Denise, I was going to ask if anyone had any suggestions on what to put in the place of the Magnolia. I don't think there's any way I could talk my husband into taking it out, but I was trying to figure out what would look good there just in case I did. I think the variety of Magnolia is Little Gem so it's not supposed to get big like the regular Magnolia, but I agree that it kind of blocks the view. I'm really not much of a tree person, which is why I was glad to get rid of the trees on the middle tier. I like planting flowers and the trees cause too much shade sometime. I would love to fill that center spot with daylilies and other flowers. I've been trying to get hubby to let me take out the Yaupon by the front door and put something lower growing. I would actually like to take out all of the yaupons, but I can't make up my mind what I would want there instead. We have a shorter stone wall in the backyard, so we had to do a little bit at a time also. Laurie

Ebse, the den is a must-have. I actually didn't care if the house I found had a formal dining room if there was an eat-in kitchen, or if it didn't have a den and had a dining room I could convert to a den, I just wanted a den. The den is too big to lose to being more kitchen, it's 15x16 if I remember correctly. It's going to be just the two of us, and this one of us is usually banned from the kitchen when it comes to the cooking, so we really don't need so a huge kitchen, just more cabinets and draw space for much needed "stuff" eandhl, I'd consider it an eat-in kitchen - the people have that oblong table and hutch. I have a table that seats 6 now, but would definitely get rid of it and have something small for just the two of us which I could open up with a leaf for 3-4 people. Since there's a formal dining room, any more than 4 people, we can eat in there. I may take my hutch with me, have too many collectibles in there not to have it, but then again, I could put that in the dining room and just have a table in the kitchen. diwoman1, the laundry room is very small, the washer dryer on that one wall, on the wall opposite from them, to the right of the door opening going in to the laudnry room, there's a tall bank of cabinets - good for storage/pantry if needed. On the two other walls, there's one window and the other wall is actually the door, leading to the garage. Within the garage is a storage room. I thought maybe I could put the washer/dryer in there, but it really doesn't help me much as that laundry room wouldn't work for much more than a pantry, or mudroom. I was thinking about trying to get a stacking washer/dryer and put it on the right side, and make a bench/coat rack on the left. Fori, the cabinets are just old wood cabinets that she's repainted. I even thought about refacing instead of replacing if possible. The kitchen isn't bad at all, I can definitely live with it for a while, but it's not "me" and I really want to update it, but it's livable the way it is now, at least for the time being. I will actually have the luxury of doing what I need to do before we totally move in - this is if we are lucky enough to get the house. It will be a slow move - DH has to get a transfer, so he'll stay here while I start moving stuff up there. I'll probably tackle the master bathroom first, out of the 4 areas I want to update, that's going to be the one that bothers me the most - this will be second - and besides, the bathroom is soooo tiny, it will be easier and faster to do that one first, or so I hope. Thanks to all who've replied thus far - hoping more will do so too!

Just my 2¢ I still have a few questions about your situation, but will try to offer some advice. First, you refer to a builder and the modular home company. I am a little unclear if the builder is the modular home company, or if you used a recommended builder of theirs. If the modular home company and the builder are separate entities and you made payments to the builder rather than or in addition to the modular home company they are not likely to have any exposure. Next, while it is very tempting to start looking for assigning blame in these things, it is the wrong thing to do. It doesn't matter why the basement leaks and it doesn't really even matter whose fault it is. All that is important is getting the best solution you can for the least amount of money. Of course, the perfect solution is to get the problem repaired at zero cost, however, in this situation the perfect solution is probably not attainable. I often see people spend a dollar chasing a dime, just because they are right. This means that you might be better off finding some middle ground. Finally, something about actually going to court. You should listen to your attorney on this one, but I would like to throw some things out there to think about. In reality, the advisability of cases like this is much more complex than who is right. A small builder may not have enough recoverable assets to make winning worthwhile and large builders may shield themselves in the contract, corporate structure, etc. Suing takes a lot of time and money and for a lawsuit to be your best option you have to have evidence of a positive net recovery (actual money paid to you less what you paid to get it). ETA: I wrote this a long time ago and apparently never hit submit. Forgive me if the information is no longer relevant.

Your pictures do not give a sense of the size of your kitchen. You have an eat in counter..and then the dining room for eating. I get a sense of space in your living room area that is not in your dining room. We need a floor plan...what will opening up your kitchen walls accomplish? You have necessary appliances on the wall between kitchen and dining room. Removing that wall seems logical until you realize you then need a spot for the 'fridge. I would not open the kitchen to the living room more than it is. I know it's all the rage but unless you are a super clean cook...who wants kitchen mess to always be in your face? I don't.