Comments on: New Timbergrove Manor Cottage Puts Some Skin in the Real Estate Game http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/ Houston, Texas real estate development, home buying, landscape, and design Sat, 25 May 2013 19:10:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ross http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-302129 Ross Wed, 24 Oct 2012 03:02:00 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-302129 Don't get me wrong, I love our little house for what it is, possibly the best 2BR design around. However, our floor plan doesn't lend itself to expansion, and while the house is decently assembled, it's just not a modern structure. And, whoever installed the siding went cheap and used masonite as the under layer instead of cedar shakes. That doesn't fill me with hope for what lies underneath. We will see in the next year or so when I replace the siding. I do think City Cottage has done a good job of building houses that fit the area, even if the floor plans are uninspired.We could do a lot worse. At least most of the bigger houses seem to go in on Turnpike, where they actually fit in reasonably well. Don’t get me wrong, I love our little house for what it is, possibly the best 2BR design around. However, our floor plan doesn’t lend itself to expansion, and while the house is decently assembled, it’s just not a modern structure. And, whoever installed the siding went cheap and used masonite as the under layer instead of cedar shakes. That doesn’t fill me with hope for what lies underneath. We will see in the next year or so when I replace the siding.

I do think City Cottage has done a good job of building houses that fit the area, even if the floor plans are uninspired.We could do a lot worse. At least most of the bigger houses seem to go in on Turnpike, where they actually fit in reasonably well.

]]> By: stevec http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-302093 stevec Wed, 24 Oct 2012 02:06:55 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-302093 @Ross: Having added on to my Timbergrove home east of TC Jester, I can say that they are built so much more solidly than anything new. I took my 2-1 and added a master suite with the help of a great architect and the result is a 2100 sq ft 3-2-2 that has character and style. The "Ranch" is very adaptable. The houses that are destined to be bulldozed are ones where there has been poor maintenance or absolutely no updates to infrastructure over the years. Unfortunately, many elderly folks can't afford to keep up with repairs and this makes their houses ripe for wrecking. I do have to give credit to City Cottages that they are building appropriately scaled houses in the neighborhood that look like they belong. So much better than the giant Spanish or French style ones that loom over their neighbors and stick out like a sore thumb. @Ross: Having added on to my Timbergrove home east of TC Jester, I can say that they are built so much more solidly than anything new. I took my 2-1 and added a master suite with the help of a great architect and the result is a 2100 sq ft 3-2-2 that has character and style. The “Ranch” is very adaptable.
The houses that are destined to be bulldozed are ones where there has been poor maintenance or absolutely no updates to infrastructure over the years. Unfortunately, many elderly folks can’t afford to keep up with repairs and this makes their houses ripe for wrecking.
I do have to give credit to City Cottages that they are building appropriately scaled houses in the neighborhood that look like they belong. So much better than the giant Spanish or French style ones that loom over their neighbors and stick out like a sore thumb.

]]> By: markd http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301873 markd Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:44:31 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301873 "The only sure cure for plumber's crack is overalls." - Former Mayoral Candidate Ralph the Plumber. “The only sure cure for plumber’s crack is overalls.” – Former Mayoral Candidate Ralph the Plumber.

]]> By: Ross http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301775 Ross Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:58:36 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301775 Phil, the original house was about half the size of the new one, so you can't really say that it was slightly smaller. And, it had had the garage converted to living space, so parking and storage were an issue. The Timbergrove houses East of TC Jester are not particularly well built, and they don't really lend themselves to expansion. The slabs are undersized as well, so building up is very difficult. I would love to update and add to our house, but by the time everything is done, we could almost build a modern house with more room, better infrastructure, and lower operating costs. And that's after adding something that will really be just a tacked on space that's not well integrated. Tear downs make a lot of sense under those conditions. Phil, the original house was about half the size of the new one, so you can’t really say that it was slightly smaller. And, it had had the garage converted to living space, so parking and storage were an issue.

The Timbergrove houses East of TC Jester are not particularly well built, and they don’t really lend themselves to expansion. The slabs are undersized as well, so building up is very difficult. I would love to update and add to our house, but by the time everything is done, we could almost build a modern house with more room, better infrastructure, and lower operating costs. And that’s after adding something that will really be just a tacked on space that’s not well integrated.

Tear downs make a lot of sense under those conditions.

]]> By: Gary http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301538 Gary Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:09:51 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301538 People aren't just paying for the house, They're paying for the ample room and the very friendly and walkable, (we have sidewalks!) neighborhood of Timbergrove. You can't beat the value for your money this close inside the loop. People aren’t just paying for the house, They’re paying for the ample room and the very friendly and walkable, (we have sidewalks!) neighborhood of Timbergrove. You can’t beat the value for your money this close inside the loop.

]]> By: Phil http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301231 Phil Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:00:47 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301231 @Bernard: yes, they bulldozed a slightly smaller ranch that could easily have been enlarged & upgraded. @Bernard: yes, they bulldozed a slightly smaller ranch that could easily have been enlarged & upgraded.

]]> By: Ross http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301207 Ross Tue, 23 Oct 2012 03:25:38 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301207 You might think they are junk, Bernard, but they are selling like hotcakes. Every last one of those City Cottage houses are sale pending before they are done with construction. and, honestly, they are better than the demolished structures, which were 60 year old 1200-1400 sq ft 2-1 or 3-1 ranch styles. We love our little 2-1, but it really could use more closets, another bathroom, another bedroom, and modern infrastructure. The City Cottage designs are pretty mundane, but they get snapped up in a hurry. I just can't see paying $500k for a house. That's almost $800 per month in property taxes alone. You might think they are junk, Bernard, but they are selling like hotcakes. Every last one of those City Cottage houses are sale pending before they are done with construction. and, honestly, they are better than the demolished structures, which were 60 year old 1200-1400 sq ft 2-1 or 3-1 ranch styles. We love our little 2-1, but it really could use more closets, another bathroom, another bedroom, and modern infrastructure. The City Cottage designs are pretty mundane, but they get snapped up in a hurry. I just can’t see paying $500k for a house. That’s almost $800 per month in property taxes alone.

]]> By: Bernard http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301160 Bernard Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:19:11 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301160 On crack or not, just thank them for not bulldozing it. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Am I missing something? They DID bulldoze it. This piece of junk is brand new. Right? On crack or not, just thank them for not bulldozing it.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Am I missing something? They DID bulldoze it. This piece of junk is brand new. Right?

]]> By: mollusk http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301151 mollusk Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:09:21 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301151 I'm always concerned when I see plumbers attempting carpentry. I’m always concerned when I see plumbers attempting carpentry.

]]> By: kt2le http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301145 kt2le Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:00:19 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301145 $500K for THAT? Looks like it was designed by a high school drafting class using off-the-shelf Home Depot sale items. $500K for THAT? Looks like it was designed by a high school drafting class using off-the-shelf Home Depot sale items.

]]> By: movocelot http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-301054 movocelot Mon, 22 Oct 2012 23:13:17 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-301054 RE: the Blandersons What they want is roof valleys and dormers, tricky eave-end returns, mouldings wherever possible... because it looks substantial. RE: the Blandersons
What they want is roof valleys and dormers, tricky eave-end returns, mouldings wherever possible…
because it looks substantial.

]]> By: nacho diego http://swamplot.com/new-timbergrove-manor-cottage-puts-some-skin-in-the-real-estate-game/2012-10-22/#comment-300973 nacho diego Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:48:14 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=48765#comment-300973 having been Prince Street for over 25 years, a great improvement over the trailer park and the gate company having been Prince Street for over 25 years, a great improvement over the trailer park and the gate company

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