The past week has been rife with fuckups and more stress than anyone should rightly have to handle. It started with financial institutions screwing up fund transfers and me being couriered a cheque the day after $45,000 was supposed to be wired into my account. It went downhill from there.
It got so bad that on Tuesday, the high point of my day was dealing with the TWO flat tires on my wife’s car. I don’t know how low the low point was, but it was pretty damn rotten low. Newly discovered damage, sellers screaming at me why I had called off the sale (when I hadn’t), yada, yada.
So low, that even though we closed Wednesday, I have yet to feel any real jubilation. I’m still recovering from being pushed beyond my limits.
Being called into work, even though I booked the week off, has barely even registered on the stressometer-mat. The painters will take 5 days longer than scheduled, giving me one, maybe two days to clean before the physical move takes place? Yawn.
But, I am a homeowner. I’ve got my own place, the walls are starting to look the right colours, on Saturday I pick up a couple of loveseats to go in my den, and tomorrow I’ll get more sleep.
I will recover from the emotional exhaustion. And this weekend, I will celebrate.
I’ve wondered what it would be like buying a house right now, trying to sell one too, what with all the credit induced trauma in the market and price fluctuations. I hope that if this did have an impact on you, that it was either minimal or worked in your favor.
Well, since you are a Barbarian, your house must be one of the following:
[list=A]
[li]A horsehide tent[/li][li]A rudely built stone castle/fortress[/li][li]A Hovel™ (produced by Hovel Industries, of Provine California)[/li][li]A Pillaged Palace, seized from a higher, more civilized, people.[/li][li]A Long Hall, suitable for feast, drinking & wenching (mead, haunches of beef & wenches not included)[/li][li]A Yurt.[/li][/list]
D/E. I’ve got a 36", six-burner commercial gas stove, two built-in charcoal BBQs (one for the balcony, one for the patio), and I decided I didn’t really need the second kitchen, so I yanked out the second stove. But I did keep the second restaurant-style fridge and the double sink to have a bar.
My kitchen table shoudl be ready next month. It’ll sit 8 comfortably, but if I add the leaf and some skinny chairs should handle 12-14 people.
Congratulations! I had a Realtor from hell when I bought my place, but, while buying it was a hassle, owning it is a great feeling. I still remember walking around the place thinking, “Mine!” “Mine!” and having the wonderful realization that I could paint the walls purple if I wanted to.
How about building a spec house? How fun does that sound right about now?
I fugure I’m learning while there isn’t a lot of money to be made. That way, I’ll be dangerous when when there is.
Congratulations, Barbarian. You always remember that first house. Heck, my parents stil bring up their’s when they’re car shopping. “This car costs more than our first house!!”
Two of the happiest days of my life where getting married, and buying a house.
I’m still here, and I’m still married, so it’s worked out well.
Owning a house does take constant work and upkeep though. My Dad said “you didn’t buy a house, you bought a job”. It’s true, but has to be taken in the correct context. I’m always working on something, but that’s my hobby. I have a 10x12 shed that is filled with tools [Tim Allen] hrrr, hrr, hrrrrrough[/TA].
So have fun, look around and look at what is YOURS.
On a side note, why do so many purchases go sour? It’s not like lenders and real estate folks haven’t done it before.
My closing went fine. But it was a little weird. Originally I moved into the house as a renter. The owner lived there too. I bought it from him and he turned into my renter with the agreement that he would move out in 3 months.
It was…… weird and a bit sad, for both of us. (He was forced to sell because of a divorce).
I couldn’t sleep for three nights when we got our house. I kept ambling about the property all night under the moon laughing with joy, knowing I could finally begin the ultragarden and grow old with it.
My husband and I are thinking of buying in the next year or so… maybe a duplex if we can pull it off. I’m not sure what neighbourhood though… we’d love to keep living where we are now, but prices here are ridiculous (Plateau). I’m still several years before I graduate and can really contribute financially, so that has an effect on things too. But our rent is getting to the point where we might as well pay a mortgage, and I’d love to have a place to do what I want with! I spend an inordinate amount of time on the mls website.
Definitely plant a tree. I planted two. My local electric utility gives them away for free provided they are planted in a way that can cast shade onto the structure.
Bah, I’ve got enough trees on my (rather small) property as it is. I don’t want any more! Although I suppose I could plant a few in the back laneway… As for shade, there’s a massive maple in a neighbour’s yard that does a phenomenal job of keeping my place cool in the 33 C weather we’re having. Muhahahaha
Yesterday was packing day: 26 boxes so far, and we’ve yet to do the kitchen. Just picked up a pair of CO/Natural Gas detectors and a pair of dual sensor smoke alarms. Wheee.
(We’re all invited, right?)