Which home could you see yourself living in more ?

@joshhutch4432

11 ай бұрын

Definitely a better vibe at the 1st house.

@glenyshanlon5112

11 ай бұрын

Definitely the first one I would be in them bath tubs all the time they are georgus.

@shawnsr8459

11 ай бұрын

First one👍

@user-randi1987

11 ай бұрын

I like the second one, after many layers of fresh paint

@kimholch1006

11 ай бұрын

The first one though both are nice in their own way.

man... as a vintage lover, a place like this would be an absolute DREAM if it were restored. the kitchen, that sun-room. oh, to fashion it with colourful rugs, mid-century furniture, plants, and books would be lovely. so sad.

@sunlightangel87

11 ай бұрын

I don't disagree that it's a gorgeous time capsule of a place. But it probably needs extensive structural work that would cost more than the house's value. There's probably water damage, pest damage, etc. Someone would lose money trying to fix either of these up which is probably why even the most gung-ho historical architecture buff hasn't even attempted this. If they ever sold that house they would never get that money back.

Completely agree, the disrespect towards these locations is atrocious. They are abandoned, but they were once somebody’s pride and joy, filled with priceless life, emotions and memories which all gets marred by a $2.00 paint can and a rock through the window. Really pisses us off too. Keep up the good work in documenting these places.

@anita.b

11 ай бұрын

I know you would die for your masters/owners peasant, but these mansions have 0 value outside their on market value. All made with overpriced low-quality materials and disposable structural elements. Like relax. There is nothing of value here, otherwise it will not be abandoned, remember your favorite free market tales?

@Gooner184

11 ай бұрын

Doesn't justify the vandalism. @@anita.b

@voxpopuli905

4 ай бұрын

Idk if you saw the condos near the Grossenger. One of the videos thumbnails has a Hendrix record in it… went there today and it’s thrashed beyond belief. The copper thieves went crazy on the building and even chain sawed the light poles down to get to it he transformers 🙄 there’s a 200 yard oil slick in the dirt leading right out to the main road. If you see those video a few years back, the place was incredible. 3 buildings of apartments everything left behind almost like Chernobyl. And now it’s a 4 acre landfill that puked on itself. I can’t understand the level of stupidity it takes to do all that.

The amount of waste and loss here is crazy.

It makes me really angry to see people destroy such beautiful places. As a teenager (im a 16 year old male) who explores abandoned places myself, I ALWAYS make sure to leave them in better condition then how I found them. Whether it be by picking up trash or just straightening the place up. I use a list of rules I made for myself. 1) NEVER vandalize or break anything (intentionally) 2) never take anything (sometimes I'm tempted when I see old photos but I just take pictures and move on) 3) Leave it better than you found it. These places should be treasured as a place lost in time and should NEVER be damaged 💙

@malinikamalinika4654

11 ай бұрын

You right ! ☝️💯👍✊💪👏😊😉

@PinInTheAtlas

11 ай бұрын

Stand by those morals! It’s wonderful to hear you uphold respect and care for the places you explore. Very refreshing to hear.

@BitterBetty76

11 ай бұрын

You're a good egg!

@margodphd

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely. The only time I "took" something is because I found photographic evidence of crime and it was only because police refused to come so I had to glove up and take the photos to a station. I usually take basic DIY supplies to secure broken glass in windows, leaking pipes and such, if the damage is minor and it can be stopped. Once nature gets in the damage progresses fast :(

@Fvck1ng_1nsan3.

9 ай бұрын

@@margodphd Oh my thats really awful! but good for you for alerting the authorities, ik some people wouldn’t. Also im gonna start repairing places too! i hadn’t realized i could do that lol

“This room gives me sailboat vibes. I don’t know why.” Bruh. There’s literally a life preserver and portholes on the wall. Lol. You’re hilarious. 😂🤣

@Bluerose888

11 ай бұрын

Really, LOL

It’s obvious that this was once a beautiful mansion, it’s so sad to see that it’s been vandalised so badly, I will never understand what pleasure people get out of wrecking something so beautiful 😢

The tub is just a regular soaking tub and the controls for the tubs are an old intercom system from the 80s. Just fyi, I’m a realtor of 21 years, I recommend bringing a respirator if you are going into these wet places. Also, you can get flesh eating bacteria if you have a cut on your foot and walk in that water. Love your content, just be careful so we can see many more of these awesome videos!

