South Seattle: If I Had a Hammer

This description of this property states that this house is “not for the faint-hearted”. Apparently, a remodeling project was undertaken and never finished, leaving the new owner to carry the torch and pick blue tape off the floor.

When I stopped by today, it seemed like somebody is still working on it and that progress had been made since it was photographed for the listing. As I approached the left side of the property, I saw two emphatic homemade notes warning against trespassing and promising diligent prosecution. So, I quickly walked back to the street, whistling nonchalantly. Please don’t send me to jail.

What I did notice, from my vantage point on city-owned property, was that this large house is sandwiched in between several brand new developments and townhouses. In fact, they’re so new, I could hear the hiss-pop of a drywall gun coming from the neighboring construction. Territorial views to the east should be amazing, but the scenery in the other directions gives the house the feeling of being shoehorned in among giants. Although it is the definition of a fixer-upper and has a somewhat puzzling sales history, it’s a great opportunity for a person who hates starting projects but excels in finishing them.

Vitals: $429,950. Last sold in 2006 for $103,833. 2,820 square feet. 5 bedrooms, 2.75 baths.