Hold Up

Good news – we’ve got more time for move-in. Bad news – we got word last night the second buyer of our current property walked. Bummer…sort-of kind-of.

Keith and I have been freaking about being out by the 19th. There’s so much to do at Acorn Cottage, and we’ve still tons of packing, cleaning and readying this place for new occupants. To hear the buyer is opting out took a load off, but it is a bit unnerving that we’re losing another contract. All due to the damnable septic that is still awaiting the county’s official instructions for upgrade (and mostly our fault). Until we get back those documents the septic guys can’t begin the work. The buyer was cool with the wait, but in the meantime there was an appraisal of the home and the value fell a bit short due to being only a 2 bedroom (it’s a 4 bdrm home with a 2 bdrm septic! so the home can only be officially appraised as a two bedroom until the septic upgrades)…the buyer’s financial advisor advised her to walk away.

We have a backup offer but Keith, the Realtor, and I are in complete agreement that we HOLD UP moving forward with another contract until everything is fixed so there’s no more of this open due diligence mess. We’ve had 5 full-price offers on the home and showed it only 6 times…we’re confident all will work out in divine time. Other news, the home was tested for Radon and we now have to install a Radon Mitigation $ystem – it’s a pretty common thing when a house is built on solid rock and we regret not testing sooner. Heads up current neighbors – we were told most likely all houses on this mountain are affected.

We’re to hear from the bank today about a conversion loan Keith applied for this week. Earlier this week we were discussing worst case scenarios and decided applying for a loan was prudent so that work would not be hampered at yonderways. Keith is meeting with our contractor today at lunch to discuss the scope and timeline. A dumpster was delivered yesterday but we’re not going to start loading it ’til Sunday due to some heavy rains forecast for Saturday.

At Acorn Cottage we’ve determined new windows are in order, and a new outside door. Keith is also building an entrance deck mostly for Shucks’ ramp. Shucks will most likely be living indoors ’til spring. We’re replacing the faux tile paneling in the bathroom, and painting the entire library addition. I will also be rejuvenating the library floor and painting the rustic room floor a very large checkerboard pattern. Pictures will be forthcoming. Keith spent last evening cleaning gutters and downspouts. I’ve been dedicated to eradicating mildew and the overpowering musty smell of the closed up structure. Natural chemicals (vinegars, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid and lava rocks) and a second dehumidifier seem to be doing the trick. I’m really “nosey” in that I’m very sensitive to odors and the cottage sported the worst musty odor I’ve ever experienced. Bleaches and other harsh chemicals may work more efficiently, but because we have birds we have to be very cautious of most commercial chemicals.

I’ll end with this little side note. I drove a froworker (friend coworker) out to yonderways this week and her reaction was pretty much the standard. She said, “I’m officially going on record to say y’all are crazy. But I also know you and Keith and trust your vision and have no doubt this will be a great place. But there’s no way….”  Ha! And upon our leaving the property froworker starts humming the theme to Green Acres. She is BRILLIANT! Seriously – we’re the Blue Ridge Douglases complete with a pig!! Holy Reality TV Show!!

Best! Lisa and Oliver 😉