So we bought a house...
#81
Pink things in...
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Location: Chantilly, VA (northern va)
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Finished kitchen
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3094220841_130e995c26.jpg?v=0)
Main level with hardwood
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3094220551_407fbf7cac.jpg?v=0)
Home theater wall screen
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3094220037_92863e4ff3.jpg?v=0)
MOVE IN ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3094220841_130e995c26.jpg?v=0)
Main level with hardwood
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3094220551_407fbf7cac.jpg?v=0)
Home theater wall screen
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3094220037_92863e4ff3.jpg?v=0)
MOVE IN ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
![Wish](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/wish.gif)
#83
#89
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Thanks.
![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Yuck](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/yuck.gif)
Haha. I dont mind the driveway....just as long as I'm not standing in it after it's been freshly paved.
![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I'm
![Rice](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/rice.gif)
![No No](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/nono.gif)
......well j/k actually. Just dont prefer it on the carpet that's all.
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
#90
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#91
I feel the need...
Pinky, one word of advice - I'd have the home professionally inspected tooth and nail before you close. I know your excited to move in and you think it's a brand new home, what can possibly be wrong, but trust me -- it will be the best $350 bucks you'll ever spend. You won't have as much leverage for your builder to fix their mistakes (yes there will be some) after you close.
Our builder had a punchlist, imagine yours does too -- go over it closely with your inspector.
#92
Pinky, one word of advice - I'd have the home professionally inspected tooth and nail before you close. I know your excited to move in and you think it's a brand new home, what can possibly be wrong, but trust me -- it will be the best $350 bucks you'll ever spend. You won't have as much leverage for your builder to fix their mistakes (yes there will be some) after you close.
Our builder had a punchlist, imagine yours does too -- go over it closely with your inspector.
Our builder had a punchlist, imagine yours does too -- go over it closely with your inspector.
![Nod](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/nod.gif)
#93
Well in reality, I guess you two have a lifetime to fill that house with stuff (you said you're not moving any time soon). All you really need at first is to furnish the rooms you'll actually be using/used most. And by the sounds of it, the two of you probably won't really be spending a lot of time in all 4,000 sq. ft. of the place right away.
#94
I feel the need...
I don't think homes are anywhere near as solid as they used to be, and you certainly don't find the craftsmanship that you used to...unless you custom build your home on your own lot and choose your own people. Developments are just thrown up far too fast for people to take the time to really care all that much.
Couldn't agree more. One upshots of the downturn is that buyers obviously have a lot more leverage to ask for concessions and get exactly what they are paying for. We did a lot of careful research and consideration before we chose our builder. We ended up going with a national builder with an excellent reputation for service after the sale.
#95
Well in reality, I guess you two have a lifetime to fill that house with stuff (you said you're not moving any time soon). All you really need at first is to furnish the rooms you'll actually be using/used most. And by the sounds of it, the two of you probably won't really be spending a lot of time in all 4,000 sq. ft. of the place right away.
#96
I don't doubt it!
![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#98
Pink things in...
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2 hours and counting until settlement!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9 people are helping us move [friends and family]. This is the next biggest thing besides getting married. Hehe.
We're going out to a huge dinner tonight and will be getting an early start tomorrow for moving.
Haha. Of course. I called up 10 inspectors and chose the best one for Jon and I. He was great. We got him in for the pre-drywall inspection and for our final [which was on monday]. He checked everything and wrote everything down. In half an hour, we're meeting with our project manager to go over that list as well to make sure things were taken care of. It also helped that I was a minute away from the house so that I could visit it EVERYDAY and I would immediately call my PM if anything seemed fishy. ![Wink](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Our inspection was $325 each time. There's also lifetime advice. He said that we can call him at any time to ask for advice on anything pertaining the house.
9 people are helping us move [friends and family]. This is the next biggest thing besides getting married. Hehe.
We're going out to a huge dinner tonight and will be getting an early start tomorrow for moving.
Pinky, one word of advice - I'd have the home professionally inspected tooth and nail before you close. I know your excited to move in and you think it's a brand new home, what can possibly be wrong, but trust me -- it will be the best $350 bucks you'll ever spend. You won't have as much leverage for your builder to fix their mistakes (yes there will be some) after you close.
Our builder had a punchlist, imagine yours does too -- go over it closely with your inspector.
Our builder had a punchlist, imagine yours does too -- go over it closely with your inspector.
![Wink](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Our inspection was $325 each time. There's also lifetime advice. He said that we can call him at any time to ask for advice on anything pertaining the house.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#100
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#103
Suzuka Master
I <3 your hardwood floors. Props on having such a huge home at 23. When I was 23 i was living in a 300 sq foot med school dorm room with a sink and no toilet lolz. Furniture and fixtures by Target haha.
Here's the hardwood floor i have now in my dining room. Powersanded, stained, and varathaned it with my parentals help over 4 days.
Here's the hardwood floor i have now in my dining room. Powersanded, stained, and varathaned it with my parentals help over 4 days.
![](http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5330/importedphotos00011mn7.jpg)
#106
#107
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#108
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Thank you for all the congrats.