So sad that people need to vandalise everything in sight of that second home.

@Fvck1ng_1nsan3.

11 ай бұрын

Honestly! Its such a rude thing to do!

@charlesmiv3842

11 ай бұрын

One man’s vandalism is another man’s art

@cedricjackson7521

10 ай бұрын

They don’t teach home manners anymore

Homes get abandoned in the US for a handful of standard reasons: 1. The estate is locked up in courts over inheritance disputes. 2. There is an expensive problem to fix like lead, asbestos, or a bad basement 3. There is something wrong with the property such as drainage issues We have an entire abandoned neighborhood near me for just that reason. 4. They simply went broke. Very few families are consistently able to keep money. The bigger the house, the more expensive the monthly maintenance cost is to maintain, especially in the circumstance of the really big places, that is why there are so many abandoned castles in Europe. It isn't lack of love, it is lack of money. 5. The wealthy don't view property as emotional investments, just money ones. In turn, they don't understand the emotional or community investment we put into ours. Building a $10M house and dropping it is nothing to them. Yes it is difficult to understand. But they don't view it any differently than you Building a house in Minecraft and then forgetting about it. As someone who had a short career felting pool tables, the reason they tend to be left is pool tables are like pianos, if you move them, they have to be re-aligned, and re-leveveled to meet pool specs. Which means paying for delicate movers and a professional to re-level the table. If the family has their money tied up in inheritance court or lose their wealth, they simply abandon it. Most people aren't serious enough about pool to go to the effort of taking it and making those arrangements. Most people buy the table they want which is installed to spec by the company.

One reason many of the houses similar to this don't sell in my town is because real estate companies hold onto these multi-million dollar homes (FOREVER / As long as they don't sell) near the asking price. The locals end up never having the means to afford any of these houses and the people with money go to live in more desired / populated areas leaving super nice homes to sit for 10-15 years and require a major remodel. It's sad seeing companies choose to waste away amazing properties instead of giving people an opportunity to live there for a fair deal.

@ryanmeier6437

7 ай бұрын

That’s insane. Greed.

Wonderful video, I appreciate the fact you don't share your location to prevent any disrespect and graffitis on abandoned properties. Thanks and keep up the great work!

What a waste. This place is still nice but you can see how quickly things fall out of fashion and it is costly to update so It's often cheaper to just buy a new home. Thanks for another great explore!

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello how are you doing today

@KrissyRoseAnimallover

2 ай бұрын

No it’s not nice it’s full of BLACK MOLD

taxes became the reason that many of the magnificent mansions on the North Shore of Long Island were abandoned. I visited many of the ruins and it was so sad.

@charlesmiv3842

11 ай бұрын

Long Island sucks

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Karen are you doing today

I love the respect you give each place you visit.

I love these tours! You’re mistaken on the use of the rooms in the 5:31, one was a sunroom, not a dining room. It’s common to have a deck off a sunroom. The sunrooms were pretty much too hot year round and usually have upscale outdoor or rattan/wicker furniture. They’re the least used rooms of all the houses I’ve seen with them. The bathrooms with just a toilet and sink are guest bathrooms. They’re used to keep guests out of the family bathrooms. I love how respectful you are and see the tragedy in destroying these houses. The separate seating area in the pool is a whirlpool with built in seating for the massage jets. That was one he!l of a house. None of those upgrades were cheap. The 2nd huge tub is a soaking tub, marvelous.

Thanks! Thanks for being the greatest exploration channel out there. I mean that, friends.

@DarkExploration

11 ай бұрын

Thank you for being the greatest !

@chayychayythebaddie8340

11 ай бұрын

Love u devin keep up the explorations!! You’re amazing.

