We found our house. After months of trolling the online real estate sites we’ve zeroed in on 8 properties that could work. Our criteria was specific. We wanted a ranch but with a bonus room over the garage. We wanted a 2+ garage so it could house both our cars and a golf cart. We wanted some sort of water view and we wanted a bit of a fixer upper.
Our house-hunting visit was scheduled for the end of October just weeks after Hurricane Matthew hit the east coast which caused devastation to the region. The damage in Savannah was extensive however we were immediately impressed with how The Landings handled the clean-up. Selecting an area in the country that is completely free of some potential weather tragedies is impossible. Finding one that handles adversity well was another plus for us. The staggering organization and strategic way they handled all the areas effective was impressive.
Touring the 8 homes we’d identified went smoothly. The online depictions were accurate and in a few hours we’d narrowed our search to 2 which we revisited in the afternoon. The next day we’d arranged to meet a local architect who’d been recommended to us. He toured the 2 homes we’d identified and from that evaluation it was clear Westcross was the better option.
We made an offer to the family – as the home was in an estate – and after some back and forth and an inspection report, we settled on an amount we felt gave us the room we needed to make the improvements we wanted. The property is spectacular and the views of the lagoon are magical. The interior that was in good shape, but dated. We will put in a new kitchen and master bath; update the other rooms and baths, and vault the living room extending the roof lines to enclose the tabby terrace as a screened porch. All giving us extended living space and all with direct water views.
We closed on November 17 and immediately hired a contractor and an architect. Our goal is to move in near the end of March. We’ll remain in our NJ apartment during the renovations with me going back and forth often to, hopefully, keep things on track. The renovations now begin..