Archive for the ‘Economy’ Category

Stumbling Block


2010
03.24

Day 86 - 5 days to go!

 

My house is almost empty. These movers are super efficient. We’ve used them before and just love these guys. They have one POD so neatly packed, to the top! They still need to attack the large pieces, bedroom furniture, couches, etc. Then, tomorrow, the home office.

 

As far as the sale of this house goes… Well, we’ve run into a few snags. Come on… Didn’t we all know there would be snags.

 

Two nights ago was our last night in the house. We were about to be celebrating with the tenderloins I had marinating in the fridge and the bottle of red just waiting to be uncorked. The next day would be filled with moving all the stuff we need to survive for a few months, the kids and the dog to the in-law’s. The movers were coming on wednesday (today) and we were suppose to be closing on monday. All was in the works.

 

Just before the steaks were to go on the grill we received word that out buyers aren’t happy with what we have done regarding the home inspection. Really? Hmmm. They wait til now to tell us this!?! We remediated the mold, we fixed the broken heat pump, we had the oil guy come and give recommendations on the oil that strangely appears on the wall by the oil tank, but they want more. There were a total of eleven issues they wanted us to address regarding the home inspection. I think they actually expected us to take care of each and every one! Who does that? But we did what we could afford, addressed all “health and safety” issues, and we’re done!

 

It seems their biggest issue is the subfloor in the master bedroom, it kind of bounces in one place when you walk over it. Now, I have ran on this floor, exercised on it, put furniture on it all with no problem, but they would like it fixed. I think it’s just not nailed down properly to the joist under the floor, or it has come unnailed over time. Either way, I say get out your own damn hammer and fix it.

 

Our biggest issue is the fact that we are planning on moving… like NOW! If these people decide they don’t want the house, well, hell… I don’t want to move in with the in-law’s. I… and I’m sure they, would rather us stay here. Plus we’ve already paid for the PODs that are in my driveway, a deposit on the movers, a mold inspection at the new house (that we won’t be buying if we can’t sell this one), and we have scheduled cancelations of BGE, the phone, DirecTv and the alarm company. We have even gone to the extremes of scheduling an installation of high speed internet at the in-law’s so we can work. Oh, my what a mess…

 

Wow! What a way to ruin a beautiful evening and dinner. So, we were thinking of calling their bluff. They must have movers lined up too, right? And really, I don’t think we are being unreasonable. We did the necessary fixes. Come on… Nothing is perfect. No, you get no more money from me! Buy it or don’t buy it, I just need to know ASAP! If they screw us my husband will not rest til someone pays for all the expenses we have accrued to be able to be out of here by closing. He basically told our agent to tell them they don’t know who they are fucking with, but I’m sure our Roxie would never use that kind of language with their agent.

 

In the end we caved, ever so slightly. We had our contractor come by and take a look, just to make sure we were right about the floor and the building won’t be caving in on the new residents. And he confirmed what we thought all along, a few screws and nails and we’d be all set. In any other situation, I’d grab the hammer myself, but, no, I’d have to have some kind of receipt that a licensed contract took care of it. So the guys are coming by on Thursday to screw my floor! So, I’m pissed that we caved and are forking out more money to sell this place. But the alternative scares the shit out of me, and that would be they hire some hard-up structural engineer who’s business has been really slow lately due to the economy and he recommends to them that they need a whole new floor system and support beams.

 

Well, my house is half empty and we still don’t know if we are solid and going through with the sale. God willing, signatures will come.

Selling Now? Are You Crazy?


2010
01.13

Day 17 - Agent preview at 2:00 for a potential “out of town” buyer.

 

Why are you selling your house now? Well, let’s see… The ECONOMY! Yes, the recession and all of it’s woes have finally caught up with us! We are self-employed and the work has started to dry up. It’s not like we get a steady pay check here. We live, client-to-client, job-to-job. Until 2009 we were doing quite well living that way. Now, no one is looking to hire us. And damn it! We are good at what we do! If the world had money, we’d have work! So here we are in 2010, the credit cards are maxed, the savings is gone, spending is down to a minimum, “Provisions are running low, I’m down to my last carrot… Something’s gotta happen pretty soon.”  You don’t understand, I’m almost ready to cancel my Directv… and I need my mindless television!

 

So we are selling our house, oh, let’s say…to stay one step ahead of the bank. :) The logic for selling is, crossing my fingers here, we can pay off the mortgage, the home equity line, one credit card and hopefully still have a small down payment on a new, albeit less expensive and smaller home.  Thus saving us, in my estimation, approximately $13,000 per year. Yeah, Dreamin BIG.

 

You see, we bought our current house in the spring of 2007 for a whopping price that I’m sure this house won’t see again for another 10 years. Yes, we bought at the TOP of the market. How f—ing stupid were we? The good thing about that is, we’ve done this before… selling a home I mean.  And there is no way this time around could ever be as big a nightmare as the last one… Oh, God… I hope not.