This family transformed a 110-year-old schoolhouse into their home for $175,000 without seeing it first—see the inside.

For nearly ten years, Stacie Grissom and Sean Wilson resided in New York City until the arrival of the covid-19 pandemic.

In early 2020, Grissom was expecting their first child and employed in marketing at BarkBox, while Wilson was practicing as an orthopedic surgeon in NYC hospitals.

Grissom realized she was ready to return to her hometown, Franklin, Indiana, which is approximately 30 miles from downtown Indianapolis, after witnessing the city's condition during that time.

Grissom tells CNBC Make It that we had a reevaluation and realized that it's the people who matter the most, so we wanted to move back to our hometown to be by our families.

"Although we selected our family in New York, which is the greatest city globally, we were obligated to relocate where our family resided."

Grissom, a few months after his son's birth, contacted a realtor friend in Franklin and instructed him to search for "odd old homes."

"Grissom stated that the quirkier the better and to send them a fixer-upper. His dad immediately bought a school and said to send it to Stacie when he saw it."

At the time, Grissom and Wilson were in New York City, so they requested their parents to inspect the property.

Between 1914 and 1934, the building served as a school for local children. After its closure, it was converted into a barn.

Grissom's dad, with his background in commercial real estate, would provide her with an honest and expert opinion on the school's state.

Grissom and Wilson accepted an offer on the schoolhouse within 24 hours of getting their parents' approval, without ever seeing it in person.

If my parents hadn't agreed, we wouldn't have bought it because we knew we would need the entire village for this project, she says.

'In the midst of Indiana's cornfields stands a castle reminiscent of the Midwest.'

They viewed the former schoolhouse for the first time a week after Grissom and Wilson purchased it.

"Grissom recalls that he was more naive in the past, but he was thrilled to witness the potential of the space. He could envision large windows, high ceilings, and ample room for a big family to gather during the holidays."

It's a beautiful little brick building that's now home, nestled in the middle of cornfields in Indiana, reminiscent of a Midwestern castle.

The couple completed the demolition of the former schoolhouse by fall 2021, but the renovation, which they believed would take two years, actually took three.

The couple was still living in New York City at the time.

Grissom explains that the construction process began slowly in February 2022 with the installation of a new roof, but it took three years to complete due to the extensive renovation required within an old building's shell.

Grissom refused to disclose the amount spent on the renovation, stating that the couple is still in the process and not yet finished.

During the property cleanup, the couple and their contractors discovered various items, including a board with the words "Chicken coop" written on it.

Grissom says, "The school built by farmers for the kids in this rural area was really cool to see because it was such a beautiful little school. The community was really proud of it."

Despite having to almost rebuild the schoolhouse, the couple managed to preserve the brick floors, original doors, and water fountain, which they are currently restoring.

"Renovating from afar was a significant challenge, and it took a considerable amount of time. Although we were not naïve about the task ahead, we are now certain that we will not undertake another renovation project after this one. Grissom says, "We did it, and we're glad we've gone through it. However, we're taking a break from old buildings for a while.""

Although the renovation was challenging for the couple, Grissom's favorite aspect was collaborating with her father.

Going through my dad's renovation boot camp has been really cool. Over three years, we learned a lot of trade-like things, including how to work with other contractors and how to do the work ourselves.

The couple honored the former school by using the same colors on the walls and creating mosaics with the school's name and creation date.

Grissom states that they are attempting to return as much school furniture as possible to the school.

'I never thought my house could be a job'

Grissom acknowledges that the renovation process has been challenging, but one of the most rewarding aspects has been devoting his full attention to creating content and documenting the schoolhouse transformation on social media.

"I've enjoyed documenting this process and discovering an online community of old home renovation enthusiasts. I never imagined my house could be a source of income," she remarks. "It's great to monetize some of my storytelling while also receiving guidance and connecting with a community of people who share my passion for restoring old homes."

In September of this year, the couple and their two kids moved into their newly renovated home.

"Grissom says that moving into the schoolhouse was easier than any New York City apartment they had ever lived in. He found it pleasant to wake up and see the sunrise over the cornfields. Although it will be chaotic for a while, it was thrilling to finally establish a place they had been planning for three years and investing all their money, effort, sweat, and tears into."

The schoolhouse now has four bedrooms and two and a half baths on the 4,000-square-foot upper level, while the couple is still trying to decide what to do with the 4,000-square-foot sub-basement below.

Grissom is most excited about her children growing up near their extended family in their new schoolhouse home.

The pandemic and its associated stress and anxiety caused us all to confront our mortality at an earlier age than usual, which shifted our perspectives. Now, seeing our parents' health and our kids' happiness, we appreciate the small things.

Grissom acknowledges that the journey to move in was arduous, but she would repeat it if given the chance.

She says, "I never want to lose the naivety that made us believe we wanted to buy a school and it would be our home."

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