Aug 13, 2007

Score!!!

Saturday morning.

Telephone rings.

Realtor on the other end: “Pack your bags. You’re the owner of a new house!”

WOO HOO! After I got off the phone, I was practically jumping up and down!!! (If you knew me, you'd know I don't get excited about too many things. LOL) The cute little bungalow-style house is on it's way to being mine.

The seller agreed to my latest offer, which was $9900 less than her original asking price (and $2K less than what she paid for the house 3 yrs ago), plus she will be fixing everything listed in the repair rider, plus she’s giving me all the personal property I asked for except for a sofa (The PP was just a bargaining tool), PLUS the seller’s realtor is buying me the 5-star home warranty plan so if ANYTHING needs replaced within the first year, it’s covered except for a one time $75 deductible.

I am proud of how well I did. :-D By the end of September, I will be in my very own home. Yippee Yay!!! *Happy Dancin*

I received a copy of the signed contract and faxed it to my bank to get the financing rolling. All the stuff I had to take out of the basement is now stacked against the wall in the dining room and will stay there until I move. I got a bunch of boxes from my sister to start packing. She’s in the process of moving now.

I need to give notice to my landlord, and don’t really know how to go about it. I’ve rented from them for 6 years. Hopefully, they’ll give me my deposit back! Maybe I’m making more of it than I should, but I dislike conflict.


Here's what people had to say:

Gayle: CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!! That is great news. You will have new neighbors, no more sagas to read about in your blogs. What a shame.

Angie: AWESOME!!! The landlord should give you your deposit back..but who knows...Congrats on your house!!

Selina: woohoo, congrats. That's wonderful news :) Please share some inside
pictures once you move in :)

Sarah W: So happy for you Meari

Betty W: Congratulations, Meari~! I wouldn't worry about the landlord being unhappy that you're moving out .... it's not like you're going to another rental property! I'm sure you'll get your deposit back w/o problem.

Carolyn B: Congratulations!!!!

Sue: WHOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO Meari!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!! There is nothing like owning your own home!!!! I hope your new neighbors are much nicer than the ones you have now!!!!!!

Dee in TN: CONGRATULATIONS, Meari. You deserve this.

Jaunice: WOOHOOOO Congratulations. I bet you are so excited. Have fun in your new house.

Sharyn: How wonderful.........Congratulations on your new home!

Mar: Congratulations Meari! : ) It's so nice knowing you really liked the bungalow so much. So excited for you!!

Petra: ***Squeel**** That's terrific news!! Congratulations!! It's great that you are buying your first home and all the best on the process.

Annette: I second what Petra said! Congrats!

Heidi M: Congratulations! It is soo nice to have your own house. You will love it!

Debra in IN: Meari, that is wonderful news. I am so happy for you.

Nancy M: Congrats Meari!! Always an exciting time when you get to move!! Will hate to see your stories of *nice* neighbors stop though!!!

Tracy W: Congratulations Meari - you must be so excited! I wonder what the new neighbours will be like LOL!

Faith: Congratulations Meari! Owning your own home is a wonderful feeling! I wish you all the happiness in the world in your new home!

Rene: WOOHOO...doing a happy dance for you!!!! I see a cyber housewarming party in our future.

Renee H: Congratulations Meari!!! That's awesome news!!

Tracey: Wow! Congrats on being a new home owner :)

Lisa: Woohoo! Congratulations, Meari!!! You will LOVE owning your own home! Keep us posted!

Donna B: How Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No more grass/mowing issues - nasty neighbors!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Milly B: WOOOOHOOOOOOO...congratulations!

Nancy N: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Pam K: Yey Meari! Congratulations!!! You have every right to be excited and proud of your negotiating!! I hope your move goes well and that you absolutely love your new home!!! Don't put off telling your landlord. They will appreciate all the notice you give them, I'm sure. But do give them a firm date of your move, you may have to wait until you get your closing date. You don't want them to rush you out before you're ready to move! Yey!! I'm happy for you!

Margaret K: Congratulations to you Meari. What a busy and exciting time for you come. Hope you really enjoy your new home.

Lynne M: Congrats on the new house, Meari. Look forward to seeing photos

Cynthia W: Yay...although I am one who will miss the Tale of ATGG....gonna hafta find some other poor blogger with neighbors from Hades... CAUSE it is NOT gonna follow YOU!!

