House #4: The Corner House in Scott Depot, WV

The Corner House was one of our early projects on Hillsdale Circle in Scott Depot, West Virginia. This house had more going on than an outdated kitchen or overgrown shrubs: an inspection concern had interrupted an earlier sale. Here is how we approached the purchase, the work that followed and the separate resale.

This is a look back at a 2014–2015 project, originally shared on our blog in 2016. It is a past project, rather than a house currently offered for sale.

A house sale that needed another look

The house had been listed for several months before the earlier buyer backed out. A referral brought it to our attention. Steve went to see the property, and we reached an agreement to buy it. The concern raised during inspection mattered to our evaluation; it was part of understanding the work ahead.

For a homeowner in a similar position, a canceled sale does not tell you what every future buyer will do. Start with the actual inspection information and compare your available options. A repair proposal, a purchase agreement and a completed closing each answer different questions.

Corner House exterior before renovation	Corner House exterior after renovation

Original AM project photos. The exterior work shown took place after our purchase.

Taking on the renovation after buying

Our original recap describes a three-bedroom, two-bath house with deferred maintenance. We replaced the roof and siding and cleared the large shrubs around the front. Those visible changes were only part of the job.

The work also included exterior drainage and structural work, with United Structural Systems installing carbon-fiber reinforcement inside. By November 2014, we were working through the structural phase before moving further into the renovation. That was a different part of the job from updating the kitchen and freshening up the rooms.

Inside, the updates included kitchen cabinets and countertops, backsplash, flooring, lighting and paint. We also worked on the deck. These were improvements we made as owners after the purchase.

Corner House kitchen before renovation	Corner House kitchen after renovation

Original kitchen photos before and after our renovation.

Finishing the work and finding the next buyer

By December 2014, our project updates described the final preparation for marketing. Our original recap estimated roughly seven weeks of renovation work. That is a historical account of this job, not a timetable for another house.

The resale needed attention too. Our recap explains that we started higher than the market response supported, adjusted the asking price and eventually sold. The seller’s sale to us and our later resale were separate transactions. A purchase that works for one owner does not predict the price, repair scope or timing of another project.

Our house-selling options comparison can help you organize that discussion. You can also read how we evaluate a possible house purchase and our questions to ask a direct house buyer.

More original project photos

Another exterior view before renovation	Yard and exterior after renovation

Additional original Corner House views. Before and after labels describe the stage of the project.

Explore our other early house stories

Continue with the Learning House, the four-level house or the Edgewood House. The Flipping WV episode linked in our original recap follows a separate Winfield project.

Have a house with repairs to discuss?

Tell Steve and Andrew about the property, its condition and what you would like to do next. Call 304-250-9336 or use the form below. We can discuss whether a possible purchase is worth exploring, and you can compare any proposal before deciding.