House narrowly avoids homelessness

Sometimes I wonder if I deliberately seek out high-stress situations. Take this week (and it’s only Wednesday morning) where I made offers on two houses and missed out on both.

The first – a brand-new semi – had been dragging on for weeks as my solicitor argued with their conveyancer about the fact there was no building certificate on the property, no record of the water board giving permission for them to build over the sewer, and a downpipe for the gutters that had been built on the neighbouring semi’s property.

The real estate agent and vendor couldn’t see why any of those things were an issue, but we finally managed to get appropriate clauses inserted into the contract. Then, on the day I was supposed to sign on the dotted line, someone who wasn’t worried about any of those minor trifles (fool) offered $100,000 more than me. The agent wanted to know if I was prepared to up my offer, but I SO didn’t have $101,000 more in me.

The same day I offered what I thought was a juicy price for another house. Yesterday at 9.30am I was informed someone had offered $30,000 more than me. Again, I SO didn’t have $31,000 in me.

To be honest, I didn’t have the money in me that I’d already offered – I was going to have to borrow it from Husband. Not an entirely awesome scenario.

So, there I was yesterday morning with nuthin’ and the pressing need to vacate my current abode by next Friday. Eeeek.

It was kinda tricky explaining to the removalist who came over to quote that I had no idea where he’d be moving my stuff to … but hopefully would soon …

I checked out the rental market in my neck of the woods for under $800 – a reasonable sum I thought – only to discover that’s chicken feed.

I’d looked at one rental property on the weekend, nothing special, nothing terrible. (Check out the courtyard above.) So I thought I’d better make an application. Thank freaking hell they accepted my application. Things got a little tricky when they said I couldn’t move into the place until August 2, since I need to move out of here August 1, but they’ve thankfully agreed to let me in early.

Now I just have to hope the removalists can squeeze me in next Friday at incredibly short notice and at a reasonable price.

Phew, House has a temporary home and is hoping to start sleeping better than she has been for the past five months. Last night was my first unassisted sleep in FOREVER, dropped off at a decent hour and woke at 5.10am. Bliss.

Song of the day: Talking Heads “Once in a lifetime”