Introduction to the Beiler Family’s Home Search
The Beiler family, consisting of Claudia, Chris, and their five sons, had outgrown their 1870 brick house in Honey Brook, Pa. Despite having spent nearly 12 years renovating the three-bedroom house, they felt crowded and were looking for a new home with more space. The couple owns a home design and renovation company, and they were not afraid to take on a fixer-upper.
The Search for the Perfect Home
The Beilers aimed to stay within 30 minutes of Honey Brook, where they would keep their old house and rent it out to friends. They were looking for a home with enough space for a classroom and several acres of land, where their children could "run and roam and catch snakes." Mrs. Beiler, who homeschools the children, wanted a house with a midcentury or modern style, but options in the area were limited. The couple knew that most large houses with lots of land nearby would need serious repairs, as the area’s Amish buyers often snap up properties quickly.
Potential Homes
The Beilers found three homes that offered the indoor and outdoor space they sought. Each had at least one major flaw that would cost a lot to fix, but thanks to their experience with renovations, they were willing to consider almost anything. The first home was a four-bedroom, three-bath, 3,417-square-foot ranch house that sat on nearly four acres in a hilly Honey Brook subdivision. The house had some interior flourishes that felt midcentury-modern, but it was in worse shape than the listing photos suggested, and it also had mold.
First Home Details
The first home had a two-car garage, a finished basement with a bathroom, two decks, and a pool that needed extensive repairs. The price was $565,000, with about $7,700 in annual taxes. Mr. Beiler estimated it needed about $200,000 worth of renovations.
Second Home Details
The second home was a three-bedroom, two-bath, 2,692-square-foot home in Elverson, Pa., built into the side of a grassy hill. Inside, arched windows and a spiral staircase gave it a distinctive look, but everything was dated, from the kitchen to the bathrooms to the wall-to-wall carpeting. The house also had mold, both inside and out. The four-acre plot had expansive countryside views, but few trees, meaning lots of visibility of neighboring homes. It was listed at $350,000, with taxes of about $7,000. Mr. Beiler estimated it needed about $300,000 in repairs.
Third Home Details
The third home was a four-bedroom, three-bath, 2,940-square-foot midcentury-modern home hidden on a wooded, 13-acre plot in Morgantown, Pa. It had much of its original mahogany woodwork, as well as vaulted ceilings with skylights, stone fireplaces, and a basement rec room. Outside were a covered patio, a three-car garage, a horse barn, and a pool with a sauna. The previous owners, an Amish family, had stripped out most of the electrical systems and plumbing, relying instead on an outdoor wood-burning furnace. As a result, the Beilers wouldn’t even be able to get a conventional bank loan to buy the house. It was listed at $786,800, with taxes of around $5,300. Mr. Beiler estimated the total cost of renovations to be about $100,000.
Conclusion
The Beiler family’s search for a new home was a challenging but exciting process. With their experience in home design and renovation, they were willing to consider homes that needed significant repairs. In the end, they had to weigh the pros and cons of each potential home and make a decision that would work best for their family.
FAQs
Q: What was the Beiler family looking for in a new home?
A: The Beiler family was looking for a home with enough space for a classroom and several acres of land, where their children could "run and roam and catch snakes." They also wanted a house with a midcentury or modern style.
Q: How many homes did the Beilers consider?
A: The Beilers considered three homes that offered the indoor and outdoor space they sought.
Q: What was the estimated cost of renovations for each home?
A: The estimated cost of renovations for the first home was $200,000, for the second home was $300,000, and for the third home was $100,000.
