Black Belt Mama

Make It Happen

We have one week before we need to ask our builder for yet another contingency extension.  Although I swore I would leave it up to St. Joseph, I can't deny the stress I'm feeling right now.  It's time for this to happen.  If they don't break ground soon, then we won't be in our new home by the time the new school year starts.  With switching schools being traumatic enough, I really don't want to make Big I start school at her new place late.  There are other options here, like her staying with my Mom who lives in that school district, but the most desirable outcome is to be in our new house in August. 

I had a thought today.  I emailed my realtor and told him I'd like to make an offer on my own house.  I'd like to offer $1.  I'll even put 50% of that down in the form of hand money.  Does that count?  Can he now go tell the realtor with the very-interested-but-still-dragging-their-feet-people that there is another offer to make them move?  I'm tired of waiting; these people are killing me and if they think for one second that they're going to get our place at a bargain (which it already is) just because they made us wait, they can forget it.  I'm getting more annoyed with every day that passes and they continue to ask stupid questions that we've already answered previously instead of just putting it in writing.  An annoyed BBM is not likely to be kind with a counter-offer.  An annoyed BBM is not likely to be kind, period.

It baffles me that they won't put it on paper (It also baffles me as to why David Archuleta's ears always seem to be backlit during his performances on American Idol, but that's for another post). When we saw this house, we fell in love. We went one day, saw it for a second time the next day and put an offer in that night.  If they love it as much as they say they do, then put it in writing already!

We're not desperate to move.  In fact, Mr. BBM will tell you that he's quite content to just stay here now that we have a new kitchen floor, new carpet, and a freshly stained deck.  It feels and looks new, especially with the way I've been cleaning and organizing. I, however, don't want to lose my new house, which is right now a grassy lot, a grassy lot where I've already chosen my colors, built my house, moved in, take jacuzzi baths, and have hosted Christmas festivities.  I'm so attached to that lot and my imagined house that I think I will die of jealousy if someone else gets that lot and builds their house on it instead of me building mine.

Verdict

They love our house.  We're their favorite.  Are you sensing a "but"?  Because there is one. 

They are first time home-buyers and they want to see every other possibility in the whole wide world before they decide we are the right house for them.  This does not mean they don't want our house; they do.  They just want to be 100% sure and they can't be if they've only seen eight other properties.  While they continue to peruse the universe, they want to be notified immediately if another offer comes in on our house. 

I might be slightly exaggerating about the number of homes they intend to see; but I am a woman on the edge here.  I am a woman who is seriously sick and tired of vacuuming morning, noon and night and constantly putting dishes and clothes away.  I am a woman on official bed-making strike.  I am done. . .

. . .until we get another call for a showing and then I'll turn right back into Martha again, spelling out "buy me now" in the carpet with the vacuum and baking perfect chocolate chip cookies that the girls aren't even allowed to smell.

In the interest of completely changing the subject so that my breathing can return to normal once again, what does one wear to Tequila Con 2008?  Because I have no idea, and somehow I'm imagining that asking Karl might be a bad idea.

No News is Good News?

No, not a question mark!  No news is good news.  Period. That's my mantra and I'm sticking to it. . .

Oh, who am I kidding? 

Today my stomach has been in knots for the entire day.  We've heard nothing yet.  Nothing.  These people are seriously killing me.  "Killing me softly with no word, killing my house hopes, with no word, killing me softly. . . make an of-of-of-offer."  Yes, I do believe I've lost it.  The cleaning chemical fumes, the stress of it all. . . I'd like to move into a new house at some point but I'll probably just need the crazy house by the time this all happens.  My family will need therapy too, from being yelled at one too many times for messing up my perfect vacuuming lines.

I know your muscles are all cramped up, but if you could just continue to keep crossing your arms, legs, eyes, eyelashes and private parts for luck, I'd really appreciate it.  If you do, I'll buy you a beer at Tequila Con this weekend. I'll need photographic proof of course, that you held up your end of the bargain (eyes, arms, legs and eyelashes only.  Please keep your private parts, well, um, private).  But yes, I'm going to Tequila Con to meet some real live bloggers and that is seriously the only thing that is getting me through this on-edge week.

No news is good news.  No news is good news.  No news is good news.

***To kill the waiting time, head over to The BBM Review to check out the latest reviews and find out how you could win an IPOD Nano!

Fingers, Toes, Arms and Legs

From our spy cove across the street and behind some forsythia bushes, we took note of the time, 6:02 p.m.  That's the time our potential buyers arrived at our house for the third time.  At 6:40 p.m. they finally emerged from the house, walked over to the garage, talked and then took pictures.  They took pictures of the garage.  Either they are going to make an offer or they are cataloging our items so they can steal them.  They stayed until approximately 6:50 p.m., 20 minutes past their scheduled showing time had ended.

I'm going with the first explanation, that an offer will be forthcoming.  Won't you join me in crossing your fingers, toes, arms and legs for luck?  I am on pins and needles.

All Appendages Crossed Fool

We had our third open house today, and I am now collapsed in a heap on the sofa.  I am exhausted, and I'm hoping that we'll soon have an offer.  We had four parties walk through today.  One person stayed for 45 minutes; and all of the people who came through "loved it."  Since our realtor is on vacation, he had another agent sit this open house.  It was nice to hear feedback from another person in the know.  She said that our house is gorgeous and that she thinks it will sell very soon.  She said that the real estate market has really been picking up over the past week or so and it looks like that trend will continue (at least in our area). 

