BIG NEWS! - HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Yipee! 

Finally - after writing contracts on 7 runner ups ....I have a winner! 

The new Little House has arrived!!

It has taken a while to find just the right one, but I think this one has great potential, and I am very excited to get to work! 

Pros:

It is closer to my home & work than the last little house, so commuting will be even easier.

There is a cool stream out back behind it 

(but it's safe - not in a flood zone) 

My friend Tina has decided to join me in the project - which should be loads of fun :) 

Cons:

I have to close in a week and a half - or it might not happen 

(Gulp!) 

There is a UST ( Oil tank - buried in the back yard )  to contend with - not a huge deal, and nothing I have not dealt with before,  but something that we will have to address right away. 

The previous owners did some "updating" that we will have to undo, to get the house to be as cute as it can be - but that can all be done fairly quickly. 

I can't wait to get started! 

Pictures soon! 

B

Wow! 

Was that ever a whirlwind!
 Phew

I listed the house Friday of Labor Day weekend,  knowing that many people would be out of town , but deciding that I could not wait another day. 

That day there were 3 showings, and a few more Saturday.

 By the time Sunday rolled around, I had 17 appointments. Ultimately I ended up canceling many of those because we already had two offers, and I really did not see any need to get into a frenzy. The little house is great, but I knew all along there was a limit to how much it would appraise for - so ...as soon as we hit that number, I decided to keep the traffic out of the house. 

I had been at the little house, working, during many of the showings, so I had the opportunity to meet the two people that later wrote contracts. This only made the process harder. 

 I had two offers, from two very different people , but both seemed to love the little house. Of course I was excited for the house to go to someone that would love it. 

Ultimately I had to be practical , and I chose completely based upon the numbers. 

Then, a few days after the contract was ratified, I received a beautiful note that blew me away! 

A note from the buyer that DID NOT get the contract! 

How nice is that? 

I was having a particularly busy day, and running around like a banshee , when I noticed this in my box. 
It really made me stop and think about everything, so Thank you Meghan! 

It was incredibly thoughtful of you to take the time to find my address, and write me a note.
 I sincerely appreciate it. 

Meghan's note made me realize that throughout this project, I have come in contact with so many GREAT people that I would not have met, were it not for the little house. 

This little house has been such a happy project.
 I have loved it.
I am hoping to have another one to start on soon, so I won't miss this one too much when it closes. :) 


UPDATE ...
News today that the appraisal came in. Everything is great, nothing needs to be done! Always good to hear! 

2418 Agra Drive, Henrico Virginia, 23238

5...4...3...2...1....

And we are LIVE on MLS !!!

As of 1:15am September 4th 

If you know of anyone looking for a 3 bedroom, 1 bath home in Henrico, VA 

 Please have them give me a call. 

Thanks!!

2418 Agra Drive 

Henrico, VA 23228

$149,900

Thank you All for being so supportive of the Little House Project! 

I have loved it, and really hope that this will be the first of many. 

xo 

B

Bridget Hodgson

(804)564-9040

Long & Foster

5702 Grove Ave

Richmond, Virginia 

23226

www.BHodgsonRVA.com

Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Photo Update - it's time!!

Drum Roll Please................

The Awning is up! 

It's hard to tell from the photos, but it is cute. It is a simple, standing seam , shed style. 

This new design allows much more light into the front door, yet still keeps the rain off of the entrance. 

I liked it so much, that I decided to make a similar/smaller version, over the back door. 

The rest of this post is just going to be a quick photo update - because I have to get to bed. 

I am meeting the plumber at the house tomorrow morning @ 7:45am to get the last items finished.  The kitchen sink faucet & the water line to the refrigerator will finally be installed.

Then , the photographer will come to get the "real" pictures around noon. 

Sara Eastman is coming to photograph it for me, and I am very excited about that. She does  I beautiful work and has a creative edge that I rarely see in real estate photographs. 

I will post them asap. 

( Steps to the attic)

Thank you for all of the kindness & support throughout this process! I have received the nicest calls, texts and emails this week, from friends far and near. 

You are all so thoughtful to take time out to encourage me , and I sincerely appreciate it! 

xo 

B

FIGS!!

 Figs, Figs,  everywhere! 
Can't believe this is the same tree that I was worried about just 6 months ago! I am going to have to start looking for Fig recipes soon. 
Let me know if you're a fan, I am happy to share! 

Here are a few shots of the yard. 

I have been here there and everywhere this Summer, so John has been keeping up with the yard for me. 
It is really coming along!

The backyard is great. Definitely enough room for a party, a tent, a stickball game ...whatever!  

I need to put a couple of chairs out on the patio before we list next week, and get the mail slot installed. 

I am not sure if I ever mentioned in previous posts but, the little house is at the end of the street. 
These days (at least here in RVA) we call this is called a Cul de Sac. In NY, we would have called it a dead end!

Whatever the name- it makes for a very quiet spot.
 The only people coming down past the little house are going very slow, and turning around.

Here's a look @ the view from the front door. 

                                                                                                    

John also picked up and assembled the kitchen Island 

 while I was away. 

( Does he know how to spoil me or what!?!)

The transition between the Living Room ( oak) and the Kitchen (pine) is barely visible now that it is stained. 

I know that kitchen  floor was a lot of extra effort - but I am 100% sure it was the right choice for this house!

I was heading over to do some very specific things at the house tonight. It was such a nice evening that I thought that I should take advantage of it and get some work done.

On that "TO DO " list was hanging the shelves in the kitchen. 

At,least I got one done! I spent way too much time measuring, so I made a template to avoid having to do the measuring 3x  for each shelf (3 shelves... so 9x)

Over the last 22+ years, John has sold me on the "Measure twice ( or in my case 3x) cut once" Plan.

After my happy experience with the cabinet knobs- I think I'm going to change that to ...

Measure 3x - then make a good template , so you never have to measure again! :) 

I think templates are brilliant and completely under appreciated! 

(  I admit to leaving the level in the photo on purpose. I love when something is perfectly level! This will be a stack of three shelves, so don't worry. It will look great! ) 

The trouble was - once I had my great template, I knew that I did not have to stay focused on the shelves , I could just get back to that tomorrow and move on to what I really wanted to work on ...

Lights! 

Here is a picture of the kitchen with all of the lights on. The microwave is not plugged in yet, but that will have lights underneath too.

Here it is withouht the Pendant on.

Ahhh - 

My favorite way to leave the kitchen.

At the end of the evening, dishes done , dinner put away - time to relax!

The open concept ( living room / kitchen) is great- but if the kitchen only has bright task lighting , it can be difficult for everything other than cooking!

Back to the yard ...

This desperate Hydrangea was crying to be cut! 
I cut off a few blooms to allow it some room to breathe.

I will work on getting better photos tomorrow or the next day. 

Have a great night! 

B

P.S. I was feeling terrible about not updating , so I stayed up to get some quick notes down.

Please excuse any glaring typos!!

( and - Kristin feel free to chime in with corrections :). I've counted on you to be my eagle eye editor since college, so have at it!)