I don't really go for "beginner friendly" options. When I got my first dog, I drove two and a half hours to pick up the only free option on Craigslist, an unruly hound/pit mix with emotional baggage. It took him five years to learn recall. When I wanted a reliable car to daily drive and work on by myself? I bought a 20 year old European station wagon.

My fiancee loves a project too. And we're both hopeless romantics. So when we were ready to buy a house, the Zillow filters were brutal. Built before 1900? Not interested. Grey floored flips need not apply. Open floor plans? No thank you, I have art to hang and that requires walls. Give me rooms!

We went to an open house for an 1850s colonial Greek Revival in the northern part of the state. It was gorgeous, and had so much potential, but the commute was a drag and it needed... more than we were capable of. After months (years, really who am I kidding) of daydreaming, we looked at that house and realized there are DIY's that we aren't ready for.

We kept scanning MLS listings, and got a little nervous about whether we'd find something in our budget that fit our criteria. We met our mortgage broker-recommended realtor for the first time to see a 1920s Cape in the southern part of the state. (1920's, I know. We were really nervous for a second an threw our criteria out the window.) The location was amazing but the yard was tiny, and we would have needed a rehab loan. We realized this realtor wasn't terribly invested in our search. We didn't make an offer. We decided to recommit to waiting around for the house at our price point.

A good friend connected me with his best friend and realtor, Ron. We talked on the phone and Ron got it. He was unfazed by the fact that we didn't care which town we found a house in. It made perfect sense to him that we cared more about the property and the architecture. We talked about the difference between tacky brick Greek Revivals with huge pillars (not an option) and gorgeous wood Greek revivals with beautifully intricate details (totally an option). He got that we didn't care if it was a 1700s farmhouse or an 1870s gingerbread Victorian. Ron's brother is a contractor. His mother lovingly restores historic homes. We were on the same page. Ron was looking out for an old house that was a great example of whatever it was built to be. We had found our guy.

We didn't even get to go looking for houses with him. The day after our call, we saw a listing for an open house for an 1882 vernacular Victorian in an area we spend a lot of time in. We went to see it that Sunday while Ron was with other clients. We were immediately in love. There were so many couples coming in and out, and honestly we were certain we'd be outbid. It's hard to have hope when you park your legal-to-drink station wagon in a lot surrounded by late model year BMWs. The house was on the National Register. The house had a snippet on Wikipedia(!).

We left the open house and called Ron from a parking lot down the street. "We want this one!" Ron and I planned to go back together the next day, and after he saw it too, he gave his blessing for us to put in an offer.

In the year of our lord 2023, you probably think you know where this story is about to go. A bidding war, tears, anxiety!

Nope. Ron helped us craft our best possible offer, advising on non-monetary bonuses that could set us apart. We were going to need to find a subletter regardless, so could give the seller plenty of time until closing. We were unafraid of old plaster, lead, and asbestos, so we promised not to nitpick after inspection (well, we have a healthy respect for lead and asbestos, but it's not keeping us out of our dream home). Ron built a rapport with the sellers agents who were also incredibly easy to work with. And the BMW driving hordes of open house people? While we were looking at our dream home, they must have been looking at tiny bedrooms, a wildly dated kitchen, and some choice wallpaper decisions. Ours was the first offer, and it was accepted right away.

There's a lot of work to do! But I like things that need work.

On this day we remember the victims of all races murdered by Nelson Mandela throughout his terrorist campaign, for which, he showed no remorse. That is the "hero" that is "celebrated" by some this day. "Mandela day" , murdering the way to democracy- something the liberal folks choose not to believe, as it is too disturbing to ponder. The truth is not always rose coloured. We think of the families and hope that somehow they have been able to bear the pain of their loss. THE ANC'S VICTIMS WERE MOSTLY CIVILIANS: 1981 – 2 car bombs at Durban showrooms 1983 – Church Street Bomb (killed 19, wounded 217) 1984 – Durban car bomb (killed 5, wounded 27) 1985-1987 – At least 150 landmines on farm roads (killed 125) 1985 – Amanzimtoti Sanlam shopping centre bomb Dec 23 (killed 2 white women and 3 white children) 1986 – Magoo’s Bar bomb (killed 3, wounded 69) 1986 – Newcastle Court bomb (wounded 24) 1987 – Johannesburg Court bomb (killed 3, wounded 10) 1987 – Wits command centre car bomb (killed 1, wounded 68) 1988 – Johannesburg video arcade (killed 1 unborn baby, wounded 10) 1988 – Roodepoort bank bomb (killed 4, wounded 18) 1988 – Pretoria Police housing unit, 2 bombs (wounded 3) 1988 – Magistrate’s Court bomb (killed 3) 1988 – Benoni Wimpy Bar bomb (killed 1, wounded 56) 1988 – Witbank shopping centre bomb (killed 2, wounded 42) 1988 – Ellis Park Rugby Stadium car bomb (killed 2, wounded 37) Late 1980s -early 1990a-numerous Wimpy Restaurant bombs (killed many, wounded many)