When it comes down to it, living in a very large house is very, very expensive. Figure on paying 15k to 25k a month just to live there, not counting on repairs that might come up as the house starts getting older. Inground pool in need of repair can take you back 5k to 250k depending on repairs.

that gauge in bathroom was actually an old wall heater they used to put in bathrooms i love working on old homes!!! i love your videos too bc as a contractor i see things id never think of . thank you

@Stevi372

11 ай бұрын

in house 1 im saying for heater

Great video guys , what i dont understand is , wouldn't it be better to drop your price on the house and get something for it than to get nothing and let it rot away 🤔😊 love from Australia ❤❤❤❤

I always think of the mystery of the lives that once lived in these abandoned houses that once upon a time were called home.

@cwoza5

10 ай бұрын

Right. I'm fascinated to know how lived in this place at one time...

Chris sweetie that was nasty walking around with no shoes on in the water 😂you may want to go the doctor now lol

@angelstar22

11 ай бұрын

Yeah. I would never want to walk in that bare foot. I was thinking he should wash his feet in hot water with disinfectant soap and throw out those shoes and socks.

@catsanchez5749

11 ай бұрын

You should wear a mask❤ mold everywhere. Please take care of yourself😊

@lindahollander3588

11 ай бұрын

​@@angelstar22yea, I think he could get a foot fungus,that is not always easy to get rid of

@KrissyRoseAnimallover

2 ай бұрын

@@lindahollander3588yes it is actually if u actually get the proper products not the crappy cheap ones

I love both of them. It is ashame those people had to vandalize the second home. I just don't understand what they get out of destroying a place like that. I guess if they can't have it they don't want anybody else having it. Great video. You are such a sweet person. Thanks for all you do to film these homes for us.

@anita.b

11 ай бұрын

These McMansions have nothing of value for the market outside the monetary losses for their owners once built out of vanity and greed. Relax, this is just a 1980s Home Depot sale piled on an expensive plot of land.

@Nylon_riot

10 ай бұрын

There is shocking ly little for teens to do in the US. It is a combination of boredom and feeling like they are getting away with something. Especially in well to do areas where kids have little say over their own lives. If it is a wealthy area, then those are probably wealthy kids. But way to stereotype.

A quality pool table with a slate top is super heavy, and typically they're professionally delivered and setup by whomever you buy it from (because of the weight, assembly and leveling needed, etc.) Chances are the costs to professionally disassemble, move, and reassemble one is probably a significant chunk of the cost of buying new. It's similar to how things like dishware are always left behind when restaurants close... Commodity dishware is more awkward to store and move because of the overall weight and number of individual fragile pieces. It's cheaper just to leave it behind than try to salvage it on closure of the business.

Gorgeous!!! Open and lots of natural light.

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Linda how are you doing today

The kids who destroyed the scond mansion should be made to clean it up with their parents helping as well!

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Szlaurie how are you doing today

@KrissyRoseAnimallover

2 ай бұрын

No parents would just encourage them to do more damage like come on parents give their 8 year olds iPhone 13s their older siblings buy them vapes these days parents. Don’t give a fuck anyway

This house has a heavy contemporary look. I love the interior doors with the glass inserts and the built-ins in the kitchen and dining room. That pool area was nasty looking, all dark and dank. The garage is actually a 2 car on one side and the smaller door is for a boat or small camper or something. Could also fit an extra car, so possibly a 3 car garage.

Stunning! I love this kitchen... Everything is open and lots of natural light. Thank you for your explore and posting.

@DarkExploration

11 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

The natural light, the skylight and the stairs in the first mansion are incredible❤

Wow!!! What a beautiful home! Sad people will be so destructive... makes no sense. Come in, chill out and enjoy the beauty of it all. Your trademark vandalism and destruction only says you're taking your frustrations out and will catch up to you in the future.

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Linda how are you doing today

Mainly because younger generations have become Employment Nomads. You never have job security unless you’re wealthy. Then it doesn’t matter. There’s so much wealth it’s sad to see such waste.

Wow. Sad vandalism but beautiful woodworking. Great explore as always 😊😊😊

He’s very brave going down there barefoot 😮 god knows what’s on the floor. The architecture is stunning- I’d love to have that furnished in 80s style. Great video

That living room looks like a freaking high school gymnasium! I’ll never get what people get out of coming in and just breaking things & destroying these places. I mean they are naturally decaying, that’s one thing, but the vandalism…kids, people, don’t have better use of their time and energy? Takes a certain kind of person to get enjoyment out of that…no one I need to know.

