This morning a twitter feed made me think of some of the good times and bad in our soon to be former home. So I felt the need to share.
Some of the stories friends have heard a billion times and I apologies….
Chris and I built this home. It was our first and by no means were we planning to be in it 16 years. We were very lucky that the "seller" liked us. She went on about the property that she had and how she thought the one next door didn't have a premium. Because of her, we saved $5000.
Our property is definitely worth a premium. It is butt up to a large common area that now holds the playground. It was perfect for sitting on the deck and watching our kids play. It was very close to the house so we could take the children there when they were very young. It has also has been frequented by an array of neighborhood teens late at night. My bedroom window opens to the playground.
I have spent time over the years catching neighborhood children practicing cheerleading, smoking pot, drinking and occasionally having sex at all hours of the night. I have witnessed a girl hike to the back of the gazebo to cop a squat. One neighbor, committed suicide in the woods behind us (thank GOD, I didn't see that). You name it….
The back of our house has a large wooded area. It is home to a lot of wildlife. Have you ever been woken up in the middle of the night to screaming fox? My dogs have been sprayed by toads, bitten by copper heads, tormented by deer. We listen to cicada, owls and a multitude of beautiful birds.
We did have an opossum that used to like to frequent our bird feeder that was placed on our back deck. Our deck is about 10 feet off the ground and the ugly thing would eat the seed and drool all over our railing. My husband finally in annoyance, asked a co-worker by the name of "Redneck" what to do. Redneck stated that if you were to hit it with a broom it would play dead. You could then pick it up by the tail and walk it back to the woods. It would play dead for about 30 minutes and then wander away and never come back.
So one morning my husband saw the nasty thing at the bird feeder and attempted to scare it away. He tried to spray it with water, yell at it and the thing just hissed. So Chris grabs the broom and with my children at the window, marches out to try and get rid of it.
Chris felt extremely guilty in regards to hitting it, so instead he whacked the handrail. The opossum sat straight up, went completely stiff and fell over…..14 feet off the rail to the yard below.
Chris and children were hysterically laughing by this time. They ran to the rail to see the ugly beast lumber away into the woods never to be seen again.
Our neighborhood backs up to a farm that has cows, goats and horses. Several occasions calves and cows have found themselves through the fence and wandering through the neighborhood. One morning we woke to a calf on my neighbors front porch.
One night about 2am I heard one of the cows just mooing in distress. As I dozed I noticed the mooing getting louder and louder and then quieter and quieter. I thought in my confusion of sleep "I bet if I sat up I could see a cow!" Well, I was on the mark because the next morning we woke up to cow patties on our neighbor's driveway!!
My last story….
I was coming home from work early one afternoon with both children. As they went to the front of the house a truck came full throttle down the road. It slammed on the breaks in front of the dead end near the farm. A man jumped out of the truck, grabbed a rifle, and hopped the fence. I yelled at my kids to get in the house, I grabbed my phone in preparation to call 911.
The man came back over the fence and asked if I had seen anybody go over the fence? As I looked down the road I noticed several boys hop the fence and sneak back around a house.
Turns out that the bull was rutting and was not very nice. The man basically told the boys "Now that bull would kill you and I would have to kill him. Now he is a very pricey bull and although I would shoot him, I wouldn't be happy about it." Ahhhh…country living!!!
Our home has been through ice storms, hurricanes, tornados and earthquakes. We have brought 2 babies home and raised them. We have had 4 dogs and a multitude of neighbors. Although I am ECSTATIC to be leaving….I'll still be sad just the same.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Inspections and Repairs
We have been slowly plodding through the action of buying and selling. Our latest endeavor is the process of having inspections performed. Our current home's inspection went fairly well. We had several items that required repairs but they were relatively minor.
The most difficult of the repairs entailed fixing dented gutters. The gutters were damaged when a tree came down on our house. Chris took on the repair prior to Irene coming to town. The gutter outside our bedroom window tended to dump water in front of our window. I had been complaining about it for some time and with the hurricane heading for a direct hit to North Carolina, it appeared to be the best time.
Although the actual gutter looks a bit worse for wear, it held up fantastically during the storms over the following days. Chris continues to take care of the few issues and we now have to deal with the new house.
For the record, our current house is 16 years old. It has been through SEVERAL hurricanes that had resulted in a few repairs over the years but Chris has always dealt with these things. Chris also, being a HVAC tech, has maintained our major equipment throughout the years.
