Phase 1 Complete!

I can't believe we have reached this day - the first showing of the house.  Besides 4 confirmed appointments today and tomorrow, I've had 2 calls yesterday and 2 today.  There is definitely an interest in showing it!

Looking around the house, and reading my posts starting in Feb. 2011, it is just unbelievable how far we've come!  I truly wish I had taken "before" photos.  With all the complaining on this blog that I've done - about all the obstacles and how slowly things are going - it's just unreal that it's all fallen into place and the house looks very salable.

So now we just have to see how long (SHORT!!!) it takes to actually sell.  Realtor says she will sell today, but I think she's being a bit overconfident. Although at least this week would be great!  Next is figuring out what to do about the cats.  Still waiting on an answer from Doris from her friend and then wavering back and forth between planning on how to modify the RV to accommodate them and leaving them abandoned in front of a shelter which won't take them (but may be forced to if left on their doorstep).

So this is Phase 1.  Phase 2, once we have a buyer and having gone to contract is the next round of purging.  Whatever is left in the garage and closets will either be thrown out (renting another dumpster), given away or put into a storage locker.   Phase 3 - the next really big step -- is buying the RV.

All part of the journey...and THE HOUSE IS OFFICIALLY LISTED!!!

As if the electrical disaster wasn't enough, this morning (Thursday) Mitch decided to sit on the bathroom sink while working on the outlet.  You guessed it -- it totally broke!!!  So now, with only 2 days left to work, the whole bathroom vanity needs to be replaced.  Of course, since there was a huge space between the vanity and the wall, it needed to be caulked.  How in the world we're going to disattach it is beyond me.    I actually landed up calling the contractor back.  So now another few hundred $$$.  I guess a few bills won't get paid this month.

UPDATE:  all went well this morning - Mitch was able to troubleshoot the final problem so all the wiring was completed.  We went to Home Depot to buy a new vanity and were told that if we just bring back the sink part, they will make an even exchange!!!  So now the only cost will be for the contractor to install it and make it look pretty again, so we'll be able to save a few dollars.

Still down to the wire...

Why did I let my guard down and start thinking that things were starting to come together and go smoothly????  Nah, more obstacles.

This is the 3rd day Mitch is working on the rewiring.  He was only supposed to replace the outlets which were black with white ones.  I have no clue why half the house is without power now and he can't figure out what went wrong.  We still have over half our list to complete before the open house on Sunday, and we've already lost 2 days with this wiring problem.  I say if he can't figure it out by noon tomorrow, we'll have to figure out where to get the cash and bring in an electrician!  Sigh.

At least on a more positive note, while roaming the aisles of Home Depot and passing the bathroom cabinets, it reminded us of how we were shopping for new fixtures just a short time ago (seemed like forever ago) and realized just how far we've come already.  Just gotta keep the faith.

Down to the wire - literally!

All photos were taken, virtual furniture added.  Wow!  The house looks really gorgeous, I almost want to live here!!!  (nah, my RV will be even nicer).

Now lots of little things to make it all perfect for the open house in 5 days, one of which is replacing many of the outlets.  Unfortunately, Mitch discovered a huge problem with the wiring in the house, so what should have taken a few hours has now turned into a full day with probably another half, possibly full day to finish rewiring everything.  Cause was a lot of crossed wires which we didn't know about until we added a chandelier, which blew a fuse when we turned it on upstairs and off downstairs.  Then discovered a whole bunch of things were on the same fuse which shouldn't be.  Plus had to add some GFI switches which took extra time.

2nd to last round of purging

Much of the stuff that we were a little undecided on were hidden away in closets and drawers and cabinets.  Unfortunately, said closets etc. look like Fibber McGee's (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9FGC68YcwM).  Since people will be open closets and cabinets next week, our work is cut out - to do the next round of extreme purging so that everything is all neat and organized.   Bought a whole bunch of storage containers last night.  This will be good practice for the RV anyway.

Really closing in now!!!

OMG, how did we get to this point???  All the room are nearly empty except the kitchen set and bedroom, which we need (and we left the recliner in the living room).

As many repairs as possible have been made.  The only drawbacks now, which we'll take a hit on price for, are the front steps are ugly and the driveway needs repaving.  We even had a landscaper come in today to clean the leaves and gumballs left over under the snow as well as pare back some branches on the shrubs.

The house is being listed this week - Thursday, March 20, 2014 to be exact.  Photographer is coming for the shoot and we expect the photos will be on the internet and MLS listings by Wed. 3/26.  Having an open house 1 week from tomorrow -- Sunday, March 30th!!!

My realtor feels very confident that we'll get an immediate offer.  From her mouth to God's ears!!!  I'll let you know!  Meanwhile this week means putting away all the last minute clutter laying around.

As for the rig - I found a used model that I absolutely fell in love with and really hope it all works out.  It's smaller than we wanted, but it's a top of the line and the floorplan is just perfect for us.  It's a 2006 Excel Limited 33RSE model and is in combo with a Ford F350 dually.  So it's all ready to go, except not boondock ready, so we'll need to install a genny and solar panels.  But it could fail inspection, or it may not be generator pre-wired, which may be deal breakers.  It's also located in So. CA.

But one step at a time.  I just can't believe we're at this point already.  Starting to get a little scared though.

We're getting close at last!!!

OMG, how did we get to this point already?  Seems like I've been doing nothing but complaining about one obstacle after the next, but it looks like we sign the papers to list the house in 2 weeks (March 20th, 2014)!  Almost everything that we're not taking with us or that Mitch needs a little extra time to figure out is or will be gone by then.  The rooms, except for our kitchen table and bedroom set will be completely empty.  In fact, there's this awesome online service in which you provide them with photos of your empty room and they insert virtual furniture, so it appears that the house is nicely staged.  Then when buyers come to look, you can just say you've started moving since the photos were taken.  Personally, for me, I find I'm too distracted by the furniture - I can't envision my own stuff in a room and rather find myself judging what's already there.

So this weekend someone is picking up our dining room set.  Monday the couch goes in the dumpster.  The last remnants of contract work (garage door openers installed, some sheetrock to cover a huge hole in the garage, and restaining the stairs) will be done on Monday.  Then we just need to do a few paint touchups in each room, and remove the remaining clutter (which will be put in boxes neatly on the shelves lining the garage).

So we're almost there!!!!  Unbelievable.