Moving--timelines, headaches, reminders, etc

[tskeeter]

Oct 16, 2021 17:33:14 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I'm very nervous about my plants. The last time we moved, I think it was only four or five pots. Now it's at least 40. I'm concerned my husband will actually tell me I have to leave them.

Probably way cheaper to replace them than move them.

[Sharon]

My realtor in the city where I'm moving is driving me nuts.  She showed up for the inspection on Monday let everyone in and left.  She neglected to tell me that I would be expected to pay for the inspection that day and that the inspector doesn't take credit cards.  Fortunately he did take a check.  My questions seem to annoy her and I get no guidance on when I should be doing what.  I almost dumped her early on in the process and should have.

We finally responded with a repair requested addendum from the inspection.  The inspection was done Monday and I had the report in my inbox by the time I had driven my 4 hours home.  I shot off an e-mail to the agent highlighting the things I thought needed to be addressed late that evening.  I don't hear anything from the agent until Wednesday morning when I get an e-mail of we need to figure out what items we are going to ask for repair.   Read the e-mail you just replied to lady.  I replied that the items of concern where shown below but then highlighted my biggest concern items.  Finally Thursday afternoon I get a document to docusign with the items I wanted addressed.

This morning I asked her when I would be receiving the disclosure form from the sellers since basically we have had an accepted offer for some time now.  Her reply, "they sent it to me but it isn't legible.  I've asked for a new one."

This morning the well flow test was done and I guess the water test also, even thought the realtor had told me she would pick up a water sample and deliver it to the company.  I don't think she ever got around to doing that.

Yesterday I did some research on which companies would be best for internet/phone etc in the area.  I have only had TV from an antennae on the roof for over 30 years now, but it looks like I can get cable TV for only $10 more a month than what I have been paying for phone/internet here with a bundle.

The loan process is steaming ahead.  I did find out that they have waived an appraisal because I'm going in with such a large down payment.

The inspection hasn't happened yet on my current home but I suspect it will be next week.

Fortunately we are working with the same title company for both transactions but each transaction is in a different office.  I need to call the title office in new city and pass some information along that the realtor doesn't seem to be doing.  The realtor who is selling my current home sent me an e-mail with the name of the person, contact info etc, of the person who would be handling the transaction of my current home.  When I asked the realtor in the new city she told me to call and ask for Mike, he would know who was handling my transaction.

[Sharon]

Is it normal to have to pay for the inspections as soon as they happen?  The last two times I have bought a house those were paid as part of the closing costs.  I will admit it has been a long time since I have purchased property so wondered if things have changed.

Once again the realtor neglected to mention that this would be expected.  I just got a call from the company that did the well testing.  The guy would take my credit card number over the phone but wouldn't give me results.  Those will be mailed to me.

[TheOtherMe]

In every house I have purchased, the cost of inspections were rolled in to the closing costs.

However, I don't know if this new rush to purchase world has changed that.

[seriousthistime]

Oct 22, 2021 15:42:41 GMT -5 Sharon said:

Is it normal to have to pay for the inspections as soon as they happen?  The last two times I have bought a house those were paid as part of the closing costs.  I will admit it has been a long time since I have purchased property so wondered if things have changed.

Once again the realtor neglected to mention that this would be expected.  I just got a call from the company that did the well testing.  The guy would take my credit card number over the phone but wouldn't give me results.  Those will be mailed to me.

Yes.  With the inspection I just got, I had to pay by credit card the day before.  There are no realtors involved in this deal so I arranged for the inspection myself. I did not attend the inspection because I am a few thousand miles away.  The seller and I are addressing items of concern on the inspection.  I don't care about the small stuff.  There are a few bigger issues I would like to be addressed and the seller is getting ideas and estimates.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Oct 18, 2021 15:48:20 GMT -5 tskeeter said:

Oct 16, 2021 17:33:14 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I'm very nervous about my plants. The last time we moved, I think it was only four or five pots. Now it's at least 40. I'm concerned my husband will actually tell me I have to leave them.

Probably way cheaper to replace them than move them.