The house we are purchasing is 4 years old. Although there were only 4 items requiring repairs, one has reared its head as a potential major problem.
It appears that there is a foundation issue causing water to drain under the house. Structurally the house is sound but the potential for major foundation issues is a real issue. Not a couple hundred dollar quick fix but a MAJOR problem.
We have asked for the sellers to repair professionally. We have opted for a re-inspection and if it isn't performed correctly we will terminate the sale.
I could be homeless in less than a month. Oy.
The most difficult of the repairs entailed fixing dented gutters. The gutters were damaged when a tree came down on our house. Chris took on the repair prior to Irene coming to town. The gutter outside our bedroom window tended to dump water in front of our window. I had been complaining about it for some time and with the hurricane heading for a direct hit to North Carolina, it appeared to be the best time.
Although the actual gutter looks a bit worse for wear, it held up fantastically during the storms over the following days. Chris continues to take care of the few issues and we now have to deal with the new house.
For the record, our current house is 16 years old. It has been through SEVERAL hurricanes that had resulted in a few repairs over the years but Chris has always dealt with these things. Chris also, being a HVAC tech, has maintained our major equipment throughout the years.
The house we are purchasing is 4 years old. Although there were only 4 items requiring repairs, one has reared its head as a potential major problem.
It appears that there is a foundation issue causing water to drain under the house. Structurally the house is sound but the potential for major foundation issues is a real issue. Not a couple hundred dollar quick fix but a MAJOR problem.
We have asked for the sellers to repair professionally. We have opted for a re-inspection and if it isn't performed correctly we will terminate the sale.
I could be homeless in less than a month. Oy.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Buying and Selling
So.....
84 days and finally we have sold our house. The couple who showed up on our doorstep have finalized the contract. We have just received the inspection report and the fixes are fairly minor. Unfortunately, now comes the difficult searching of homes for us.
If I haven't stated before, we have very tight criteria for buying a home. We are moving my father in with us. So we need a 4 bedroom with one bedroom on the first floor with a connecting bathroom. We need an area that my father can call his own.
We wanted a neighborhood that had a pool. We wanted a house that has flat property and few stairs to enter. We hoped for a fenced yard for the dogs. A house that has busing to my daughter's high school and better base schools for when my son enters middle school.
We went house hunting with our agent on a Sunday. We had about 14 homes to view. Some houses had a first floor master others a "guest" suite. Some were in established neighborhoods, some near friends.
Lord. You can never trust what you see or read online. Some houses were dumps. Some were in horrid locations. Some the property itself was a nightmare. Examples: One house was located literally on an expressway. Yeah, no.
One, the floors were like a fun house. Another home had a driveway that appeared to be at a 90 degree angle.
My husband and I picked out our top 3. 2 were in the same neighborhood in Wake Forest, the other in an established neighborhood in Raleigh. We left with our heads spinning!
I went back with our children and my father to check out our 3 favorites. Our number 1 was still number 1 and my dad and kids agreed!!!
We let our agent put in the initial offer.
The response was not good. "We are not dropping the house any more and will consider renting the house out if we don't get our asking."
Really? I just dumped my house and you are going to be this way?
We counter offered again, receiving less than stellar response.
As I sat on the beach, visiting my college roommate, my husband and I decided to give one final offer and if they didn't take it, walk away.
I was angry and a bit depressed over the whole experience. I was frustrated with the loan process and I just wanted something to go MY WAY!
We finally received the call that said our offer was accepted. We were able to drop the price 2K and get 5K in closing.
The house is move-in ready and really lovely. They have done a lot with the yard, which is fenced in, and it's in a large growing neighborhood.
Dad has his space and we have ours. I will be stuffed in a small bedroom for the time being but that's ok. My daughter doesn't have neighborhood bussing but I will deal. My son will be in a great school district when the time comes. Things are definitely moving in a better direction than before.
Wow. I'm moving!
84 days and finally we have sold our house. The couple who showed up on our doorstep have finalized the contract. We have just received the inspection report and the fixes are fairly minor. Unfortunately, now comes the difficult searching of homes for us.
If I haven't stated before, we have very tight criteria for buying a home. We are moving my father in with us. So we need a 4 bedroom with one bedroom on the first floor with a connecting bathroom. We need an area that my father can call his own.