Good video, nice places at one time. I cant imagine what the upkeep on houses like this costs. Landscapers, someone to clean the pool, housekeepers to wash all the windows, must be very expensive. Thanks, Devin

I can see the appeal of both mansions. Love all the wood of the built ins, and the staircases of the 1st one, and the fixtures, and handles of the 2nd place.

I love basements. They make such loverly dungeons!

Great footage but sad to see the broken dreams. If those places could tell their stories. I would imagine bankruptcy would play a major role in some of these. Death of a significant other. Even infidelity. As always, Thumbs up 👍

@HeadNtheClouds

11 ай бұрын

I am thinking people died or are in assisted living home & grown kids live somewhere else.

It upsets me seeing homes like this just left to die. As a poor person... In all honesty, it pisses me off seeing money go to waste like this. Fools and their money soon part, as that old saying goes.

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Mary how are you doing today

@SarcasticMary

11 ай бұрын

@@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd Hello.

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

@@SarcasticMary Hi Mary how's the weather over there today

@lindahollander3588

11 ай бұрын

I agree I hate waste and things go out of style too fast ,you don't get your money's worth. I personally like a little outdated,something that's rather charming

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

@@lindahollander3588 That's really cool of you Linda

Both houses are beautiful but my favorite was house 2. I dont blame you for not disclosing the location, i think all explorers dont. And thats great. Upsets me to see when vandals have to destroy these homes. Soo sad. You do a great job narrating these homes. Thank you.

Two amazing explores. I had seen the first one on another channel a while back. Sad about the damage, I always try to ignore the graffiti and look around it. Some parents shouldn't be allowed to breed, lol

@KrissyRoseAnimallover

2 ай бұрын

Well ur parents. Shouldn’t of bred you

Always sad to see these once beautiful homes in sad condition. Each home has a story. A greater sadness to see the destruction of vandalism. If I choose a place that I find appealing would be #2. The feeling of history by artistic details within the walls. Truly sad though by the condition.

I reeeaaallly so like the kitchen. Wish it were mine.

Well done on both accounts. We always appreciate and enjoy your perspective and respect for the properties you explore. Thanks for sharing another great explore!

That was cool! Thank you for taking us on that journey!! Both homes were beautiful... And I appreciate you pointing out the the details. True treasures for sure. It's a shame.

You were correct when you mentioned how these kids were raised. Not sure what the drive is to destroy a beautiful place. It is a question I wonder about, as to why these structures sit empty. Sell them cheap I would think to ask least get some money back. Maybe their loan gets forgiven if they just walk? I would love to move in and take care of it but they are just wait to big for me.

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Kelly how are you doing today

Hi , Devin ! 🤗😘 Thanks for video ! 👍👏😉

Thank you for the video

I've noticed its usually adults that break stuff and vandalize these old places more so than kids. Have the same thernostat in my house.

@KrissyRoseAnimallover

2 ай бұрын

17-20 year olds

I like the first one because of all the natural light, the staircase, the kitchen. The second one is nice too. I loved the swan/goose water fixtures. It's just hard to enjoy it with all the graffiti - which sickens and saddens me. Definitely want the non-flooded basement though (duh!) Thank you for the tours.

Great work as always my friend!

Both great explores! -AK

It's so sad. These were such beautiful homes.

Amazing work! Keep up the good job❤❤

I’d love to see like the google earth view of what the backyards and pools and everything looked like in their prime! I see a guy on tiktok who does videos comparing a house 10 years ago, 6yrs ago, 3 years ago and now, and it’s cool to see the transformation side by side like that

My Son has a twin to that scooter,lol. Down to the purple grips even😄. Now His Kids play with it when They come to visit

Esas dos mansiones a pesar de su destruccion son maravillosas esa amplitud y todo el verde que las rodea las hace un bello sueño.Gracias por el video.

HI! DARK EXPLORATION, I love all your videos. You are a epic KZread!!❤

@malinikamalinika4654

11 ай бұрын

Autor this video, his name - Devin.🤗

Beautiful video ❤

This house is Beautiful. So Sad

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Erica how are you doing today

3:29 Wonderfully amazing!

