All Forum Posts by: Sarah Smith

@Morgan Tondre  Thanks. Are you and your family safe? Need anything?

@Scott Mac Not yet. Here in Houston we had a tornado last week and no power until yesterday so had to take a time out on brainstorming but an inspector and contractor are going over there on Thursday so I have a better assessment. Your ideas and feedback and also feedback from @Kristine Ann were helpful.

Her home is only on county historical register for now but TX Historical Commission set a meeting w me for Wednesday to give me some ideas and resources as well. My main goal is preservation for future generations. I am a bit more hopeful because really do not want to demo it. 

Thank you.

I also wondered about if it makes sense to tear down and build a pergola and nice retreat style area for family events and then put a tiny house there. May could rent a pergola type area out from time to time. Just not sure options.

@Scott Mac

Thank you for responding and for your questions.

1. Photos. Attaching. In very, very bad shape. Grandmother had demetia (later Alzheimers) and focus of family was on her care and so house kinda was forgotten and home deteriorated. I live far away and was unaware no one was watching or maintaining the home or I would have attempted to find a caretaker of the home maintenance. Home was always up until her sickness in immaculate condition so kind of embarrassed to share the photos but will for assessment and creative ideas purpose.

2. Drinking water is in good condition but of course turned off at this time.

3. Sewer still intact and attached to city disposal system.

4. Toilets flush. Unsure.

5. Boarded. Only one window is boarded up at this time. Structure inside and out has suffered immensely because was not protected from the elements. Holes in the walls. Exterior very unstable and unsafe. From a storm a tree fell into the house and no one was aware so roof has been open for sometime :(

6. Value. It is not alot but appraisal conducted two weeks ago on land only without the home came to a bit over $200K. County has appraised at $312K. We have had offers of $430K on it few months ago as was. Really unsure. The area is being re-gentrified somewhat and an empty lot which was next door now has a $800K home on it and lot is way smaller.

7. Family help. I have some family members and myself :) who will swing hammers and some have experience with light construction. We also have organizations we are members of who may help with some parts of construction.

8. Yes. Funds available for electrician to re-wire.

9.Yes. Funds available for heater, etc.

I want to live in it but rental would work as well.

I will look into Habitat for Humanity. Good idea!

My grandmother passed years ago. Many years prior to her passing she moved out of the home to live with another family and the home sat vacant for a very long time without anyone checking on it. Thru the years it has been vandalized and damaged also by weather. I was unaware until recently just how bad the condition of the home is until recently when I sent an appraiser over and he said it was a tear down which a couple contractors have also now told me as well.

The property is historical and has a county historical marker which it received after my grandmothers passing which we were not able to place yet. My vision was this summer to rehab the home as a primary residence but now needing some creative ideas of what to do once we do a tear down. She has a very sizable lot which could actually acommodate 3 homes on it. I really hate to tear it down but seems no other solution. Can someone help me with an idea or two of something we can build in place of the home we will tear down which can still honor family and the significance of the spot the home once sat on? Her children are elderly now but family bonds are strong and they still love gathering together so would love a gather spot of retreat like spot for them to sit and perhaps for family to go on holidays for events. The home is 150 years old, 1500 sq ft. one story with sizable porch to give an idea size to work with on making into something else.

I welcome ideas. Also what is a temporary housing solution to include on the lot as we have a family member and her son needing a place to live and we have the land however they do not have money at the moment to do a build. A livable spot would add a little more value to the property. Thanks in advance.

@Oscar Juarez

I am a Notary/Signing Agent should you need one in the future and I also do Remote Signings.

For any Notary you should be able to verify credentials via the State Secretary site or if you know who they were certified through such as NNA, you can look them up.

There are a lot of scams going on so always check and be careful.

Is there a situation to where you need to verify someone is legit?

@Keith A.

CyberSecurity and Aviation Federal Contracting

Freight Brokering

Mobile Notary & Mortgage Signing Agent

Singing gigs at weddings and restaurants and special events

Don’t laugh but I just began a self created 😂side gig planning and/or finding dates for elite professionals. I’ve been wining it but been doing it just a month and have made $6600 PT. Got the idea from a movie🤣🤣

@Paul Kuhn

Thank you for your service