This home has so many things to love!  Character, 2 story, bedrooms all on one level!  I was able to help the owners of this home purchase it a few years back and they have done so much to it!  I love to see a home that has been neglected be transformed by Owners that care about their home and their neighborhood.  I thought I would share their story and a few before/after pics with you.

Read about one South Minneapolis DIYer’s experience:

In February of 2008, we started looking at houses in south Minneapolis. After looking at nearly 30 houses in a month and having two offers turned down, we decided to go back to a foreclosed house that we had looked at once already. I’ll never forget when we pulled up to the house; the gray siding, gray roof, and white trim blended in like camouflage with the snow on the ground and the gray winter skies. Walking around inside the house was not much better because the heat was off, nearly every wall was a salmon color, the kitchen was not well kept and poorly laid out, the wood floors needed to be redone, and overall it did not feel like a home, but rather a run down house. Despite all of that, the location was great, the square footage and room count was what we wanted, there was unpainted original wood work and a built in buffet, a double lot with a yard bigger than any we’ve seen in south Minneapolis, a very solid over-sized two car garage (with built in shelves!), the foundation, walls and roof were in very good shape, and the price was fantastic.
So we offered full price knowing that we did not have to put any money down to buy the house (but we would have to put some amount into it). Our offer was accepted, the inspection came back good with some minor things to work on, and we closed on it in the middle of June. Over the next two months, with the help of many family and friends, we re-sanded the wood floors, painted every wall and ceiling, put down a new floor and tiled around the tub in the bathroom, and completely gutted and remodeled the kitchen. Now we are amateur DIYer’s!
After making Home Depot our home away from home, about $12,000 for appliances, cabinets, paint, and tools, and with some blood, sweat, and tears, we made the house into a place we enjoy living in. Since then, we have doubled the size of our family, nearly finished the basement (only a little trim and ceiling work left), have been able to have people live with us, and are working every summer to spruce up the yard.

The images do not do this remodel justice as they did not know they would be sharing these with me but you can get a taste of how a home can be transformed!

Before (Kitchen)

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After (Kitchen)

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Dining Room

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Bedrooms (Before)

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Bedrooms (After)