Moving must be a lot like childbirth

We finally moved into our new home this weekend! It's strange, because even though we're in, it doesn't quite feel like it's really ours yet. Maybe because everything is new - new furniture, new sheets, even new food (now that I'm shopping at a different grocery store, I have to adapt to their offerings).

It occured to me last week and this weekend that moving must be a lot like childbirth. It seems like a great idea until you've packed your 85th box, and then you realize that this was the worst idea ever. But by then, it's too late to do anything about it. And then you have to unpack all the boxes you just packed. And you have stuff lying around for days. And somehow, five years later, you forget all the pain and agony of moving and you want to do it all over again. And it seems like a good idea until you've packed your 85th box....

In short, I'm never moving again and I'm never having kids. Unless someone comes and it does it for me (the moving and the kids).

I really love our house and can't wait until all the furniture finally arrives and we get everything settled and decorated the way we want. My goal is to be live-in ready by the Christmas holidays. We'll see how I do!

My favorite birthday present? A new house.

It's official...Scott and I are finally homeowners! I felt like a celebrity this morning, with so many people wanting my signature.

And, to celebrate, I'm finally posting a a few pictures of the house. We're really excited and Scott is already talking about what kind of lawn mower he wants to buy from Lowe's. For my part, I've made friends with the folks at Pottery Barn. I really should get a part time job there to help pay for all our too-near-in-the-future purchases.

We're celebrating my birthday in the new house (get your mind out of the gutter). Since all our furniture to date has been either hand-me-downs or cheap buys (which have all done their part well), we need to get all new furniture. So we have a date with some newspaper, measuring tape and scissors, to cut out furniture shapes and arrange them in the room. Happy 28th to me! :)

That being said, if anyone feels so inclined to send money as a housewarming gift, you can use our current address. We also accept PayPal.

Cheers to new homes and lots of debt! It's the American way, right?

The quickest negotiations...ever

We gave an offer on the house around 1:30 pm. We received a counter at about 3:00 pm. Scott and I discussed a counter at 3:15 pm. They called to confirm at 4:00 pm.

Scott and I are officially under contract with a house and are super excited! Just one step away from true home ownership. To celebrate, we did a Tour de Pottery Barn et Restoration Hardware, just to get some ideas.

The home inspection will hopefully take place next week. Barring any catastrophe, we'll close on August 17th! All these years of tearing out pages from home furnishings catalogs will hopefully pay off.

Today was definitely a lucky day. I don't know...the number 7 just may trump my lucky number 22!

Round Two begins

Scott and I put an offer on a house today. This will be our second offer since, as you may remember, our previous offer on another home got rejected. (As a side note, that house still hasn't sold yet, confirming our judgement that the house is overpriced and the sellers are being stubborn).

I'm hoping the stars align on this new house. I had an appointment on Friday to go by to look at the house we got rejected on, trying to decide if we wanted to put in another bid and open negotiations with the sellers again. Our agent happened to find another home that just went on the market that day and suggested we run by to look at it.

It's really almost perfect. It's everything we want in a home - big, remodeled kitchen with granite countertops, master bedroom bathroom, great entertainment area, cute yard, in the area of Raleigh we wanted to live. It will need a little TLC - there are some things we'll need to do to make it cozier and more up to our tastes. But structurally, everything is there; anything we do will just be cosmetic and require some minor contracting work.

So we made an offer. Really, we gave them asking price, since we felt they were fairly pricing the home and we really felt like this was a steal. Every other time, we've stumbled across a house after it had been on the market a few hours, only to find it was already snatched up. I'm hoping - praying, really - that, this time, we're the ones who are doing the snatching.

After all, it is 7/7/07. That's got to account for some luck.

Rejected

Our offer on the house was countered. We then counter-counter offered. And they rejected it. Which leaves us home-less.

I really had my heart set on that house. Scott seems to think that the fat lady hasn't yet sung...something about a strategy on their part. I think not only has the fat lady sung, she has left the stage. Although I do tend to get a bit fatalistic when my dreams have been crushed into a fine, chalky powder.

We'll see and I'll keep you posted.

In other news...my friend, Martha, has told me she is pregnant! Yay for new babies! Boo for not telling me for SIX MONTHS!! Just because I live on the other side of the country doesn't give you an excuse not to spread the good news. At least it's just in time for our 10 year high school reunion next weekend. Can't wait to see the look on everyone's faces! And I can't wait to see pregnant Martha! :)

Off to the races!

Scott and I put our first ever offer on a house today! It's a bit exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. We really like the house - it has tons of charm, lots of what we're looking for, and just a great vibe - but we think the sellers are asking way too much for it. Even their agent admitted, in his own way, to our agent that he advised them to list it for less.

So we offered what is truly a fair price, but it's way lower than what they are asking. I'm just hoping that they see the light and realize that they really want to give this house to a young, deserving, loving couple. Because that's what it's all about, right? Not how much you get for a house, but who's going to take it from you.

Wish us luck...we hope to hear something soon!