We are sitting here waiting for the confirmation that the roof is completed, or at least scheduled, by the current owner. Everything else has been done up to this point, and everything about this deal hinges on this action happening in the next ten days. Hopes are not high that he will actually have it done in time, but we are crossing our fingers, and praying that we can jump over this last hurdle intact and sane. If things worked out perfectly, we would be closing this week, Giving us enough time to take advantage of some discounts on flooring (we found solid bamboo for a great price) and have it delivered and waiting for us when we get back from Europe. The hope would also be that we can get in to the house before we leave for Europe. Not fully move in yet, but get in, tear up the current carpets (which smell like cat pee in parts) and clean the concrete slab. The house has generally been vacant for the past few months, and while the current owner has been there he has been working with most of the windows and doors open to help air out the place.
Over the weekend we received the copy of the full appraisal report. The appraisal came in roughly 20k over what we are offering, and that is in it's current condition with the current roof. With a rough estimate that it will cost 15-18k for the roof to be replaced, we are coming out pretty well. There were some interesting notes in the report, some that I question, others that were in line with our initial assessments. We now hope that the current owner actually comes through with the roof replacement, and to an acceptable level. fear.. tension... stress.... no trust regarding the seller. One more hurdle. We simply need to wait for this hurdle to be closer to us, so we can jump cleanly over it without stumbling and falling flat on our faces.
We have the actual move to look forward to, some of the prep work I tried to tackle this weekend. Moving all of the furniture in the living room, cleaning every surface, steam vacuuming the carpet, sorting through books and paperwork, picking out what we keep and what to donate/sell/throw away. I (Nic) am scared that the time-frame for the move and the first steps of the renovation are too tight, and we will find ourselves at one another throats for all of the wrong reasons.
Memories of sitting around with friends discussing Epictetus came floating back. It reminded me that the difficulties we are facing now, and the struggle we are putting ourselves through, is a waste of time if we do not use it to our advantage.
"Difficulties are the things that show what men are. Henceforth, when some difficulty befalls you, remember that god, like a wrestling master, has matched you with a rough young man. For what end? That you may become an Olympic victor, and that cannot be done without sweat. No man, in my opinion, has a more advantageous difficulty on his hands than you have, if only you will but use it as an athlete uses the young man he is wrestling against. .... To summarize: remember that the door is open. Do not be more cowardly than children, but just as they say, when the game no longer pleases them, 'I will play no more', you too, when things seem that way to you, should merely say, 'i will play no more' and so depart; but if you stay, stop moaning"
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