We wanted a neighborhood that had a pool. We wanted a house that has flat property and few stairs to enter. We hoped for a fenced yard for the dogs. A house that has busing to my daughter's high school and better base schools for when my son enters middle school.
We went house hunting with our agent on a Sunday. We had about 14 homes to view. Some houses had a first floor master others a "guest" suite. Some were in established neighborhoods, some near friends.
Lord. You can never trust what you see or read online. Some houses were dumps. Some were in horrid locations. Some the property itself was a nightmare. Examples: One house was located literally on an expressway. Yeah, no.
One, the floors were like a fun house. Another home had a driveway that appeared to be at a 90 degree angle.
My husband and I picked out our top 3. 2 were in the same neighborhood in Wake Forest, the other in an established neighborhood in Raleigh. We left with our heads spinning!
I went back with our children and my father to check out our 3 favorites. Our number 1 was still number 1 and my dad and kids agreed!!!
We let our agent put in the initial offer.
The response was not good. "We are not dropping the house any more and will consider renting the house out if we don't get our asking."
Really? I just dumped my house and you are going to be this way?
We counter offered again, receiving less than stellar response.
As I sat on the beach, visiting my college roommate, my husband and I decided to give one final offer and if they didn't take it, walk away.
I was angry and a bit depressed over the whole experience. I was frustrated with the loan process and I just wanted something to go MY WAY!
We finally received the call that said our offer was accepted. We were able to drop the price 2K and get 5K in closing.
The house is move-in ready and really lovely. They have done a lot with the yard, which is fenced in, and it's in a large growing neighborhood.
Dad has his space and we have ours. I will be stuffed in a small bedroom for the time being but that's ok. My daughter doesn't have neighborhood bussing but I will deal. My son will be in a great school district when the time comes. Things are definitely moving in a better direction than before.
Wow. I'm moving!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Happiness, Sadness and Everything in Between
84 days.
That is the time my house has been on the market.
On Saturday, a hispanic couple showed up at my front door. The woman was pregnant and asked most of the questions. She introduced herself as someone who had viewed my house *warning*.
She stated her agent wanted her to ask a few questions about the house *warning*.
Woman: We heard you were dropping your price, is that true?
Me: Uh….no.
W: Oh, I have the house confused. Ignore that I said that.
M: Uh…o.k?
W: Do you pay a lot in electric? We don't want to pay a lot in electric.
M: I'm on an EPP. I pay the same amount every month.
W: Do you pay $200? We don't want to pay $200.
M: I don't pay $200. But it's equal payments….they average it out. I don't think we pay that much.
W: Will you pay closing costs?
M: Um…that's what negotiations are for. Our agents should be dealing with this.
W: Will you make any repairs to the house?
M: That's something we need to negotiate with the agents.
W: Will you leave the refrigerator?
M: That's part of the negotiations.
She then spoke to her husband in spanish and they left. I immediately called my agent. *DANGER WILL ROBINSON*
What we have determined is the woman is the most fluent in English. This includes the agent!
The offer came as such:
Drop the price $5K and pay 3K in closing.
No Due Deligence
$499 for a home warranty.
Counter: Price dropped 3K and pay 3K
Due Diligence of $250 and 350 for Home warranty
2nd offer:
Drop 5K and pay 2K closing. Due diligence and home warranty as we asked.
Counter : drop 5, pay 1 due diligence and NO HOME WARRANTY
This was accepted with us making any home repairs as found NECESSARY and within reason by a licensed home inspector.
PHEW!
Papers are signed. YAY!
I had mixed emotions. I have been in my house 16 years. Both children were born here. It's a bittersweet feeling.
Panic ensued….Am I going to be able to afford what I want and most importantly NEED? Oh yeah…BTW: Closing is scheduled for September 27!!!!!!!!
To get prequalified I need papers. I need 2009 and 2010 tax returns. I found tax returns from 1994 to 2009. Hello? Where are my 2010 returns? My fear is that they are PACKED IN THE POD!!! Remember that thing?
Lord help me.
I still need prayers lifted up for me. I REALLY appreciate all of your support!
Holy Sh*t. I sold my house!
That is the time my house has been on the market.
On Saturday, a hispanic couple showed up at my front door. The woman was pregnant and asked most of the questions. She introduced herself as someone who had viewed my house *warning*.
She stated her agent wanted her to ask a few questions about the house *warning*.
