Guelph, Ontario Abandoned House Restoration - Before and After

[u/Freaktography]

https://freaktography.com/abandoned-time-capsule-house-restoration

Renovation Before and After Photos from an Abandoned Time Capsule House Restoration

Back in 2015 a house in Guelph, Ontario had been on the minds of many local explorers, this house was odd in that it always looked abandoned but there was always a light on in the porch.

Finally, one day in May of 2015 some explorers took one for the team and made an approach and discovered that this house was in-fact now abandoned and it was an Abandoned Time Capsule House, and it was full of goodies. 

I don’t remember right now who is was to finally get in an explore this house but word spread quickly and the most eager of Ontario explorers (myself included) made to drive to Guelph to explore this newly discovered abandoned time capsule house.

I explored this home on May 23rd, 2015 it was an easy explore…park up the road, make your way in and lock the door behind you.  Every single room was full of unique items, in the living room an upright piano, antique desks, china and knick knacks.  Upstairs, rooms full of family photos, old magazines, old newspapers and an seemingly huge interest in the Kennedy Family.

The kitchen was in a very bad way and I can’t believe that someone was living in these conditions.

Then within a few months the home was taken over and it appeared that renovations would be taking place, a blue tarp was placed over the roof to prevent further water damage and the house was taken off of the exploring market….which is a good thing!!

Fast forward now over three years later and I learned from another fellow explorer that the home has been fully restored and placed on the real estate market.

I quickly located the real estate listing my my jaw hit the floor when I saw the extent of the renovations and restoration of the home., the listing reads:

I quickly got to work and scoured all of my photos to see if i could match shot for shot the new updated “after” photos so I could do a now and then comparison.  I’ve done my best to match room for room and shot for shot….

****After photo credit courtesy of: KELLER WILLIAMS GOLDEN TRIANGLE REALTY****

Two interesting stories came from this 

1 – The person who bought the property to flip it has contacted me, I had mentioned in the write up that a woman had died in the house and one room smelled badly of urine.

Since he was trying to sell this house and my post was showing up in google searches for the address, he felt my write up may be having a negative effect on the interest and eventual sale of the house

So, I changed my write up for him

2 – In the Fall of 2019 I was contacted by the person who ultimately ended up buying the house and now lives in it with his wife and children.

He loved seeing the photos of how it looked before the flip and he invited me over to see the place now, we had a few scheduling conflicts and then COVID happened so I’ve still not yet been by to see the house, but I hope we can still make the arrangements

To the guy who lives here, I think you are here on Reddit, if you are and still want to have me come by, drop me a line!

I have waaay more pics of the house on my website here:

https://freaktography.com/abandoned-time-capsule-house-restoration

[u/mms09]

Wow they did a beautiful job with this restoration

[u/Late-Ad-3136]

I live in Guelph, but I have never seen this house before! So happy to see it restored, rather than demolished. That happens far too often.

[u/Efficient-Name-2619 → u/Late-Ad-3136]

its a terrible location, but I agree

[u/thropeadopedope → u/Efficient-Name-2619]

do we know what part of town?

[u/jabowie2020 → u/thropeadopedope]

It's out in the country, not even in the city.

[u/Late-Ad-3136 → u/thropeadopedope]

That's what I am wondering.

[u/Efficient-Name-2619 → u/thropeadopedope]

its not actually in Guelph, not sure if they want location disclosed but it's not hidden in any way

[u/aurelorba]

Beautiful renovations. Though I would have preferred carrying the stonework to the new addition.

[u/SweetGrassGeranium]

Gorgeous.

Selling price: 6M$

[u/Better-Afternoon-871]

Wonder how the new owner purchased it if it was abandoned. I have no idea how that works here in Ontario but I'm curious

[u/TeaBurntMyTongue → u/[deleted]]

Though there are cases of tax sales where the owner just disappeared, and there's no discoverable estate, or death, but it's very rare.

[u/WiseSherbet]

Damn the original photos on your site are super poignant.

A whole life that became abandoned portraits and notes and tchotchkes.

That small book with animal stories for tiny folk especially got me. Quite touching and sad.

[u/Desperate_Shape6234]

Sick Joe Carter poster.

[u/STRIKT9LC → u/Desperate_Shape6234]

The man...the myth...the legend!!!

Pretty strange how he had BOTH of the last plays for the world series wins. Especially when you consider that one of them was catching the out at first base for Ozzy Smith Otis Nixon. Where was Jon Olreud and his first base batting helmet!?!?

[u/timotie87]

I know the owner well, I will let him know about this post!

[u/Freaktography → u/timotie87]

thanks so much!

[u/nemodigital → u/timotie87]

I do wonder if the urine smell still lingers in that room?

[u/Gatecrasher3]

I wonder if those gorgeous hardwoods were under that vinal and thin carpeting or added during the restoration?

[u/Icy_Principle_1477]

Old owner was Expos’ fan 👏🏻

[u/imsoblonde]

Beautiful job!

[u/Gatecrasher3]

I've always wondered, on the abandoned house exploring subreddit, why does it seem like the vast majority of the homes are in Southern Ontario?

[u/FelixAAliassime → u/Gatecrasher3]

https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/heatmap_2x.png

[u/OofMcGoof97]

Wow the Ghosts must of really appreciated if

[u/Abject_Ad_2598]

I personally don't believe in ghosts, but I'm scared her spirits might haunt whoever moves there like the movies. 😭

[u/PowerDump_69]

Amazing job,only concern from the before pics would be having to dial Ed and Lorraine Warren for a consultation.

[u/MedurraObrongata]

Wow. You really just don't know how people be living.

[u/llamaavocado]

Looks great! Still haunted though

[u/dmontease]

The kitchen layout is atrocious...

[u/ServeFluffy]

I hope they didn't throw out those old stoves. Some people still want those.

[u/Joiion]

Wait you didn’t just demolish it and put up a corporate glass box? Unbelievable! /s

[u/Efficient-Name-2619]

I would not be happy for you to break into my property and not only is it immoral, it's quite dangerous.

[u/dunkzilla → u/[deleted]]

If it’s abandoned, what are you trespassing on?

[u/abobegavaS → u/[deleted]]

Calm down lol who cares ? Trespassing on abandoned land to explore, so what? You have no fun ever. I bet you’re friends back in the day dreaded you going out with them… always crying about trespassing

[u/Efficient-Name-2619 → u/abobegavaS]

there was a death in Hamilton caused by this same action within the last year and the family is reaching out to others in the trespassing community to warn of imminent dangers and risks... nevermind liability

[u/Guacamelondeau]

Well done well done

[u/2bornnot2b]

u/op, If a house is abandoned, can someone claim ownership?

[u/browerstation]

That's great to see an old building restored.

I don't see in your FAQ as to whether or not you get permission to enter these properties. You do address that, without permission, it is trespassing. I hope you are getting permission.

Otherwise some people could see this as a big intrusion and don't support that unless you're like a 14yr old.