Solana Condo: Before and After

 It was Aug of 2020.  Tom was looking at some condo apartments in CA and on the spur of the moment we decided to drive to CA and look at them.  He was interested in Vista but I was looking along the beach.  This is just as the world was starting back into life after Covid.   

We looked at 190 Del Mar Shores Terrace #73, Solana Beach CA.  Tom was thinking it was too small, but I said, "I can make this work".  Besides, it is just for you and me and it's big enough.  So we made an offer but it was contingent on the sale of our VA house.  We had 2 offers fall through on the VA house and we kept thinking we would lose this condo.  Finally the 3rd offer went through.   Turns out the owner had died, and the kids felt it belonged to us and hung in there with us.  We bought it for 767,000.  Closed in Oct. 2020.  We got it fixed up enough to rent and rented until Dec 2022.  

In December we drove to Solana from Monterey to meet with our new contractor and his workers.  George Kelly was hired after being referred by Vicky Nazat the HOA President.  She had used him and he came highly recommended.  I worked with Vicky to get permits but in the end they were rejected because I had to get approval from the Coastal Commission.  We took a chance and did all the work without permits, and George was willing to do that.  

Finally on Jan 20th 2023, the work began.  Tom and I were living in a hotel and then Tom had to work in Kosovo and Czech Republic so I was there alone.  The demolition seemed to take forever.  We had to put in all new plumbing and electric.  We took out the fireplace and moved the refrigerator into it's place.  We pulled out the hallway closet to open it all up (Tom's idea).  We put in double sinks.  Pulled out the bathtub and put in a shower.  We decided to eliminate all upper kitchen cabinets.  We put in an island.  

On May 25, 2023 our workers finished, we gave them a tip, and said good-bye.  Javier was the main worker, with Maurice as his trusty sidekick and we really loved their work.  In the end we were very pleased with the finished product and so far (April 2024) we have yet to spend more than a few days in the renovated apartment.  Our plan is to live there starting in October for an extended period.  I hope we do it!