Woman: We heard you were dropping your price, is that true?
Me: Uh….no.
W: Oh, I have the house confused. Ignore that I said that.
M: Uh…o.k?
W: Do you pay a lot in electric? We don't want to pay a lot in electric.
M: I'm on an EPP. I pay the same amount every month.
W: Do you pay $200? We don't want to pay $200.
M: I don't pay $200. But it's equal payments….they average it out. I don't think we pay that much.
W: Will you pay closing costs?
M: Um…that's what negotiations are for. Our agents should be dealing with this.
W: Will you make any repairs to the house?
M: That's something we need to negotiate with the agents.
W: Will you leave the refrigerator?
M: That's part of the negotiations.
She then spoke to her husband in spanish and they left. I immediately called my agent. *DANGER WILL ROBINSON*
What we have determined is the woman is the most fluent in English. This includes the agent!
The offer came as such:
Drop the price $5K and pay 3K in closing.
No Due Deligence
$499 for a home warranty.
Counter: Price dropped 3K and pay 3K
Due Diligence of $250 and 350 for Home warranty
2nd offer:
Drop 5K and pay 2K closing. Due diligence and home warranty as we asked.
Counter : drop 5, pay 1 due diligence and NO HOME WARRANTY
This was accepted with us making any home repairs as found NECESSARY and within reason by a licensed home inspector.
PHEW!
Papers are signed. YAY!
I had mixed emotions. I have been in my house 16 years. Both children were born here. It's a bittersweet feeling.
Panic ensued….Am I going to be able to afford what I want and most importantly NEED? Oh yeah…BTW: Closing is scheduled for September 27!!!!!!!!
To get prequalified I need papers. I need 2009 and 2010 tax returns. I found tax returns from 1994 to 2009. Hello? Where are my 2010 returns? My fear is that they are PACKED IN THE POD!!! Remember that thing?
Lord help me.
I still need prayers lifted up for me. I REALLY appreciate all of your support!
Holy Sh*t. I sold my house!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Chickens and Playgounds
The price was dropped about 2 weeks ago. We have had about 4 showings in this time and limited feedback. The feedback we did receive was very positive but at this point, no offers.
Our neighborhood FINALLY placed the second playset on the playground and tomorrow, more pictures will be taken and updated.
The new set is a HUGE monstrosity but it is already in use and the children are enjoying it.
Neighbors of ours decided to get chickens. They have unfortunately allowed them to wander around the neighborhood which is against our covenants. I like the girls but I agree they shouldn't be wandering free especially when I'm trying to sell my house. My daughter has made friends with them and took their pictures.
Our neighborhood FINALLY placed the second playset on the playground and tomorrow, more pictures will be taken and updated.
The new set is a HUGE monstrosity but it is already in use and the children are enjoying it.
Neighbors of ours decided to get chickens. They have unfortunately allowed them to wander around the neighborhood which is against our covenants. I like the girls but I agree they shouldn't be wandering free especially when I'm trying to sell my house. My daughter has made friends with them and took their pictures.
Keep us in your thoughts. ;)
Monday, July 25, 2011
Stress and Control
As I age, I become more aware of my need for control. Selling a home is not conducive to control. Just FYI.
My father had another medical blip that snow-balled into more issues and our need to sell is becoming more necessary.
Our realtor has pressed us to drop our price. I have dug my heels in for a while thinking our neighborhood would finish the playground, giving another plus for home buyers. I should learn that I should never depend on others for things that I want/need. I either do it myself or not get things done to my (most likely) high standards.
Last Monday we dropped our price. I must emphasize, not by much. Just enough to fall into the next lower purchasing level. It's all numbers and since there were no home viewings in our price range, we must drop it to the next active level.
I have found several homes (online) that I would like to view but again….fear keeps me from viewing. I don't want the disappointment of not being able to have a house because we couldn't sell ours or we lose it to another buyer.
We had our first viewing yesterday at this price range. While I was at work, my husband cleaned, which was fabulous! Unfortunately it was not to my too high standard. Poor man! ;)
My father had another medical blip that snow-balled into more issues and our need to sell is becoming more necessary.
Our realtor has pressed us to drop our price. I have dug my heels in for a while thinking our neighborhood would finish the playground, giving another plus for home buyers. I should learn that I should never depend on others for things that I want/need. I either do it myself or not get things done to my (most likely) high standards.
