The past month has been a whirlwind of highs and lows for our lovely Mermaid House. We’ve had the excitement of two offers, though regrettably, both fell through. The current surge in interest rates has certainly added to the challenges, but we’re maintaining our patience, eagerly awaiting a cash buyer or someone with a job transfer requirement, as the “lookers” of the world are currently on the sidelines. Our dedicated realtor has been conducting open houses three to four times a week, and our property has garnered good interest from both these open houses and broker showings. After carefully assessing the comparable properties in the market, we believe our pricing is competitive. Nevertheless, on August 15th, we made a $50,000 price adjustment to attract those in the new price range and stimulate even more interest. Encouragingly, two families revisited our property after their initial viewing last weekend, leaving us hopeful that we may receive an offer in the near future.
We dove into August at the marvelous 38th St project with a whirlwind of activity, primarily focused on cabinet installation and bringing those vibrant colors to life through painting. The gorgeous master bath vanity features a deep, luxurious cognac hue. This instant favorite is echoed in the charming butler’s pantry and even gracing the majestic kitchen island, tying the whole space together with a warm, cohesive feel. Speaking of which, we’re witnessing some truly stunning progress in both the butler’s pantry and the kitchen! It’s incredibly exciting to watch everything come together so smoothly. The installation of the slab is a collaborative effort, requiring the expertise of many minds to ensure it’s just right. It may take some effort, but the end result is totally worth it!
Elsewhere indoors, the electrician began a part of the process I absolutely adore, installation of the lighting fixtures…they are the “jewelry” of the house, after all! Our crew drilled the holes for the wall sconces, and I’m thrilled to share that the fabulous fabrication work on the bathroom backsplashes is currently in progress! I absolutely adore how they’ve taken shape! Another showstopper element that came together was the dramatic high gloss “Caviar” doors. Yes, you heard that right… It’s the kind of detail that makes you go “ooh-la-la!”. Over at the Pool House, the white shaker cabinets were installed in the kitchen and then snugly wrapped in preparation for painting to begin.
Take a peek into the progress on Butler’s Pantry and Kitchen
On the exterior, the Estate House was prepped and primed, ready to flaunt its creamy white coat. Oh, the anticipation is real! It won’t be long before we’re treated to the sight of this beauty standing proud and elegant. The arrival of PAVERS was an exciting milestone – we’ve been looking forward to these beauties going down. Preparing the pavers for our driveway, front and back patios, and flower beds is quite an involved process. There are so many considerations involved in this important piece of the project: design decisions, detailed planning and measurements, and most importantly, communicating it all effectively with the paver crew. We are meticulous in our pattern and formation selection, as well as in ensuring our crew has clear instructions to be mindful of the color variation, so it all blends seamlessly. Given our project’s size and the scorching 115-degree weather we’re dealing with, this task will take about two weeks.
Simultaneously, we can also work on the pool decking and tackle several other tasks, which keeps our project moving forward smoothly! On the backside of the main house, pool decking is also being laid. I’m particularly thrilled to see the pool pavers and decking taking shape! Lastly, our eagle-eyed security camera caught something fun on the footage… a glimpse of the future taking shape! The footings for a brand-new block wall and gates are being meticulously crafted. What’s the plan, you ask? Well, brace yourselves, because a 12-foot RV gate is on the horizon, which will allow easy access from the alley to the Pool House, garage and the lovely backyard!
Interested in seeing some of the work in progress?
Check out this video of the pavers arriving at the Estate House jobsite
OR
Take a peek at our skilled crew in action as they lay down the pavers
By the way, did you know that as a business owner, you can pay your children up to $12,500 a year for their work within the company? We make sure to make the most of this opportunity, and Kelsey is a fantastic asset to us. She’s involved in labeling, inspecting, organizing, loading, and transporting all the lighting and various other items, among her many other contributions!
As we step into the month of September, our focus will be on wrapping up all the interior tasks. This will include finalizing the fireplace surround, installing glass cabinet inserts for the kitchen and butler’s pantry, and completing the installation of all the lighting fixtures and plumbing trims. Meanwhile, on the exterior, we’ll be diligently working on finishing the pool decking and pavers, and kickstarting the landscaping process. This will set the stage for us to add the final touches, address any remaining items on the punch list, and start staging the property in October. Our goal is to be ready to launch the sale on the market by the end of October! We’re entering the home stretch, and we can’t contain our excitement to see The Estate House come to life!
August was a month of anticipation for our Cheery Lynn Road project, as we patiently awaited the issuance of our building permit from the City of Phoenix. To ensure the process went smoothly, I stayed proactive, making several calls each week. We expected that permit to land in our hands any day!
Our grading crew swung into action on August 21st and 22nd to construct our dirt pad. With that in place, we were all set to begin digging those essential footings, marking a significant milestone in our project’s timeline.
In the meantime, we turned our attention to various aspects of the project, including design considerations, window selections, appliance choices, and garage door options. The good news was that we no longer faced the long lead times associated with these items, eliminating the need to place orders months in advance.