This past week turned into a week revolving around the old house. We got the sign up in the yard last Saturday while we were gone to Linda’s, and Sunday we had left the house pristine as we left for church. We hoped we would hear and have our first showing on Sunday, but all we had was a phone call setting up an appointment for Tuesday evening at 6 PM to show the house.
The first “fire” call came Monday morning. A realtor lady was ‘in the neighborhood” with clients and wanted to stop by. HELLO! Tim works from home and we are both here, actually living here. As in, I was cleaning, not dressed, had stuff out, etc. We put her off 30 minutes, threw everything in place, got ready and left. As soon as Tim texted her that we were out, she responded back that they had another appointment and would be an hour or more. Well. My goodness, why couldn’t she have told him that to begin with? We wouldn’t have rushed! Anyway, we packed up and went to the library for free wi-fi. She was supposed to text when finished but after 2 hours, we decided to do a drive by and sure enough, no cars. So, our first experience was not great! We got back, got settled in, and Suzanne came over around 4 to visit. She was having a bad day and didn’t want to be alone. Tim got another call, this time from the realty company we are using, but a different agent, asking to show the house around 6:30 PM. So, another lesson learned, a lot of people look around suppertime, so me cooking dinner at home every night is probably not going to work for a few days or a week or so 🙂 Anyway, Suzanne wanted to go with us, so we ended up going to McAlisters to eat supper and hang out. We did another drive by around 7:45 PM but saw the realtor’s cars, so we dropped Suzanne at her car and headed to Dick’s for Tim to shop. About the time we walked into Dick’s, we got a text from the realtor that they were leaving, so we came home not long after. Two in the first day, I wonder is that about normal? We have never sold a house before, so this is an exciting new adventure for Tim and I 🙂
Tuesday, I got up early to start watering. It took me nearly 3 hours to do the front and back yards. We had had an 80% chance of rain on Monday and didn’t get a drop, but no rain in the forecast for a while, so I had to water.(NOTE to self: you are going to love, love, love having the irrigation system at the new house, no more dragging hoses and sprinklers around, LOL!). The grass looks terrible, hopefully that won’t deter any prospective buyers from buying the house. Anyway, after some cleaning, laundry, running the dishwasher and cooking Monday night’s supper for lunch on Tuesday, we had the house ready for any last minute drop-ins. We had a call around 4 PM, and they wanted to show it last minute, so was really glad to be ready. All we had to do was pick up a couple of items, turn the air down and turn on every light in the house! We went up to the new house and stayed until both showings were over. Then back home for a burger and to veg out a bit in front of the tv.
Wednesday morning I got up early to get started on some housework and get a shower. I didn’t think to check my email for a bit but when I did, I was surprised to find an email from Tuesday night, from our realtor, with the first offer on the house! That was fast, as Tim thought it would be. Of course, it was a horrible offer, $10K under what we listed the house for, asking for several thousand in closing costs, carpet and some other items. Talk about lowball! The realtor also said she thinks another offer would be coming in on Wednesday. We had a showing after lunch on Wednesday, so we relocated to the library again. This was a shorter viewing, so we came back after about 40 minutes.
No showings Wednesday night or Thursday. Thursday afternoon, we met the builder’s help guy (Spencer) at the new house to do the punch list. We walked through everything and ended up with a page and a half of nit picky items. Spenser thinks the house will be ready before the closing date, it’s a shame that we can’t move up the date. They do have to put one final coat on the floors, so there will be another window where we cannot get in the house, boo. After the meeting, we swung through Sonic for corn dogs (for me and Suzanne) and a burger for Tim, then came home to watch the Saints final preseason game. Gail and Don arrived at the beach and FaceTimed with us, to show us the great house they are staying in over the Labor Day weekend with some of their kids and grandkids.
Friday, Tim got off work early… his company usually releases them early before a long holiday. He left to go play golf, but before that, we had a text from a realtor that they wanted to show the house between 4-5 PM. I’m really grateful for a couple of hours notice! I left and ran to Walmart and got some shelf liner for the new house and a couple of other odds and ends. I was glad to receive a text to let me know that they were done, and I could come back! I got home, pulled everything back out, changed clothes, and started cooking supper. So, of course, you see where this is going! I got a text from our realtor at 6:10, asking if another realtor could show it at 6:30. Yikes. I’ve never slung food around in a kitchen so fast! I got out at 6:28 and went to Home Goods to wander around and look for things for the new house. They had a ton of fall stuff and Halloween stuff, and not as much general house things as I would have liked. Tim finished playing golf and drove to where I was and we headed back to the house (it had been nearly an hour, with NO word). We found it empty, so we went in and made ourselves at home! I had to then pull out everything I had hidden, wash dishes, and heat up the food.
Now, it’s Saturday morning and this post is soooo boring! I *know* it’s of no interest to anyone but me, and heck, in two years, I probably won’t care one whit. But today, this week, it’s been an interesting week, so I wanted to document it. It’s Saturday morning, Tim is at the golf course and I’m enjoying some peace and quiet. I wonder if today we’ll have any surprise showings? I will start a new post, to get us through the long Labor Day weekend!