What a difference the right (or wrong) owner makes…
This 1990 manufactured home had been completely rebuilt from the studs out by a former owner. They installed new exterior siding, new windows, a 40-year asphalt shingle roof, a generous deck & an entry porch canopy. On the inside, they installed a new kitchen, laminate wood flooring, wood base trim and closet adjustable shelving.
Along comes the next (bad) owner…..
Sometimes we feel like this business is adult day care. The next owner had used the property as a hoarder’s storage lot and rented the place out to people who added to the junk pile. When we met the tenants, we made a cash for keys deal and unbelievably they removed all the vehicles, including the derelict bus. They had done some minor interior work - painting the base trim black, for example, but for the most part just stayed high as kites for the majority of their tenancy.
The wood flooring was in good shape, just in need of a deep cleaning. Scrap out would include removal of bulky furniture left behind.
Existing kitchen cabinets & counter tops were in good condition but in need, like the floors, of a deep, thorough cleaning. The light fixtures would not have been a first choice but were kept, again with LED bulbs for brightness, to save on costs.
A site full of junk….
The tenant’s bus was such an eyesore that it took imagination and faith that the home & property would meet the goal of being market ready & attractive to buyers.
Our first steps were to haul away all the junk left behind by the tenant & former owner. Cleaning up the site would then give a better sense of landscaping requirements. There was a broad, unattractive but utilitarian gravel parking area instead of a front lawn.
Happiness is….. a clean floor. The walls were painted antique white and the base & door trim, requiring multiple coats, were painted bright white. We kept many of the original light fixtures in order to stay within budget but did replace their bulbs with bright LED bulbs to make the space feel warm & inviting.
We installed a new stove but kept the overhead fan. The existing sink & faucet were replaced with a reasonably priced box store stainless steel all-in-one unit. Not replacing the kitchen was a win both from a cost savings and sustainability standpoint. Considering the rough behavior of the tenants, we were shocked at its great condition.
….an example of a former owner’s pride of ownership
The prior owner’s had installed a 40-year asphalt shingle roof on the original mobile, it’s porch extension and the detached garage.
The exterior paint was in good condition but there was some fading in spots as well as the need for touch up painting. The color could not be matched exactly. The choice became clear - spend some more money for a quality paint job and enhanced curb appeal.
The canopy’s roof was properly installed so it was self supporting. A code violation we commonly see in after market roof extensions is that they extend from the main roof, adding part of their snow load to that original roof. structure because there is no column support at the new roof connection point. Any qualified home inspector or, with a VA loan, an L & I inspector, will flag this requiring a last minute scramble to remedy the code violation before closing.
Finished dining room with french door access to the deck.
Master bedroom with existing fan / light assembly and corner windows.
The approach road (see video link below) is so narrow that any larger vehicle or trailer set-up would need the expansive gravel area in front to maneuver. This gravel was well hard packed & not removable so the decision was made to use 3 yards of beauty bark as accent areas: the house front, the septic “island” and along the periphery fence. Heather and shallow rooted evergreen ground cover was added at the septic area and (3) mid-sized rhododendrons were installed in a beauty barked bed chipped into the gravel along the front of the home.
A walk around the exterior before work had begun….
…and a walk through the interior before work had begun.