A few of my updates I've bitched and complained. That is because for me the glass is always half empty. When I am presented with a new idea or concept, my mind always goes to the ten things that COULD go wrong, not the ten things that COULD go right. I know this 24/7, but still hard to not do it.
In the grand scheme of things, well things are going really well. I should be more happy about that. I mean much happier.
I was able to get Allstate to pay almost $50,000 more on my claim, so I am getting all new plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. I took out a $22,000 loan, but getting a new roof, new sewer line, and work done with the foundation and sump pump. I now have a "smart" sump pump that will text me updates and has its own battery back-up power. Long story, but where I live this is like the coolest thing in the world.
As for the house itself, all the dry wall and reframing will be done by the end of next week. I can't wait to see it, since the place is just studs at the moment and I've totally reworked the layout of the entire house.
For this I've gotten never ending grief from my mother, which gave me the gene to micromanage and nit-pick everything. Well when we were at the house yesterday with the contractor, floor plans in hand, walking thru it all she was like "Tommy, what you did is just wonderful."
Getting rid of the huge wall between the kitchen/dining room and the living room is going to be great she said. Yeah, mom how much grief did you give me about that?
That huge island, she went on, is going to serve as a "barrier" between the rooms so that is why you got that flipping huge thing? Yes Mom. Also she got why I paid $1,800 extra for granite, budgeted to have the window in the kitchen doubled in size, and $7,500 for an all glass sliding door to the deck, so the place is flooded in natural light and the island can become a secondary office.
She was confused my office was no longer in the large bedroom upstairs with a half bath. I said mom, this is your room. You and dad are here 3-5 days a month so you can see your granddaughter. I wanted to give you a much larger bedroom and the privacy of the half bath.
Mom cries to much and she started to cry saying she now understood why I paid almost as much for a vanity and this super "neat" mirror/medicine cabinet for the half bath, as I did for my bathroom downstairs. I was like trying to make it nice for you. You made things "nice" for me as a kid, playing it forward.
Then we went downstairs, where I caught shit 24/7 because I said I was getting rid of the fifth bedroom. She saw I squared off and enlarged my bedroom. Added a walk-in closet. Increased the size of the bathroom and actually now have it "attached" to the bedroom. Also a new laundry room and a utility room.
She and even my dad, who never gets excited about ANYTHING were blown away. I was like mom, you watch HGTV all day. Why? How did you start doing that? Because I got you hooked on the shows because I watch them.
I hate, I mean I fucking hate a fire had to almost kill me and total my house, but do you think for a second I've not thought if I won the lottery I didn't have a pretty darn good idea exactly what I'd do with this house?
Well, I didn't win the lottery but with the claim and loan I have close to $200,000 to spend (including replacing my personal items). I am doing it the way I want. Not the way you want Mom. Not the way the Contractor suggested. The way I want. I mean it is my fucking house! And now you are seeing I put some thought into it. Not just like do this to do it. Planning involved.
She asked what furniture I was going to put here or there. I said the only piece of furniture I have picked out is a computer desk. I plan to move back in with all my computer stuff. The air mattress I am sleep on at your house. A Rubermaid bin of pots and pans and nothing else.
Want to live in the house for a month. Maybe more. See if I will use the house the way I think and the way I designed it. Then I will start to bring my "old" stuff back and buy new stuff.
But my gut, and don't take offense mom, but there will be rooms with nothing in them. When I bought this place you pushed me and pushed me to fill rooms with "stuff" just to fill rooms.
I am a single dude that lives alone. I have a large 5, now 4 bedroom house. If I am not going to use a room then I am not putting anything in it. I will just spend what I would have there, someplace else where you know, I use it :).
Now I kind of have harped on Mom here.
But she did a VERY good thing last weekend when I ordered all my kitchen appliances. I am a strange dude. I like top-of-the-line cloths and electronics. But I was planning on going "cheap" on kitchen appliances. I mean why do I need a $2,000 fridge? As long as the fridge keeps stuff cold and the freezer freezes stuff, what is the difference?
I was about to pay a pretty small sum of money for all the kitchen appliances. My mom stops me, and bless her heart, wouldn't let me place the order. Said if it was about money (it wasn't), her and dad have money, and she will pay whatever needs to be paid but she won't let me go "cheap."
I was like does a $1,500 gas range boil water faster than a $549 range? Why do I need to be able to get ice without opening the door and putting ice in my glass with my hand?
She is like Tommy, listen to yourself. You have $750 glasses because you cared how they look. You are not buying things that don't look "okay" but you could make your kitchen look great and buy a far better product.
I listened here. I do in fact listen to advice, even if I don't always take it. I've looked at the appliances I eventually bought Sunday a few times each day. And if I do say so myself, they are "fine looking appliances." I still don't understand why I need a fifth burner on my stove, but I guess I have it if I ever need it (I should note I am a foodie, and I cook every meal pretty much from scratch).
So I almost tripled what I had planned to pay to go the Frigidaire Signature line.
Things are good. Contractor, Ray, thinks he will have me in the house the first of July. I am like my 49th birthday is the 12th of July. If I am in the house then, I will bow to you in respect!