TGIF

OK. At this point I can't remember everything that happened. So, we shall just sum up the week.

As of this evening, my house is entirely packed up. 5 PODS. They are scheduled to be picked up July 4th, including the 6th POD that I didn't end up using. (2 PODS are already picked up because when I had the last two delivered, they got two.)

I have vacuumed the whole house, cleaned both bathrooms and Jon-David cleaned up the garage. Tomorrow I will clean the kitchen and steam clean the carpets.

I haven't heard anything from the mortgage company or Ms Nelson, buyer's real estate agent. I didn't close Thursday (obviously), and I have no idea of when/if I'll close.

My belongings are spread all over the place. I'm not even going to start looking at houses to buy again until the house is officially sold.

I still have a long list of things to do next week, and I plan on making my list and organizing my schedule this weekend!

Oh, HP offered the job to Kurt, country boy from Arkansas, and I think he accepted.

I've officially lost all sense of time

And, the problem with that is that I get totally behind on the damn blog. Ok, so last time we checked in with our heroine, she was in Austin visiting her big sister. Jon-David and I took a bunch of Haley's stuff that she left at Mom and Dad's when she came through. The pool is lovely, the stream and pond are delightful. Everyone should go visit Fran.

When I got back I had to immediately start dealing with the arrival of the PODs (to store all of my belongings). I had three delivered, got another one on Tuesday when I realized I didn't have enough space, and two more are on their way today for a grand total of six. I have GOT to downsize.

Monday night I got Chuck (friend and computer genius that keeps all my computers at work functioning) and his roommate to come help load up the PODS with Jon-David and I. They were all beasts! Jon-David did damage to himself but kept plugging for quite a while which was probably a mistake.

I went to pick up Mimi from the airport at about 9pm. I got back at about 11:00, and the guys left at about 1am. 3 PODS were filled, although I still had a lot left in the house and garage. The washer wasn't packed because it still had water in it, so Chuck and Bruce ended up with my washer and dryer because Chuck's parents had a storage unit that he could leave them in.

I also had to deal with the appraisal issue. Turns out if the appraisal comes in at $188,000, and I think it is crap, no one actually cares. Hateful. After several frustrating calls to the appraiser, title company and mortgage company of the buyer, the buyer's real estate agent called the mortgage company, and they allowed me to send them the comps that I had found that were more in line with what I think the house should sell for. They then foward the comps to the appraiser to review (After several false starts etc - they didn't actually get sent until Thursday afternoon).

Monday I got an email from MaryBeth that I needed to make reservations for the last night in Japan because I had to be able to show the credit card that made the reservation when I checked in. Make it for August 7th since I leave August 8th. Makes sense right? Of course, so I immediately made it for the night of the 8th. MaryBeth points out perhaps I made a boo-boo. I call Holiday Inn (those toads) and they say, bummer, you'll just have to buy another night. I start crying and hang up. MaryBeth (that angel) says, why don't you let me try to take care of this. Which she does.

Who will be my buddy?

Mr Cates called me on Thursday about a potential newspaper adviser. He's a guy from Arkansas. Sounds like a nice guy, has newspaper and teaching experience. I talked to him for a little bit answering his questions about the position etc. He interviewed with Mr. Cates this morning at 10am. We'll see what happens with that.

OK, so I've been leaving some things out . . .

Mildly awkward and I'm not sure of how to begin. I'm madly in love with Jon-David, and I always have been. If I got to choose a guy out of a line up, I would not choose the one with crap loads of baggage and commitment issues. However, as it turns out I did choose him a long long time ago, and the truth is I still would choose him over any other guy. Yes, he is a jack-ass. Hell, even his mother knows that. BUT he is my jack-ass. I haven't found a guy yet that isn't a jack-ass in some way.

At any rate, all of that to say, that Jon-David called me at the beginning of June, and, it is true, for the second time said that he wanted to marry me, etc etc. No, I didn't include any of it in the blog for two reasons. 1. I wasn't that certain myself that he would really be able to pull through this time and 2. I didn't want to have to deal with the pressure of all of these people that love me watching him/me with an eagle eye towards every move.

