Today we looked at three homes, and all were great options!
Option one is a three bedroom, one and a half bath house in the nearby town of Christiansburg. It's about a 17minute drive to campus and has a tree much like the Whomping Willow in the front yard. This house is full of country farmhouse charm including dark hardwood floors, white molding, sage green paint, and two sunrooms. It has an eat-in kitchen, basement, and detached garage. Unfortunately, it's heated with oil heat and cooled with window unit air-conditioners. Cost is $1250/month plus utilities, we do our own yard work.
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| Option 1: Front of house |
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| Option 1: Living room (with view into bedroom/office) |
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| Option 1: kitchen |
Option two is a three bedroom, three bath loft-style apartment in an upscale apartment community only a few minutes from campus. It has high end finishes including a huge kitchen with nice appliances, tall ceilings, and large closets. There is also a full size washer/dryer in a utility room. The unit is on the top floor and the complex has the amenities that this LA couple is used to: a work out room, package pick up, pool, hot tub, and business center. It is truly big city living in a small town. On the downside, it's an apartment. Cost is about $1450/month + utilities, no yard work or snow shoveling.
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| Option 2: Kitchen |
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| Option 2: Living room with view into 2nd bedroom and bathroom |
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| Option 2: bathroom |
Option three is a four bedroom, two bath split level country house on a large lot. Clocking in at about 13 minutes to campus, this option is still in Blacksburg but nestled on the outskirts of town. Believe me when I say outskirts; the neighbors down the street have alpacas chillin' in their front yard. It has an eat-in kitchen, large deck and huge yard. This house is so big you could play laser tag in it. The bedrooms are nicely sized but the whole thing has carpet (no hardwoods), and the split level 80s style leaves a bit lacking in the character department. Compared to the other two options, this kitchen has less counter space and is not as updated. Cost is about $1250/month + utilities, yardwork included but we have to shovel our own snow.
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| Option 3: Front |
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| Option 3: Kitchen |
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| Option 3: family room |
So, what's it going to be? Leave a comment with your vote. You can check out more pics in our
picasa album if you need help deciding.
Option 1: Whomping Willow
Option 2: Big City Living in the Country
Option 3: Country Mansion with Alpaca Neighbors
I'll post what we chose tomorrow night after we sign our lease and it's official!
I'd have to go with Option 2, but with Option 3 coming in a close second.
ReplyDeletei go with 3, with 1 as the runner up
ReplyDeleteI think you picked Option #1: Whomping Willow!
ReplyDeleteHoly crap! NICE! Well, first of all it has to be option number one if that is the ONLY one with any type of air conditioner. Options two and three had no mention of air? Huge concern with snow shoveling (Can't always hire someone to do the shoveling for you since those you would hire may not make it out to you) and no air in other options. However if option two has air and all the amenities that one looks great. Noise may be an issue but on the up side it won't take Mark long to get home and you could always bring him a "you have to eat" lunch. :)
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify, both options 2 and 3 have central a/c and heat. Didn't mean to leave that out :)
ReplyDeleteThen I would still have to consider option two since I wouldn't want my favorite son-in-law to drive far in winter weather. Convenience might take precedence over how much fun you guys would have with all the space in a house and a pool for summer will be very nice to have and a gym for the winter? :)
ReplyDeleteHmm. Option two, while nice and very what you're used of, seems to have the downside of being just what you're used of. Plus, it's a bit more than the rest, and central air - oiy, that's gonna hit you in the wallet hard.
ReplyDeleteOption three is big, but it's lacking character and charm (although the alpacas are cute), and I'd be mildly concerned about when they would get around to plowing you out in the winter.
Based on you being a huge Potter geek, and the fact that you took a lot of pictures of House #1, and that it's the only one you're in photos of, I'd go with that one. (Window units and ceiling fans are actually a nice combination back here, because it does give you more control over what you're cooling - there's no real reason to cool a room you're not in.)
I choose option 3. It is a nice-looking house with a huge lawn that you don't have to mow. Also there is lots of space and a deck in back facing the large lawn. Alpacas can be fun.
ReplyDeleteMom L
I have to say option 2. Option 1 is SO CUTE but you are going to pay SO MUCH more to heat a house. Plus the commute with gas prices = easily the $200 difference per month. Plus you'll have to get gym memberships...then again, if a private house is what you want - go for it! So cute. I like option 3 too - just because of laser tag!
ReplyDelete