Leslie: That is great Meari, congrats on the new house and even BIGGER congrats on the new neighbors.

Linda in MA: Congratulations Meari! Hopefully yours neighbors will be much nicer.

Melinda H: Congratulations Meari! That is exciting!

Eva: Congratulations Meari!! Hope you can move in soon!

Deborah: CONGRATULATIONS! ! ! I know it has been a rough road for you, but the end is in sight. Appears EVERYTHING is going your way finally. Nobody deserves happiest more than you girlfriend!!

Susan: Congratulations Meari! The best of luck with the new house.

Lavon: That's wonderful news!! I know you'll be happy to get away from your neighbors. :)

Monique: CONGRATULATIONS!!! Wonderful news :) And seems like good timing, since you are having to clean out your basement anyway.

Kathy K: Way to go! Congratulations on your offer being accepted. Especially since you had already started your packing when you were cleaning up after the basement flooding. :) Sounds like you made out on the deal too. I hope that all goes smoothly for you.

Dr Patricia: Congratulations, Meari! Getting to move to your new home should help you freecycle and pitch plenty of stuff! Take care of yourself especially with the sinuses and the flooded basement (MOLD!!!) and the heat (you ARE wearing a mask despite the annoyance and the heat, yes? I don't always take my own advice :-) I'm so excited for you! And just like one of your blog posters said, send a letter (registered, signature required) giving 30 days notice, and try to keep yourself out of your neighbor's way for your last days there.

Julie B: Congrats on your new home Meari. Wonderful feeling isn't it?

Cheryl M: Congratulations! I can’t wait to see pics!!!

Karin: Congratulations Meari!!!!!

Tinna: Congratulation. That is wonderful to you.

Kayle: Meari, I am so thrilled for you Congratualtions!!!!

Elaine H: Big Congratulations Meari!! How exciting for you! We will all miss reading about the neighbors though. :op I think you need to print up all your blog entries about the neighbors and write an Erma Bombeck type book. :o) It would be hilarious and I would buy it! Heck, I'll be your ghost writer! LoL

Cherie: That is soo cool!!! Good luck and great dreams in the new home!!

Diane in UK: Congratulations Meari!!! I moved into my own place last November, and there really is nothing like *really* making a house your own. And for most crafters, it is heaven on earth planning out what you can do and where and how you want to make it!!! As has been suggested on your blog, take photos of before and after. It will really surprise you just how different you can make a home, as you put your own personal stamp on your new home! It sounds as though you got a real bargain there - as long as there is room for your crafting things, of course! That's a definite must! LOL! I wish you all the best, and don't forget to keep us all informed on your progress, both before and after the move. I love hearing about things like this!

Kathie: Congrats, Meari! Here's to better neighbors!

Mare: Congrats Meari! Wishing you all the best as a new home owner.

Josephine: Congratulations Maeri. I'm sure you'll love your new home. I bet you can't wait to move in. I remember how excited I was with my first home and this one too.

Rita: Congratulations, Meari!!!

Marl: Congratulations Meari. I can tell you are excited and also glad to get away from those neighbours. This will be your own to do what you want.

37 comments:

Singular Stitches said...

Congratulations!!!!!! I know exactly how you feel! :o)

I remember when we got the call, seven years later, down to what we were eating!

It was Sunday evening, we were having dinner out on our apartment deck, grilled hamburgers, tater tots and corn on the cob when our realtor called to say our offer was accepted, and could we come in now to sign the papers so it was 'official'? (We were the third couple to see the house and the third offer (the house just went up on the market, too) - we were the only ones who didn't have to sell a house before buying - so you bet we wanted to make it official!) You never saw two people move so fast!

Terri said...

Congratulations! I can only imagine how excited (and a little scared) you must be. I hope you'll share before and after photos of the inside and out. I can't wait to see what you do with the landscaping. Hugs.

Margie said...

Congratulations!

mercy said...

Congrats Meari!
Sounds so exciting, will there be a room for crafting?
Hope your neighbors are dream neighbors and not neighbors from hell LOL.

Alberta said...

That is wonderful news Meari! No more grass wars!

The Teacup Cottage said...

Congrats!!! I can't wait to see pictures. I hope you have lots of fun decorating and getting setted into your new place. Keep us posted!

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS!!! I am so happy for you. Not much longer til you're out & away from your neighbor from hell. Best way to notify your landlord is in writing and be sure to give a 30 day notice.
Barb in TX

Missy said...

