Preparing our house for sale was one of our biggest hurdles. We had been working on it slowly, systematically purging, packing, and painting room by room. Eventually, the only items left were those we actively used. Our goal was to present the house in its best possible light and have it vacant. While this carried the risk of squatters, the inconvenience of Rick and the cats having to leave every time there was a showing was far greater. Plus, an empty house felt much more spacious. Cat's sister and brother-in-law graciously allowed us to park our camper in their backyard, which became our temporary home until our move to Tennessee.
The final month was utterly exhausting. Our initial target was to list the house by April 1st, but that proved unattainable. We'd complete a few tasks only to discover several more awaiting us. We began to doubt if we'd ever get it on the market. We contacted our realtor, a childhood friend of Cat's who had also assisted her in purchasing the house. Not only were we striving to finish the house, but he was also navigating some personal challenges, making the entire process a delicate balancing act.
Finally, on the 18th, he came over to finalize the paperwork and take photographs. Setting a price was challenging, as the market had significantly shifted since the purchase. On Saturday morning, around 10 AM, the house was officially listed. It didn't take long for it to garner numerous views, and showings were quickly scheduled. One of those showings later that evening led to exciting news: a full-price offer was on its way. We were both floored and shocked. Unfortunately, the offer arrived late, so we officially received it around 10 AM the following morning. It was a solid offer, and we immediately accepted.
Now came the hardest part: waiting for all the due diligence. As per the contract, closing was set for on or before May 30th. The inspection came back, with the buyers requesting $2500 off the price for gutters. Given the house's condition, this was more of a want than a need. Knowing there was significant interest in the property, we weren't concerned if they walked away. We firmly declined their request, but their strong desire for the house led them to proceed. Next up was the appraisal, which came back favorably. Now, we just awaited underwriting approval.
When a tornado ripped through the Battle Creek area, we panicked, fearing damage to our house. We headed over the next morning to find only some small debris, which we quickly cleared. Fortunately, there was no damage, just a temporary power loss.
We contacted our realtor for a progress update and received a call back later. They had scheduled closing for the 23rd at 4 PM, seven days earlier than anticipated! We arrived at closing and signed all our documents. The buyers were closing elsewhere, so we had to wait. We hoped to deposit the check at the bank before it closed. It was just after 5 PM when we finally had the check in hand and headed out. Fortunately, Cat remembered that the bank holding her Jeep loan was still open. She needed to deposit the money somewhere, as a hold would be placed on it, and with the pending weekend and holiday, everything would be delayed. Advia allowed us to deposit the check and even paid off the Jeep for us. The remaining balance is being held, which we were perfectly fine with. The money will be available just before we leave for vacation on June 7th, our last prepping trip before the big move. Our storage container will arrive when we are there, providing a place to unload the U-Haul upon our arrival.
By the way, we celebrated this significant milestone with burgers and sparkling cider at home. What a huge weight off our shoulders!
Remember Small Steps Get You Miles
Rick & Cat
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