Maybe I am just being sucked in, but I don't think so. All I ask is that one and all trust me. I trust me. I think I've done pretty well in my life. Give him a chance too. He really does make me happy. He gets me in a lot of ways that no other guy ever has. And I get him. Maybe that's why I have a high tolerance level for his crap. I get it. If you love me, then love me enough to trust me. Trust God. He has his eye on me. He told me so.

At any rate, Jon-David has been wonderful through this whole stressful awful process. And it's just silly to edit him out at this point, especially since I'm staying at his mom's house till I go to Japan. . . . ok, read the next blog for more detail there.

Adventures in home selling part II . . .

I checked my messages this afternoon at about 4pm on my way down to Austin. I had a message from about 11:00am from the buyer's real estate agent. She tells me the appraisal on my house came in at 188,000. She would email me a copy of the appraisal and gosh, what do I want to do?

Seriously, my Karma is totally screwed up at the moment. Right after the house sold, the CentralShowing Service showed an APPRAISAL being done on my property, so that was weeks ago. . . Under the advice of BK I am ignoring all issues this weekend. I'm not dealing with any of it. Worst thing that happens, I get to keep $2000.00 (from his earnest money), and I still have a place to live since I haven't found another house!

Misadventures in Selling homes . . . Part I

OK, so in case some of you didn't know here is some background on this part of my adventures.

Some of the double pane windows in the house have lost their omph. There is some fogging between the panes. I get a guy's number and call him out to give me an estimate . . ."After hours Ass" (ok, so I left out the gl - sue me, it's much more appropriate as you will soon see.)
The estimate is for $1300 to replace X number of windows. There isn't anything signed, I just say ok, call me when you are ready to install them.

I talk to Fran immediately afterwards and decide I really don't want to pay that much, I can't afford it, I'll cancel the bathroom window replacement for sure. I call the Ass within 30 minutes of his leaving my home. I ask him to please cancel the bathroom window order. He replies that he has already placed it. I ask him to please call and cancel. He calls me back and says gee I couldn't get them, I'll give you a good deal. I say no, I really can't afford to do those. He says no, no, I'll give you a good deal. Whatever. I ask you, what am I supposed to do at this point? I've already said no, I told him I needed to cancel. He can't force me to buy these things right?

I don't hear from him for another week. He calls to schedule a time to install. I say, I'm not prepared to do that right now, the inspection is the next day yada yada. He gets irate, tells me that he ordered these especially for my windows etc etc. I tell him that I certainly didn't know that, but when I tried to cancel the order within 30 MINUTES it was too late, so why would I call again days later?

I received certified mail today from After Hours ASS that he has put a mechanics lien on my house for $1300!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE HAS GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, now I have to contact Collin County whatever first thing Monday morning to try to get it removed. Apparently he is counting on it make it to closing, the $1300 gets pulled from my take and I have no choice - he makes $1300 for doing nothing. Grrrrrr. More later.

Misadventures in Home buying . . . part 2

Well, made the offer on the house on Santa Clara. My poor real estate agent received a reply from the seller's agent that went something like this . . .

"BK, I appreciate your offer on the Santa Clara property. Lots in this neighborhood are selling for $130,00 to $150,000. Mr. and Mrs. Bova does (sic) not consider your client's offer is in good faith so have chosen not to answer it. If she seriously wants to purchase teh house, they will look at a fair offer. If it is a problem of not seeing the value, I will be happy to provide comps to you. If it is a problem of not being able to afford more for a house, there is one across and down teh street a few doors that is priced closer to what you have offered the Bova's or perhaps she should look in Casa View. If it is a problem with just wanting to steal a house, we can't help you. Mike."

Yikes! So, I tried to write a concilatory reply - it won't go through. However, so you in internet land don't think I am "stealing a house" these are the houses I compared this 864 square foot house with no a/c and in need of a roof . . .
1. list price $177,500 1548 sq ft $114.66/ sq ft
2. $171,900 1394 sq ft 123.31
3. $169,900 1330 sq ft 127. 74 no a/c
4. $162,500 1204 sq ft 134.97
5. $149,500 1500 sq ft 99.67 no a/c

Real estate agents are insane.