Dig Dig Dig...

Two updates in a day...this is more of a "catch-up" entry. While waiting for the 203K work to get started, I figured I'd start a garden...

I've wanted to grow vegetables and fruits in a garden for a while. The last few places I've lived have been poor places to grow. The condo I live in only receives direct sunlight for about 2-3hrs a day, and the apartment before that was in permanent shade. This has its advantages in that it doesn't get terribly hot in the summer months, but without grow lights or elaborate reflectors, gardening for edibles becomes somewhat difficult.

First Hammer Swing!

The anticipated start date was today, and we started right on time! I swung by the house in the morning to grab something and let the subcontractors know that I was expecting appliance delivery if they were there. The electrician was already looking around the property. I thought it might have been a slow start on day 1, but off to a great start.

First Casualty: Ceiling...

Not part of the 203k scope...I picked up a few ceiling fan/light combos on clearance at Lowes for $19~30 or less a piece (had to go to multiple stores since none of them had all that I needed at the lowest price), so I spent a better part of last week installing them. Installation for most of them was quite easy, but learned after installing most of them that there apparently are electrical boxes specifically for ceiling lights with fans...

203k, Go!

I closed on a quaint little home a week ago in San Jose; a modest 3 bedroom 2 bath single family home.  It's not a unique house design by any means in the older areas of Santa Clara County; a hybrid between traditional American Craftsman and Foursquare architecture is the best I can describe it.  Regardless, I got it for an amazing price and will be renovating it with the help of a 203k renovation loan.

The home was an REO that wasn't in the best of conditions, but reasonable...