Last Monday we dropped our price. I must emphasize, not by much. Just enough to fall into the next lower purchasing level. It's all numbers and since there were no home viewings in our price range, we must drop it to the next active level.
I have found several homes (online) that I would like to view but again….fear keeps me from viewing. I don't want the disappointment of not being able to have a house because we couldn't sell ours or we lose it to another buyer.
We had our first viewing yesterday at this price range. While I was at work, my husband cleaned, which was fabulous! Unfortunately it was not to my too high standard. Poor man! ;)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Diets and Selling
It has been a slow few weeks. I am still resistant to dropping the price now that some new accouterments are being added about and around.
This past week, Chris and I joined "The Biggest Loser" competition at work. Hunger and selling is not necessarily a winning combination. Just FYI.
On Wednesday I received a call from Central Showing that we had a scheduled view. This is the first in the last month. The schedule wasn't until 7:30 so I felt comfortable dealing with it when I got home.
Of course, as I opened the door, I began to channel Stalin, screaming orders to the children!!! You! Put your bag away! You, to the shower! BOTH OF YOU, PICK UP YOUR STUFF!!!!!!
I cleaned as if my life depended on it.
Soon the bathrooms shown, the floors(except for the kitchen) were clean, and the house was close to viewing ready. Chris came home to me in full mode and he had little protection from my barking of orders.
His job was to mop the kitchen floor. "But I just walked in the door?" FLAMES SPOUT FROM MY EYES!!!!
We finally left to hit Larry's Oyster Bar for a well deserved dinner and beer. For the record: Oysters are very low in calories. Condiments, beer and hush puppies are not. But I truly believe that I burned off the calories in a cleaning frenzy.
When we returned home we spoke to our neighbors. They said the couple spent a good amount of time looking at the front of the house and out the back. They were around the same age as our neighbors and since we specifically asked them to have their 3 year old twin boys out playing, we hoped that would help.
Thursday night I went with friends to a Thursday night Live. The Embers, famous for Carolina Girls, were playing. I spent a good amount of time looking for emails.
We finally received an email with our feedback form. EVERYTHING was good. But the buyers weren't planning on buying because they didn't like our finished garage and didn't want to spend the money to re-convert it.
Hello? We stated we would re-convert if needed!!! Our realtor immediately was in a email/phone session with the buyer agent.
Unfortunately, they bid on another house……
It still is positive for us. As for the biggest loser. Chris lost 10 pounds this week. Me, 1.5. Keep em coming…..
This past week, Chris and I joined "The Biggest Loser" competition at work. Hunger and selling is not necessarily a winning combination. Just FYI.
On Wednesday I received a call from Central Showing that we had a scheduled view. This is the first in the last month. The schedule wasn't until 7:30 so I felt comfortable dealing with it when I got home.
Of course, as I opened the door, I began to channel Stalin, screaming orders to the children!!! You! Put your bag away! You, to the shower! BOTH OF YOU, PICK UP YOUR STUFF!!!!!!
I cleaned as if my life depended on it.
Soon the bathrooms shown, the floors(except for the kitchen) were clean, and the house was close to viewing ready. Chris came home to me in full mode and he had little protection from my barking of orders.
His job was to mop the kitchen floor. "But I just walked in the door?" FLAMES SPOUT FROM MY EYES!!!!
We finally left to hit Larry's Oyster Bar for a well deserved dinner and beer. For the record: Oysters are very low in calories. Condiments, beer and hush puppies are not. But I truly believe that I burned off the calories in a cleaning frenzy.
When we returned home we spoke to our neighbors. They said the couple spent a good amount of time looking at the front of the house and out the back. They were around the same age as our neighbors and since we specifically asked them to have their 3 year old twin boys out playing, we hoped that would help.
Thursday night I went with friends to a Thursday night Live. The Embers, famous for Carolina Girls, were playing. I spent a good amount of time looking for emails.
We finally received an email with our feedback form. EVERYTHING was good. But the buyers weren't planning on buying because they didn't like our finished garage and didn't want to spend the money to re-convert it.
Hello? We stated we would re-convert if needed!!! Our realtor immediately was in a email/phone session with the buyer agent.
Unfortunately, they bid on another house……
It still is positive for us. As for the biggest loser. Chris lost 10 pounds this week. Me, 1.5. Keep em coming…..
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