I am pursuing a dream inspired by home improvement shows, a passion for restoring vintage houses to their original glory and an old-fashioned belief in real estate as a means of wealth building.
I finally did it; I was the winning bidder and closed on my dream fixer-upper at auction on April 23, 2021. Now for the fun part, accepting its flaws and fixing them before my new investment comes tumbling down to the ground in addition to sustaining my already established life in Albuquerque, NM. I have my work cut out for me, be careful what you wish for.
I made my first visit after closing on the home, signed, sealed, and on-the-way to being delivered. I took a “journey is the destination” approach and really savored every moment of my long awaited road trip. The drive was filled with one horse towns, protestant churches, tagged cattle, water towers, rainbows, miles of green grass and open land as far as the eye could see. Considering I was travelling into “God’s Country,” Blake Shelton was my artist of choice, thus streaming his greatest hits was an essential detail to my authentic experience.
The home I won on Auction.com is truly remarkable. It is a two-story, 2590 square foot, traditional Sears home built in 1910 – 1912. I was attracted to the listing because of its beautifully sustained windows, original hardwood floors, two bathrooms with cast iron soaking tubs, breathtaking curb appeal, manicured grass, high ceilings, porch, well-cared for street with obvious community pride and did I mention, returning to the Country where life is just nice.
I knew what I was getting into (for the most part) as the photographer and/or listing agent was not shy about disclosing images of the balding roof and subsequent water damage that requires pretty immediate attention. The real curve-ball I was not expecting is upon turning the corner to the upstairs bathroom and discovering a semi-enclosed toilet full of human waste. My first thought was oh no, sewage is backed-up and leaking into the home but upon finishing up with my pictures and hitting the road jack, I realized there are several possibilities. I am pretty sure this was the cause of my throbbing migraine on the drive home but hey, this is what I always wanted and no one ever promised me it would be easy.
Upon re-evaluating the images, I believe the likely cause of our toilet situation is a squatter and/or maybe a disgruntled owner but I still have to get it out asap which is a daunting task. I also need to seal up that roof and mitigate the water damage if this historic dwelling stands a chance at surviving; no pressure of course.
I was able to capture some pretty amazing images and many thanks to my Albuquerque, NM daycare families plus digital clients for their flexibility.
