“Let’s move to the Smithfield area.”
One idea sparked a decision that led to a house. For two-plus years, Ron and I have dreamed and talked about the possibilities of the next chapter of our life: Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO) in the mountains, home in the country, condo at the beach. We didn’t discount anything, and we talked about everything. Finally, on our Christmas vacation, we made a decision: we would move, and either sell or rent out our house.
Never did we imagine it would happen so soon.
“What was it? We got back on Jan. 1st, and by the 15th, we’re doing a home inspection?” Ron said as we drove away from the house we had put an offer on just days before. Exactly!
Our first foray looking at houses quickly informed us we would need to widen our geographical search and up our price. Diane Steele, our realtor, asked the right questions to understand what we wanted, and a week later, took us back out to look at more homes. As we ended the day with no hits, Ron had a suggestion.
“What about this one? It’s more than I want to spend, but it has a great back area. Can we just go look at it.”
We arrived at the 4000 sq. ft rancher after dark. With two front doors, we entered the left one and immediately felt the warmth of the home welcome us. A great room with a gas fireplace greeted us, and an elaborate loft with a sunken living room and massive wood-burning fireplace occupied the left side. At the same time, a cathedral ceiling with exposed beams covered the great room, leading into the open gourmet kitchen, fully equipped, a small dine-in area with a built-in china cabinet creating a cozy atmosphere.
“I love it!” I said immediately, while Ron reserved judgment, walking through the rooms showing no emotion.
Walking towards the French doors by the gas fireplace, three rounded steps led into a Florida room that overlooked the hardscaped back patio. A gazebo sat in the middle, an empty pool house to the right, all surrounded by a brick fence with lights atop the columns. Beyond the brick, a shed sat close to the wall, remnants of a container garden waiting for spring, a wishing well decorating the expansive and flat lawn, all surrounded by a privacy fence, creating a peaceful haven.
Although the house had some quirks, its personality made the home irresistible. The well-maintained brick structure built in 1978 had the smell of years gone by lingering as we walked through its rooms, inspecting the layout. In the master bedroom, we discovered a converted closet bathroom, and a large empty room that once housed a sunken tub and double vanity, now empty except for the mirrors hanging on the wall.
After sleeping on it overnight, we decided to revisit the house in daylight and see if it still appealed to us. Loving the brick rancher even more, we made an offer for $10,000 under asking, which the sellers quickly accepted. Diane scheduled the home inspection and the countdown to closing began.
Jacob, originally from Williamsburg, class of 2005, graduated from Bruton High School and now lives in Virginia Beach. When we arrived at our new home to do a thorough inspection, we found him on the roof.
“The only thing of concern I found was the garage wall; it’s leaning away from the house slightly but is fixable. I’ll prioritize it as a concern, but other than that, it’s a solid house.”
Jacob’s report made us breathe easier. Especially after he crawled under the house, inspecting the joints.
“They’ve done a lot of work down there, and it’s good. Keep up the termite and moisture inspection; you should have no problems.”
While Jacob inspected the house, we met with Scott, Diane’s contractor, and discussed plans for an ensuite and returning the bathroom closet to its original purpose. Also wanting to re-do the kitchen floor, and paint a few rooms, Scott will give us an estimate early next week.
Onward and upward as we wait for the reports, continuing prayerfully to find a new home and make it ours.
As we waited for estimates, I began carrying things down stairs. First the guest room closet, then under the bed, followed by night stands and decor. After that I moved to the prayer closet and packed it up.
“Can I have your empty boxes?” I asked the associate at Dollar Tree
“We don’t have any, they’re all in the trash out back.”
“I know, I saw them. I’m a vendor at Lazy Daisy. We’re moving and I need boxes. Do you mind if I take some?”
“Sure, take all you want.”
And with that, I found myself digging through Dollar Trees recycling for boxes.
The packing continues!
Five days out from closing and most of the upstairs has come downstairs. Only furniture and product for the Lazy Daisy remains upstairs.
“We can rent the Ubaul for 7:00 Friday morning. Pack it and drive it to the closing. We’ll be at the house by 4:00
Closing went smoothly. We had one snafu, they didn’t include my name on the Title. Shae, our closing coordinator called Roberta, our mortgage agent and within minutes we had a new title.
