Moving MossFlower to new Woods...

[MossflowerWoods]

Hello TBN.

I have sold my 51 acre home of the last 10 years and I am moving to 19.5 acres 30+ minutes closer to DC & work.

Many, many changes in these last 10 years, many of the documented here (LOL).

So this thread will document my journey, and then it will be continue as I remodel this New Mossflower Woods.

The quick overview is this. A good friend of mine is a Real Estate Developer, mostly commercial, but some residential. ~4 years ago he bought a farm & farm house on about 45 acres. He converted it into a 11 unit subdivision of all 1.5 acre homesites, very close to a major highway & "civilization". A few weeks ago he offered me Lot 6 (1.5 acres containing the old brick farm house, pool, large shed, etc.) and the attached 17.9+ acre "Agricultural Set Aside". so it's like 19.48 acres of mostly old hardwood forest, one large cleared field (3-5 acres???) and the original 1973 brick farmhouse etc.

They are about to pave the subdivision new roads and will pave a good amount of my driveway when they do. I just got a new well drilled (the old on is across a property line). I'm hoping to get my New Address today, but we will see what happens...

I take possession as tenant on 9/15, I'm moving on 9/19, I close on Old MossFlower on 9/25 and close on the New MossFlower right after.

I'm going to start with the Before Pictures and update as I go...

Thank you in advance for joining me on this journey.

Be well all,

 

[ovrszd]

Following. Great adventure!!!!

 

[MossflowerWoods]

These pictures show the 4 bay (3 bays + Shop) shed in more detail. Plus the backyard with the pool, detached screened & roofed patio, and a shot of the back of the house as currently configured.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Looks great! A bit of leaf cleanup, and your done!

Oh, and prop up the wind vane....poor rooster is leaning a bit.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

This is a detail on the "Screen Patio". Also brick like the house. There is a cool built in fireplace you can cook on, as well as have a fire for warmth & ambiance.

I intend to redo the screen with fewer wooden bars, possibly set up so I can install Marine Vinyl panels for winter use (TBD later, but it is on the list as possible improvements).

Be well,
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Following. Great adventure!!!!

Welcome Aboard!

Looks great! A bit of leaf cleanup, and your done!

Oh, and prop up the wind vane....poor rooster is leaning a bit.

Kyle,

Yeah, he needs help... But I love the cupola!

David

 

[k0ua]

Good luck with your new place. I would be thinking about where I was going to place my tilt over radio tower on the new location

 

[DIYOrangeDave]

My kind of projects! Keep them coming!

 

[deezler]

Wow, lots of potential! Congrats. Any aerial shots of the whole property layout?

Is the pool in good shape under the cover and leaves?

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Wow, lots of potential! Congrats. Any aerial shots of the whole property layout?

Is the pool in good shape under the cover and leaves?

It is a large Gunnite pool with diving board. It is holding water but will require a full resurfacing, new aprons, etc. I got a discount on the house because of this. To complete the remodel I am also selling one of my rentals...

No current aerial shots, editing a google maps shot as best as I can.

Be well,
David

 

[PJSprog]

Looks like an opportunity rich environment, David. Should be fun to watch. As deezler noted, the place looks like it has great potential.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Good luck with your new place. I would be thinking about where I was going to place my tilt over radio tower on the new location

JAMES!!!!!

Long time no talk my friend!

Hope all is well. Someday I need to replace my canopy with one like yours, I've trashed mine...

I'm keeping the Tractor (Duh)...

David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Looks like an opportunity rich environment, David. Should be fun to watch. As deezler noted, the place looks like it has great potential.

That is the plan!

The reality is I LOVE the land where I live today, hate the house. I've tried to remodel it 3 times, designed 3 different houses, paid a fortune to architects, drafters, etc. Denied every time.

I've lived through the process of two divorces living here, the last one somewhat due to inability to remodel the house.

30+ minutes closer to work & way more civilization close by. Plus I believe 19.5 acres modernized closer to DC will appreciate WAY BETTER than 51 acres I cannot do anything with.

My 11.5 non-custodial daughter LOVES to swim, so a pool with a preteen/teen daughter is a huge asset.

Honestly my BFF buddy who I am buying this from pitched it to me as a great opportunity for a CHANGE...

I've decided to embrace this concept and grow & change my circumstances.

Thanks,
David

 

[coldsteelva]

MossFlower - which county is this? Most of the (less rural) counties have aerial images available in their GIS systems - they use them for the tax appraisals.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

MossFlower - which county is this? Most of the (less rural) counties have aerial images available in their GIS systems - they use them for the tax appraisals.

Stafford...

This is the old Google Maps edited shot. You can see my back driveway through the trees, the house, pool, and shed locations. Most of the farmed ares is where the subdivision is, except for the largish square filed to the North, that is still mine plus more...

David

 

[coldsteelva]

Here's the Stafford County GIS - they do have aerial imaging: Map Launch

 

[k0ua]

JAMES!!!!!

Long time no talk my friend!

Hope all is well. Someday I need to replace my canopy with one like yours, I've trashed mine...

I'm keeping the Tractor (Duh)...

David

Rgr that. Good to hear from you again.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

ColdSteelVA,


THANK YOU!!!

I have found the screen in GIS showing the AG Set Aside & subdivision Plat lines!!!

The lot line is not shown for my house, but they are all 1.5 acres so it is easy to guesstimate the trapezoid around the house!

Thanks again!
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Here's the Stafford County GIS - they do have aerial imaging: Map Launch

Thank you Brother!!!

I was there looking while you were!!!

David

 

[milkman636]

This is a detail on the "Screen Patio". Also brick like the house. There is a cool built in fireplace you can cook on, as well as have a fire for warmth & ambiance.

I intend to redo the screen with fewer wooden bars, possibly set up so I can install Marine Vinyl panels for winter use (TBD later, but it is on the list as possible improvements).

Be well,
David

That is a cool gathering spot with great potential. My wife's grandfather built a similar structure along side a stream behind his place. My wife has fond memories from her childhood hanging out in that screen house for family cookouts and evening fires. They'd play games inside, croquet and horsehoes outside, sled on stream banks in the winter, swim in the stream in the summer, and swing on the porch swings he put inside there all year round. That screen house and the pool could be the start of some real good memories.