Tomorrow night, we have a third showing.  The people coming through are the same ones who were here the first week we were on the market and after their second showing, they were going to "write it up" when someone in their family got very ill.  Now they're coming back.  They'll see fresh paint, new flooring, new carpet and a deck that looks brand new.  We are hoping that this week will be the week.  If it is, then we'll still be able to get into our new house before the school year starts in September.  If I wasn't so tired from all this cleaning and creating, I'd have every appendage crossed for luck.  It just has to happen and soon. 

There is always something that can be done around the house, so Mr. BBM and I made our own headboard yesterday.  It cost us less than $60 and I think it looks pretty fabulous.  We made it out of plywood, 1' foam padding, that batting stuff you buy in fabric stores and an on-sale curtain from Pier 1.  I think it was the final touch that our bedroom needed. 

Besides touch-ups with the vacuum and keeping things flowing (like laundry and dish washing), I am so done.  Martha needs a rest; I am one house seller who is seriously burnt out.

Because Miss Chris is a long-time reader and blogging buddy and she requested it, I had to take this picture before I sent back this hideous piece of jewelry.  Just call me "Mrs. T." 

I pity the fool who doesn't offer full price for my house!   

The Chocolate Had to GO

This morning, Mr. BBM called me from work at around 10:30 a.m. and asked me what I was doing.  "I'm cleaning," I told him "What else would I be doing?"  We're preparing for yet another Open House.  "Oh yeah, well what have you done?" he asked me. 

He expected it to be a short phone call.

By 10:30 a.m. I had washed, dried, folded and put away two loads of laundry.  I also had all of the "showing" linens in the washer.  I had also dusted and picked up both of the girls' rooms, made all three beds, cleaned up two bathrooms, vacuumed, swept the front sidewalk twice (our tree is dropping all of its flowers and if I don't they all end up in our house), put away dishes in the dishwasher, loaded up the breakfast dishes, reorganized three cabinets in the kitchen and was starting to reorganize the forever multiplying mounds of toys.  I swear the stuffed animals and Barbie dolls are breeding.

It wasn't all bad though. In order to make more room in the cabinets, I ate my body weight in chocolate.  My chocolate stash that no one else knew about is now completely gone.  That's right, gone.  I'm not apologizing for it either.  I burnt those chocolates off by noon anyway.   

Taking out the Pink

On Friday, we had new carpet installed.  I am happy to report that the only pink that remains in this house is on our kitchen counter tops and in our girls' closets.  That is it.  The pink is officially dead.

I had this great post written up about my trip to "Staples" this weekend which is actually code language for the bar at Chili's, but then my computer ate it when it decided to reboot for miscellaneous stupid updates.  Thanks a lot Microsoft.

So, since my creative juices are in need of lunch, I bring you yet another BBMHGTV edition of "Before and After."  Now will someone please buy my house already!?!

Before:

After:

Before:

Before:

After:   

Before:

After:

Potential buyers should take note that if someone offers us asking price, we think we'll counter $5K above. 

***If you missed me on Blog Talk Radio, you can listen to the replay here.  Among our discussion topics: why I won't appear naked on my blog, 100 year old birthday parties, annoying twitter people and more.   

A Pile of Dirt to Call My Own

Last night Mr. BBM and I placed a deposit on our chosen lot.  Mr. BBM is excited/nervous and I am just plain ECSTATIC!  The lot is nice and flat, backs up to common area with a walking trail that goes down to a park.  It is exactly the kind of location I wanted for the girls.  Our Realtor lives about two blocks away and told me that the neighborhood is crawling with little girls and families.

We just sent our list of chosen options to our Realtor.  We'll get price quotes this week and then we'll write up our agreement.  From the time we get a contract on our house, our new home will be ready in about 3.5 months.  The timing is just about perfect, so that we can move in the summer and Big I can meet some kids in the neighborhood before starting at her new school. 

We had a showing last night while we were at our meeting and our Realtor let us listen to the voice mail that the showing agent left for him.  He wanted to know when we want settlement and also if there is any other interest in the house "in case we decide to write it up."  Our Realtor raised his eyebrow and gave a little smile.  This happened exactly 30 minutes after he told the builders representative that our house is going to go fast. 

Last night, Mr. BBM and I put together a spread sheet of options.  We know we're going to probably have to make some cuts.  He was trying to cut out my additional peak on the roof and I was trying to cut out his extra cable outlet.  We almost took it to the basement to settle things the old fashioned way, but I don't yet have my ACL brace so I figured we better not.  Something tells me he's probably right about it costing less for an extra outlet than for an extra peak on the roof. 

It's going to be so exciting, but I'm sure it will be stressful as well.  Choosing carpet, cabinets, flooring colors (not pink), lighting fixtures. . .

I don't think my feet have touched the ground all day though.  I have the Pointer Sisters song "I'm so excited" just playing on repeat in my head.  I am just so thrilled that we're actually going to do this.  Just think how much fun it will be to watch a pile of dirt turn into a new house.  I'm planning on taking all of you along for the ride with us in the coming months. . .   

I know you're not supposed to use blow dryers in the bathtub, but I can totally blog from my new jacuzzi tub right?  Don't worry, I don't plan on taking you along there.