I wish I'd picked it up...

I'm sure no one remembers, so I'll remind you.

Back in May when I was still very much in shopping mode for our then-new home. Although-I don't know if I ever really leave shopping mode for anything, but that's besides the point.

ANYways, during one of my spring time jaunts to HomeSense, I came across the cutest lamp I'd ever seen. (You may remember the post here) Isn't it adorable? Seriously-I still love it. I know, I know-those in the design-know blah blah blah probably say that the owl trend has passed or whatever, but I can't help but love it-design trend past, present OR future.

At the time (May 2 specifically) I really REALLY wanted it and even called hubs from the store to ask if he thought I should/could get it. You see-it's not really a lamp that we'd have in our family room or anything, so it's purpose would be saved for a future nursery, and it didn't make sense to buy a lamp we'd (God-willing) be using in who knows how long.

So-that time is now. Yep---one of the driving forces for our sell/purchase/move is to make some changes for the upcoming babe. I'm 6 months pregnant and due March 6, 2010...so less that 3 months to go!!!!!!

And I'm SO excited to get into our new house so I can get started on creating the nursery for our gender neutral design (baby's gender is and will remain a surprise until we hear it from the doc after delivery).

So-be forewarned, not that the cat's out of the bag in my blog land, expect way too many baby & nursery-centric posts.

The Plan

So, I might have mentioned that our new house (that we get in 5 days!) requires quite a bit of work. Hubs and I have made a list of the things that need to/we want to/should get done. It's quite extensive and will keep us and our bank accounts quite busy:

• Replace the washer & dryer (although we've already purchased these-yay)
• Carpet: Remove and install new on 3rd level and all stairs
• Hardwood: Install on main level & split level
• PAINT!
• Entrance & Garage Entry ceramic tiles
• Replace backyard sliding door
• Replace all windows (yep)
• Replace kitchen appliances
• Replace powder room countertop
• Gut & Reno ensuite (it's all blue fixtures, sweet huh?)
• Replace front entrance closet doors
• paint or replace the powder room door
• Remove or replace front screen door
• Paint or replace front door
• Replace garage entry door
• Re-do & expand driveway
• Open up main level by removing 2 walls and installing a kitchen island there
• Replace ancient, fugly lighting fixtures
• Replace banister & spindles
• Change electrical panel
• Plus: chimney fixes (thanks inspector)
• Plus: 3 foundation crack repairs (thanks inspector)

Phew---looks tiring, huh? Hope hubs' is as up for it as he says he is!

December Goals

Keepin' it short & sweet this month as there'll be lots to do this month and I want to make sure I take some time out to enjoy the holidays.

1. Send Christmas Cards
2. Have a real date night with hubs
3. Have fairly straightforward move
4. Enjoy the holidays
5. Eat delicious food and do some holiday baking

That shouldn't be too tough, you think?

Hope you're all taking it easy on yourselves this month!

November Goals-Judgement Day

Holy poop! In all this frustration and excitement, I forgot we've changed months!

Normally hubs has to physically restrain me from putting up Chrismas decorations and blastinc NSync Christmas until December 1st...but not this year. Yikes!

Here we go, I anticipate crummy results:

1. Send cards Completed
2. Have a real date night with hubs Completed
3. Sell House Completed!!!!
4. Buy House Completed!!!! (come on! It counts as November!)
5. Start Christmas shopping Partially completed
6. Meal plan each week Hahaha---not even once
7. Sew something-anything Not completed
8. Try making a stew Not completed
9. Try 1 new recipe Completed-the week I was off sick I tried 2!
10. Have people over for dinner at least once Not completed

Overall, I'd say I broke even. Meh---with #3 & 4 crossed off-I couldn't care less.

Happy Dance

We got it! We got it! We got it!

Yay-we got the house!!! Late last night after some tough negotiations and some frustration presumably on both, but certainly on our side, the deal was done baby! [exhale]

I'm so pleased and relieved and annoyingly happy today I don't know what to do with myself!

