Saving The Vicky

Saving The Vicky Sharing the story and restoration of "SavingTheVicky" by
the owner, Shawn Whitaker as a DIY project. We took some of our cash and purchased 9350 W Ustick Rd.

Coming up with the name/concept of "Save The Vicky" was a reaction after trying to sell the property in 2019 when 11 of 13 offers wanted the land & would tear down this Victorian Queen Anne (built-in 1910), FUELED the original desire to restore "The Vicky" as a DIY project. Make sure to Join the "Saving The Vicky" group for greater details and the most current progress of the restoration. The stor

y with this home begins in 2013 when I saw the "Victorian" (9230 W Ustick Rd) was being sold as a Short Sale @ 485k. It brought back memories of my past experience running a Wedding / Reception / Corporate Entertainment Company and seeing the best business opportunity in that industry were site locations. There was a particular site location that I recall performing at multiple times at that was a "Southern Plantation" style home, facing south like the "Victorian", were Wedding/Receptions would be held in the back yard and other Wedding Parties would rent the front of the "Southern Plantation" for photos without disturbing the event in the back yard. When I saw the "Victorian" faced south which is great for photos, with 1st story covered deck + 2nd story balcony + the 3rd story dormer (I saw it converted to a Romeo & Juliet Balcony). I immediately pictured a newly married couple standing in the Romeo & Juliet Balcony, while the parents and wedding party stood on the 2nd story, and the rest of the family and guests were on the 1st floor. This "Victorian" was the perfect wedding cake photoshoot opportunity + the property was sitting on 1.4 acres was the true driving force to why I wanted this house so bad, and think it's the reason I wore rose-colored glasses to the amount of renovation it would take. As a Real Estate Broker with extensive experience with Short Sales @ Realty Defenders, I was confident I could get the property at a better deal. Unfortunately with short sales in the beginning the lenders are not as willing to take a loss at the beginning of the sales process. Let's fast forward to April 2015, the short sale lenders were holding firm to a sales price of 375k for the Victorian. The "Farmhouse" (9350 W Ustick Rd) to next to the Victorian, built-in 1920, came on the market as an REO @ 159k. Due to the land and bldg size, I was 85% confident if we bought this property it could be used as a comparison to get the price reduced on the Victorian. We then went back to the short sale lenders with a counteroffer of 250k showing the surrounding comparable to justify the 250k offer. They countered with 300k and we accepted. The problem now is that we spent 159k of our cash on the "Farmhouse" and I was 40% confident we could get a loan to purchase the "Victorian". Another long story cut short by summarizing that after 2 "commercial" appraisals + significant down payment and massive creative efforts we were able to get a loan and closed the deal at the end of September 2015. I forgot to mention that when we purchased the "Farmhouse" to beat out investors we had to purchase as our primary residence and live in the property for 1 year, which created a problem now that we also own the "Victorian" is in really bad shape, spent much of our cash on both purchases and not sure if we could find renters. Well, to cut another long story short I promised to take on the "Victorian" restoration as a DIY project now that I had 7 property flips under my belt and that I would find renters that would be willing to rent the house as I also started the renovation. I was able to find renters from January 2016 until the end of May 2019 but never started any of the renovations due to life events (a story for another time) :)


By 2019 my rose-colored glasses were pretty faded and had to face a choice between the real estate software company I had started or take-on the restoration of "The Vicky" (the nickname we used over the years) to become a Wedding venue, but not both. To cut yet another long story short on June 1st 2019 I put "The Vicky" for sale "As is" (see how the house was left by the last tenants https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=439443330283742)


To shorten the "for sale" story I can summarize by sharing that when "The Vicky" was listed "for sale" from June 2019 to Sept 2019, there were 13 offers submitted, 11 of those offers were from investors that had the intention to tear down the 1910 Victorian Queen Anne home and build high-density real estate. Those offers only turned my faded rose-colored glasses RED and fueled to my creative thinking on how to preserve one of the area's original homesteads, by convincing my family to participate with me in this once in a lifetime DIY project. Once people saw that we didn't sell and started restoring, some would stop by to get a tour or even see if we needed help. Due to my revitalized desire to restore most of this home with my own hands and to save as much of our retirement nest egg as possible I've been trying different ideas to get a community-driven restoration process calling it “Saving The Vicky”. Here is a video providing that overview https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2461195657502453


