This weekend was a very exciting one for the Spillingbucket’s family: we closed on our house and moved in!!

It’s been a CRAZY weekend… here’s a brief timeline of events:

Last week we received notice that the sellers wanted to go on vacation this weekend (we later found out it was their honeymoon), and needed to close by Friday or they wouldn’t have time to move their stuff out before they got back in July. We had been hoping to move before July, and our locked in interest rate (4.625%) would expire on the first, so we really wanted finalize things as soon as possible.

Earlier in the week we had received an email from the bank congratulating us on our approval, but then there was a delay preventing clearance for closure due to additional underwriting and last minute work. I am not sure what was going on but we didn’t have the full go ahead yet to start the closing process. We had to get final approval from the bank by 12:30PM on Thursday to make it for a Friday closing date – and we were cutting it very close. They put our account on priority and said they would work on it as quickly as possible.

As of 11:30AM on Thursday we still hadn’t gotten update from the bank, and it was looking pretty grim. I honestly didn’t think it would work out. Finally, at 11:50AM – almost the last possible minute – the email came in: Congratulations you have been cleared for closing and your loan approved! Ecstatic, we immediately called our attorney and set up a closing time for 3:30PM the next day.

Friday I took off from work to pack up the apartment, and Ryan took a half day. By 3:00 we had most of the apartment packed up, at least the biggest stuff, and left to meet the attorneys. We spent an hour signing a book of paperwork in triplicate, but overall it went pretty smoothly and quickly; by 4:45 we were heading back home to finish packing. We decided we wanted to get in the house quickly to have the weekend for unpacking and setting up.

On the way home from closing we picked up a u-haul we had on reserve all day. We also called movers to help us load the truck. The Uhaul website has this neat referral service so when you check out you can get the phone numbers of muscle men to help load the truck. They were scheduled to show up at 7:00, so when we got back we started scrambling to finish all the packing.

At 7:00 the movers arrived and began loading stuff, and by 8:15 we were all packed and on the road. Everything was unloaded by 9:00 and we started unpacking. When we walked in the kitchen we noticed the sellers left us a bottle of champagne and some plastic cups, a very pleasant surprise.

Around 11:00 we returned the Uhaul in the late night drop off. It would have been easier to keep it overnight, but they had it loaned to someone else the next morning and needed it back. From 11:00PM-2:00AM we were organizing, unloading, and cleaning.

We also went out to Lowe’s and picked up an awesome barbecue grill: the Char-Griller Duo! It received fantastic reviews, had charcoal, gas, a smoker, and a side burner, and was made of more durable metal than many other grills… plus it was on sale. My parents generously offered to buy us a grill as a move in gift, and told us to buy the one we wanted up here and then they would reimburse us the cost. This gift will definitely be used with our awesome deck!

Saturday I woke up early, and although I was exhausted from a late night, went to meet my friend and go to the public market. We needed some fresh veggies, and I wanted to get some steaks for the barbecue. It was a dreary and rainy day, which made the market a little less crowded. After picking up a bunch of fresh food I came back and continued unpacking.

Later in the afternoon we made a trip back to the apartment for a few last items that we didn’t have time to load on Friday. We filled the CR-V, but basically have everything cleaned out of the apartment now.

All day was spent opening boxes, sorting, and putting stuff away. By the end of the day we had completely finished the kitchen and the office. There isn’t a whole lot to put away in the living room or family room/reading room, but we still had a lot to do in the bedroom and bathroom.

Sunday was spent trying to organize the bedroom and assembling the grill. It’s amazing how insanely fast the day goes by when you have so much to work on. We also did our first home repair on Sunday; an outlet in the living room where we wanted to plug the TV in was a little jittery so we made a trip to Home Depot and replaced it. It was the first electrical work either of us did and I am happy to say we made it out without anyone getting shocked.

The house is starting to feel like home, even though we’ve only been there a few days. Even the cat is getting used to it. Originally Charlie was terrified; he spent the first day slinking around sniffing everything, by Saturday he was mostly hiding in the basement but walking a little more confidently, and by Sunday night he seemed mostly back to normal and was hanging out with us again relaxing on the bed. This morning for the first time he was begging for breakfast with his usual enthusiasm.

We still have a lot more to unpack and sort through, but are definitely making progress. Each day has been exhausting but very fulfilling. I am sure the novelty of being a new homeowner will pass but so far everything is exciting and fun.

Alt
hough the weather was pretty dreary we’ve met a few neighbors. They all seem very nice and friendly and I look forward to meeting the rest. We’ve also seen a lot of wild life; being in the woods there animals all around. So far we’ve seen deer, chipmunks, squirrels, coyotes, cats, and birds of all sorts. In the rain the house feels like it’s in a jungle – it’s very pretty. Today at work is has definitely been a slow day… I can’t wait to get back home!

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Tagged as: Money and Investing, personal development