Going, going... Part I

Having a moment's peace, I thought I'd post a bit of an update re the - hopeful - sale of the house. When last we heard [insert radio mystery music]... The folks that made a verbal counter-offer that was allegedly pending their seeing the inside of the garage - these are the low-ballers returned - didn't show.

Then, on 15 April, their agent (L) contacted my agent (B) to say that he would be sending the amended purchase agreement; no comment about not having seen the garage. On the 17th they sent the signed amendment to the purchase agreement BUT changed the date to 26 May, Memorial Day. They had verbally agreed to 6 June. 26 May wasn't going to work because I'm still in F'ton, P's mother is visiting, and 7YO is still in school. B called L to see what, if anything, could be done around the date conflict. L then called back. It sounds like he essentially told his clients that the date they had written in wasn't what he and our agent had agreed to. I think he was annoyed with them. They wanted to know why the 26th wouldn't work and he apparently told them that why we couldn't really didn't matter, we couldn't, maybe we had kids in school, etc... Apparently they just picked that date because they will be here for the holiday weekend. L then told B that he expected to get a revised document that night - the 17th - or first thing the next morning.

Friday came and went. Nothing. No call. No email. Nothing. Then, after I about had a complete meltdown on Saturday, ready to cash it in, we went out and about for the day. Returning at 2:15, the phone rang. It was B saying that L had called, that he was "on his way" with the earnest money check and signed amendment. B was going into a meeting at 2:30 and said that she would call back before if he, indeed, showed up. The phone rang five minutes later.

She had the check and the signed amendment with a closing date of 15 June. We arranged to go to her office at 4:15.

But, she had had to remind L that the original offer still carried a contingency of the garage inspection. So, he called to set up a showing. The desk called to set it up and, because he didn't have his realtor's key, he wanted to know if I would mind being here to show him the garage. Mind? I didn't really want to meet the guy, but I would have crawled to the garage if that was what it took.

I sent my house guest, 7YO, and pup off for a walk. L showed up, checked out the garage, said he was satisfied, and off he went.

We went to B's office at 4:15, signed the papers, and left.

Today is Wednesday. This morning B received an email from L saying that he had faxed the amendment, removing the contingency, to his clients on Monday and had not yet had it returned. They also have to address the closing date because, as I pointed out, the 15th is a Sunday. Nonetheless, short of a medical emergency or some other catastrophe, we're pulling out of here on Thursday, 12 June. More on that in the next post.

So, once they return the amendment removing the contingency, if they walk, we keep the $5K earnest money and start over again. I'm, of course, three-quarters of the way holding my breath for the amendment. Then I'll only halfway hold my breath until closing.

Bottom line is that we sold for 91% of initial asking, a little over 95% of the reduced price. Cash sale, no appraisal required, no inspection requested. So, I'm not complaining at all. It's not what we'd hoped for, but in this market, we're more than fine with it. Now if I could just not be holding my breath!