rvaYM

After I started killing the crab grass, weeds, and other “green” stuff in the front yard, it started looking pretty bad. Kind of like this.

But if you look really, really close, all of the weed killing, the aerating, the seed planting and watering have paid off…we have grass! It’s just a few, but it’s coming.

You might have to click to zoom in so you can see it...

Delicious Ping This Post

There comes a time in the homebuying process where you stop wanting to talk publicly (ie blogging) about the process so that the other side doesn’t stumble upon your comments. Truth be told, the homebuying process was not ideal nor pleasant.

But, as of June 26 (two days after our scheduled close date, mind you), we are officially homeowners. We’re settled, the boxes are unpacked, the pictures are hung, one project (pocket doors) left to be completed, and guests have already used our spare bedroom. It’s great to be home.

Delicious Ping This Post

Warren had called and texted his realtor counterpart at the third house, but never received a response. He tried again, and after a few minutes the realtor called back: he had spoken with the homeowner and we were cleared for a visit.

We pulled into the driveway, and headed for the front door. Warren pulled out the fascinating gadget that lets realtors into any house they want, and then knocked on the door as he put the key in the lock. Just as he opened the door, the homeowner walked to the door. Weird.

Apparently realtor friend had informed the wrong homeowner. Or he just said he had told the homeowner. We gave her ten minutes and she took Skipper for a walk (her dog. Name changed to protect the innocent).

Right inside the front door was a very large fish tank. The house was warm, musty and messy. Not a good start for Kim!

We traipsed through the downstairs, and I peeked in the garage. I thought it was strange that a light was on, and then I noticed it was an animal cage. I took the few steps down into the garage and rounded the corner of the cage to see its inhabitants: two iguanas. Honestly, I was expecting frogs or turtles.

We finished the rest of the house, looking through room after room piled high with stuff. Rule #1 when you’re selling a house: clean it up! And take your pet iguanas to the iguana sitter.

We finished off the day with one more visit. As we pulled away, Warren told us that many people will see 20 houses before they find one they like. We have to see 16 more?

Day one, complete. It’s serious now, though. No more funny business: we’re here to buy a house, not run into the West End crazies. Be back soon…

Delicious Ping This Post

Kim thought she liked the second house when we drove by a few weeks back, so I thought maybe this could turn out well. We heeded the warning not to pet the cat and took a walk around.

Very nice and open, a loft overlooking the living area, a Florida room, but a weird first-floor master bedroom. The closet door jumped the track when I opened it, and then I couldn’t fix it. I figured I should leave it before I broke it any more. We took a look in the master bathroom and then headed upstairs, with Warren a few steps behind us.

Kim noticed a door — it looked like a closet — just to the side of the stairs, outside the bedroom. Just as she reached to open it, Warren was coming through the other way: it was the master bathroom’s other door.

After a walk around upstairs, we tried to do the math: one bedroom downstairs plus one bedroom upstairs does not equal 3 bedrooms. Liars.

Again, nice house but a little quirky. Even if they find the 3rd bathroom, we probably won’t be back

Delicious Ping This Post

After Warren setup our personalized home search webpage, we picked out a few homes to see. I thought the market was supposed to be slow, but apparently Richmond homebuyers didn’t get the memo. Out of the 6 houses we picked, 2 had sold and 1 was off the market — in just 4 days!

The first house we stopped by was nice. From the pictures we had seen online, it looked good, so I thought we were off to a solid start. Warren told us that it was vacant, so it might not be furnished. That would explain the soap and razor in the shower, junk in the sheds, and food in the refrigerator, fully furnished kids room. Vacant…right.

The house was very nice. Good paint colors, nicely decorated and furnished. The couple had lots of wedding and engagement pictures, and in one of the pictures, I noticed that a pastor friend of ours married the couple. Small world.

Then in another room, I saw the wedding program. Is it weird to know the people who own the house? I recognized the name, and then took a second glance at the wedding pictures. I guess it’s been 7 years since I had seen the guy, which is apparently enough time to get married, have a kid and already be selling your home. And for me not to recognize him.

Nice house, but not quite what we’re looking for. Check back soon for Part 2 of our first day.

Delicious Ping This Post

Over the next few weeks and months (hopefully not any longer than that!), I want to take you on a journey with us that has already proved quite — how should I say — unique, humorous, odd. All of the above. We are first-time home buyers, or at least we’re trying to be.

We met our realtor, Warren, a few weeks back, and he is giving us a hand through this process. He set up our handy-dandy website with all the latest listings in our area, and we will hit the road to check out some of these homes with him.

How long will it take? Hopefully not too long, but you never know. We just hope we don’t end up like some of those extreme stories of Property Virgins or My First Home.

Check back this afternoon for Part I!

Delicious Ping This Post