Our New Home Arrives!

For the past couple of years, ever since we purchased 10 acres, we have been dreaming, planning, and trying to save to build.  It was our hope to build a darling cabin on our acreage.  However, as more and more time progressed, we realized that it is hard to pay bills on two different pieces of property, and try to save money, so our thoughts turned to how we could just move out to our land, and thus save money by living there, and then building as we can.  After making that decision this past year, we began actively looking at options for something to live in while we save to build.

Our options ran a big gamut from travel trailer, to park model trailer, to remodeling a shed into a home, to a single wide mobile home, and then even considering a double wide mobile home.  The Lord opened up the door for us just a couple of weeks ago (see this post and this post to see just how this came to be), so that we could purchase at a very cheap price, an older single wide mobile home, and it was something affordable for us, and that we could make work.

The past two weeks have been a flurry of activity around here as the process to ready our land for the arrival of the trailer began.

We needed trees taken out, trenches dug for water, sewer and electric lines, and a gravel pad put down. All of this of course took place while my husband was out of town, working to pay for it all.  We have had experience in the past with setting up a mobile home, but my husband was always around to make the important decisions -- but not this time.  I was dealing with the contractor trying to decide where best to put the house, and making important decisions about the moving of the trailer, consulting with my husband along the way, yet.... there is nothing like having him here to see, and make the decisions.  It was a big weight for me, as he always has been the one to make these kinds of decisions.  However, I prayed every step of the way, and the Lord blessed me with peace about it all.

Our son and our dear friend JH went to prepare the home for travel.  All the skirting had to be taken off, and the addition separated from the home, porches had to be removed and all the blocks underneath the home had to be stacked and brought to the gravel pad.  It was a lot of work for them to do.

The home is small, very small!  It is a 14 x 56 mobile home, built back in 1977.  However the previous owner had gutted the home, replaced the insulation, had it all rewired, put up sheet rock all throughout the home, and new windows.



Once my husband arrived home, we went to look at the house together.  I had not seen it yet in person either, as I had decided to wait and see it with him.  It was a huge leap of faith to buy this home without ever seeing it, but we knew the Lord's hand was in the midst of it all.



This is the 14 x 8' porch addition that comes with the home.  It is unfinished, but has four large windows, and has great "bones" that we will be able to use.  We plan to insulate it, finish the floors, roof and walls, and make it into one part mudroom, and one part office for me.  I love the large windows!

There is still quite a work of that needs to be done cosmetically to the inside of the home.  There are a few kitchen cabinets, but they will need replaced.  This bar area will need to be finished.  Carpeting and linoleum will need to be pulled out, and a new floor surface put down.

The stove is quite a mess, and will be tossed.  We will replace it most likely with a gas stove.

One of the things that quite impressed me about the home was the large new storm windows with screens that were installed, that allow lots of light into the home, and the ability to see out into our yard easily.

This is the small second bedroom, which will be our daughter's.  It is a lot smaller than the bedroom she has, but we are going to make it work.  She wants to paint the room a soft baby or turquoise blue.

The bathroom is in decent shape.  The floors had all been replaced with new boards, and a new tub installed.  I will no doubt want to change the vanity out at some point, and of course the camouflage curtain will be the first to go! ... lol!

There is room in the corner for a shelving unit which we will use as a linen closet.



This is the master bedroom.  It is very small!  However, we will have room for the necessities that we need.  Again... the curtains will be tossed... lol!



There are no ceiling light fixtures in the house, except for one in the kitchen.  The ceilings are low, only about 7'.  The previous owner installed these "lanterns" for light fixtures.  I am sure I will find something to replace them, as well...  :)

This is the master closet, which is actually pretty nice, and has been redone.  There are closet doors that just need to be hung.

Finally the big day came, this past Saturday, when the mover was able to come and move the trailer to its new home.

Here is a better picture of the addition.  This was not able to be moved Saturday, because the mover didn't have equipment ready to haul it.  He will be moving the addition this week sometime.

Here is the trailer being readied for transport.

... And its arrival to our property...

... a wide swing coming in...

... and getting straightened out

The gravel pad all readied for the arrival of the trailer...

It took a little maneuvering to get it straight, but not much...

... and there it was!

The movers worked very hard to level it and it was quite late when they left, so I didn't get a picture of that.  I know it doesn't look like much... in fact it looks pretty small doesn't it!  Yet, we purchased this home for $3000 and we own it free and clear!  My husband keeps asking me - how does it feel to own your home?  LOL!  It feels great!

We have a LOT of work ahead of us, but --  our dream of living simple, and debt-free -- is much closer to being a reality!  In particular, the kitchen will need a cheap remodel.  I don't want anything expensive, as that would negate the whole purpose of what we are doing.  I have plans to visit our local Habitat for Humanity to see what they may have, and I have also been scouring craigslist looking for cabinets as well.  We plan on replacing the flooring and painting to begin with, and then see what happens next.

If any of you have any suggestions for the upcoming renovations that we will need to do, be sure and leave me a comment!  I would love to hear any tips or helpful ideas that would allow this process to move along more smoothly!