The big check

Today we go the bank and drain our account.

Tomorrow hopefully we sign a bunch of stuff and then we own our new house. Tomorrow we also start the refinancing process, because dealing with two mortgage lenders isn't enough for us.

Wednesday the electrician starts taking out the ancient wiring and completely replacing it.

This weekend we pack.

Next week we move.

This whole process would be a little stressful but mostly exciting if we could just sell our current house. It's been on the market for three months, many dozens of people have come to see it, and we haven't received a single offer. We've reduced the price multiple times and it's currently at the lowest price I'm comfortable with (but talk to me in two months when the anxiety turns into panic). Lots of potential buyers have complained about the neighborhood, and I can't blame them. The next door neighbors have an overgrown yard and a driveway full of trash, there's an active construction site across the street, there are cars parked all over the sidewalk, and the street is so narrow that you have to pull over if a car is coming in the opposite direction. Frankly, we would probably just make do in our current house if the neighborhood were nicer. The second most common complaint is from older people looking to downsize. They don't like the stairs. Why are they looking at a split level, anyway? Then there are all the people with unique complaints -- driveway too slanty, not enough privacy on the deck, worried that the basement window will be blocked by snow (?). The common thread is that there's nothing we can do about it.

We're trying to focus on what's ahead, but it's hard when we can't quite leave the past behind.

Anyway, unless something goes horribly wrong on closing day, I promise to make this my last complaining-about-real-estate post for at least a few weeks. At least, unlike the two-hour long phone calls with that friend who's always whining about how her boyfriend won't commit, you can just skip over these repetitive worry posts.

Meanwhile, maybe I'll take K's marketing suggestion: write in chalk all over the sidewalk "BUY OUR HOUSE, PLEASE."