I've been trying to consider this, but here's how far I've gotten in the logical sense. Because my first reaction is BUT THOSE ARE MY FLOWERS!!!

Let's say I have 40 pots. Let's say they were an average of $10 just for the pots (which I think is low). That would be $400 to replace the pots. 
Then there's the dirt. That would be at least ten bags of dirt which would be --again low--$75 to replace. Then the plants. That's going to be at least--low average--$8 per pot, so $320. That's $400 + $75 + $320 = $795

So, emotional distress aside, what does it cost to move my potted plants? 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Oct 22, 2021 15:42:41 GMT -5 Sharon said:

Is it normal to have to pay for the inspections as soon as they happen?  The last two times I have bought a house those were paid as part of the closing costs.  I will admit it has been a long time since I have purchased property so wondered if things have changed.

Once again the realtor neglected to mention that this would be expected.  I just got a call from the company that did the well testing.  The guy would take my credit card number over the phone but wouldn't give me results.  Those will be mailed to me.

I think I've had it both ways, but this most recent time--2012--I paid the inspector directly. 

[stillmovingforward]

A flatbed trailer and 2 cases of beer.

[nidena]

Oct 23, 2021 10:54:23 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Oct 18, 2021 15:48:20 GMT -5 tskeeter said:

Probably way cheaper to replace them than move them.

I've been trying to consider this, but here's how far I've gotten in the logical sense. Because my first reaction is BUT THOSE ARE MY FLOWERS!!!

Let's say I have 40 pots. Let's say they were an average of $10 just for the pots (which I think is low). That would be $400 to replace the pots. 
Then there's the dirt. That would be at least ten bags of dirt which would be --again low--$75 to replace. Then the plants. That's going to be at least--low average--$8 per pot, so $320. That's $400 + $75 + $320 = $795

So, emotional distress aside, what does it cost to move my potted plants? 

My first thoughts are...

How heavy are the pots?
How many pounds of dirt are we talking and how heavy is that?
Are the plants/flowers rare?

Keep the favorite pots and the favorite/rare plants.  Sell/rehome the rest would be my take.  I left every pot I had at my old house.  I was NOT going to move dirt from the east coast to the Midwest.

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2021 11:28:33 GMT -5 nidena said:

My first thoughts are...

How heavy are the pots?
How many pounds of dirt are we talking and how heavy is that?
Are the plants/flowers rare?

Keep the favorite pots and the favorite/rare plants.  Sell/rehome the rest would be my take.  I left every pot I had at my old house.  I was NOT going to move dirt from the east coast to the Midwest.

And if she's using a professional moving service they won't take plants. Given the conditions in a moving van I cam understand why. I still remember my first real move- from Cincinnati to NJ for a new job. They paid for the move and I drove over 2 days. I still remember the car full of plants and having to take them into the hotel room overnight because it was late June. Dh and I also drove a bunch of plants from NJ to Kansas City when we moved. The Christmas cactus that belonged to my first husband's ex-wife is still doing well. It has to be 40 years old now.

[NastyWoman]

For that value and the fact that you really like your flowers I would say a one way Uhaul may be called for

[nidena]

You know how realtors will put you on their marketing list and then you get postcards for many months...years...afterwards?

I wish, the seller's agents would send them to the seller around the one year post-sale mark with a reminder to do another Change of Address to ensure all the stragglers were caught.  Especially if the house was sold after tax filing time.

I keep getting statements for the previous owner.  Bank statements that aren't junk mail.

Just a reminder to do another change of address when you sell a house.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I don't think I finished up the plant convo: We do have a Ford F250. I can take plants in that and a utility trailer. 


I've been collecting boxes from work for the past month. 
I'm going to start packing this week since we're taking the autumn and Thanksgiving decorations down. DD#2 will be home for two weeks at Christmas, so she'll pack up or purge the rest of her bedroom that she didn't take to college with her. 

I'm also going to email the realtor we'll use to list our house. I'm going to ask her to come by in December to tell us what we need to do before listing. 

[Lizard Queen]

Don't you have a travel trailer? Can't you put at least some of those plants in there to move? Put thick sheets of plastic underneath them to protect the floors.

