Things have been going smoothly this past week on the homebuying front. I had some competition for the Aberdeen house I bid on, but came out on top with sound guidance from my agent. Whew! First major hurdle cleared.
The funny part is, this is the most modern house I’ve considered — and yet it’s the oldest. The first one (with the clawfoot tub) was built in 1908. The second one (with the loft bedroom) went up in the teens. This one (we’ll call it the one with the copper sink) is circa 1905!
You’d never know that walking through it, though, because the current owner did a complete renovation. Kitchen, appliances, flooring, windows, paint — everything is new, and nice quality. The only obvious hints of its age are several two-prong electrical outlets (only about half of the house has upgraded wiring) and the built-in shelving that was popular back then. (I will never understand why that went out of style.)
After my offer was accepted on Wednesday, the next step was scheduling the inspection to ensure there were no hidden (and potentially deal-breaking) flaws. My awesome agent, knowing my time crunch, managed to set it up just two days later.
“She’s got good bones,” the inspector declared, noting several easily fixable issues. Second major hurdle cleared. It’s a good thing, too, because I was all out of fingernails and chocolate to nibble on.
Still, with repairs to be done by the seller and an appraisal to follow, it’s not looking like I’ll get the keys before my mandatory May 1 move-out date. My landlord was kind enough to grant me permission to use the double garage as storage for my stuff during the interim period, so I’ll still only have to move once — though I will have to couch-surf for a week or two until the sale closes. (All good; I have accommodations lined up.)
And so, with everything falling into place, I started making up lists and schedules for the packing and moving process. I do that because it helps me stay organized and focused. It also ensures that I don’t procrastinate or become overwhelmed: Once the to-do list is created, I can organize the tasks and spread them evenly across the time I have. This practice has saved my sanity on many occasions — and kept me from forgetting Very Important Things.
I was heading for home, literally and figuratively. I had everything under control again. Life was good.
And then, on Saturday, I got the dreaded phone call: Mom’s health was fading, and the time had come for the family to gather in Virginia.
It’s amazing how quickly your brain can shift from Drive to Neutral, and how long it takes to get back into Drive from there. After a few hours going back and forth between sobs and numbness, I got on the phone with my brothers, my son and my dad, and together we made a plan. Then I made some more calls and texts and made some more plans to allow that plan to happen.
My real estate agent has me covered as far as the house goes, and we’ll stay in contact as the process continues. My current home and my furballs will be well taken care of, thanks to good friends. My job will be covered, thanks to an understanding editor and fantastic co-workers.
And I’ll be back when it’s time to come back.
Kat Bryant is lifestyle editor of The Daily World. Reach her at kbryant@thedailyworld.com or on Facebook at Kat Bryant-DailyWorld.