Yay! Happy Dancing with you over here! Congratulations. What a deal! Good for you for sticking it out and going for what you want!

: )

Kristy said...

Congratulations on getting the house :)

Sharon said...

Fanatastic news Meari! Congratulations.

glenda said...

How exciting! Congrats on your house purchasing success!

Julie R said...

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! Are you gonna go do the happy dance in front of your neighbor's front door??? ;)

Cindy said...

Congratulations on your great news!

Marita said...

Yay.

::Happy Dance::

I'm so excited for you. Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Big congrats on becoming a homeowner!

Barb. said...

Congrats, Meari! Now the real fun will begin. I can't wait to see pics!

Dawn T. said...

Congrats!! I am sure the time will fly right by and before you know it you will be in your own place:)

Kathy said...

Good for you. You are going to love having your own place and not having to deal with close-by neighbors. Now you will be busy packing. Enjoy!!!

Unknown said...

There is nothing better than owning your own space and knowing you could paint it puce if you wanted to. You might never get around to painting it, but you COULD! Barb is right. Send your notice to vacate to your landlord in writing. This is a legal matter and even if you get along very well, it is always better to document, document, document all possible legal transactions. Reread the section of your contract about the return of the deposit. Do you have to leave things spotless? Is there some allowance for wear and tear? (It has been six years.) What about the damage to your stuff from the flood? Is this at all the landlord's problem?

However this turns out, CONGRATULATIONS. I'm sure you will enjoy being a homeowner! It was worth the wait!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations New Homeowner!!!! I am happy dancing with you!
Sincerely, CarolynM in TX

Anonymous said...

congrats. I can imagine how excited you are :) Keeping my fingers crossed for a smooth move :)

Anonymous said...

Awww, Meari!!! Congratulations, I am soooo glad for you and I feel your excitement!!! Good for you, I wish you the very best! Ok..lets talk about the garden, the craft area, the living room with *your* comfy chair for stitching, where Celeste is going to sleep, what color paint for the rooms, decorating in Meari style,...love that huge pine in the front..and the (you are *due* the deposit PLUS interest over the 6 years you rented...get it!) LYMI :-)
http://memyneedleandi.livejournal.com/

Cheryl said...

That is great news Meari! Congratulations

Anonymous said...

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! This has been YOUR year!! First your degree and now your own home!

You go girl!

Kathy

Sharon said...

Meari -
I am SO happy for you!!! Now you'll have lots of fresh walls to display your lovely XS works!
I know you'll make many wonderful memories in your new home!

Sharon

Carol said...

Yay Meari! Congratulations! On to a new adventure for you!!

Anonymous said...

Yay! Congratulations!!

Nicola said...

That's fantastic news Meari. I hope you'll be very happy in your new home.

Unknown said...

CONGRATS! That is such a cute house and it sounds like you have made out great with the prices and all. :)

Kendra said...

Congrats! Welcome to the world of homeownership...trying at times, but *so* much better when you own your own little piece of ground.

Unless there is a several-month advance move-out notification in your lease, your landlords shouldn't put up a fight about your moving out. They rent property, they've got to assume that a resident isn't going to be there permanently. As for the deposit, check your lease for any specific wording on whether or not you're entitled to some/all of it back. Then go from there.

Best of all...you're getting the heck away from your whack-job neighbors. :-)

Myrna said...

Just super cool!!! Now the fun begins....

:-)

Anonymous said...

Woohoo! That's wonderful! I'm glad you got exactly what you wanted. Enjoy!

stitcherw said...

Congratulations Meari that's wonderful. I know how much you wanted this to work out, and it sounds like it did perfectly. Have fun planning on how you'll set your new place up.
Sue

Anita said...

Congratulations to you. It is great to have a place called "your own" and don't need to deal with landlord. Plus you don't need to put up with the smell of your current basement. Hopefully, your family will give you a hand in packing and unpacking.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Doing the happy dance for you! i know you can hardly wait to get settled in! Congrats big time!

Barb said...

Congratulations! Enjoy your new home!

Erica said...

Coming in late here, but just to add to the furor.....

CONGRATULATIONS!

Nothing beats owning your own home. First thing you should do when you move in - paint one room. That makes it totally yours! :-)

And just think - no one to fight with over how to cut the grass!!!!!!! Yipee!