The last piece of trim is supposed to happen this am. And then the remainder of the check for the roof windows and siding shall be written.
I think we figured out the wonky kitchen ceiling. I'll have to take pics this weekend and post. We're running 2x4's across the joists after taking off the lath. The 2x4's won't follow the wave that's in the ceiling where a joist is higher than the rest (which of course wasn't a problem for plaster-just make it extra thick there). By dropping and shimming if needed, we're getting it all even and level. Next up-hang the ceiling in drywall and get some cabinets in this place!!
(I imagine I won't be
until AFTER they are all done. I've never done cabinets but given nothing is completely level or square I imagine some swearing will be involved). I am actually glad at this point that I went with smaller uppers instead of trying to go ceiling height, I think that would have been a nightmare. As it is, they will align with the top of the window trim, which will leave a space, but look even and be low enough that if there is a difference in level across the ceiling it shouldn't be as obvious as if they were right up by it. We put in a 2x6 turned the long way between the studs as a "nailer" for the uppers so at least we won't be hunting for studs, and I do know about the trick of putting a 1 by on the wall to place them on to make hanging easier. I just know the lowers are going to be requiring shimming and shimmying. Can't complain too much though, I know old houses are a challenge and I bought it anyway lol.
The historian hasn't found any pictures other than the ones I've already located. So I have nothing that predates the 50's era white siding, but at least I resolved the question of what was there originally. He said he'd stop by one day when I was there working on it.
In the mean time, I've tried to look at a couple other places and something always come up (owner decided he couldn't show it when I scheduled the showing, the listing expired and the bank that owns it got pissed at the broker and is switching agencies) or I get outbid. There are three I have an eye on that are NOT on the market, I just need to decide if I want to write letters and if I do, to which one. One is behind on taxes, one is an out of state owner and one has had the occupancy permit pulled. The out of state owner house was total
the second I saw it. The behind on taxes house is kind of
like some details that don't belong were just slapped on to try to dress it up and it looks like there's a big mess in the back yard. The no occupancy house is not an old house, it's a 50's ranch, but it's cute in a ranch way. We actually bought the Cottage when it wasn't for sale by writing a letter, but it had been for sale (the listing expired) and we knew the story. I don't know much about any of them, except a little about the ranch. I feel so akward writing the letter (hey, you wanna sell your house? lol)-and WAY more so if they call (the Po of the Cottage emailed, but I think the owners of all three are older and are more likely to call). I know the ranch needs a LOT of interior work (like, gut EVERYTHING) but it is the smallest. The out of state owner house needs exterior work but I haven't stopped and been rude by peering in windows (it's vacant) so I don't know how bad the inside is. I have a guess that the behind on taxes house needs work inside and out. I was hoping for something a little less intense than the Bungalow, but the only one I found was a FSBO priced about 10K too high-no profit margin so no reason to bother. There are a couple forclosures I've been watching but there's no way to tell when they will hit the market-I think one is a zombie, it's been vacant and "in the process" for about 5 years now. So I don't think it's worth waiting on them. Ah, decisions. I am probably writing a letter on the out of state owner house because of the three, it's the one I'd be most upset about missing if it did end up for sale-and if the buyer didn't fix it, I'd be REALLY upset. And if any of the REOS came up in the mean time (meaning I wouldn't have the $$ to buy them) I would be ok with choosing that one over one of those.