As an update to the story, 2020 took it's toll on the restoration, back surgery and personal life putting new meaning to "Saving The Vicky" this time from getting liquidated in divorce proceedings. Without airing the details I'll do everything in my power to make sure I keep the house and finish what I started. I post most of the restoration updates via posts and/or into Video series found here https://www.facebook.com/watch/SavingTheVicky/ in the Series

08/12/2025

Overdue update. Its better to do something than nothing.

09/05/2024

Restoration Update September 2024

This video shows the demolition is complete and I mention that I'll start getting essential bids to make sure rebuilding is an option. What I didn't mention in the video is that the primary lien holder took away the option leave the loan open and required me to PAY OFF the loan. This puts me in very uncomfortable position after they gave me the option to keep the loan open which lead me to the choice to quit my 6 figure job under. Without a 6 figure job I will not qualify for a new loan to rebuild asap, and after paying off the lien holders it would take me 10+ years to make enough capital to rebuild if getting a loan was not an option.

There are multiple ways I can raise capital but the clock is ticking because I have to start the rebuild before March 22nd, 2025 if I want to leverage the additional insurance money to rebuild. It's a bit complex but in summation I'm still moving forward with the goal to rebuild Saving The Vicky

07/17/2024

Demolition Updates for Saving The Vicky will be added and I've got a bunch of video footage that I'm working on compiling and will post once I've compiled it all.

it's been very hard to watch. There is still much more Demolition / Cleanup work to get accomplished and I'll keep everyone posted on the progress.

07/03/2024

OMG Saving The Vicky what a roller coaster of ride this has been. SUMMATION;

#1 Demolition is happing this month.
#2 Demo delays range from; Permit/Bonding, Demolition Company Requirements, Main Lien Holder Obstacles, Written Insurance Approval, *Local Neighbor Drama & my Shawn Whitaker willingness to accept delays due to emotional attachment/heartache/unknown that will follow after the demolition.

*Local Neighbor Drama comes from a few local neighbors that haven't liked me for years are now wanting to fuel more flames with support of a biased "journalist" wanting to push that something sinister was behind the fire by creating a page dedicated to bully & harass me personally, regardless of the City Of Boise fire department findings + a lengthy separate investigation by the Insurance company that is paying the claim. (see the comment by me Shawn Whitaker in this post for a more personal rant)

BOTH investigations coming up with the same conclusion it was an ACCIDENT caused by a independent contractor, that knew better, but on the day of he was in a rush and left pre-stain rags in the house that spontaneously combusted. I'll share the fire departments final report with the name of the independent contractor redacted to hopefully help him avoid some of the negative drama that I've already had to face by people who think I'm the cause or mastermind to this tragic loss.

Regardless of the above delays & obstacles I will continue the path to Saving The Vicky rebuild with confidence that I'm the only person (foolish and/or determined) to make this happen & my health being the only deal breaker.

I'll give a specific update with a 24hr notice prior to when the actual Demolition will begin.

06/04/2024

Saving The Vicky Curbappeal Flowerbed Peoject Overview Video. Estimated start date June 5th or 6th, helpers welcome (Cash, Trade or Credt as compensation) DM me, Shawn Whitaker for details

06/02/2024

DEMOLITION UPDATE

Due to a few delays the demolition is still scheduled to start this week, no later than next week. The yard/garage sale this past weekend (Friday 7th & Saturday 8th and canceled Sunday 9th because I had reached my emotional limit)

On a positive note I have contracted a drafting firm to draft architectural plans for the rebuild and as stated the goal is to rebuild her as I had intended when I started this adventure in 2013.

