The Wandering House Hunters: House 4 - Ann Arbor, MI. - April 2013

So here we are, finally at the last house.  If you want to take a look at the other 3, here are links to:

House #1: The "Petite White House"

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House #2: Great Location but No Covered Parking"
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House #3: "BIG yard, Beautiful Inside, and Long Commute"

For the last few months I've been connecting with new friends from the Side By Side chapter in Ann Arbor and have met a few really wonderful and extremely helpful ladies.  We got the chance to meet one of these sweet ladies and her family the last night we were in Ann Arbor.  They introduced us to some Classic Ann Arbor Eats at a Pizza place called Cottage Inn.

Whichever house we choose, it is so great to already have friends in Ann Arbor.  Even on such a short trip, we felt so at home and welcomed in our new town.  Thank you Stephanie! You are a HUGE part of that!  See you again soon!

Don't forget - Our Wishlist

3 Beds, 2 Baths, allows cats, covered parking, dishwasher, washer/dryer, yard, and good size living space for inside play on cold days.

House #4:

3 Beds, 3&1/2 Baths, Cat friendly 1,950 sq. ft.

2 story town home near shopping, the mall and University of Michigan Stadium and other U of M sports facilities.  About 7 miles from the Hubs work. Two car garage, no green space but there are near by parks. snow removal is handled by HOA.  Finished basement.  The price is at the top of our range.

First Floor: Living/Dining Room, Powder Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, 2 Car Garage

Entry Hall: Powder Room Left and Stairs to Basement Right

Powder Room

Turns out EMPTY houses are even more fun! There was LOTS of spinning and dancing going on here!

Spinning in the Living Room

Spinning in the dining room

Door to Garage

Garage

Kitchen

Pantry

Breakfast room, Sliding Door to Back Deck - Pantry door (left) and Dining Room (right)

Back Deck - There are no steps or access to the lawn outside because it's designed to be a channel for water run off.

Door o Basement (Left), Door to Powder Room (Right), and Second floor overlook. 

Stairs to 2nd Floor

Second Floor: Balcony overlook, Master Bedroom and Bath, Bedroom 2, Full Bathroom, Large Storage Room

Balcony: looking down into the living room

E is enjoying the view!

Hall: Doors left to right Master Bedroom, Full Bathroom, (Bedroom 2 and storage room are just out of sight to the right) and linen closet

Master Bedroom

More dancing

Master Bath: Close (left), Vanity (center), and Toilet Tub and Sink (right)

"Hello!"

Master Closet - very large

Master Bath (1)

The Inspector

Master Bath (2)

Master Bath (3)

From master bedroom looking into the Upstairs hall. Large storage closet on left and linen closet on the right

Bedroom 2 (1) - Large Walk-in Closet

Large Storage Room

Basement: Bedroom 3, Full Bathroom, Open Den, and Laundry/HVAC Room

Bedroom 3 (1)

Bedroom 3 (2) - Closet

Basement Full bathroom

Basement Laundry/HVAC Room

Open Den -We'd probably use this as a guest room or play room.

Den - Storage under basement steps

Basement Hall - From the Den looking back at the stairs to main floor on left

Over all a very nice house that hits almost everything on our wish list except an outside area.

I think you'll agree that all 4 of these houses have definite pros and a few small drawbacks and I honestly believe that either of them would make a lovely home. So what do you think? Pros? Cons? Your favorite? Which one do you think we chose?

Tune in tomorrow where I'll reveal our new home and share a few more fun pictures from our road trip to Ann Arbor.

House #1: The "Petite White House"

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House #2: Great Location but No Covered Parking"
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House #3: "BIG yard, Beautiful Inside, and Long Commute"

Till next time,

Bon Voyage!

The Wandering House Hunters: House 3 - Ann Arbor, MI. - April 2013

Welcome back, I'm about to take you through house # 3 but if you want to refresh your memory here are links to:

House # 1: The "Petite White House"

and 

House #2: Great Location but No Covered Parking", 

A2 Fairy Doors

As promised, let me tell you, or better yet show you why E is so excited to move to "Mush-Again".

