We just got back from our pre-closing walk-through of the house. Boy, oh boy do you see the house with different eyes when it's yours!
The sellers had the house cleaned, including the carpet. But five years, two kids, and several animals will do a number on carpet that no cleaning company can undo. It will be fine for now because it's good quality carpet, but I have a feeling that new flooring will be our first big expenditure.
They left random crap around that we will need to pick up and throw away. Anyone need a leopard print shower curtain? No? How about bullets? Yes. They left bullets. What the hell do we do with those?
The kids' rooms need major attention. We knew that we would paint the walls, but we noticed writing and stickers on the doors. Do we paint the doors or get new ones? Probably paint, right?
Now that all the furniture is out of the house, we really noticed how much touch-up painting needs to be done. So, do we touch it up or just re-do it little by little? And won't that be a bear once all of our furniture is in?
Lots of little things: loose door knobs, bent vent covers, showers that need to be de-molded and re-caulked, weeding and mulching of the landscaping, sod or seed the spot where the playset was...
I've had about 17 mini anxiety attacks in the past hour and a half. Add to that the fact that the moving to do list playing through my head didn't let me go back to sleep after I woke up at 3 AM, and you have an idea of the pleasant person Jon is living with right now.
But he is so calm. And excited. And that helps me look at all the good stuff.
We get to move out of our crummy plastic duplex with no basement and bedrooms on the second floor (in the middle of tornado country).
We get to leave this crummy back yard that doesn't have anything but weeds and dirt in it, is enclosed by a chain-link fence that we have to rent, and has a 10' square patio that fits nothing except a grill.
We get to leave a neighborhood in which 75% of our neighbors and the people who drive by (at 5:30 AM and 11:30 PM) have jazzed up cars with super loud mufflers and radios. How old do I sound right now? Wait. don't answer that.
We get to leave this kitchen. Too many things wrong there to list...
And what are we getting?
We're getting a solidly constructed home with lovely landscaping, a sprinkler system, a wood deck, and a privacy fence in the back yard.
Pella widows. Wood blinds in the bedrooms.
A dining room.
Room for guests - lots of guests - in the beautifully finished basement.
Bright and cheerful eat-in kitchen with ample cabinet space that opens up to a living room.
A pretty little park across the street.
And much, much more.
Maybe I should print this post out for reference when I'm freaking out this next week during the move. It might serve to calm me.
And for that Jon would be ever so grateful.
I am so excited for you- and all those things are little. Annoying? yes, but they are little and you can tackle them as you go. If you are sure you are going to paint, I'd do it before the furniture is there, at least the 'important' rooms, but that is just my 2 cents!
Can't wait to see it and CONGRATS!!!
Posted by: Tucker | June 23, 2009 at 01:34 PM
I had to laugh about the bullets, since our house is probably going to be like that for the next owners -- I blame the thieving cats!
Tucker's right about the small stuff. You can get to when you get to it, and in the meantime, you have a lovely home to live in. Congratulations!
Posted by: Bette | June 23, 2009 at 01:49 PM
Yes, breathe. In...out...in...out....there now don't I...er, I mean, *you* feel better?
:) Good luck!
Posted by: Meryl | June 23, 2009 at 02:14 PM
I'm ready for my visit!
Posted by: April | June 23, 2009 at 08:18 PM
Oh, this is getting exciting. I would have to agree with the paint the main rooms quickly before the furniture gets in.
You may notice the little things, but they are just little things. How wonderful to be getting out of the military housing. After our 3 year stint on Bolling AFB, I can so relate to your comments.
Enjoy.
Posted by: Tami | June 23, 2009 at 09:43 PM
paint. NOW. before the boxes, the family, the furniture. One quick coat will make Such a difference! the doors - paint if you like, and then start going to recycle building products places and find some funky older doors.
Yay! I'm so happy for you!
LAW
Posted by: liberal army wife | June 24, 2009 at 05:42 AM
These are all the reasons we bought while stationed in Nebraska....and they didn't even have those new plasic boxes built when we got there..they were the old falling apart ones. Anyway I looooooved owning my own home. I loved the well thought out kitchen, I loved the fruit trees in the yard, I loved my beautiful finished walk out basement. I loved the Pella windows. Ohhhh how I miss my house. You are going to be so happy...and the best part...it's YOURS.. so if you can't live with the carpet, YOU have control over the situation.
Posted by: Mary Alice | June 24, 2009 at 06:06 AM
Uncle Phil will take the bullets!! Just focus on the positive, make a list and prioritize. And ENJOY.
Posted by: auntie mj | June 24, 2009 at 09:02 AM
I'm very, very excited for you! Nothing like owning your own space, no matter how big or small or it what condition...it's yours and you can do anything with it you want.
I would also vote for painting now...it's much, much easier to paint without having to move things around.
Hope your move goes smoothly!
Posted by: Sara | June 25, 2009 at 09:59 AM