We put a bit down [20%+] and we will hopefully have two incomes for awhile.
We also have hubby's best friend renting from us for the time being.
We have a bit in "back up" money.
Hopefully when the market is back up we can sell our condo in Alexandria. That is being rented out currently per our contract for the current house. They're giving us more than what it is going to be rented out for starting Jan. 09. That rental contract is for 3 years....so I've got 3 years to wait for the market to pick back up so we can sell.
There's a lot of things working in our favor...
We also have hubby's best friend renting from us for the time being.
We have a bit in "back up" money.
Hopefully when the market is back up we can sell our condo in Alexandria. That is being rented out currently per our contract for the current house. They're giving us more than what it is going to be rented out for starting Jan. 09. That rental contract is for 3 years....so I've got 3 years to wait for the market to pick back up so we can sell.
There's a lot of things working in our favor...
#109
I wish more younger people were doing this. Instead of blowing there money on all of the BS waste things that most do. Work your ass off and save to get what you want.
There's five men living next to me, three of them have $40K cars. The cars are more than their rent.
There's five men living next to me, three of them have $40K cars. The cars are more than their rent.
#111
Suzuka Master
#113
When you drive a car that is more $$$ than your what your rent is by shoving five single men in a house that's meant for a family of four. Priorities are wrong and that's what's wrong with the credit market now. Buying more than you can afford.
#114
Defensive much? I think the point that jupity was trying to make is, is there is a problem when the car note you have is costing you more a month than your rent. Which I would agree with. Why not save up and get a house and build equity than blowing your money away on a depreciable asset which many people have for a few years before getting a new one. Cars are fine, but they are definitely no means of a worthwhile investment.
#115
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I agree everyone that a 40k car doesn't do much when you live with 5 guys crammed in a house. It's a big waste of money.
However, many people are ok with living like that - I know some women that will blow thousands on purses....but be driving a much older car while still renting.
Haha. I want to take pictures but in some instances my place is such a mess b/c we just moved in.![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
We installed a new cooktop. We're going to sell our builders one. It was electrolux!![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
We also got our new dining table before x-mas so we were able to have x-mas dinner at my place on the new dining table.
However, many people are ok with living like that - I know some women that will blow thousands on purses....but be driving a much older car while still renting.
Haha. I want to take pictures but in some instances my place is such a mess b/c we just moved in.
![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
We installed a new cooktop. We're going to sell our builders one. It was electrolux!
![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
We also got our new dining table before x-mas so we were able to have x-mas dinner at my place on the new dining table.
#117
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Well the home theater is partially done. Jon has mounted a Panasonic AE3000(u) projector. We've got all our a/v stuff in one corner....but no rack to put it on yet.
![Frown](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#118
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Don't really have much to update at the moment.
I wanted to get more pictures up of the finished place.....
Every time we purchase something we need for the home I feel more and more settled in.
We purchased bar stools last night at costco.....
We finally got blinds for the upstairs. We were previously using garbage bags with tape....![ugh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/ugh.gif)
We got a overhanging arc lamp for our sectional sofa.....
![](http://images.cb2.com/is/image/CB2/BigDipperArcLampF8?$lg$)
The dining table that is our pride and joy [besides the home theater]. The table is 60x60 with 8 chairs.
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3152898170_51ea1544fa.jpg?v=0)
And of course.....instead of buying a closet setup - we had an impulse buy and purchased 6 home theater chairs!!!!!!!!!!!!!![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
Jon has started to paint the home theater as well.......screen wall & ceiling will be a smokey gray color will the other areas will be a light linen color.......
I'll take pictures when I get home.....![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Also....today was our 45 day inspection - there were a few things to fix but nothing major [doors dont latch well.....type things].
I wanted to get more pictures up of the finished place.....
Every time we purchase something we need for the home I feel more and more settled in.
We purchased bar stools last night at costco.....
We finally got blinds for the upstairs. We were previously using garbage bags with tape....
![ugh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/ugh.gif)
We got a overhanging arc lamp for our sectional sofa.....
The dining table that is our pride and joy [besides the home theater]. The table is 60x60 with 8 chairs.
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3152898170_51ea1544fa.jpg?v=0)
And of course.....instead of buying a closet setup - we had an impulse buy and purchased 6 home theater chairs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
Jon has started to paint the home theater as well.......screen wall & ceiling will be a smokey gray color will the other areas will be a light linen color.......
I'll take pictures when I get home.....
![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Also....today was our 45 day inspection - there were a few things to fix but nothing major [doors dont latch well.....type things].
#120
Suzuka Master
Cool lamp! This is the one i have in my living room, same one as in the movie "ironman"![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![](http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3653/17hgv1x8wk0.jpg)
I <3 your dining table. The metal backing of the chairs is very elegant and i am fond of glass tables. Just be careful of extremely hot dishes, don't want the glass to crack.
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![](http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3653/17hgv1x8wk0.jpg)
I <3 your dining table. The metal backing of the chairs is very elegant and i am fond of glass tables. Just be careful of extremely hot dishes, don't want the glass to crack.