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According to Wikipedia - Ann Arbor Fairy Doors, The Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor, MI are a series of small doors that are a type of installation art found only in Ann Arbor, MI. The first one appeared in the baseboards of the home of Jonathan and Kathleen Wright in 1993. Subsequently, several others were discovered in their home; in the fireplace surround and two in the kitchen.

"On April 7, 2005 the first fairy door to be seen in public was on the exterior of Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea. Since then, ten more have shown up around Ann Arbor (as well as a "goblin door" parody).  As of August 2012, of the original ten public Ann Arbor fairy doors, seven still exist in and around the downtown Ann Arbor area".

There is an entire website, Urban Farries Operations dedicated to tracking and documenting the appearance, movement, and vanishing of these very special doors.

Some doors Open

(via)

Some remain closed and you can just peek inside

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Some are tiny versions of human doors 

(via)

(via)

I've heard from my sister and several close friends that moving is incredibly hard on little kids.  Our friend Stephanie sent E the Urban Fairies Book, and we're already talking about what door we want to find first.  My hope is that the excitement of these little fairy doors will help our little lady transition and make the next chapter just a little bit easier and more fun.

Now from fairy hunting to house hunting!

Don't forget - Our Wishlist

3 Beds, 2 Baths, allows cats, covered parking, dishwasher, washer/dryer, yard, and good size living space for inside play on cold days.

House #3:

3 Beds, 2 Full & 2 Half Baths, Cat friendly 2,100 sq. ft

Split level (or tri-level) home in quiet town ship outside of Ann Arbor city limits. About 15 miles from the Hubs work (30 min commute time). Two car garage, HUGE front and back yard, All lawn care and snow removal is our responsibility. Unfinished, dry, well lit basement. Well water & septic system.  The price is at the top end of our range.

Main Floor: Entry, Living Room, Large Eat In Kitchen, Powder Room, Garage

Living Room (1)

(Again E is LOVING the toys)

Eat In Kitchen (1) - Only "dining" space in the house. Sliding door goes to back deck

Kitchen (2) - Doors in the back corner are pantry, coat closet, garage entry, and powder room.

Garage

Kitchen (3)

Back Deck - You can't really tell from this photo but the yards, front and back, are HUMONGOUS!!!

Main floor Powder Room

Lower Level: Family Room, Laundry Room, Unfinished Dry, well lit Basement, Powder Room

Stairs to Lower Level

Lower Level Family Room

Lower Level Laundry Room

(This washer and dryer are A LITTLE OLD... Don't you think?!!!)

Upper Level: 2 Bedrooms, Main Bath, Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom

Stairs to Upper Level - Doors Left to Right: Linen Closet, (Bedroom 3, & Bedroom 2 are just out of sight to the left), Master Bedroom and Main Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom (1)

Master Bathroom (2)

Main Bathroom (1)

Main Bathroom (2)

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 2 - Closet

Bedroom 3 (1)

Bedroom 3 (2)

Bedroom 3 (3) 

I need to say half the reason I LOVE this house is how well it is staged. The Realtor made a point to tell us that lighting fixtures and curtains were not included and would be replaced with standard fixtures and mini blinds. The big question is, with all that lawn and a pretty long commute to work, bible study, playgroup, church, grocery, etc. is this house just too much for us to take on for just 15 months? In the comments below, let me know what you think of house #3.

Tomorrow the 4th and final house on our hunt and a pizza dinner that is definitely worth repeating!  Then Wednesday is the BIG DECISION!!!

WHAT HOUSE DID WE CHOOSE???
House # 1: The "Petite White House"
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House # 2 and some Ann Arbor FUN!!!
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House #4 and Ann Arbor Fun with Friends

Till next time,

Bon Voyage!