House Hunting Sunday

This Sunday we went to see three houses, all in Ross Township. Unfortunately, we did not have the same experience as in the South Hills, and we basically hated everything. The locations of the houses were all pretty dismal: narrow streets, unkempt yards and landscaping, crackling paint, houses too close together. There wasn't much of a suburban feel and all the lots felt small and cramped, and not very private.

Here is the run-down of what we saw:

House 1

Location: Ross Township

Stats: 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Cape Cod

Pros: It had four large bedrooms and a fenced-in yard. The kitchen and bathrooms were re-done. The downstairs had a finished GR.

Cons: There was no separate dining room, the yard was small, the driveway could only fit one car. The common living areas were cramped with only a Living Room, with no space for even a small table. The upstairs bathroom had been cramped into what seemed to be a teeny closet (not even 3ft-wide).

Verdict: It doesn't work for us.

Having extra bedrooms is nice, but we are not bedroom dwellers, so we need a larger living area and a separate dining area.

Major conclusion: We want large living spaces.

House 2

Location: Ross Township

Stats: 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Outside was similar to a Dutch Colonial, inside was Victorian.

Pros: High ceilings, beautiful staircase and fire-places, nicely spaced living area, two-car garage.

Cons: A lot of the improvements were done with really bad craftsmanship: loose vent covers, sloped flooring, exposed plywood (that was falling off) in basement storage area, etc.

Verdict: Not for us.

We felt like this house was not really our style. Plus, we were afraid that it would turn into a Money Pit given the appearance of some of the shoddy updates.

Major conclusion: Look closely at the updates of a house to make sure they are done well.

House 3

Location: Ross Township

Stats: 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, first-floor FR

Pros: We liked the first-floor family room. The kitchen was set-up nicely and in good shape. The living area was a nice size.

Cons: The basement smelled damp, the yard was very small, the location was absolutely awful! The house was located on the corner of a very busy road and sat very close to the road. The houses across the street were in disrepair. One house had "House under masonic siege" written under the eaves. WTH?

Verdict: Definitely no!

Major conclusion: Location is a deal-breaker before we even step inside.

Note to home sellers: It was weird to have us give a treat to your (crated) dog. First off, he didn't care. Secondly, it was like if you needed proof we were there. You should be giving the dog treats yourself. Should we have tossed the laundry in the dryer while we were down there?