March 6th 2011

We took out a 4 foot section in the kitchen/dining room area to help open up the floor plan. Despite creating a ton of work, it ended up being a blessing. Two of the galvanized plumbing connections were in the process of disintegrating. The joints did blow out when the furnace quit and we found out 5 days later! Luckily we had the water off, when the pipes thawed we found the leaks before we turned the water on, the small pressure left in the system had popped open the corroded fittings .

All that to say, we replaced all the plumbing and rerouted most of the electrical that was going through that wall (it was extensive). Sheila, Brad and Liz have been getting the upstairs all ready to move in. We ordered carpet for the house and that should be in, in 3 weeks. Next up is to button up the kitchen area with sheetrock and then kitchen/dining room floors.

Bottom picture is the dining room opened up, not finished.

Basement renovation

The video below is a series of photos with the before picture transitioning to the finished project.

Copy and paste in the following URL


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uFkDT8joDE

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Flipper #2

We just closed on our 2nd "Flipper" It's in a great neighborhood by Lake Phalen in north St Paul, MN. Almost move in ready and of course we couldn't let it go at that...So we plan on a new kitchen and adding a bathroom. In our world that isn't to bad. We purchased at another auction for 60% off current value, in realty about $10,000 investment should let us resell for 100%.

FYI blogs after this post or before 2010 are from the 1st flipper....

Sheetrock is hung and taping to be finished soon

Just finished with the sheetrock today. Hopefully we'll get the cabinets installed right after we return from the Virgin Islands.

Basement of our house, Bathroom-Kitchen-Bar

The "locker room" has been partially gutted over the last 2 years, but I just removed the bathroom that was still functional. I have to re-level the floor and then I am moving the bathroom to the left side of the room and a kitchen bar on the right side and then opening up the wall to the rest of the basement. The two gutted pictures should line up with the old pictures below.

We sold the Flipper!!!

We're not very excited, it's almost like selling a child. We always planned to sell it, but it doesn't feel that great.

We're listed!!!!

For all those wondering what is going on, my computer that I download photos and do movies broke and I haven't had time to fix it. We listed the house Monday for $289,900. Here is a link to the online sales page:

http://www.cbburnet.com/CustomModules/Property/PropertyDetail.aspx?SearchID=7825945&PropertyGUID=FB8CF246-EE52-4393-8683-A9A16A8C5B42&TotalRows=90&CurrentPage=56&SortValue=0&LastResultsPage=6&IsSold=False

It looks like you might have to copy and paste the above url, if it doesn't show as a link.

I might get more pictures in the future and I'll keep this updated if we get any offers/sales

Party at the Flipper Aug. 1st, 4pm-?

We made it!!!!


Friday August 1st, Sheila and I are having a party at the flipper, everyone is welcome. Come check out what Sheila and I have been up to, and see the place in real life. We'll have beverages and appetizers.

17264 Sunray Circle Sw
Prior lake, MN 55372

Cell# 612-269-5066

The Final stretch

Our Computer broke down, so I don't know when I'll get pictures or video going. Sheila is busy doing shopping for staging and finishing the door knobs and the closets. I am working on getting the porch up to speed. Last night was a short night with a little buying trip and then I finished the wiring in the porch. I figured about 50 hours left for me to get this thing done. We still need to do some painting on the outside and sheetrock the porch and installing siding on the outside of the porch. The last of the carpet is being scheduled today and hopefully layed in the next week. After that we should have the final cleaning and on the market.

I Can't Wait!!!!!!

Getting very close

We still have some work to do, but we are getting close to being finished. The fireplace is all trimmed and tiled, just needs grout. The kitchen needs the under cabinet lighting and some trim. The bar downstairs is tiled and needs grout. Still need to do the sheet rock and painting around the bar area. The basement bedroom and storage space will be getting carpet when the sun room is finished, hopefully start this week on the sun room. I've been so busy working that I haven't been taking much video or photo's, also it's to the point I'd rather just take the final photo's for everyone to see. At the end of the video is Brad Doerr, Evan, Clay, Sheila and Liz Thomford.

Boys working at the Flipper

We had Brad help with the installation of the front window, and Evan and Clay hauled the wood flooring over and help get rid of the dirt pile.

Update

I'm gonna say that I haven't updated the blog, because we've been to busy to blog. Sheila and I have been putting in more time lately trying to get done by the end of June. The carpet should be installed in less then 2 weeks and then we can get the wood floor in. Except for the Kitchen, almost the whole upstairs (minus the flooring) is ready. We have been doing a lot of work outside now that the weather is nice. I was telling Sheila yesterday that I don't feel like I get much done, but then you look at what I did in 4 hours yesterday, I guess I did. I installed the ceiling fan in the master bedroom, finished the trim in the master bathroom, bedroom, main bath. Installed the small window in the garage. Not in order, but I moved about 2 yards of dirt around for Sheila' planter and low spots. Chain-sawed some of the front pine tree, Oak tree and Maple tree in the back. I'm sure there were some other misc. things. So stuff is getting done, but a little here, a little there. I told Sheila last night, I'd like to go room by room and get them finished so I can say that room is all done!!!!!

Walls, doors, paint

We finally have something to show! The walls are up and taped, painted and doors hung upstairs. Still have the base trim to install and the switches and outlets to put in. Sheila still has plenty of trim and doors to paint.

Sheetrocker

We had Alfredo do our sheetrock and did a great job! If anyone needs a quote or has taping work to do, give him a call at 612-865-8196. Sheila has been busy painting, we sprayed the ceilings and she has started most of the upstairs walls. I installed the new front door on Friday. I've been a little slow in updating this and working there because we were in New Orleans last weekend and busy "Entertainment night for Blayne and mothers day weekend this weekend. I should have more video and pictures tomorrow to update the blog.

Sheet rock started

We got one bid for hanging and taping and then called "Alfredo" a guy who is a friend of a friend and who also did our friend Webster's house. By mid afternoon the next day over half the rock was hung. The only reason it wasn't all done is because I wasn't finished with my electrical work. So I went back last night and worked a few hours to get it finished so they could continue hanging and taping. Talk about fast!! Maybe by next week we will be able to paint and then doors and floors, it's starting to go fast, but still we'll be lucky to be done by the end of May.

Basement Framing

We took the whole family over to the house Sunday and had the boys use the framing nailer and concrete (GUN) nailer. Showed them how to measure, cut and nail together walls and fasten them. Blayne and Sheila worked upstairs getting the floor ready for carpet and organizing.

Out of sequence framing video

I thought I'd toss this in for something new. 1st one is the framing and second is the video of Blayne and my birthday weekend in the dells.

Finally Framing

We started framing as planned this weekend. We also went to the Wisconsin Dells for Blayne's birthday. We stayed at Chula Vista resort and had an awesome time! Great place to stay. We got home last night and started framing the upstairs walls. Came this morning did some more and ran out of nails, but we don't have to much left. It feels great to see the big stuff get done.

Last day of March

I had to do a little video to show the snow we're getting. I can't stress enough, I hope it's the last of the season!!!!
On the bright side, I think we can get these walls up in the next week?!?!

Late March update

Finally some pictures and video to update you. Again we are almost finished with all the bathrooms, I guess when you consider we are remodeling a whole house, it's going ok.