Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Bought!

It was a long weekend, waiting for negotiations to wrap up on the condo we chose to buy, but it all came to a happy conclusion last night.

As I mentioned in my last post, we decided to take a road trip on Thursday so Skip could get inside our top two options and see them for herself. We first went to the loft in Worcester. She was able to get around as well as I expected. Those schoolroom hallways are WIDE. She was concerned about the lack of a private deck, the need for me to take stairs to take out the dogs (I found on this visit that it's only 6 stairs out, no need to take an elevator) and the lack of storage in the place. On the way into the building, we met a tenant who clearly loves the place and talked about how the patio out in front of the building gets a lot of use on warm and sunny weekend days.

On the way out, I asked the developer, who had let us in, if we'd be able to park pods in the parking lot when we moved in, if we bought there. I explained we'd be moving out of our home a few days before moving in so would have to briefly store our belongings in pods. He said if the tenants move out (he's been renting to tenants at will for a while) by June 30, we could move in before actually buying the place. This would save us a ton of dough for a hotel, for pod rentals and for extra moving effort!

Then we went on to the exurb where we were looking at the 55+ condo. Skip really liked the private deck, though didn't like that it was one story off the ground and thought that'd be an issue when Addy was out there with us ... she'd be trying to find a way off of it. She liked the size of the main living area, which is a bit bigger than in Worcester, and the amount of storage, especially since it has a full basement. She really didn't like the counters or appliances in the kitchen, though they don't bother me much ... just quite dull.

We chatted for a bit in the master bedroom about the two options. How should we proceed? Skip was clearly torn. She liked both places for different reasons. Then, I had a flash of inspiration. 55+ condos have sprung up all over the place, they're a dime a dozen. This loft is unique and we won't have many opportunities to get a place like it if we let it pass us by. That decided it. We chose the loft. If, as we age, we feel a suburban setting at a 55+ place makes more sense, we can always find something suitable and move into one then.

We are very excited! Now, if I could just get a home inspector to call me back so I can set up the inspection ...

18 comments:

Muffie said...

That's fantastic!! I'm so happy for both of you. All in all, I think you had a great experience with this -- you got the house fixed up, sold extraneous items, sold the house on the first day, and found a wonderful new home -- all in a relatively brief time span. Consider yourself very fortunate!
Peace,
Muff

Cranky said...

Muffie - I couldn't agree more. We are very lucky!

Anonymous - I saw a "congrats" in my email from an anonymous commenter. Not sure why it didn't post, but .... thanks!

Unknown said...

Moving is never an easy equation. Sounds like you two are putting the puzzle together well.

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick

JT88Keys said...

Congrats on your new place! It sounds like a cool building and I hope you're both happy there for many years to come.

Cranky said...

Patrick - I'd say it's all falling into place (to continue the analogy)! Starting the additional culling of stuff tomorrow.

JT - welcome! Thanks for your comment and good wishes.

lightning36 said...

Sounds good! I had a feeling that is where you would end up.

Just another post in Musings of a Happy Caregiver ... lol.

kmilyun said...

yeah and congrats! Hope the inspection happens quickly. Glad you found something that fit for both of you.

crafty said...

Mazel Tov, as my people are wont to say. And big ups for using the word "exurb" and using it properly.

Looking forward to seeing you and the Skipper (I'm trying it out, let me know what you think) on Sunday!

Cranky said...

light - don't worry, the Crankster still gets plenty of playing time here at the home fort. Just not much on the ol' blogging front. It's funny, whenever I start to write another "cranky reasons" post I just feel like I'm whining and it stops me from finishing. There will be crankiness I could express after the first trip out with the dogs in the dark and driving rain at our new place.

Jan - inspection is scheduled for Friday afternoon. I think this place will really suit us beautifully.

Gary - your people always know just what to say. I'm sure Skip will be fine with Skipper (or her real name, should you choose to use it). I am really looking forward to seeing you and Josie on Sunday, too. I hope your cracked ribs don't impede your ability to swivel in those right field roof box seats.

crafty said...

Cranky, sorry for any misunderstanding but what I was trying out was not "Skipper," but rather "THE Skipper." Which, if it sticks, might possibly lead to you being called "Little Buddy," which is a joke I guess nobody younger than 40 would get.

Webster said...

Best of luck on the inspection. You're right, the schoolhouse is unique, and the other will be available anytime and everywhere.

PS. I knew this would be your choice :-)

Cranky said...

Gary - I'd like to be called Little Buddy. It'd be one of those ironic names. Like the guy I worked with years ago who weighed 400 lbs called Tiny.

I just checked with Skip and she'd accept The Skipper and me as Little Buddy. It's making me laugh!

Webster - You had a good read on me!

Have Myelin? said...

I knew it would be your choice. It was the way you wrote about the two picks.

LOFT, it screamed.

I'm happy for you and Skip!!!

Cranky said...

Yeah - it was hard to imagine living in a vanilla world. :-)

Thanks!

Carmel said...

Congrats!! BTW I totally got that refrenence :)

Cranky said...

Carmel - thanks! Funny, you're under 40 and got it. I couldn't figure it out and had to google it. Age can also account for memory lapses. :-)

Carmel said...

I was only allowed to watch certain things as a kid, Gilligan's Island was my favorite of those. I was going to grow up to marry the Porfessor

Cranky said...

Well, of the options on that island, he was definitely the best, so you had good sense right from the start. :-)