House selling update

We're still charging full steam ahead as if everything is on track to close on the sale of the house next Wednesday. I think we're still waiting for the full results of the water tests, but we should have that in a day or so.

We have, thankfully, found a place to live in the interim. So as you can imagine, I'm living in a sea of boxes. I've packed so much already, but I still feel as if there is just too much more to do. I also am pretty sure we don't have enough moving help, but we will certainly have truck power. We will have three pickups and one trailer, along with a moving truck. Goodness knows that should help. Wish us luck! Will post again as soon as I have some free time.

The Buying/Selling Game

I've always hated buying a car. Just the whole process of game playing makes me feel dirty. Well, apparently buying/selling a house is about as nasty, just much more protracted. In selling our house we've tried to price it appropriately, knowing that it needs some little things done here and there. And we've been as honest as possible about the issues and what we will or won't fix. And I think our agent has done the same and been pretty straightforward. However, the buyers' agent apparently likes the game playing. Every little thing is potentially a "deal breaker" as she tries to bluff us into stuff. And she's not on the top of her game, apparently, as evidenced by the number of calls we have gotten needing to check this, or inspect that, or get one more thing for their lender. We're way past the deadline now for repair requests, but we're still having inspections and water tests done.

I guess she's finding, though, that with no place to live lined up yet, we're ready to call her bluff. If they walk away now, they stand to lose well over $1000 in inspections and appraisals, and we won't have to hurry and find a place to live. A "deal breaker" might be welcome right now.

Soon to be homeless???

I've been too busy to post much lately because we sold the house as soon as it went on the market. Then we were in stand-still mode while we waited for the buyers to get the appraisal and inspections done. Now it looks like we're in the home stretch to be out by July 30....only the new house won't be ready for another 4-8 weeks. So now what do I do?

I've tried asking about extended stay rates at local hotels, but they are outrageous--more than my soon to be new mortgage payment! And I've only found one place that will rent to me for less than 7-9 months. So that may be what we have to do. We don't really have family we can barge in on for over a month. I jokingly say I should rent or buy an rv, but that might not be a bad option right now. If it weren't for the constant storms we've been having lately, that might work out well. LOL

If anyone knows of an empty house needing an occupant for 4-8 weeks, let me know.

Letter from the President!

Okay, so several months back, Anna decided she wanted to write to the President and tell him how much she liked him. Seeing as how this is the President I love to hate, I had a hard time with that, but like any good Mommy, I encouraged her anyway. So she drew President Bush a couple really nice pictures and sent him a note telling him how difficult it must be to be President with all the hard decisions he had to make and, by the way, when would there be a woman president. (You go, girl! She's my baby!)

So since then, I've had to often explain to her just how much mail the President gets and how he probably will answer her letter, but it might take a good while. So, finally, Saturday, the wait was over. We go check the mail to find a nice little package from the White House. Anna was sooooooo excited. She read her letter grinning from ear to ear. And while her letter didn't tackle the woman president question, it did reference making tough decisions, so it actually seems to be a good fit for what is most likely a form letter.

But here's the kicker: with the letter came a lovely 8x10 of President Bush and a nice 8x10 of the White House dog, Barney. Anna wants to frame them all. Now I can handle framing the letter and the photo of Barney, but a framed photo of President Bush cannot reside upon my walls. I'll have to figure a way out of this. Any suggestions? I'm thinking of finding a tri-fold frame where I can just fold Bush shut when I don't want to see him. LOL! But isn't Barney just adorable?

I know, I know, that's really mean. I'm sure I'll let her frame him if that's what she wants. Again, I let her write to him after all. I just can't wait till we have President Obama or President Clinton (although a woman president is looking more and more unlikely) so we can write again and get a better letter! Ha!

Too Busy

Well, obviously, I've been too busy lately to post much here. I have barely managed to keep the house blog up to date. Remember the days of posting a new pic of nothing every day? Well, that's over, partly because gas costs $4 a gallon and partly because every waking moment and some sleeping ones are spent getting this house in shape to sell. And of course, we're pushing that to the last possible moment. I might be in real trouble if it doesn't sell quickly.

Anyway, since that last pic was posted, Philip shaved off all his hair, and we have not had any sort of family time since. The kids have gotten to go swimming a lot lately, only cause we're terribly busy pressure washing and painting the pool fence. They have been really good with little attention from us. I feel bad to keep harping on them for things, but it's only for a limited time, right?

Anyway, we've still got a long list of house projects to accomplish, but only about a week left to do them. This house will go on the market within two weeks either all gussey'd up or as is....I don't care at this point. I know one thing for sure: when July 8 rolls around (hopefully when we're headed to the beach), we will be more than ready for a vacation.

This week is hell week too, difficult for finishing those two hundred house projects still left to do. I painted around hair appointments today. Tuesday we have a ball game AND the Girl Scout end of year picnic (at the same time, of course). Wednesday I guess I'm painting all evening. Thursday is B's preschool graduation. And Friday we have a wedding to attend. Whew! Then Philip works late on Saturday, so it's another day of painting or yard work by myself with the kiddos.

Well, didn't mean to whine here. I'll try to avoid that in the future. I meant to talk about Anna's letter from the President, but that will have to wait for tomorrow.

Biltmore was lovely, and life has been a blur ever since...

Wow, sorry for the delay in posting, but after the fun day at Biltmore, I haven't stopped moving since. It's been ball games/practices, dance, doctors and dentist appointments every day. Add to that an incredible stack of grading and meeting with endless real estate agents, and you can only imagine the insanity!

The house is coming along well, finally. The framing has begun. Check out the progress on my house blog (see the links). But because of that, we have kicked the packing and repairing into full swing. I'm a little disappointed at what all of the real estate agents have had to say so far about the value of our house. Don't get me wrong; we will make money, but so far they all have pretty much valued the house below tax value. Can you say housing slump? I heard somewhere the other day that values have doubled in the last 10 years....well, we've had our house for 10 years, and we're only looking at about a 35-36% increase.

Oh well, the excitement of building the new house will probably mitigate most of the disappointment. I am kicking myself for not adding that second bathroom way back when. Whoever buys my house will be getting one hell of a deal if you ask me. It's in a nice, quiet neighborhood with plenty of trees, over an acre of land, well landscaped, with two porches and a deck overlooking an inground pool. There's also a finished den downstairs with gas logs, plumbing for the second bathroom, two paved driveways, a detached two-car garage and separate shed. And many of the fixtures, etc., have been updated. The roof is not too old, and the heat pump, well pump, etc., are all relatively new. All that for under $130K? I'm sure I'll love the new house, but looking at that list reminds me that there's a lot here to miss.

Biltmore in the Springtime

Okay, so I haven't really gotten to that grading yet. I posted another house update on my house blog, and then I thought that I wanted to come back here and post about Biltmore. See how that procrastination is in full swing?

Anyway, when we went to Biltmore Estate a couple weeks back, we upgraded our passes, and I really, really, really want to see the tulips blooming in the gardens. We also spent way too much time in the house last time being herded through like cattle and not nearly enough time on the grounds and the winery. We never got down to the lake or to the farm last time.

So, I talked Philip into going again tomorrow. This time we're skipping the house and starting with the gardens. I want to see the tulips and maybe walk down to the lake this time. I also want to get to the winery in time to let the kids do the grape stomp at 2:00 and see the culinary demonstration at 3:00. We'll pack a picnic again and eat our PB&Js on the grounds somewhere. That was fun last time (and saved us a ton of money). Now if I can only keep from spending $50 in the wine shop again.....