...because home doesn't happen overnight.
08.12.11 / Done Deal

We officially sold our house by owner this morning!  So, I guess, technically, that makes it NOT our house anymore.  I didn’t take the traditional final walk-through pics or make a final walk-through video of the house all empty for personal reasons.  I kind of feel the same way about leaving the house as I do about saying goodbye to deceased family members or friends.  I want to remember them {homes and people} as I knew them, as I lived with them – not as some lifeless, unbreathing, staged corpse. Sorry.  That just got way too deep for a Friday.

That’s the rose the closing attorney gave me at the end of closing today.  The closing went off without a hitch.  It was a welcome relief after literally spending every spare second over the past three weeks packing and moving.  Handy Hubby had two last-minute work trips to New Zealand and Minneapolis which ate away nearly two of those three weeks.  That means that I was pretty much in charge of packing and getting stuff organized for the move.  We didn’t hire a moving company – just packed everything up and moved it with the help of some strong friends and family members with trailers who we are extremely grateful for.  We did rent a U-Haul to transport some items one day that the weather was calling for rain.  But other than that, we made do and took all the help we could get.  Did I mention we are soooo thankful for everyone’s help? Okay, good.

Somehow our boys are still smiling after the big move.  {I think those are Doritos crumbs on Everett’s face.  In the depths of my packing fury, I let the boys pick out a bag of chips at the grocery and eat the whole thing.  Of course, they picked Doritos. It was the first time I’ve bought them since college, I think.}  The change of scenery hasn’t bothered them as much as not getting to spend much quality time together lately.  They are embracing apartment living although they still look at me funny when I tell them to stop jumping off the beds because there are people living under us.

If you’re a regular H*T follower, you already know that my Mac hasn’t seen much action.  In fact, the only action my laptop’s been getting is that of above.  Without toys or TV to keep them occupied, the boys relied on the computer to watch movies while I was either:  1) packing 2) loading boxes 3) unloading boxes 4) patching holes 5) sanding holes 6) painting holes 7) cleaning up the entire house one last time 8 ) faxing paperwork to the buyers’ realtor 9) selling furniture 10) getting the apartment livable.  Among other things.  Handy Hubby and I have pledged to make it up to the boys.  We’re having our celebratory Apartment Party tonight.  And since we’ve never hosted such a party before, we let Layne and Everett decide what happens at an Apartment Party. Apparently, balloons, brownies and a family movie are essential.  So right after closing today, Handy Hubby made sure all systems were “go” on the movie end…

We don’t have cable or internet service at the apartment yet.  They’re scheduled for installation next Saturday.  So, I’ll be blogging from the public library {as I am now} or any other place that offers free wi-fi over the next week.  But the good news is I’ll be blogging!  I’ve really missed it and I’m so ready to get back at it.

We’re also thrilled to be able to focus our attention more fully on the Underdog.  She’s coming along!  There’s more to come over the next several weeks including details on how we sold our home by owner, my design school project {i.e. the Underdog living room}, renovation updates, money talk and other home-related miscellaneous.  Have a lovely weekend!  We sure will!

images:  Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

30 Comments

Congratulations on the sale of your home! My husband and I are looking at for sale by owner selling the next time around. I’ve heard it’s a lot of work but your success inspires me. :)

I just discovered your blog and am looking forward to checking in on the new home and the apartment (in the mean time!).

12.August.2011

I look forward to your blog posts! It’s my favorite on my blog feed.

Glad you and yours are settling in nicely.

12.August.2011

Congratulations! That must be a relief to have that over and done with. T mins 90 days until you are in your new home!

12.August.2011

Congrats! have a fun party with the kids, you all deserve it!

12.August.2011

Woot!*Woot!!! Way to go!! Congratulations!

12.August.2011

Congratulations! Just wondering, what does your husband do for a living that he has last minute business trips to New Zealand? Because that sounds kind of awesome…

12.August.2011

Congrats on the sale of your home! I’m sure it was even more hectic than you make it sound with having to move at the same time too! I am glad to hear that you will be back to more regular blogging this week, yours was one I missed this week for sure!

