555 Old Laurel Hill Rd, Norwich, CT 06360

I bought this home as a retirement downsize in large part because the Thames River is right behind the house (with one neighbor in-between). There are water glimpses in the winter from some windows in the back of the house. There is a large wooded lot next door on one side, and a visual and partial sound barrier in front of the house, so that Route 12 traffic is somewhat muted. Fairly private and feels woodsy. I installed solar panels that produce more electricity than I use. The system is owned and there are over 20 years left on the free lifetime service contract, transferable to a new owner. Electric bills have never been over $50. The wood stove and two cords of wood per year cut down on oil usage. Because the oil heats the water year-round, I have used up to 500 gallons of oil/year. Windows and furnace about six years old The sewage tank is not a modern leech field septic system, but has been tested and has worked fine with four residents; so, no monthly bills for that. City water is between $30 and $40 per month. Bathroom fixtures are new in the last two years. A new roof in 2019 with 50 year asphalt shingles. I installed a front yard garden with some perennial flowers but room there, and in good soil on the side and behind the house, for vegetables, and/or more flowers. Fruit trees currently growing: dwarf cherry, apple, pear, apricot, and plum. There is also a chinese chestnut tree started, but you will need another for pollination (my second one didn't make it). There are both domestic and wild red raspberries, and three blackberry bushes. I did not update the kitchen because I like the rustic farmhouse feels of it as it is. The stove is less than a year old. Refrigerator, washing machine and dryer are about four years old. The dryer is like new because I use a clothesline year round, weather permitting. Two bedrooms and the one bath are upstairs. These bedrooms are good-sized, I would estimate about 15 by 15 feet. Both floor levels are all hardwood. Upstairs, these floors are in good shape and unpainted, except for the bathroom, which I need to repaint. The hardwood floors downstairs need to be sanded and refinished, but. other than the kitchen, they are in good condition. The kitchen floor has a rubberized textured water-proof floor covering you often see used in garages. It is black and looks good (and covers a hardwood floor that has some plywood patches, so restoration was beyond my reach) but can be difficult to clean. The basement has a sump pump which takes care of the majority of water issues. Still, it is damp and old and uneven, so, when there are sustained heavy rains and flooding conditions in town, it does get wet. The washer and dryer are up off the floor. If you need a dry basement, this is not the house for you. On the other hand, I only store tools and things that go outside; no fabrics, indoor furniture, etc. This is a cape. The upstairs bedrooms do not have internal closets but they do have doors to attic space suitable for hanging clothes. I use these attics for anything I want to store and know it will stay dry. The downstairs "bedroom" is small, about 8 ft by 12 ft and also has no closet and there is no other closet space on the first floor. It would make a better small office, primarily for that reason. I am listing this house at this time because, since we moved here, one of my sons has moved out, and my daughter will be moving on within the near future. This leaves me and my son who cannot walk. Stairs are getting difficult for me, and the only bathroom is on the wrong floor for us. It seems time to downsize again and look for something without stairs. It is a nice spot, though, with a country feel, yet still in town with bus service a short walk away. And, strangely, a majestic view of the Mohegan Sun casino just across the river and south a bit.