<p>alh, it was very interesting for us to see a nice antique and realize that we didn’t want to live there. It kind of killed a 30-year-old dream that we’ve had, but at least it was killed before we made an expensive mistake!</p>
<p>Does anyone know how I can post photos that aren’t linked to the realtor.com web site or zillow.com? I don’t want to post the addresses of the houses, but I’d like to share the pix.</p>
<p>re: churches re-purposed as a house</p>
<p>I remember watching a TV show where someone bought an old church and was renovating it as a residence.</p>
<p>They brought in someone to look at the chapel part, and it turned out that the stained glass windows alone were worth more than what they paid for the entire property. Who would have guessed?</p>
<p>The owners decided to leave the windows in, and not remove and sell them. Not sure I could have made that decision, we are talking hundreds of thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>I would have removed them, sold them, and replaced them with something as charming but much less expensive. That way, I could use the profit to pay for the new kitchen!</p>
<p>VeryHappy, I would have done the same with those windows. Our former church has many elements, including windows, from old churches. I’d rather “share” them so they can be appreciated by more people and enjoy a paid-for kitchen.</p>
<p>So glad you had a chance to determine if your dream would live up to reality. It’s a bit disappointing, but buyers’ remorse would have been worse. Best wishes!</p>
<p>oh noooooo! You can’t remove original architectural elements. Except to preserve them very carefully on site in case the next owner wants to reinstall them. Just the thought is making me extremely agitated.</p>
<p>low ceilings, etc. In our 1700’s house we lowered some doorways, which had been raised to accommodate the last tall owner, back to their original height -well under 6 feet. We also put back up a wall which had been removed between the parlor and the original kitchen. Fortunately all the woodwork had been incorporated into a mid 20th c addition and we were able to take it out and put it back where it belonged, <em>then we duplicated that woodwork, using it in the renovation of the 20th c addition</em>.</p>
<p>VH: I was trying to decide whether to suggest you and H could still consider Victorians, which might have very high ceilings,floor to ceiling windows, large rooms, etc but not if you’re going to sell the church windows :(</p>
<p>alh, you will be happy to hear that we had the stained glass doors of our house restored by a stained glass artist. 
</p>
<p>When we were moving out of our 1790 house, it was a corporate move. They hired Coldwell Banker to take over the place if we couldn’t sell it ourselves in 3 mos. CB hired inspectors who came out and checked over the house and made up a list of “repairs” that they thought we should be prepared to make if a seller asked. These included installing handrails in the narrow, precipitous–and pristine–original staircase (there was a modern staircase with a handrail in the back where the addition met the old house). One guy suggested that we rip up the completely original floorboards, some as wide as 36", and replace them with a flat new floor with no cracks. Another idiot saw that a bug had chewed the bark of one of the half trees used as floor joists, back when it as standing in the forest, and insisted we have the place treated. I told the Coldwell Banker person that not only would I not ruin the staircase with handrails or rip up the floor, but I would refuse to sell the house to anyone who indicated a willingness to do so.</p>
<p>I would have told the realty agents making suggestions that people who want a new house should buy a new house.</p>
<p>alh, I hear you, but if I bought a house and suddenly discovered the windows were worth $300,000 or more… it would be a tough decision. I’m not that much of a purist.</p>
<p>alh, I’m sorry I disappointed you. But I agree with notrichenough. I, too, am not rich enough to ignore something like that.</p>
<p>It’s like my grandfather’s violin, which I inherited. I had it appraised by an expert from Sothebys. If it had been worth what a violin repair person had lead me to believe, it would have been ~$10K and I would have sold it. Unfortunately it was worth only $1K, so sentiment overrode my profit-seeking that time.</p>
<p>It’s a high class problem to have and I hope you all realize my post was kind of a joke. If I had windows that would finance a child’s college education, I’m probably selling them. To finance a kitchen - probably not. (so sorry VH!!) How long does a kitchen last before it needs to be redone? The windows are forever. My current house was uninhabited for decades. It never had plumbing or electricity. The owner (only because his grandfather had bought the farm on which it stood) refused to allow anyone to strip out mantles, doors, floors, etc. Every time I see him, he tells me the story of how some city slicker offered him almost as much for the staircase as we paid for the entire house. I am so grateful he didn’t sell my staircase!</p>
<p>Sorry to derail VH’s thread. :(</p>
<p>Will someone please hurry up and explain to VH how to post the photos? That will be really fun.</p>
<p>Not “my” thread, and not a derailment at all. All in keeping with the subject matter.</p>
<p>I can post the links to Reaaltor.com, etc., but that of course includes the addresses, which I don’t want to post.</p>
<p>
VH could get a flickr account and upload them there - [Welcome</a> to Flickr - Photo Sharing](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■%5DWelcome”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■)</p>
<p>edit: cross posted with VH on 89/90</p>
<p>We had one of those supposed stradivarius violins in the family. If it actually had been, and if we had sold it, the value of the violin was not diminished. The value of the windows is probably diminished by not being in the original setting. The value of the church is definitely diminished. (obviously this is just my opinion - not exactly a fact) However, I support all real estate owners being able to do absolutely whatever they choose with their own property. If others got to direct what I do, I’d be in big trouble.</p>
<p>^^The page turned. I wanted to be sure this got read… self-important but at least honest about it.</p>
<p>OK, I just created a Flickr account. Let’s try this:</p>
<p>[Flickr:</a> janellass’ Photostream](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/85855022@N05/]Flickr:”>janellass | Flickr)</p>
<p>There are not any photos of the BRs since they’re filled with <a href=“mailto:cr@p”>cr@p</a>. In fact, I don’t know how the photos of the inside were taken; he must have shoveled everything that had been there to just out of picture range.</p>
<p>alh: I see your point about the violin versus the stained glass windows.</p>
<p>Those beams and windows in the kitchen are fabulous!</p>
<p>Has that river ever flooded? The house does not appear to be very high above the water level.</p>
<p>They are. That kitchen was in the “nice” antique that we’ve eliminated from contention. You’re seeing the largest room, but it doesn’t show that the beams are only around 6’ 2" high.</p>
<p>The Hoarder’s House is in a 100-year flood zone. It’s 45 feet from the river. From what our untrained eyes can see, the house itself has not flooded in the 42 years it’s been there. The inspector should be able to tell us more.</p>
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<p>That’s a shame. But definitely too low!</p>
<p>VH: Thanks! fabulous property! Good luck on inspection - hope only cosmetics are needed.</p>
<p>Thank you all. </p>
<p>DH and I are hopeful that it only needs new appliances, an entryway (when you arrive at the house, you stare at two plain vanilla garage doors), floor refinishing and painting. Fingers crossed.</p>
<p>We realized today that the worst outcome will be if the inspector’s report isn’t black or white but somewhat gray!!!</p>