Yep Space, I've learned over the years of watching those 'home renovation' shows on TV, AND doing a massive rehab on one of my rentals after my tenant completely trashed it, that almost any house (provided it still has good 'bones') can be put back together, better than before. It's work, it's planning, and of course a lot of cash.

They did a really nice upgrade on this old 1935 house that had NO work done on it since it was built except a new roof about 25 years ago (which was still good). I gotta give this reno corp kudos for making it a showplace.

Although I still haven't seen the 'real' deal over there, I think that all the flooring, which looks like dark wood, is actually ceramic tile. They did a LOT of tile cutting out on the porch. I can hardly wait for an open house IF they ever have one. They made some nice changes like getting rid of the stupid 4x8 bathroom in the laundry area and moving it to the master bedroom. AND they also put in a connection for the icemaker in the fridge area. Also I noticed gas hookups in the laundry area. They moved the water heater from the original clothes closet in the back bedroom to OUTSIDE the house in a steel cabinet (the recommended method per our building codes). That looks ugly, but it returned the bedroom to being a real bedroom with closet.

Bad part is they put the master bedroom in FRONT which is actually TWO fronts because it fronts on a corner of my street and the address of the house street which T's into mine. That makes it doubly noisy and the stop sign is right there so lots of cars will be hesitating right next to the bed. Oh dear. Gonna take LOADS of heavy shades and curtains.

I still can't fathom that price! Ugh!

have been watching your posts and that house is beautiful compared to what you said . who ever buys that house will sure be lucky to have such a nice place

It sure is gorgeous. It's just not the 'norm' for our little old neighborhood. Looks like a fish out of water. Beautiful, yep. I'm amazed at the changes.

Right now the 'head' guy we saw a lot (probably the pres of the company) is there. He put out some doormats and has the front door wide open. He's pacing back and forth in the living room, we assume waiting for someone he's supposed to show the house to. Don't see him except when all workers are gone and he comes in to 'inspect'. This will be our first prospects. We are anxious to see who it is, what car they drive, etc. You can tell a lot by appearances. I'm praying for a good, quiet owner who will be a nice neighbor.

I like the blue Sorta but I don't like the dark roof on it though I'm not sure what would go with it. I think that kitchen would make me dizzy.

There was an OPEN house last night! Gee, it started at 4 pm. How weird. I ran down back and woke up my tenant/friend and dragged him over to see the inside of the newly renovated dump. There was just one lady realtor and she sure needed some action so I felt pretty good 'entertaining' her. SHE was awesome. She said she was just sitting home with nothing to do and since it's the start of a holiday weekend, she decided to just come over and see if anyone would be around.

Told us her whole life story and all about the Renovation Company that did the house. She's worked for them for 12 years. Turns out that SHE has lived across town most of her life, in a huge beautiful Victorian house that I daily drove by and lusted after. It was a lovely light blue most of the time. THEN she and hubby divorced and HE got the house. Just to spite her, he painted it pumpkin orange. Ha. What a mess that was. SHE moved to Texas to take care of her ailing mom, got a nursing degree, and then eventually came back here to live...just 8 houses from the ex hubby! THEY don't get along at all so it's gotta be fun.

She had pictures of stuff in the house before they bought it and before the renovation started that I never saw, which thankfully settled the argument between my friend and I about where things had changed. I win! AND she showed us the 'METH lab stuff' that I mentioned about us getting the raid done. Right there, on a dresser, were several 'ingredients'! I was right. Yup. Got that police raid at a good time before something blew up.

We also found out that they have alarms all over (those ones you buy tiny things motion activated). They work. Yup, we set one off when we all walked around the back to see the garage. Was fun. Now we know where they all are and what in the house works, and what needs 'adjustment'. We told her about that DANGEROUS sidewalk/gate step down. She had already tripped over it herself. Yup, it's gotta be fixed.

AND the renovation company turns out to be ALL ONE FAMILY. They all are related by blood or marriage. Nice, no wonder they worked so well and didn't seem to have a 'boss' there telling them what to do. They all put in money and they all work and all share the profits. Each one has his job. Good to know.

So the house itself, is well overpriced. Looks great, but the living room is tiny, the bedrooms are tiny, the bathrooms are tiny, the 'flow' is unusual and although it's nice, I didn't feel at all comfy in there. Not because of it's history, just because I couldn't imagine myself living there with the KITCHEN being the biggest room in the house. So strange.