I enjoyed how do you bring the story to life

Hey Devin, You are so right about the kids today that they have no respect. A lot of times its the company they hang around with and it takes one of them to be disrespectful and it grows to the other kids who try to be the same as their peers. Its ugly is graffiti and those kids need to be told its just not right and very disrespectful and wrong. They had the audacity to write the peace sign on the mirrors they disgust me. Shame about they destroyed the place it would have been a beautiful place ... Thank you huni for showing us round ....

I love him calling all bathtubs hot tubs. The first one I loved but was seriously distracted on the second one & didn’t understand its masters layout at all.

Wonderful video 😊❤😊❤

Love this one especially the exterior

Beautiful

Great video and exploration, shame the houses have been left

Thanks awesome houses

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Joan how are you doing today

I love your videos, you are by far in my top 5 explorers, thank you for your videos!

@DarkExploration

10 ай бұрын

Thank you! I appreciate it

That's nuts! 9:27

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Jacqueline how are you doing today

This is sooooo cool 😎 imagine having cameras there at night just to capture if there's anything going on etc

Thank you for being so respectful to the properties and not sharing locations. Good content

I think that was once a film set for a TV series... 😉

Love the Staircase❤

Love this 😊

The staircase on Mansion #1 was spectacular. Such a beautiful retro home. And didn't Chris wade his feet in another mansion a while back? Brave lad you are :o) Mansion #2 was really sad to see it the condition it was in. A $4,000,000 home and completely vandalized is absolutely disgusting. I too loved the "sailboat" bathroom. I think the downstairs room was called a "rumpus room" in that era and it was where the kids played. Great video and narrative as always. Thanks Devon and stay safe - you too Chris!! :o)

Wow I would love to see the Second house rehabbed. That caught my heart I could see past the graffiti. ❤❤❤

If you had opened the sliders in the basement would the water have flowed outside on mansion 1? I just love this house (2nd)! Thanks for the video!

They're left abandoned because the property taxes are insane. The house itself is nothing. The US basically makes you pay a subscription fee if you own property it's horrible. The bad part if I remember correctly is that property and income tax both were supposed to.be temporary... Yet we get nothing in this country.

Since you asked about our point of view why mansions get abandoned, I can give you my personal one. About a house that isnt abandoned yet, and thanks to my stubborness will probably remain occupied. To make matter clear Im literally writing this message from the very house in question. A quick story before we begin. The house was built in the late 80s/early 90s. Over the years it went through other finishing jobs, but even as for now (July 2024) the house is still unfinished. It lacks the railings on the outside at some places. Pretty much because more important matters came into doing, like roof conservations, new heating systems, and so on. The house was built by my grandparents, who owned a manufacture. It ran for quite a long time, as it stopped functioning in 2022. Long story short power and fuel rising prices killed the profitability. It is large. There are a few bedrooms, bathrooms, huge living room, and even a library. Along with a garage and huge basement. The land is also quite large for the standarts over here. Plus it was built using real bricks, and the roof is made using metal plates. As for now my grandparents still live here. Well, at the moment they do not, as they went into beach resort for a short holiday trip, but will be back in a few days. I do visit them often, since I moved back into the town. I admit, that I want to inherit this house. Spent all my life over here. Well, of course not every day, but even when I was living in another city, I visited my grandparents at least a few times a year, and now it is weekly. But since I was born and raised in this very house, I know pretty much every nook and cranny over here. So, what are the problems? I guess I dont have to say money being biggest one. Not only Id have to discuss things with my uncle and mum, and pay them monthly arranged sum, I also have to have enough to make this place running. I decided to change a job, and start doing something more exhausting than I was doing up until recently, so I hope at least this would be solved in the future. But its not only about money. Its also the maintenance. Earlier on during winters, the house was warmed by a coal furnace. Coal became expensive over here, so the new furnace is gas powered. Guess what, gas is also bad nowadays, and there are already rumours about new taxes. Not to mention the garden area. Another problem being the size of the house. It is pretty big, and I guess too big for two people only. Next year Im getting married, but sadly even now, my girlfriend keeps moaning about how she does not want to have kids. This home would be perfect to have even 5 kids. Like I said Im stubborn and Im not taking no for an answer if she wants to marry me, and fortunately lately she has been less aggresive about it again. Im guessing its all about money again... but more about me having a stable job in current times. Did I mentioned that my family has to agree first? Yeah, lets count that as well. So what if I didnt had such a cunning plan? Yep, you guessed it, it would be for sale at some point, waiting for the new owner. In which you have two options: either sell it very cheaply, because folks buying this will want to destroy the house spirit and make it "more modern" - nobody loves real woodwork anymore. Or the price would be too big for anyone to be interested, resulting in an empty house going to waste again... My uncle lives abroad, and just like my mum he "isnt coming back". Now imagine what would happen if I were another dude, who doesnt give a damn, and is just focused on partying and spending money on abroad travels, instead of thinking about future, and having a goal to keep the house inside my family? My guess is, in the next years, you will be visiting this home, wondering what went wrong. But there is also a bright side to it. Some people actually do sell houses over here, and some of them are even bigger. The key is, their current owners pretty much sold it for a little money, making it possible for new owners to still have some money for renovations. The biggest house on the street was so big, it end up being converted into apartment building, but it paid off, as people now occupy this place. My conclusion is - if I didnt have my life goals, and didnt wanted to create a family, like many folks around today, Id probably pass on it as well. You simply do not buy a mansion for one person to live over there, plus it requires a fat wallet. Ps. I gave up long time ago on wasting money on expensive stuff like new cars, electronics, travels, clothing, jewelry and other bs. I decided to save up money, and spending them on properties. If I were to own more money in the future, Id spend it on buying more houses, and keeping them for my children, so they wont have dillemmas like I had.

