stones and we just planted some lily bulbs along the foundation that should be coming up in a month.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Finally Getting to the Landscaping
Finally, this Fourth of July weekend I got to do some work on our awful front yard. Since we removed the pine tree from the front, we could not get any grass to grow. Sick of looking at the weeds I had to do something and I was not into the idea of paying for sod. I don't mind mowing when grass is already there, but to pay to put in something that means that much more work for me.
Here is the before:
The After:
We hope to add some landscaping stones and we just planted some lily bulbs along the foundation that should be coming up in a month.
Here is the before:
The After:
We hope to add some landscaping stones and we just planted some lily bulbs along the foundation that should be coming up in a month.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
City Troubles
As I discussed in previous posts, we had intended to rehab our windows. We planned to do a lot of it ourselves, and move along a bit slowly.
Well, this Saturday, we got in the mail a summons to go to a hearing. Apparently the Chicago Department of Public Health cited our property as having lead paint violations on every window and all soffits. The property was cited on June 21st, 2007, and re-inspected in September of 2007. We bought it in February of 2008.
No disclosures were made regarding the lead paint by the seller, our inspector didn't find it, our appraiser didn't mention it, and the title search did not come up with the citation.
Now we have to go to a hearing on July 8th (so we only got 2 weeks notice essentially, since it arrived on a Saturday) to answer why the violations were not fixed according to a Mitigation Plan that we did not know existed!!!
Worse, the violations are subject to a $500 per day, per violation fine!!
We contacted the attorney who helped us with the closing, and will be working on this.
We will keep you posted.
Well, this Saturday, we got in the mail a summons to go to a hearing. Apparently the Chicago Department of Public Health cited our property as having lead paint violations on every window and all soffits. The property was cited on June 21st, 2007, and re-inspected in September of 2007. We bought it in February of 2008.
No disclosures were made regarding the lead paint by the seller, our inspector didn't find it, our appraiser didn't mention it, and the title search did not come up with the citation.
Now we have to go to a hearing on July 8th (so we only got 2 weeks notice essentially, since it arrived on a Saturday) to answer why the violations were not fixed according to a Mitigation Plan that we did not know existed!!!
Worse, the violations are subject to a $500 per day, per violation fine!!
We contacted the attorney who helped us with the closing, and will be working on this.
We will keep you posted.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
2 Dead Birds in My Yard
I found 2 dead birds in my yard today when I took the dogs out. I am working on recovering from being a bit sick, so I didn't go out there yesterday, but I know for sure neither dead bird was there this weekend.
The dead birds were about 1.5 feet apart. I am pretty sure both were Starlings. Two dead so close together is strange. I hope this is not an indicator that West Nile is making a resurgence in Chicago.
One of them looked like some of it had been eaten by one of the dogs. My vet says that dogs can carry West Nile Virus, but are rarely made ill by it.
Time to break out the mosquito spray!!
The dead birds were about 1.5 feet apart. I am pretty sure both were Starlings. Two dead so close together is strange. I hope this is not an indicator that West Nile is making a resurgence in Chicago.
One of them looked like some of it had been eaten by one of the dogs. My vet says that dogs can carry West Nile Virus, but are rarely made ill by it.
Time to break out the mosquito spray!!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
New Bistro Table for our porch
We found a very cute Bistro Table and Chairs on Craigslist.
This house has a beautiful covered porch, and now we have a pretty table and chairs set so we can eat out on our porch!
This house has a beautiful covered porch, and now we have a pretty table and chairs set so we can eat out on our porch!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Countertop is in
The countertop is in!!
We went with 'tan brown' granite.
I think it looks really good.
We went with a darker color to ground the kitchen, since the kitchen has light cabinets, light walls, and light floors, we felt we needed something a bit darker in a countertop to tie it all together.
We also put in a light fixture. Thanks so much to my dad for the electrical work.
All we need now is plates on the outlets, trim on the windows, and baseboards and the kitchen is good to go.
Let us know what you think.
We went with 'tan brown' granite.
I think it looks really good.
We went with a darker color to ground the kitchen, since the kitchen has light cabinets, light walls, and light floors, we felt we needed something a bit darker in a countertop to tie it all together.
We also put in a light fixture. Thanks so much to my dad for the electrical work.
All we need now is plates on the outlets, trim on the windows, and baseboards and the kitchen is good to go.
Let us know what you think.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Our Windows
We have 26 windows.
9 of those are 3, 3 window spreads.
8 are single upstairs windows
8 are single basement windows
1 is a stained glass window, which was rehabbed by Goodwood Studios
I am including a few pictures that provide an overview, but not all windows
We would like to rehab the windows, and leave them as a stained wood, rather than painted white.
I hope this is possible, but right now I can't even get someone out to look at the windows at all.
I want to do a lot of it myself, and really want a contractor around to rebuild what I cannot rehab (it will be extensive), and help make sure I am on the right path. But maybe I should just start on myown, and see what I can do.
Living Room
inside outside
Dining Room
Bedroom
Bathroom
Basements
There are 3 different types of window in the basement. One basement window is completely missing.
9 of those are 3, 3 window spreads.
8 are single upstairs windows
8 are single basement windows
1 is a stained glass window, which was rehabbed by Goodwood Studios
I am including a few pictures that provide an overview, but not all windows
We would like to rehab the windows, and leave them as a stained wood, rather than painted white.
I hope this is possible, but right now I can't even get someone out to look at the windows at all.
I want to do a lot of it myself, and really want a contractor around to rebuild what I cannot rehab (it will be extensive), and help make sure I am on the right path. But maybe I should just start on myown, and see what I can do.
Living Room
inside outside
Dining Room
Bedroom
Bathroom
Basements
There are 3 different types of window in the basement. One basement window is completely missing.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Just Sashes tomorrow
John from Just Sashes comes to tell me if rehabbing our wooden windows is a do-able thing tomorrow.
UPDATE:
He didn't make it last Wednesday, so we rescheduled for today (5/12) at 7:00 am. It is now 8:00, and I haven't heard anything yet. I really hope he calls back.
UPDATE AGAIN:
He never called back. I have called every day since Monday. It is Saturday now. I hope nothing happened to them.
I am also beginning to worry that it is me. Does he just not want to work with me, so he blows off 2 appointments without calling to turn me off without him just saying "I don't want the job"
UPDATE:
He didn't make it last Wednesday, so we rescheduled for today (5/12) at 7:00 am. It is now 8:00, and I haven't heard anything yet. I really hope he calls back.
UPDATE AGAIN:
He never called back. I have called every day since Monday. It is Saturday now. I hope nothing happened to them.
I am also beginning to worry that it is me. Does he just not want to work with me, so he blows off 2 appointments without calling to turn me off without him just saying "I don't want the job"
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