The dark floors are indeed wood, but they look like laminate. Pretty, but way dark and will soon show every bit of dirt and scratches. So shiny you would have to constantly tend to them. IT was so hot over there. No windows open, and we advised to open the back door so the wind could blow through. She did, made it much better. And the front porch was bare wood and they painted it with REGULAR paint and it's already wearing off all over. Not a good choice. It will need some real DECK paint.

Still no mailbox, and she didn't have keys for a lot of the gates so we had to go the long way to the garage, which sadly, they didn't rehab. Just painted the outside, fixed the mechanic's pit (filled it in per city requirement) and left a wall from the parking area (which used to be a nice workshop) to the little 'office'. The wall is mostly studs and broken lath. The wall board which was all over the entire garage is gone and only bare studs remain. I assume they ripped all that out because of the squatter's using it for a potty. Happened to me in our shared 'shed' before we bought the place too. The other tenants were using it as a weight lifting room/drinking den and urinating on the walls. We tore out tons of soggy, smelly wall board. Ugh.

So this nice chatty gal told us WHO would be considered for buying the house. Must be a TWO person income or one above $120k with great credit. No one who makes that much is going to want to buy in THIS neighborhood. It's not an upscale place. Not even close. The house value would be less than the mortgage from what I'm following on the tax sites. Not a good investment. AND to build a second house on the land (permitted) it can't be a prefab, or a mobile home, or anything just brought in and put there. It has to be a 'ground up' build exactly like the original and the same size. Wow! Learned a lot. It pays to go over and make nicey nice with people.

Not many people stopped by and no one that looked 'well-off'. You never know though, because this area is prone to 'extended family groups' and it just might be bought by a multi-family group and they would all cram in there. Time will tell. I can't even guess, but at least I know the cost and what it will take to buy it.

Not for me, bad history and just weird inside. Feels more like a double wide mobile home. Really. Soon it will say 'sold' and then begins another era.

How very interesting! I sort of got that feeling looking at the pictures too - kind of a cold feel to it. But I'm sure someone with the right touch could make it more homey. I do like their "minimalist" staging though.

Wonder what the original "bad gal" thinks about HER house all fixed up.

Glad you got a tour, Sorta! Sounds interesting!

Awesome Sorta.

I thought I'd post this here also in addition to my thread about me being on TV. This was really a fun day. I'm now the local 'star'. So far no fire bombings, no drive by shootings, no nasty phone calls, but there is always tomorrow after everyone sees the interview.

http://www.10news.com/news/chula-vista-house-washes-away-dark-past-070116

Stay safe! Awesome Interview!

Cool! Boy, housing prices are certainly inflated where you live, Sorta. That house would probably sell for half of what they're asking here in Ohio where I live. Is that fencing going to stay up? It looks out of place to me.

Prices here are HUGE. Californians, especially Southern Californians are used to double, triple, or more prices on everything. Median price of a home in San Diego is 500k. In my area (which is an old area and small houses from the 30's to 50's) the prices topped out at 5-600k and then the real estate market dropped to half of that. Now it's almost back to the top again. Houses selling for about 400k in my neighborhood for a SMALL 2 bedroom, cottage style. This new redo is nice inside, but still small. Three bedrooms, the largest is only big enough for a double bed. Not what I'd pay $469,900 for. Nope. AND the garage is still yukky inside. They did nothing to make it look nice except to replace the broken window and door at the back and put in a real, normal electric garage door. I guess that was something.

As for that fence. Yup, the whole house is a mis-match. We all shook our heads as it progressed. First the Navy Blue dark house in a neighborhood of light, earth-toned houses. Then the redwood fencing, left natural color which looked OK before they painted over the previous white house. Then the peach colored front door, which was white at first. That matches nothing. Time will tell if the new owners will change some things. I hope so. Lots to do, and lots of safety concerns like that step-down at the front gate. Very dangerous. We all tripped over it, including the real estate gal and some of the hopeful buyers. Gotta be fixed before someone gets hurt. Back driveway fence is a joke too. Not a good position. Some things they just didn't think about.

If I moved East, with my meager income, I could easily afford a huge, lovely house. As it is, I was very lucky to take over my entire property (which is THREE houses and 2/3 of an acre of land) from my Landlord in 1998 and paid less than half the going price now for one house and I got all 3. Great deal. But then I'd rented from that family for 20 years. They liked me, the hubby died, and the wife sold me the property because it had sentimental memories for her. I'm thrilled to be the Landlord, the rents cover my mortgage and I've got wonderful renters who have been here almost as long as I have (relatives of the original landlords). My other house has a good friend who got a divorce and sold his house and moved in as my renter. We all get along and everyone is right on time with the rent. Nice.

This is quite the happy ending.