Ron drove the U Haul, the pups in the crate on the passenger seated. During closing, they napped in the 60 something degree weather, well traveled dogs they didn’t mind the 45 minute wait.
By 3:00 we pointed the loaded Subaru and packed U haul westward towards Suffolk.
Exhausted by the time we arrived, neither of us wanted to unload the truck, but if we wanted to sleep in a bed, located at the back of the rig, we had no choice.
And so we unloaded what we had packed a few hours before.
We spent the first night in the guest room. I heard every creak the house made, sleeping by the door, the lack of traffic, loud music and city sounds made it hard for me to slumber.
“Do we really have to do another load?” I said the next morning, exhausted from the previous day, dreading the 45 minute drive in the rain, to fill the 20 ft U Haul one more time.
“Yes. The sooner we go, the sooner we get back.”
And so, putting the dogs in the Florida room, we headed back to 2256 for more stuff. By the end of the day we emptied one house and partially filled another. Buying a house 2 and a 1/2 times the size of our previous home would require more furniture than what we had.
Also Saturday, we went to Rooms To Go and bought a sectional for the sunken living room. Adirondack chairs did the job until the couch arrived five days later.
Sunday we returned the truck by 7:00 a.m., had breakfast at Vancostas for old times sake, reminiscing about Ron’s parents, before going to church at Coastal one last time. On the schedule to volunteer in kids, I got to work with my friend Angie, making it bitter sweet to leave.
And then we became residents of Suffolk once and for all. Our first week in the new home, I set up my craft room while Ron made the 50 minute commute to Lee Hall.
Once we got the couch and love seat moved to the loft, it became our nightly hang out while we waited for the sectional to arrive.
Once the sectional came, we quickly settled into our new T.V. room, the pups finding their spots without much trouble.
Jan and Kevin became our first visitors when they stopped by on our third Sunday afternoon in the new house. After checking on their new home, currently under construction 20 minutes from us, they brought us a house warming gift, a beautiful round garden stone with “Bless this Home” surround by pink flours on a ceramic white wood background.
During the first week we ironed out details with our contractor, JAC Contracting, for the master bathroom and walk-in closet, putting down a deposit and getting on their schedule. I painted the T.V. room and guest bathroom, then tackled the Florida room which we renamed the Sunset room.
We didn’t realize the house has great views of the sunsets from the back, and sunrises from the front when we bought it. Built North to South, equipped with picture windows, we love the unexpected blessing.
Our second week in the house came with a major snow storm that stopped the world for a couple of days and gave me time to work on the Sunset Room, which took about a week to do.
We discovered black mold under the linoleum when we pulled it up. Treating the mold with vinegar, then sealing the cement with minerals to prevent it returning, we decided to paint the floor rather than putting down more flooring.
The pool house became my She-Shed. I moved my painting supplies and woodworking tools into it.
A week later, I painted Easter bunnies, eggs and carrots for my shop in the back yard, the snow all gone. Afterwards, I played my first nine holes at Suffolk Golf Course and loved the quaint, welcoming fairways.
We have felt at home from the moment we unpacked the truck and continually comment on how natural it feels to live here now. Each day, we find more things that bring us joy, and we both can’t wait for warm weather and outside projects.
With an acre sized yard, the dogs love it. We created a smaller yard for them around the gazebo for potty breaks, much easier to keep an eye on them. Sophia got out week two but thankfully didn’t go far and came back quickly.
Our first month flew by as we settled into our new home and got our old one ready to rent. While we adjusted to Suffolk, we had 2256 painted, carpets cleaned and a move out cleaning done. We paid $500 to have the hot tub moved over. Ron power washed and stained the back decks and we had the house on Zillow for rent by Mar. 1st.
And now, we wait for God to bring us a renter, the contractor to do the bathroom, and the electrician to hook up the hot tub. Unfortunately the electric has become an issue, much more costly than anticipated, but we found that everything cost more than expected.
But we love it and thank God every day for our new home. He opened the doors and showed us the way, all glory to Him!
Praying for many years of happiness together in our new abode. Asking God to bring us lots of company who can enjoy the beauty of the area and find love and relaxation within its walls.
And for our neighbors on the horse farm to stay our neighbors. We love to see the big beasts and hear their soft neighs drift over the wind. Another unexpected blessing we thoroughly enjoy.