As a recap;
1. I, Shawn Whitaker started the purchase of Her in 2013 as a short-sale

2. Finally was able to purchased Her in 2015

3. Tried to sell Her in 2019 to help save a marriage.

4. Started Her restoration in fall of 2019

5. Had to stop Her renovation May 2021 by court order due to ripple effects of a divorce that started early 2021.

6. I was able to restart Her renovation November 2022 after securing a hard money loan.

7. By November 2023 I was able to partially complete Her interior to be able to secure a conventional loan to pay off the hard money loan.

8. Using that appraisal I increased Her insurance coverage, which was is the ONLY reason I have a chance to rebuild Her now and I STRONGLY ADVISE EVERY HOMEOWNER to check their Insurance Policy and update it ASAP to reflect its current value if you ever had to rebuild.

9. All of Her permits (Building, Electrical, Plumbing & Mechanical) were finalized in Jan 2024.

10. My goal was to open Her top bedrooms rooms as short term rentals April 1st 2024 as I continued to complete the exterior to eventually host special occasions.

11. Tragically on March 22nd at approximately 10:15 pm She caught fire due to an independent contractor that was helping with some final restoration improvements left 2 pre-staining pads inside we he left for the day at 5pm. In less than 30 minutes that fire took two of my 3 companions, 1000's of TLC restoration hours and damaged Her beyond repair.

12. These past 2 months have been pretty hard for Her, Myself and Vicky (white poodle that survived the tragedy). We now have 2 new Puppies (Phoenix & Theodore)

13. This yard sale is can be looked as a way to say goodbye to Her, which is only temporary as I plan to start Her rebuild with some of the masonry as the cornerstone to Her rebirth.

Sitting here outside with the three poodles, typing this as I look over at Her brings tears to my eyes knowing Her pain is about to end and we all will have a chance to say goodbye. Please share this event with as many people and purchasing a memento is not necessary or required to come say goodbye to Her.

Send a message to learn more

05/27/2024

Saving The Vicky here is an update to the insurance and process at Saving The Vicky

05/27/2024
05/20/2024

Saving The Vicky Exterior Beautification Project Overview that was set into motion prior to the fire and now that I've made the choice to rebuild this project is getting bumped to the front of the line after I, Shawn Whitaker, get Utilities back up and running 😉

04/27/2024

Saving The Vicky April 26th, 2024 Saving The Vicky Update by Shawn Whitaker testing to see if 5th Wheel living will work for the next 20-30 months while rebuilding 😀

04/24/2024

Saving The Vicky April 24th Post Fire Update at Saving The Vicky by Shawn Whitaker

I still do not have written approval to temporary live on-site in a 5th Wheel. My insurance is working with me that once I do they will cover the costs to get utilities and such.

The Insurance company investigation is over ruling as an accident, allowing me to go inside and start the inventory of my personal property, and until I have the written report I'm holding off from sharing the details of how my home cuaght fire and taking 2 of my family members.

Still working with the insurance company on the numbers to rebuild and will update once I have more.

Address

9230 W Ustick Road
Boise, ID
83704

Telephone

+12085591418

Website

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Save The Vicky

This property is on land that was originally part of the 160-acre homestead of Frank De Cloedt, who received his land patent in 1889 under the provisions of the 1820 Public Lands Act. Frank DeCloedt (1845-1915), a native of Belgium, emigrated to the US in 1881.

In August 1902, Frank and Eliza 1902 sold the property to William M. and Louisa T. Briggs for $10,000 (title was for all 160 acres and did not specify whether or not any buildings were on the property).

The Ada County Assessor dates this house to 1910. A November 1910 Evening Capital News Article corroborates this, reporting that Briggs was nearing the completion of construction of “his new residence” on his “ranch on the bench” which was to be “one of the finest country homes in the state.” William M. Briggs (1847-1916) was a native of Illinois who came to Idaho in 1902. Upon his arrival he purchased the 150-acre “old Cole farm at Cole’s School” and the 160-acre De Cloedt ranch “on the interurban line...and on that place built what is regarded as the finest country residence in the entire state of Idaho.”

Here is a short biography of William Briggs, published in Hiram French’s History of Idaho in 1914