Here's how it played out using pretend numbers(as if you care):

Wed. Nov 25:

Went to see 3 listings, our new home was one of them listed at $274,900 (ok-this number isn't pretend, but I'd already included the MLS link)

It was the only one to date that stuck in our head once we left the door

Thurs. Nov 26:

Decide to make a low offer looking for our very quick closing date

Meet with agent and sign up the offer

Fri. Nov 27:

Seller counters price and a closing of 5 weeks later

We go see another house that I quite like

We counter splitting the difference in price keep the Dec 11 closing

Seller counters price but succumbs to our Dec 11 closing

We ask if we can see the property again before making a decision

Sat. Nov 28:

Visit the property with my pops and our agent

Despite a lot of work that needs to be done and an obvious lie in the listing, we decide to split the difference and counter that

Seller is petty and counters the price once again

We agree to accept because it's only a matter of pennies on the mortgage at this point.

Sun. Nov 29:

Sign papers and offer is done-conditional on an inspection

Visit Home Depot and see bargain on new washer & dryer and snag 'em for delivery at our new house

Schedule inspection for Monday afternoon/evening

Mon. Nov 30:

Inspection is basically the pits. There's a lot of work to be done-most of which we knew about, but some of which is new or more immediate/important/severe than we's anticipated.

We're really discouraged, as seen in an earlier post, but decide to basically counter our very original offer.

Tues/Wed Dec 1 (it kind of gets muddled):

Seller counters price

We split the difference and counter that

Seller is petty once again and counters a stupid amount

We fret

We're about to walk, but decide to counter once again, but before we do, our agent speaks to their agent and together decide a price that might be agreeable to both parties. Fine-we offer that.

They accept!

We all dance for joy!

I exhale for the first time in 4 days!

OK, I realize that's annoying to read if you're not me or hubs (well, even if you are it's pretty dry and annoying), but the most important part is....WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!! It's a house we are going to love, a house that is going to need quite a bit of work, money and TLC, and a house that took a lot of stress to get. But it's ours.

We bought a house...but,

don't get your hopes up.

This is the house we put an offer in on, negotiated for a while and eventually agreed & accepted:

I deleted it from our search on exterior esthetics alone, but hubs really liked it and wanted to check it out. What have we got to lose by looking, right? So we went to see it last week along with several others. There are definitely cons to it, but a lot of pros as well. So we slept on it, or more accurately in my case-lay in bed awake thinking about it and our options, and the next day had our agent put an offer in on it.

Through several rounds of negotiations, we got our closing date (happy dance!), and eventually an acceptable price. Conditionall sold! Only financing, insurance and an inspection to go.

Financing-check!
Insurance-check!
Inspection....well, it's done. And it was done well. But there wasn't the greatest news that came from it.

Hubs and I aren't dummies. We like the house, love the area, love the potential of it, but realize it's a bad investment at the originally agreed to price. We were absolutely sunk last night. Everyone around could tell.

But, we decided to offer the sellers a reduced price agreeing that we'd waive the conditions. We're waiting to hear back...and the wait is excruciating.

Here's the sitch:
I'm from a family in construction.
Hubs is from a family in construction.
Hubs IS in construction and has access to many trades.
We're looking for a house that needs some TLC and more.

In my opinion, the price is still very fair, and a big majority of the population (let alone the buying population) would turn around after that inspection and never look back. So, if our agent and the selling agent are doing their job (I know ours is), they'd advise the sellers that these problems are going to come up no matter who they're selling to. Frankly, we're perfect candidates for a house like this. We're not afraid of the WORK, we're afraid of the MONEY needed to complete all the work. I'm confortable stating that most buyers would be afraid of the work for sure.

We told our agent in no uncertain terms-it's the reduced price, or it's nothing. I want that house, but I don't want a money pit at that price.

Anyways, here it is:
(**Disclaimer: We know she's not a beaut aesthetically, just use your imagination as to what some paint, hardwood, nice furniture and some other work can do for it...we certainly have)

Another view of the exterior:

The entrance and powder room door:

The mighty bright living room: (imagine that wall made into a kitchen island opening up the living room, kitchen & dining room...yum!)

The connected dining room:

And half the kitchen:

The family room a half-level up (don't you LOVE that fireplace?):

The master bedroom:

Spare Bedroom #1:And finally the backyard:

Serious potential, huh? Teriffic layout, it just needs us to give it a little beauty makeover (and maybe a bit of plastic surgery around the windows and doors).

Are your fingers hurting from crossing them for us?

:)

That is all. Happy Monday!