Okay, folks, this home-buying thing is getting really frustrating.
Remember the 110-year-old house I was dead-set on having last week? The one with the art deco kitchen and the massive master suite and the clawfoot tub?
Sadly, that gorgeous beast is no longer a possibility. I had to pull my bid after learning the lender would never OK the loan unless a couple of major improvements were made by the seller before closing. (Never mind that I intended to repaint the place and bulldoze the dilapidated garage after I moved in.) So I was forced to say farewell and move on to the next thing.
On Thursday, I made an offer on my second choice: a very nice and slightly younger house with more modern updates, also in Hoquiam. It was quite lovely, with a loft bedroom, a fenced yard for the doggies and tons of storage space.
But that was not meant to be, either. It had too many electrical and plumbing issues — not only because it was a century old, but also because the do-it-yourselfer who owned it had made things way too complicated with his repairs. After a couple of offers and counter-offers, I walked away. So, once again, it was on to the next thing.
On Monday morning, I went to look at a completely renovated old house in Aberdeen with a good-sized yard, two large bedrooms and an absolutely breathtaking kitchen. We’re talking stone countertops, attractive cabinets, high-end modern appliances (including a gas stove) and — be still my heart — a deep, hammered-copper sink.
Being an Arizona girl, I love me some copper, but I never expected to see it used like that here in Aberdeen. Wow.
I want to be optimistic about this one, but they already had at least one offer in before mine. So I’m trying (with very little success) to rein in my excitement.
Making that even more difficult is my tight timeline: I have to be out of my current home by May 1, because the owner wants to prepare it for sale. It has suited my needs this past year, but it’s not a place I want to invest in for the long term; so it’s on to the next thing.
I just hope I can find that next thing before it becomes necessary to move all of my stuff twice: first into storage, and then into a new home.
Helping to calm my nerves during this quickie quest is my own personal dream team:
• A seasoned Realtor with a great sense of humor.
• My boss, who’s been extremely understanding when I need to take an extra hour here and there to look at houses.
• My son, who’s living with me temporarily and preparing to do a lot of heavy lifting.
• My dearest friend on the Harbor, who’s offered up his extra bedroom in case I need temporary lodging.
• My brothers in Seattle, who are well-versed in the home-buying process and the inevitable problems that crop up.
• My folks back East, who are contributing moral support, up-front finances and their experience-based wisdom.
No way I could do any of this without them all.
Onward!
Kat Bryant is lifestyle editor of The Daily World. She hopes the next thing will be the last thing. Reach her at kbryant@thedailyworld.com or on Facebook at Kat Bryant-DailyWorld.
