This week we take a close look at the two methods we used to find our Florida house. We explain how we balanced wants and needs, sifted through hundreds of listings, and relied on technology to bridge an 800-mile distance. We also share how a difficult phone call from our contractor turned out to be a blessing in disguise — sparing us from a future renovation nightmare that could have left us without usable bathrooms. Plus, Sherry’s way with words creates an unexpectedly memorable moment, and John elevates spreadsheeting to an art form.
You can also find this episode on popular podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- We discovered that all of the drywall on the first floor needed to be replaced — a frustrating but necessary step in our renovation. We’re sharing a sneak peek at the work underway and what it means for the timeline and budget.
- We’ll publish more photos in a week or two once the site is more secure. For now, here’s the current condition of the house’s only functioning bathroom. We plan to add an en-suite later, but this is all we have at the moment. What began as a decision to keep the existing tub/shower combo changed when we discovered a leak behind the wall, so a fuller remodel of that room is now necessary. The upside: when we move in, the bathroom should be essentially brand new and leak-free.
- If you missed the backstory about how our plumbing troubles followed us to Florida, that story begins in Episode #168 of our podcast. For a lighter moment about household baskets and Sherry’s impromptu song “Baskets In The Attic,” check Episode #123, titled “Baskets: Friend Or Foe?”
- Later this week we’ll publish a larger inspiration post showing design images that are guiding our Florida renovation. Expect lots of woven textures and natural materials — they’re showing up repeatedly in our mood boards.
Game: What’s Sherry Describing?
- Thanks to listener Jeannie Rodriguez for putting together this week’s game. If you want more from her household, you can hear an interview with her husband, nicknamed “Dr Budgets,” in Episode #63 — he shares practical budgeting tips that listeners often request.
- Below are the items Sherry described during the game and the episodes where those items originally appeared: the ice roller (Episode #142); salt lamp nightlights (Episode #65); a divided turntable organizer (Episode #76); a Corkcicle water bottle (Episode #150); an outdoor kids’ swing (Episode #48); and the Drop Stop solution for the gap between seats (Episode #109).
How We House-Hunted From Afar
- We discuss our decision to move and why we chose the Florida Panhandle in Episode #163. For further reading, we documented the full reasoning and timeline in a blog post about our move to Florida.
- To illustrate how many options were available, our searches returned hundreds of homes in some areas of the panhandle — even after filtering for at least three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a pool. With roughly 900 results in some searches, organizing our options in a spreadsheet became essential.
- After favoriting properties on Zillow and Realtor.com, John built a detailed spreadsheet to compare and prioritize the listings that best matched our criteria. That spreadsheet ultimately helped us narrow down the long list to a manageable set of properties to see in person during our two-day visit to Florida in February.
- The spreadsheet included columns for essentials like price, bedrooms, bathrooms, pool status, and notes on layout and neighborhood feel. It also helped us rank houses based on which features we were willing to compromise on and which ones were must-haves. Even with strong data, some aspects — like flow, natural light, and neighborhood character — are difficult to judge without stepping inside and walking the area.
- We also used walkability scores as a rough guide, noting that automated scores are imperfect and should be verified by visiting the neighborhood and checking satellite imagery. For example, a property’s numerical walk score may not always match on-the-ground reality, so parking and walking the area proved invaluable during our visit.
We’re Digging
- The Florida puzzle we completed with the kids is currently out of stock, but we found several other family-friendly puzzles in the 500-piece range that strike a balance between kid-appropriate and engaging for adults. Some highlights include crystal patterns, playful flair designs, cat-themed art, and science-inspired illustrations. These puzzles make a cozy family activity and are a great way to unwind during renovation downtime.
- We’ve also been listening to the Everything Little Thing podcast, particularly an April 6 episode that features essential workers discussing their experiences delivering packages, stocking shelves, and keeping communities functioning during challenging times. It’s a powerful perspective and well worth a listen.
If you’re trying to find a past recommendation from one of our shows, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging across episodes, and we also keep a running list of book recommendations on our Book Club page for easy reference.
A heartfelt thank you to Social Print Studio for sponsoring this episode. They offered a promotional discount to our listeners during the sponsorship period, and their printing services are one of the tools we used to keep renovation documentation and photos organized.
Thanks for following along and listening. We appreciate the community’s support as we navigate the renovation process, share lessons learned about remote house hunting, and document the journey of turning a distant listing into our new home.
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