Friday, September 16, 2011

The Power of Free

We have been packing like crazy this week in preparation of our move on the 19th.  I have gotten to the point that I am tired of all this stuff and I have started setting it out on the side of our yard with a sign that says "FREE".  You would be surprised at what people need or will just take for free.

For instance, in the last 24 hours this is what has been set out and TAKEN from our yard:

metal cabinet
TV cart
wooden chair
wire shelf
2 floor pillows
play dump truck
play earth mover
play guitar
3 bags clothes
1 box clothes
1 girls winter coat
A/C pad
play gas pump
memo board
picture frame
decorative shelf
old radio
old computer monitor
old printer

I am glad that these items are not going in the landfill.
I am glad I do not have to move these items.
I am glad that someone else can use them.

And who knows - there might be more - we do not pack the truck until Sunday!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Today I am *barely* embracing the chaos!

I seriously thought I would have a better handle on moving/packing/ etc.  But honestly, I am going crazy today!  I have one huge to do list and haven't gotten too far!

There are:
  • phone calls to make
  • emails to send
  • laundry to do
  • boxes to pack
  • rooms to clean
  • curtains to take down
  • papers to go through

On a good note, some of the items we have listed on Craigslist have sold, so there will be fewer things to move!

More regular posts to come after we move next week!  Promise!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Finally - The Perfect House!

We recieved good news today...our contract was accepted on the house we saw Sunday!  I think that we have driven by a hundred houses since we started looking.  I am so happy to be done with the looking and happy to think about making this house our home for a long time!

So here are the details:

  • the house is over 1800 square feet
  • the lot is almost an acre
  • we already know one of the next door neighbors
  • our kids will stay at the same schools they have been in
  • the house has huge rooms including a charming retro kitchen (metal cabinets)
So, we are excited beyond belief!  There will be lots of diy projects at this house and I look forward to sharing them here with you!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Excitement

Well, the dream house is no longer.  Too many things that need to be done before the house could be insured or even pass an inspection + a seller not willing to do anything = a voided contract.

But the excitement is building - we put a contract on a home yesterday that would keep us in all the same schools, close to all the places we already go and accommodate our big family!

I will keep you updated!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Frustration

I have decided that we will never sell/move/buy a house again!  This whole process is extremely frustrating to me.  Don't get me wrong, it has its great points - less clutter, a constantly clean, straight house, etc.  But it also has its less than great points - hoping for a buyer, looking for the perfect house, etc.

The funny thing is - we weren't *really* looking when we found the *perfect* house.  I have this habit of searching online with a real estate company - even if we aren't looking to move.  Well, way back in December I was searching and found this awesome house for sale, in our price range and in one of the areas we always talked about moving to.  The dear hubby drove by and was as smitten as I was.  We made an appointment to see the inside and we were hooked (even with the dirty carpets, windows and outdated EVERYTHING).  The only big issue - it was a foreclosure and we would have to sell our house first since really we don't have THAT much extra money sitting around. 

Fast forward to February and we are ready to list our house.  We find out that an investor actually bought the house and it was not in foreclosure as originally thought.  We list our house and write a contingent contract on the dream house, sure that our house would sell instantly!  (Have I ever mentioned that I am an extreme optimist?)  May 28th came with no buyer for our house and the end of the contingent contract on our dream.  The seller was no longer interested in a contingent contract and decided to take the house off the market and do some work on the house.  Fine - be that way - we decided.  And we began to look for dream house #2.

No such luck.  Everything was either too small for our family of seven or out of our budget.  But really, that was okay - no one had made us an offer on our house.  Then out of the blue, we have showings left and right and boom an offer for our house, which we accepted after a little back and forth.  Hmm - now we have a contract on our home, but NO house to move to.  Unless...dream house was still available for purchase. 

After a hunt down by our agent, dream house could be available, but only at the price we previously offered.  Well of course we did it - this is dream house!  Or is it?

This house has been vacant/on the market for an entire year or more (depending on which neighbor you ask).  We had an inspection this past weekend and now I am not so sure it is a dream - maybe more like a nightmare.  We knew that the house is pretty original to its 25 year life (roof, windows, kitchen, fixtures, tile), what we did not know is that there seems to be a pretty major water issue in the basement, and the roof leaks and there are some stupid electrical and plumbing issues.  Oh did I mention that the house was sold as is?

So now that we have had an inspection, we are getting a bid on the repair of the water problem, etc.  We have less than 10 days now to decide if we are going to walk out on this house or stick with it and see what the seller will do about the price.

The most frustrating thing right now is this - school starts in less than 4 weeks.  Where will my kids be going to school?  I need to have physicals, buy school supplies, etc. 

I have to keep reminding myself that God knows what is best for our family.  I keep turning back to Proverbs 3:5-6  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding:  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight". 

I will keep you posted on our journey - and if you wouldn't mind, say a little prayer for us!