Going, going...

GONE!

With a 120 day settlement juuuuust to be on the safe side.

In an act of defiance, seeing as this is the first weekend we haven't had an "open for inspection" in ages, this morning I DIDN'T make the bed. Naughty :)

Although I'm 97% sure he doesn't read our blog, I'm going to send a MASSIVE thank you out here to our gorgeous agent Paul. To get 4 bidders to the auction and actually get us a sale in a bloody difficult market is testament to his customer service skills and dedication to the job.  We didn't quite reach our reserve ($2,000 short) but right now a sale is a sale (and an unconditional one at that) so Cranbourne North - here we come!

To market to market

Slightly old-ish news now as life has kind of caught up with us a bit in the last 2 weeks. Our little cottage on the hill is officially "on the market" for a 4 week campaign prior to auction on May 12th.

So far we've had 3 OFI's - it's open on Thursday nights (to capture the gorgeous sunset views of the city)

...and a day session each Saturday to show off the bush setting.

I'm really going to miss the views and the setting, but the driveway can seriously go!

And it's just so gosh-darn cute inside.  Our new bedroom is the size of all 3 in the old house;

The bathroom is the pretty much the powder room + linen cupboard; (no ABS edges Deb!)

And the kitchen about the size of our new laundry;

I WILL miss the Coonara fireplace.  I know we have a funky fire in the Monaco, but it won't smell the same;

So for now, we clean and we wait and we stress and we clean some more.

P.S. Soy candles melt from the bottom up (and overflow) when left on a heat source - like a Coonara.  Gahhhh!!!

P.P.S. Keep everything crossed for us for a pre-auction sale for a ripping, suburb record type price :)

Swimming pool inspiration

If you follow our blog you'll know that we live on a VERY steep block backing onto the Ferntree Gully National Park. Not an area you'd equate with flooding!

Check these pics I've just taken of our road taken from the front windows -  over a two minute span;

I hope that everyone we care about is safe and dry.  And please stop raining... my little brother gets married this afternoon and I'm not sure we're going to be able to get there.

The big tick

It's been a HUGE week in the L&R household.

1.  Finance approval has finally been signed off.  We had to re-mortgage our current house to clear some equity, but still got slugged with a little mortgage insurance. (won't bore you with the details)

2.  Land loan repayment was deducted from a random account the bank set up.  The letter advising us of the repayment amount, frequency and payment method arrived this week.  As did a default fine due to insufficient funds in the random account.  Hmmm.... we'll fight this one!  Hard to transfer money when you don't know when its due, or how much to pay, or which account to transfer it into.  Ya gotta love banks!  What I don't love though is getting an account balance.  All those savings...gone...just like that!

3.  We're still coming down from our tap high.  Totally didn't expect that!

4.  Developer approval is through with those few minor changes to the garage included.

5.  Town planning permit has been applied for.  And this is all we're waiting on now for a site start.

6.  Final final plans are being prepared as I write, and we should have these early next week for sign off.

7.  We've been working like Trojans on our current house coz "Cat" is coming to view it on Sunday. New front door is being installed tomorrow.  Just have to work out how to get Loz's old 1.8m long fish tank OUT of the house by Sunday.  Without using a saw or match :)

This is all pretty intense, at a busy time of year, when work is also full on.  It would be nice to have just one element settled... house sold, permit granted, new house started.  I'd prefer the first option, but any of the 3 would do!!!

Take care,

Bittersweet Symphony

It's funny the way things work.  Friday evening I caught up with some friends from my past workplace - I don't miss the job, but I sure do miss my old "team".  One of the girls that I employed there (she and I go waaaay back, and I actually coached her in Under 12's more than 10 years ago) is looking to buy a house in our area.  We've sent her through a few pics and they are really keen to come and have a good look.
This is where the bittersweet thing comes in.  I REALLY love my house.  It's Loz's and my first house together and we've built a life together here.  Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited about the life we're leaving here for (and the wonderful people we've met in the process) but there's just a hint of sadness today as I begin to mentally separate from our "home".

Ironically, the butterfly on the wall was a gift from my old work people, lovingly selected by "Cat" our potential home buyer.  I would love to see this place go to someone who I know would love it right back.  So Cat, if you do end up buying our little house, I hope you'll be as happy in it as we have been over the past few years. xx