Ted Murphy

Four years ago I purchased a old, run down house with the intention of renovating it. The house was bad…. I mean really bad. When the owner showed me the house there was a giant pile of dog poo in the middle of the bedroom. One friend ran outside and puked it smelled so bad. My friends and my Realtor told me I was crazy for even thinking about buying the house… and that was pretty much all I needed to convince me to do so (I got it for a steal). Keep in mind that all the pictures below are from the showing:

My plan was to remodel the house just enough to make it livable for a few years. Maybe some fresh paint, new carpet and some new fixtures. My thought was that I would live there for a bit, then tear it down and build my dream house. That was the plan, but let’s just say things didn’t turn out that way. First it was the carpet, then it was the walls, then it was the windows, then the bathroom and so on. I wound up completely gutting the house and doing the majority of the work myself. I added central air conditioning, bigger windows, a new kitchen, a new bathroom and combined the two small bedrooms upstairs in one giant master.

It took me a good six months to get the house to a point where it was livable. During that time I slept on a blow up mattress on the floor of a friends house. When I was finally able to move in I was so happy. I was proud of myself for taking a risk, turning my vision into a reality (and proving the naysayers wrong).

I wish I could say it was over when I moved in. A few months later I decided to build a deck and dock.

I have to say the deck ROCKs for house parties in the summer.

The changes have continued over time. I am getting the house painted right now (it is what inspired me to do this post). I am happy Tara convinced me to hire someone to do the work, but it just doesn’t give me the same feeling of accomplishment as when I do it myself. I feel like I am cheating. It makes me want to do more around the house. I need to build something!

My tools have been silent too long. Two summers ago I decided to build a floating dock because I was going nuts. I feel the same way now. Construction is like meditation for me, I don’t think about anything else… just the task at hand.

The crazy thing is the property I bought actually has two houses right next to each other (originally known as ghetto 1 and 2). While I renovated the one that I live in the other one has remained relatively untouched except some new paint and carpet. I can hear the other house calling me…. but I am torn. These houses are old, they were built in the 1930’s and no matter what I do they will never be the modern home I would like to eventually live in. Do I want to keep dumping money into them just because I desire to work with my hands? I still want to bulldoze these houses in a couple years. The more sweat equity (and hard cash) I invest the more they are part of me and the harder that decision will be.

I am not sure what to do. Has anyone else faced something like this? I have got to do something. Maybe another Floaty Dock? I need a weekend project people!!!