So back in Oct of 07 we started getting serious. We had been looking with interest for a few months and did not find a house that fit. We did however find a good lot and a good plan to build. The plan was a 5 bedroom, 2600sft 3 car garage for 595 in the south bellevue area. After discussing things with the Realtor and finding out the builders position we decided to give him a month or so to sit on the property. I guess it is a good idea to go over what we needed.
First because of my trailer i needed a place to park it. That entailed either a large drive way or lagre garage. The second portion was no codes covenants and restrictions on signed/lettered vehicles, boats trailers etc.
The 3rd portion was at least 5 bedrooms. 3 for the family Use, son, daughter, The 4th for an office, and 5th for a guest room. With the guest room it needed to be on the main downstairs floor. My mother has severe arthritis and walking up stairs is not an option.
The size of the place 2200-2600 is what we were hoping for. We did not really give a rats hoot about flooring, counter tops, appliances and the like. We were willing to cut back on those things to get the right house.
Back to letting the builder sit on his land. We spent the next month (now January) looking at houses up and down the 405 corridor, we even checked out some new construction in burien. An older home or two in magnolia etc. After looking at houses for several hours one evening my wife found a listing for the house we ended up purchasing. (12:41 am sunday morning) She promptly stated we were looking at it the next morning. She had me up at 6:02am to go see the house. After piling the kids in we arrived at 7 am or so. Did a walk around the house and new we wanted to see the inside.
Our Realtor was helping another client that day, so we waited a day or two and then toured the interior. The Realtor did a bit of common Realtor work, ie the CCR's who built it etc.
He then promptly spent the next 3 weeks negotiating Price, fixes, buyer bonus and changes. Once that was hammered out we made the final offer of 485k with 12.5k in buyer bonus, the caveat was we needed to close in 30 days. YIKES. i never realized how stressful that would be. March first the ball started rolling. By march 15th or so i started to feel some sinus pressure. I went in for antibiotics. That went well for 7 days, then I ended up with a raging ear infection. Fever over 100 for 7 days. The doc gave me a new antibiotic and vicodin to control the fever and pain. Then came the 2nd ear infection (not nearly as bad) Every time i would miss the vicodin, The fever would sky rocket back up. I went back on the 7th or 8th day, The doc re-upped my antibiotics. I finished those out around the time we closed on the house. I still could barely hear out of my right ear, it rung like a bell and screamed like a jet engine. Back to the doc, onto my 4th set of antibiotics.
After being sick for 20+ days at the end of march. We closed on our house april 1st (no joke). I then spent the next 20 days or so Getting the 20 days of customers taken care of. I have Bastos Bill Remaining. For those that know I lived 4-5 houses down from Lance.
We moved to Des Moines. Here are a few shots of the new house before we moved in.
Breakfast nook and kitchen
Range and breakfast bar
Formal Dining room and Formal living room
3rd Bathroom, full sized i just did not take a photo of the tub and shower surround.
The first shot of the 4 car garage
2nd Looking back into the house from garage bay 1
Garage bay 3 door, with the 4th bay in the back.
Front entry door.
Family room with guest bedroom off to the right
Upstairs 2nd bath room, the downstairs 3rd baths looks the same but with only one sink.
My son's room. The light of my life is walking in to the room.
My daughters room
Upstairs landing
Master bedroom, Master closet 1 is right next to the master fire place. Master bath is to the left of the French doors.
Master bath 1. Tub, Shower, and Head
Master bath 2 Sinks and master closet 2
My office where i am currently typing this up.
Front of the house
Side
Back
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Originally Posted by Old No.7
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