Wow, who would've thought the poolrooms would actually have a pool table? I guess that's also why they call them the poolrooms! 😂🎱

Great video

Thank you. Subscriber all the way from Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 I love it when you say "kids" cos you're pretty young yourself, lol. Love the content.

@DarkExploration

11 ай бұрын

When I say kids, it's mainly ages 15-18. Because I've noticed that's the age range for people who destroy things

Enjoyed the video 👍

Cool

That Nutone at 13.47 is an intercom/doorbell.

At one time I bet this was beautiful.

Beautiful house!

What a beautiful house.

Ha this ain’t only fans I love these videos thanks guys

I have the weirdest phobia to dark water in pools…I’ve even Googled to see if it’s some legit phobia (didn’t quite confirm it), I sometimes wonder, did a have some past life trauma in dark water? Anyway, all that to say, that first glimpse of that black pool freaks me out!! But I do love your videos and the respect you have for your findings. Now…can I continue to watch is the question…🫣

@malinikamalinika4654

11 ай бұрын

Being afraid is natural. The body defends itself.🤗

i love the mansion the first on, very nice

I love that kitchen ❤

Thanks for the tour, interesting layout, needs a new paint job and if a lover of carpet a new one. Wonder how much its going for? As well as the others.

Very Cool!! Thanks For Sharing!!

beautiful, just waiting for a dyi

@NelsonAnthony-xs7fd

11 ай бұрын

Hello Carmel how are you doing today

I love this beginning - almost like a daily news edition, it came out sensational! Overall, both properties are beautiful. Are they unfashionable? No, they are unique. The high quality of the materials means that whenever someone takes care of them, they will look very good. With regard to the second property in particular, it is inconceivable that you can go somewhere and ruin everything like that. I have mentioned many times that I do not understand the need for vandalism. This here is beyond human comprehension. The possibility to chill in abandoned villas should be a privilege to be appreciated. To enter, to leave and possibly to leave footprints, nothing else. It is a pity that these vandals will not be held accountable for their actions - someone here has got quite a bit mixed up in their heads.

I would love to fix up the first house it would expensive but it would so awesome in the end.

The small section of the pool separated by the blue tiles that you called a bar is the hot tub, being overfilled I suppose it doesn't look like one. Otherwise, the so called hot tubs in the bathrooms are actually just oversized bathtubs. 🙂 Awesome video tho! Amazing walkthrough!