This week we dive into the two strategies we used to find our Florida house: how we separated wants from needs, sifted through hundreds of listings, and leaned on technology to bridge an 800-mile distance. We also share how a difficult call from our contractor actually prevented a major future headache (one that might have left us with no working bathrooms when we moved in). Plus, Sherry’s memorable turns of phrase come back to haunt her, and John takes his spreadsheet game to a new level.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- Renovations are underway at our Florida house after we discovered that all the drywall on the first floor needed replacement. Not the news we wanted, but necessary to ensure the home is safe and dry.
- We’ll share more photos as the house becomes more secure, but here’s the current condition of the only existing bathroom. We originally planned to keep the tub/shower combo, but a leak behind the wall required a more complete renovation. We’ll add an en-suite bathroom after we move in, and the repaired bathroom should be leak-free when we arrive.
- If you missed the original story about our ongoing plumbing issues, it’s covered at the start of Episode #168. And if you want the full backstory on our love/hate relationship with baskets (which inspired Sherry’s musical moment “Baskets In The Attic”), check Episode #123.
- Later this week we’ll publish a full inspiration post for the Florida renovation — expect more woven textures and natural materials. Consider this your early spoiler alert.
Game: What’s Sherry Describing?
- Thanks to listener Jeannie Rodriguez for assembling this week’s game. You can hear us interview her husband, “Dr Budgets,” in Episode #63 for practical budgeting tips.
- Below are the items Sherry described on the show and the episodes where those clips first aired:
- The ice roller (her “zamboni for the face”) — Episode #142.
- Salt lamp nightlights — Episode #65.
- A divided turntable organizer (pizza-shaped wedges) — Episode #76.
- Corkcicle water bottle — Episode #150.
- An outdoor kids’ swing (crocheted hoop) — Episode #48.
- The Drop Stop (device for gaps between seats) — Episode #109.
How We House Hunted From Afar
- We talk about why we chose the Florida Panhandle in Episode #163, and you can read more in our blog post about the move here.
- To give you a sense of scale: after applying our basic filters (three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a pool) some areas along the Panhandle returned roughly 900 listings. That volume demanded a system — enter John’s spreadsheet.
- We favorited promising listings in Zillow and Realtor.com, then built a spreadsheet to score and compare properties based on our priorities: layout, pool, number of bedrooms, condition, and estimated commute or walkability. The spreadsheet helped us narrow about 70 options down to a focused list for our two-day visit to Florida in February.
- While online tools are invaluable for narrowing choices, many factors don’t translate well to a listing: floor plan flow, neighborhood feel, and true walkability. We used WalkScore as a starting point, but validated each result with satellite maps and, ultimately, by parking and walking the neighborhood during our visit. In short: numbers help, but nothing replaces seeing a place in person.
We’re Digging
- Our Florida puzzle is currently sold out, but we found similar family-friendly puzzles in the 500-piece range that keep kids engaged while still entertaining adults: colorful crystals, playful flair designs, and themed cat puzzles (yes, we allowed a 1000-piece “Cool Cats” nod to Tiger King).
- We’re also enjoying the April 6th episode of Everything Little Thing, which features frontline workers sharing their daily experiences delivering packages, stocking shelves, driving buses, and more — a thoughtful listen right now.
If you’re trying to track down something we mentioned in a past episode but don’t remember which show notes to open, check our master list of “We’re Digging” picks. You can also find all the books we’ve recommended on the Book Club page.
Thanks to Social Print Studio for sponsoring this episode. Use code YHL15 for 15% off through April 30th — a helpful reminder if you’re ordering prints for Mother’s Day (standard shipping deadline April 27th).
Thanks for listening — we’ll keep sharing updates as the Florida renovation progresses and when more photos are ready.
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