Gratitude

Thanksgiving was over a month ago, but I haven’t had time to write a post about how thankful I am for everything.  Fortunate Fridays, which was my take on Oprah’s long forgotten “Gratitude Journal” . . . where did that go anyway?  I miss Oprah.

Before I break down into an “Ode to Oprah” post, I think I better move on!  I’ll probably get back to it later though.

Last weekend, we moved into our very own new home!  New to us, and well loved and cared for by a previous owner.  This place is immaculate!  They clearly cared for it, and took the time to fix any problems that came up along the 45 years that it was in the family!  We have not had to do any work on the place, as the painting is perfect, the original hardwood floors polished and in perfect condition, and the carpet is fresh and clean.  It’s been a dream I tell you.  Most of my stuff is unpack and organized, and we are slowly moving Paul in as well.

The purchasing of the house was not the dream that we imagined though!  I saw searching through houses as an exciting experience, imagining how we would fit our furniture, and hang up our pictures.  Boy was I wrong!  We saw SO MUCH junk!  Some people have really bad taste . . . and by this I will give you an example, so you don’t just think I’m catty.  Someone had a lamp made out of deer legs.  A LAMP! Made out of DEER LEGS!  Complete with hair and hooves.  This is Cranbrook after all, but COME ON!  Disgusting.   Our realtor was definitely a gem for us.  She knew what we were looking for, and helped us find exactly that!  If you’re about to begin house hunting, Carla Sinclair of EK Realty is the one to go with.   We cannot say Thank you enough to Carla!  We have run into a couple of other home owners that have used her to get their homes, and they are also very happy with her customer service and experience.

After finally searching for a couple of weeks (I know that is not very long in some standards, but it seemed like forever!), we found our house, and put an offer in.  THAT is when the REAL stress began.  If you’re about to purchase a house for the first time, make sure you bring a pen, because you are going to sign document after document!

First you deal putting in an offer, then an acceptance, then a counter offer etc.  Then, you have to deal with financing.  In my opinion banks are nobody’s friend except their own.  Unless of course, you have millions of dollars, but then you wouldn’t need financing, and they would love you, as you would be “risk free”.  Mortage Brokers, now there is a FRIEND!   We found a huge diamond in the rough, and her name is Lona Williams, and she works at Invis in Cranbrook.  F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.

After the financing is all set up (and you own money for the rest of your life), you have to get the home inspected!  We found a fairly new home inspector who is incredible thorough!  Thorough is EXACTLY what we needed to feel reassured that we weren’t buying a lemon.  He was up in the attic, squeezed between rafters and beams that I couldn’t have fit into if I was a 12 year old girl!  He gives you a completed home inspection document, that includes all of the information he discusses with you.  He also let Paul come along during the inspection, so Paul knew exactly what he was finding.  If you’re in need of a Home Inspector, Gerry Murdoch comes highly recommended from us.

Done yet?

Nope.  Next is taking the conditions off of your offer . . . so back to the realtors office you go, to sign some more papers, but at this point, you OWN the home!  Whoop.  Exciting?  Um, rather anti-climatic.  We went to Wendy’s to celebrate over a hamburger, and since we now owned a home, Wendy’s was all we could afford.

Then, you need to get home insurance.  Kelly at East Kootenay Realty Insurance in the Victoria Centre office was the BEST.  We definitely shopped around for our insurance, and there was a HUGE difference in pricing (like $500 difference!).  Some of the companies didn’t even phone us back after we had made our inquiries.

Finally, you wait.  And wait.  Then the closing date happens, the possession date happens, and you have the keys in your hand!  THAT is when I finally was excited.  Carla drove the new keys to our house to my work, and handed them off to me.

Then Paul carried me over the threshold, and we lived happily ever after.

Maybe if this was a Disney Movie.

Paul and I would both like to thank everyone who had a part in helping us to get into our house!  We will be very happy here.  Also, thanks for helping me move Mom and Dad!