The following critiques, comments, compliments and occasional jabs have been compiled from emails, conversations and people walking by the house.  It's kind of interesting to watch the progression from negative to positive as the dates moves forward.

2004...

"This place is big.  I mean it's big.  It's really, really big!"
Tom Sanders: (leaning back farther and farther while looking up) April/2004
Chuck's half-brother

"Three years, huh?  I originally wanted to be finished with mine in five and now it's been seven.  At least I know I'll be finished long before you will."
James Sanders, April/2004
Chuck's lame younger brother

"I'm dying to see it while it's still a wreck so I can say I saw the 'before and after'."
Tim Brosch, April/ 2004
Chuck's best friend from high school

"You want to live in a battle zone while you're working on it?  You're a better man than me."
William Mallard, Millard Construction,   March 16th, 2004
Chuck's employer

"I don't mean to freak you out but in the picture there's a ghostly image in the upstairs window."
Tim Sprunger, Pinellas Park, Fl.,   March, 2004
Beth's ex-husband

"I don't see how you can stand it.  When I bought my house all I could do was look for all the things I wouldn't have to worry about fixing up."
Patricia Freid, May 7th, 2004
An acquaintance from Florida

"What the hell did you do that for?!"
Sandy Knight  February, 2004 (when she heard we bought the house)
Chuck's mother

"Your house looks bad, Dad.  It looks bad.  I mean really bad."
Jack Sanders(13), April/2004
Chuck's son

"You didn't hear anyone (or any 'thing') whisper "Get Out" when you first moved in did you?"
Gregg Franklin May 10th, 2004
Beth's friend from Tech Data

"That's all you paid for this?  Man, you got a great deal."
The guy who installed our kitchen countertops
(He's a local.  He'd know.)

"It's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be after seeing the pictures."
Lynne Brosch
Tim's wife and friend of 20-some years

"It's not really all that bad."
Kara Sanders
Chuck's daughter

"My God that is beautiful. I can't believe the differences. I hate to say it when I saw the pictures I was like 'Oh My God it is going to take forever to fix it up.' I can't believe the work you guys have done. It is fabulous. You both must be exhausted. You guys have some talent. You were not only a great BA but you're an even better house restorer. You guys are doing some great work with the big things like walls and windows and electric. I can already see it is going to be spectacular when it is done. And at the pace you guys are going that should be some time next summer. 
      "Especially since you will be locked in the whole winter because of the cold."
Joe Parsolano (commenting on the finished dining room and weather.  Very funny.)
A friend of Beth's from Tech Data, Spring Hill, Florida

"That's a lot of water usage.  Y'all mixing up a lot of concrete for a patio or a swimming pool or something?"
Lady at the Public Utilities Service commenting on why our water bill tripled. (It was a bad flapper on a toilet)

"Mommy, the news just said a tornado is on the way.  Should I go downstairs with the animals?"
Christina (Cell phone call when a massive tornado devastated the area)

"I'm afraid (to visit) because that thing might fall down and kill me."
Vincent Tylor,  (old friend of Chuck's)
Hawaii

"The subject was previously a long-term abusive tenant occupant.  The property was personally inspected prior to transfer.  There were holes in the walls, floors and ceilings: Inadequate floor joists and support beams, cracked and broken windows and doors, two bathrooms were non-functional, the water pipes had burst with water damage on the floors, ceilings and stairways as no electrical service had been provided to the property for months. Since the current ownership, the interior of the property has been basically gutted with all new electric, new plumbing, new electrical services, new HVAC, new windows where required, new doors, the plaster walls have been repaired, refinished.  There is a gourmet kitchen with beveled counter tops and matching beveled cherry cabinets, all stainless steel appliances.  The bathrooms have been remodeled, the floors have been repainted, custom routed trim work throughout,. The library has full custom bookshelves and storage sitting bench.  The period fixtures, mural ceiling.  The interior has been professionally painted and the hardwood floor has been repaired and refinished throughout. Current market value: $310,000."
 Elizabeth P. Briggs
Professional Appraisals
9/12/2005
(Note: this indicates that in present condition the house has more than tripled in value in 18 months.)

"Wooooooooooooooooow."
Collin (Christina's former boyfriend)
11/ 23/ 2005

"I figured it was nice inside.  No one has that much lumber stacked around their porch without some kind of major renovation going on."
Skip (Christina's former boyfriend's Dad)
12/2/2005

2006...

"I never really took the time to look at it thoroughly and let's just say I have gained even further respect for what you have done with the property. I could never actually picture how bad it was before, but this really puts everything in perspective. I am completely impressed with all of the tweaks and customizations that were done."
Collin (Christina's former boyfriend and all-around nice guy)
3/21/2006

"I spent hours looking through your website.  I can't believe all the work you guys have done."
Cindy Bayless, Kansas
8/22/2006

"I'm blown away by the changes you've brought forth to your home. Truly amazing."
John Carrington (Private Detective and an old friend of Chuck's from his days in Ocean City, Md.)
8/25/2006

"It looks like this is going to be the nicest house on the hill...again."
Tommy Jacobson (Neighbor and 35 year resident)
8/29/2006

"It's looking really good!"
A drive-by comment from the no-name neighbors from up the street
9/4/2006

"Beth, the front of the house looks AWESOME!!!! It's so beautiful - and I loooove the purple!!!! It just looks great.........."
Gwynne McCartney, St. Pete, Fl.
10/6/2006

2007...

"I can't believe how nice the inside looks.  When I walked up to the house I thought to myself, 'Uh-oh....this is one of those houses where I'm going to have to do a lot of writing.'."
Note: Market Value was subsequently determined to be $365,000, a $55,000 jump since 9/2005's appraisal.  This is despite a crash in the current housing market in Maryland.
Judy (our bank loan appraiser) Middletown, Md.
1/30/2007

"Wow.  Wow.  Wo-o-o-o-o-oow!"
Lorraine Witham, Washington DC
2/2/2007

"I like the colors.  It's really coming along."
Our postal delivery woman, Brunswick, Md
5/10/2007

"It's amazing what you've done with that place.  I've got to get up there and see it."
Jack Ballmann, Rockville, Md.
5/16/2007

"We really like what you've done so far!"
Unknown neighbor strolling by with her kids
5/18/2007

"Don't get me wrong, I like the colors your using.  I just can't see painting it that way.  It just seems like by the time you get around the house you'll have to start all over again."
Jacobson's middle son
10/2/2007

"This house does have a wonderful view and I am extremely happy to see someone take the time to make her what she should have been for years. I wish more people like you would take an interest in some of the old homes in Brunswick & restore them to what they once were.."
Valli Walker, former Brunswick resident who stumbled across this website
(Excerpt from her email)
12/3/2007

"This house does have a wonderful view and I am extremely happy to see someone take the time to make her what she should have been for years. I wish more people like you would take an interest in some of the old homes in Brunswick & restore them to what they once were.."
Rueben Moss, Brunswick Railroad Museum Website
Brunswick, Md
12/7/2007

2008