Extreme Home Makeover, Day Five.

[DawnCt1]

I took Wednesday off, it was pouring, yesterday it was still wet and muddy out, but I ventured out this morning after dropping Jude at the groomer, and change since Tuesday is astounding. There is mud everywhere, and its at the point where it actually smells bad. Everyone in the neighborhood will get a lawn makeover, and believe me, it is well deserved. The original reports on the house was that it would be 5500 square feet. I heard Tuesday that it was downsized to 4500 square feet, but that there are 10 rooms in the basement, a media room, and what one of the volunteers described as "cubbie size rooms".
The kitchen is in the back and "huge". The big surprise however was that the garage seems to be an oversized one car garage. In the picture it looks bigger than in person however. The house is wide but it seems that with the depth of the garage, they could have entered it from the side and it would have been big enough for two cars. The driveway goes around the right side of the house.
The set back is the same as the original house and the back yard is getting a new septic and leach field. I was surprised that that area of town is not on public sewers. They have a well, we do too.
Here are the pictures from today. One of the crew took them for me. He was very nice! The spectator area was off to the side and obstructed to some degree with trucks. Today is landscaping day.

 

[lecach]

Does it fit in with the rest of the neighborhood? From what I remember of the other pictures you posted the neighborhood was mostly small houses.

 

[DawnCt1]

Does it fit in with the rest of the neighborhood? From what I remember of the other pictures you posted the neighborhood was mostly small houses.

It honestly isn't that out of place. The house across the street is a longer type ranch with a two car garage. The other houses are capes, ranches, etc. All have at least a one car garage. The width is in keeping with the neighborhood and the set backs are the same. This is in the only colonial in the immediate neighborhood but driving down either end of the street, there are plenty of colonials that have a bigger 'foot print'. In some neighborhoods it would not be the biggest house. It will be the nicest house within 2 miles for sure, but after that, its in a very competitive environment. The landscaping should be fantastic; $40K!

 

[NMAmy]

We have an Extreme Home Makeover house in our area. I drive past it at least once a day. It looks very odd when compared with the other houses in the neighborhood. Pretty--but out of place. It was incredible to see the community coming together to help, though.

When will they be done, Dawn?

 

[DawnCt1]

We have an Extreme Home Makeover house in our area. I drive past it at least once a day. It looks very odd when compared with the other houses in the neighborhood. Pretty--but out of place. It was incredible to see the community coming together to help, though.

When will they be done, Dawn?

This house will look out of place because it is the nicest house in the immediate area. Do you think that could be a two car garage? The spectators I was standing with thought it was a one car as well. It should be done Sunday, when they get back between 2 pm and 3 pm. I have heard that our town is $30,000 in the hole over this. That surprised me, and I don't know if its really true. I haven't seen a "police presence", they have plenty of their own armed security force. Everything else is being done my volunteers, so when I expressed my surprise, this person, who happens to be a builder said that the inspectors; environmental, building, plumbing, electrical, etc. have to constantly be available on the site because it is non stop building. If that's the case, I guess that makes sense.

 

[DawnCt1]

I got this email just a few minutes ago. Makes me wonder how much money ABC actually has in the projects.

]"If we can do this-we can do ANYTHING!"
Quotes from on-site volunteers from the Suffield, CT build this week

We can complete the build and help this family! We are challenging ourselves to a fundraising blitz for the next 48 hours. Please join in our Fundraising Blitz!

Forward this to everyone you know in the next 48 hours!!
We have a critical need for cash
donations for the Build! Can you help?
ANY size donation is welcome.

Donations of any size are needed. Make a difference through your contribution.
Click here to make a cash donation of any size

Please forward this email to friends and family

 

[KAMLEM]

It's hard to tell from pictures, but it looks like a 2 car garage to me. I think that 2 car garages with just one door always look smaller than ones with 2 doors.

 

[DawnCt1]

It's hard to tell from pictures, but it looks like a 2 car garage to me. I think that 2 car garages with just one door always look smaller than ones with 2 doors.

From where I was standing, off to the right, the garage opening looked smaller. A foreman took my camera to the restricted area and took pictures for me. (wasn't that nice? ) Even those who I was standing with thought it was a one car. Now that I have the pictures home, I agree with you. Especially seeing people standing in front of the opening.

 

[clgwli]

We have a one car garage and if that's a one car it's a huge one So I think that is at least a 2 car garage. Looks exactly the same proportions as my dad's 2 car.

Good luck to the winners of the house. I am always fascinated by the homes but wonder how much thought ABC puts into these homes before they build them. A friend of a friend "won" and last I heard he was going to have to sell it. I'll have to ask my friend to see if she knows what happened to them.

 

[DawnCt1]

We have a one car garage and if that's a one car it's a huge one So I think that is at least a 2 car garage. Looks exactly the same proportions as my dad's 2 car.

Good luck to the winners of the house. I am always fascinated by the homes but wonder how much thought ABC puts into these homes before they build them. A friend of a friend "won" and last I heard he was going to have to sell it. I'll have to ask my friend to see if she knows what happened to them.

I think that they will be fine. The mortgage is paid. The taxes are paid, and it isn't as big as I expected. Some people who bought houses have had to sell them and have lost them. If people use their house as an ATM, it is bound to happen.

 

[lovingthemouse]

My time to volunteer is this Sunday from noon - 4 pm. I look forward to seeing the family come home.

 

[DawnCt1]

My time to volunteer is this Sunday from noon - 4 pm. I look forward to seeing the family come home.

How exciting for you. I think we are going to go and watch them come home. They will be so thrilled!

 

[clgwli]

I think that they will be fine. The mortgage is paid. The taxes are paid, and it isn't as big as I expected. Some people who bought houses have had to sell them and have lost them. If people use their house as an ATM, it is bound to happen.

I don't think that my friend's friend was as irresponsible as you are implying. He had his original mortgage to pay as well as double the property taxes. Also much higher utility bills. Big homes aren't always a wonderful thing.