The neighbors were always sort of questionable, but the trashy started and held on until they finally moved out last summer. I thought it would be neat to show an update on a house that looked unsalvageable as of last June.
If you read this post from last summer, you'll remember that when "Jane Doe" (who rented the home from her father) and her husband moved out, they left mounds of trash piled up in the yard, no flooring/carpet in much of the house, holes in drywall, a dismantled kitchen with flies buzzing everywhere, and a dark dank unfinished basement with junk piled high.
Um, pretty trashy, right? It made the angels cry.
So the heavens opened up and the new owner decided to gut and remodel the home with his own crew. The girls and I spent many a day watching the work from the big window in our living room.
We counted at least 5 giant commercial-sized trash loads.
It started looking better as soon as they peeled the aging peachy colored siding off....
After a year of hard work (they didn't work this winter with all of the snow we had), the Trashy Ghetto Neighbor House has a new look!
Look, you can actually walk in the backyard...and it has grass (greener before the drought)!
New Kitchen...no flies! I peeked in some more windows and saw new carpet, paint, light fixtures, everything.
And I am loving the fresh new fixtures out front:
The "For Sale" sign popped up last week, and I'll be honest and say that I am kind of nervous.
Natalie has been praying for a family with a mommy, a daddy, and two little girls to move in so that she and Michaela Byrd will have someone to play with. Maybe it's a tiny bit selfish of us to hope for neighbors with something in common with our family, but I don't know that I can stand another "party house" next door. We're just not "hey let's get trashed in our front yard at 2 am" kind of people.
Here's to hoping that the moving truck brings a fun, crafty mom who knows how to use power tools so she can help me get the hinges off my cabinets! {wink}
we have neighbors like this too (not as 'trashy' more 'never mowing'). I hope a great family moves in :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, Amanda!!! Yay!!!! I am so happy that they have done all the work to fix it up so that it looks so nice!!! I can relate a little bit to your story with a neighbor that we have who's backyard backs up to ours (with no fences, Ouch!) In addition to junk piling up...they haven't mowed in the last 2 months and it looks like a field. In fact a large ground hog has actually moved into it. I watch him out eating the grasses every morning from my kitchen window.
ReplyDeleteWanted to let you know that I am praying for great neighbors for you!!! Thanks for giving me hope!
I'll pray along with Natalie too! What a shame that people let their homes go.to.pot. (maybe cuz they're smokin' it??) So glad that there was a neighborhood redeemer who helped bring up your property value!
ReplyDeleteOoooooh! It's so pretty now! I wanna live there! Haha! Maybe it'll still be available when V & I start looking for houses again this fall & if not, here's hoping that you get some fantastic new neighbors! :-D
ReplyDeleteWe have those neighbors so I feel your pain. Their yard looks exactly like that and I bet the inside does too! Here's to you getting some awesome, friendly, family oriented neighbors and to mine finding some place else to junk up! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope the new transformation will attract a nice family.
ReplyDeleteWonderful!!! What a great job the new owner did! THAT has to help the entire neighborhoods outlook to be sure. I am crossing fingers and toes that you get life long friends in your "new" neighbors!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, a million times better! I know you're happy not to have to look at such an eye sore anymore! Good luck w. the new neighbors!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a difference a year can make huh? I hope y'all get a great lil family of neighbors this time around too! Have a blessed day!
ReplyDeleteLaKeta
1luckeegirl.blogspot.com
wow, that looks so much better. Please tell my you weren't having a heart attack everytime you saw the yard. I would have been so upset. I hope you get some great neighbors! Ones with little girls too.
ReplyDeleteSince moving into our house four years ago, we've had four other houses go up for sale. Everytime, I pray for the neighbors who will be coming, whoever they are. God has been so kind to us as we have had outstanding new neighbors come, fix up the houses, and most of them with kids similar ages to ours! Praise the Lord!
ReplyDeleteWe have always prayed for our neighbors to come also
ReplyDeleteand God has always honored that
Oh my gracious! That is horrible! I thought maybe you were taking a little creative license and embellishing your description a little bit for dramatic effect, but apparently you were dead on! SCARY! It looks much better now! I don't think it's selfish to want decent neighbors. I actually pray for land and no neighbors!
ReplyDeleteWe have neighbors that keep us up playing basketball outside my boys window at midnight. UGH! I feel your pain!
Amanda, thanks so much for stopping by my blog from Kimbas! I LOVE that you showed the neighbors transformation...and it's a BIG ONE! I'll pray for good neighbors! ;-) I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it just make you wonder how people can live like that? The new owners did a beautiful job on the flip. I am sure a nice family will want to buy that house! What a relief to have that isore out of your neighborhood huh? Thanks for sharing it with us, it makes you appreciate nice neighbors and the pride they have.
ReplyDeleteOh my Gosh!!!!! I do not understand people like that at all!! I need to do a post on my weird neighbor. I call him the 5 gallon bucket guy!
ReplyDeleteWow! Good for the new owners. We are kinda the darlings of the neighborhood since we moved in and fixed up. And because we are young enough to be the kids of most of the neighbors. I love it. And, I know that when we leave, we'll have left the home a million times better for the neighborhood. =)
ReplyDeleteIt must have killed you having that mess next door. Thank goodness it is all cleaned up now and looking spiffy. I hope you get very nice new neighbors with little girls.
ReplyDeleteWhat a transformation!! Surely you guys must be thrilled...and I can understand M's prayers!! Hope God brings a wonderful family to your 'hood!!! :D
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
what a difference! i wouldn't have believed it if i didn't see pictures! we finally have neighbors with kids and it's so nice-good luck with the new neighbors!
ReplyDeletewhat a difference! i wouldn't have believed it if i didn't see pictures! we finally have neighbors with kids and it's so nice-good luck with the new neighbors!
ReplyDeleteI wish you good neighbors! With friends for the kiddos:)
ReplyDeletelol! I was wondering how you got to "borrow" such great stuff from your trashy neighbors! The house looks great now, they did a good job with it.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, my husband loves the name of your blog. So much so that he kept yelling out "Serenity NOW!" all last night after he saw your blog tab open... lol, he's a nut.
-Ann Marie
OMG! Poor you for having to live next door to them! That must have been awful. I'm glad the new owner cleaned up the place and I hope you get your "ideal" family! I'm keeping my fingers crossed over here in Canada!
ReplyDeleteUm, wow! We have been blessed with fabulous neighbors. Finally this year we had children BBC's age move into the neighborhood. Fun time! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think it's perfectly okay to pray for the right neighbors to move in. I've done it a few times, but we always move first, before I see what comes of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sending you good new neighbor vibes! We have a couple of trashy party houses on our street {although not as literally trashy as your former neighbor's!}, and even though they are the ones with the little kids it's still so ok.
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks so much better!! Here's to a new super crafty neighbor! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteP.S. My MOPS decor is starting to come together. Once I get it more finalized, I'll show you. I'm just sticking mainly with the art and not much Science.
What a great makeover...the house looks amazing now!!
ReplyDeleteHope you get that family you are hoping for.
Hugs
SueAnn
Holy cow it was totally trashed!! Looks like a overhaul was definitely needed for that place. Good luck having a nice family move in - with girls too.
ReplyDeleteIf I were God, I would listen to Natalie. Just sayin.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be wonderful to have neighbors who could be good friends? And how lucky they would be to live next door to you!
Hmmm...I'm halfway contemplating a move to the East!
ReplyDeleteI have THREE little girls... and I love crafts!
I think it's cute that you admit to peepin' in the windows!
ReplyDelete