Oh and I can’t wait to see more progress on the underdog, it’s amazing what a difference taking all the walls and ceiling down will do! I think you are on the right path with this home for sure.

12.August.2011

So glad you’re back! and everything is squared away with the old house. Can’t wait to see more updates on the underdog!

12.August.2011

Congrats! Hope the apartment party was as awesome as it sounds:-)

12.August.2011

Have a drink, SuperWoman! :)

12.August.2011

Oh lord, isn’t moving the worst? We moved a year ago and it took months to sell our house after we had moved. I couldn’t bear going over to the old place and seeing it empty, it gave me a really weird, hard to describe feeling in my stomach. My 5 year old daughter came with me once and promptly burst into tears. Much better to remember it as it was when it was full of life and laughter. Good luck with this next phase in you lives!

13.August.2011

Yay- Congrats on this milestone! One step closer to realizing your dreams! Hope your family apartment party is a big hit. :)

13.August.2011

oh, how i have missed you. seriously. i need underdog updates– but i know with HH being called out a few weeks thats probably minimal :( i never comment much but i check you and YHL DAILY, sometimes twice thrice daily.. but who is counting? who needs a life ! me ! I work for a builder across the country from you and lets just say i looove your ideas :) it keeps us inspired!

13.August.2011

Oh my, is that last photo in your apartment? The light is gorgeous and the carpet is so CLEAN!

14.August.2011

Yay, congrats on selling the house! It must feel really good the be able to concentrate fully on the Underdog, can’t wait what you guys do with it. Yay also for seeing more posts from you now, I’ve missed them!

14.August.2011

I’ve been following since right around the time you decided to downsize, that was the thing that really piqued my interest. I’m always so amazed at your energy level! You get things done left and right. It’s really inspiring- and I just wanted to let you hear it, and congratulate you on the sale.

14.August.2011

congrats on the sale of the house… love the look of the apartment… so clean and fresh did you paint it?

14.August.2011

YAAAAY! New Zealand! Just so you know, you have many followers down in little old NZ :D Me and my friends love you! My flat has had MANY improvements taken from your ideas (poor bf haha) :D
Keep it up :D

15.August.2011

One move down one to go. Congrats on selling your house. Can’t wait to see progress of the Underdog!

15.August.2011

I have loved watching the Underdog evolve! I cannot wait to see what else you have in store for it and the final product. I check every day for updates!

15.August.2011

Congratulations on the home sale!!!! I love following your blog as I’m going through a major move transition too. Thanks for sharing…..it helps my sanity to know I’m not the only one with their home and life up in the air at the moment.

15.August.2011

Tara – I have not painted at the apartment although I am contemplating adding some fresh paint to a few areas. Not sure if I’ll end up doing it. The white at the apartment is primer I believe. It’s not awful but pretty blah.

15.August.2011

Linzy – I seem to have lost my stride! I was sooo exhausted this weekend after closing. It was nice to have a little R&R but I’m so ready to get back at it!

15.August.2011

Audrey – The natural light that the apartment gets is pretty good…it’s one of my favorite things about it. The carpet is so-so. I think it probably looks better on camera!

15.August.2011

Alix – HH is an engineer for a pretty big construction and mining equipment manufacturer. He does get to travel to some pretty awesome places…New Zealand, Vegas, Tucson, etc. I’d love to join him on his jaunt to NZ. Have to get my passport first! Can you believe I’m 32 years old and don’t have a passport?!

15.August.2011

you need to get a passport! :) Then you can do fun things like plan a 10 year anniversary trip to Europe! :)

Congratulations! Here’s to moving on, quite literally.

17.August.2011

must be the photographer ;) it looks so fresh and new… love following along your journey with the new house

19.August.2011

Just came across your blog and am loving it! Congrats on the sale of your home. Will you share where you got the piece of furniture that is holding your tv? I love it. Thanks!!

19.August.2011

Brooke – It’s an IKEA piece that was previously in the guest/playroom of our home we just sold. We had to get rid of our last TV console as it was too big for the apartment and new house.