Drywalling | Drywall Contractors Johannesburg | Ceiling Contractors

Why Square Group Projects 071 943 0012 We are an owner-managed company operating in Johannesburg and surrounding areas, specializing in interior space planning and office design, drywall , ceiling installations bulkheads and painting as well as fire-rating services. As part of any drywalling project, we also provide additional services which include building alterations and additions, plumbing, electrical installations, tiling, paving and painting. Specialists in the field of commercial and industrial drywalling and ceiling installation. We offer reliable services at market related rates and are proud to give quality workmanship that is compliant with building standards, leaving our clients with peace of mind. Drywall Randburg ,Drywall /Partitioning Johannesburg , dry walling partitioning Pretoria, Ceiling installation Centurion , Drywall Fourways, Ceiling Midrand ,Drywall Rose bank ,Bulkheads Pretoria ,Drywall Johannesburg , ceiling Fourways , drywall Sandton , bulkheads Randburg , ceiling repair Centurion , Drywall Pretoria , drywall East RAND , bulkheads The Reeds, bulkheads North Rand ,Suspended ceiling Pretoria East , ceiling Pretoria , drywall Pretoria east , Bulkheads Kempton Park , drywall Alberton , drywall Midrand , drywall Centurion , bulkheads Randburg, Bulkheads Pretoria east , Drywall west Rand ,Drywall Krugersdorp ,Drywall Roodepoort ,Drywall /Partitioning Germiston , drywall East rand , Drywall / Partitioning Johannesburg ,ceiling north rand , bulkheads Glen Austin, ceiling Midrand, ceiling Vorna Valley, bulkheads Kyalami, ceiling Centurion , drywall Halfway House, ceiling Glen Austin View ,Drywall Springs ,Drywall Benoni ,Drywall Boksburg Call us now for free quote and se how much you can save with us Office 0127542220 Mario 0719430012

Drywalling | Drywall Contractors Johannesburg | Ceiling Contractors

Why Square Group Projects 071 943 0012 We are an owner-managed company operating in Johannesburg and surrounding areas, specializing in interior space planning and office design, drywall , ceiling installations bulkheads and painting as well as fire-rating services. As part of any drywalling project, we also provide additional services which include building alterations and additions, plumbing, electrical installations, tiling, paving and painting. Specialists in the field of commercial and industrial drywalling and ceiling installation. We offer reliable services at market related rates and are proud to give quality workmanship that is compliant with building standards, leaving our clients with peace of mind. Drywall Randburg ,Drywall /Partitioning Johannesburg , dry walling partitioning Pretoria, Ceiling installation Centurion , Drywall Fourways, Ceiling Midrand ,Drywall Rose bank ,Bulkheads Pretoria ,Drywall Johannesburg , ceiling Fourways , drywall Sandton , bulkheads Randburg , ceiling repair Centurion , Drywall Pretoria , drywall East RAND , bulkheads The Reeds, bulkheads North Rand ,Suspended ceiling Pretoria East , ceiling Pretoria , drywall Pretoria east , Bulkheads Kempton Park , drywall Alberton , drywall Midrand , drywall Centurion , bulkheads Randburg, Bulkheads Pretoria east , Drywall west Rand ,Drywall Krugersdorp ,Drywall Roodepoort ,Drywall /Partitioning Germiston , drywall East rand , Drywall / Partitioning Johannesburg ,ceiling north rand , bulkheads Glen Austin, ceiling Midrand, ceiling Vorna Valley, bulkheads Kyalami, ceiling Centurion , drywall Halfway House, ceiling Glen Austin View ,Drywall Springs ,Drywall Benoni ,Drywall Boksburg Call us now for free quote and se how much you can save with us Office 0127542220 Mario 0719430012