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<\/a>I met the realtor at the home and took a good tour of the house and yard. Many good points, including setting and condition, but the house just won’t work for us. It is on four levels: Kitchen (main level), upstairs (location of the master suite,) bedroom level (one level down from the kitchen) with two bedrooms, laundry, storage closet, and a half-bath, then basement, down another set of steps from the bedroom level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This puts the laundry area 15 steps down, on two different levels, from the master suite. Given our preference to minimize having to go up and down stairs for essential functions, this layout is not for us. We didn’t realize the house was on four levels!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advantages were the location, water view, over-all condition, and overhead central air. Other disadvantages were all-electric heat (via baseboard heaters) and restrictions on adding additional garage space, both from permit policies and physical dimensions of the lot. I found it a bit odd that very few rooms had overhead lights. Instead, switches controlled outlets into which one would plug lamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I enjoyed the trip, about 3 hours each way, and took quite a bit of video for Pam to review. I stopped to speak to one of the area residents who was doing some yard work and gained some perspective about living in the area. (A “George Chat,” if you will.) So, although we have decided to pass on making an offer, it was a good day out. The search will continue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other main topic of this post is my purchase of an enclosed trailer. Found on Facebook Marketplace, this 7′ x 16′ Pace American trailer is in good condition but does have some dents and bruises. Instead of removing the old decals, someone just tried to paint over them. Not a good look. <\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>I have begun removing the internal shelves the previous owners (I am the 3rd) had installed. My main purpose will be hauling firewood so the shelving is not needed, although I will leave some shelves [in the nose of the unit] intact for now.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>The next step will be to take the bill of sale and Wisconsin title to my county offices to pay the sales tax, get an Iowa title, and finish the registration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trailer came out of Marshfield, Wisconsin, and pulled very well behind my Ford F-150. Lights and the brakes work with the exception of two small side markers that I will have to repair. A spare tire was included. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the rain stops I will get started on splitting firewood and loading the rig. In the short term I will list my equipment trailer, shown below, for sale.<\/p>\n\n\n