The Move, part II

Once all of the initial paperwork was signed, the tough stuff really started. Inspection! Our old house was built in 1923, and we knew there was work that would need to be done ... one major project in particular. Shortly before we put our house on the market, we began to see holes in our front yard. Paul called an exterminator, who determined that the critters were likely coming up from a broken sewer line in our front yard. What perfect timing. A sewer inspection revealed that our main sewer line was in shambles and would need to be fully replaced. So we set aside what we believed we would need for the job and moved ahead with everything.

Our buyers' inspector then came and found several other projects he felt needed to be done, and their realtor brought us a list. We agreed to fix as many as we could, but as I started calling for quotes, the dollar signs just kept piling up. What had sounded like a few simple projects turned out to be much more complex when the pipes being worked on are nearing 100 years old. The first few quotes for our sewer line were double what we had been expecting! The other projects also seemed to be spiraling out of control. I was on the phone with contractors every day, trying to get better estimates and deals, seeing if there was a less expensive way to fix things while still doing it well.

Finally we settled on a contractor who gave us a very reasonable quote on our sewer and threw in the basement drain fix for free. One major project checked off. I was still on the phone constantly trying to work out the rest of the projects, trying to find out exactly what the inspector expected us to do and then explain that to the contractors, and then turn around and describe the contractor's plan back to the realtor. Chimney cap vs. mortar cap, black pipe vs. copper pipe, repair vs. replace vs. install. It was like an extended game of telephone in a foreign language. Looking back, I think the constant calling had me in a mild state of panic for a straight two weeks.

In the meantime, we took a break to bring the kids to North Dakota for our newest Godson's baptism, and then to Rapid City to spend almost two weeks with Grandma and Grandpa while we packed up our house and completed the move. We took Edith with us and got down to real business. I am so thankful that my three oldest were not there during those crazy days! I was able to keep focused on the work that needed to be done, without having to worry about whether my kids were getting enough attention or whether I would snap at them after a stressful phone conversation. It was amazing. They had a super fun time, and I ... well ... I was very productive.

I sent this selfie to the kids to show them what they were missing

Paul and I packed like maniacs in the days leading up to closing, and our realtor was able to negotiate a move-in agreement, in which we could move our belongings into the garage several days before we actually closed. We bought drinks and rented a moving van and asked all of our friends and family to help us move on Sunday so that we wouldn't have to move all of our belongings in between closings on Tuesday. Thank goodness! Then at the last minute, the buyers' realtor scheduled their final walk through for Sunday morning, while the house was in shambles. We disappeared to the coffee shop down the street, praying that seeing the house in that state wouldn't scare them off. We did later hear that their realtor contacted ours to ask if we knew that we had to take everything with us. Ha!

 Closing day arrived, and just to keep us on our toes we found out that the sellers were having some difficulties with paperwork and might not be able to close on schedule... But everything was arranged and both closings went off without a hitch. We drove directly from the sale of our home to the purchase of our new home then met my mom and brother at our NEW HOUSE to start moving in!

Tons of friends and family came to help us move our belongings from the garage into the house, organize our kitchen, move furniture, and do whatever we asked them to do. I was so relieved to finally be in our home, I could barely function. After most everyone cleared out, Paul went to smoke a celebratory cigar with two of his friends while I fell into bed and took a celebratory snooze. All night.

I slept well.