[jerseygirl]

Chloe did you decide where you’re moving to?

[Sharon]

I'm into the final countdown to moving.  I will be signing papers sometime next week at the beginning of the week, possibly tomorrow.  I took another van load over this weekend.  The movers are scheduled to be here Thursday to load up and then Friday morning at the new house to unload.  I've talked with DD and she was going to run it buy DSIL but we will probably get a U-Haul on Saturday and unload everything out of the storage units on Saturday and move it to my garage or my shop and then I can sort through it on my time frame, without having to pay storage fees.

I am exhausted but one more week.  I say that but I know how much work needs to be done to the new place plus all the unpacking.  The kitchen at a minimum needs painting immediately.  It is painted a horrid shade of blue.  When I mentioned hating the color the real estate agent said it made her want to throw up.  My Mom was asking why anyone would want their kitchen that shade of blue.

This week I need to start changing my address everywhere and get utilities turned switched over.  I do have an appointment for internet/TV at the new place on Friday.  Since I am permanent work from home internet is important and top priority to get working.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Nov 28, 2021 18:58:36 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Don't you have a travel trailer? Can't you put at least some of those plants in there to move? Put thick sheets of plastic underneath them to protect the floors.

Good point. Maybe. We may end up living in there for a bit though. I'm trying to figure out if I want to sell my house first and have the down payment ready to go to make contingency-free offers. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Nov 28, 2021 19:04:19 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Chloe did you decide where you’re moving to?

No, but we've narrowed it down to three areas that we'll consider. In my professional realm, jobs that start in July are posted the previous November - April. While we won't wait until April, we are just now able to consider job postings. DH has been called twice already--no applications. People just know he's resigned from his current position. There a

[Sharon]

Nov 28, 2021 20:49:34 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Nov 28, 2021 18:58:36 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Don't you have a travel trailer? Can't you put at least some of those plants in there to move? Put thick sheets of plastic underneath them to protect the floors.

Good point. Maybe. We may end up living in there for a bit though. I'm trying to figure out if I want to sell my house first and have the down payment ready to go to make contingency-free offers. 

Yes, Yes, Yes.  I went through the whole contingency based on selling my house and it made the process so much more stressful.  Things have changed a lot since I last bought and sold a house 25 years ago.  As part of the acceptance of my offer on my new house the seller added that my home needed to be on the market by the following Friday (that was the day it was scheduled to hit and they knew that).  If I didn't have an accepted offer with 21 days then deal was off.  I was only allowed to accept an offer where my buyer had a contingency to sell their house with the approval of the people I was buying from.  The house also was considered bumpable until I had an accepted offer, meaning anyone else could come with a cash offer, or no contingency needed to sell a home and bump me from the home.  The sellers were only required to give me 24 hours notice.  The bumpable part is what caused the most stress.  It had take me well over a month to find the property I did and even then it wasn't exactly what I wanted but I was scared I would be bumped.

[TheOtherMe]

Even in this area of Iowa, DN3 was told he can't make an offer with contingency of selling a house and getting a loan.  It will basically be laughed at.

[Sharon]

I signed all the papers on both houses today.  Tomorrow the money flows and the papers are all recorded.  The loan company screwed up the loan documents.  In the initial papers they had me sign they didn't use my middle name even though I filled out the initial loan application using my middle name.  This was brought to their attention at that time and I was told to sign it and they would fix it before closing.  I should have flat out refused to sign it until it was fixed, but was told this was just to get the process started.  On all legal, important type stuff I always use my full name (first, middle, last).  Guess what the papers today didn't have my middle name. 

They also screwed up when my first payment is due.  Just before Thanksgiving I had to make a decision, if I signed the papers in November the first payment would be due January 1st or if I signed in December then the first payment would be February 1st. It didn't really matter to me so I told them we would just have a November signing.  All the papers said my first loan payment would be February 1st.  When I got home I brought both issues to their attention.  They apologized on the name then said they would check on the due date of the first payment.  They came back and said I could leave it as it was or they would create new forms relating to when the first payment was due and I could go back and just sign those papers.  I told them I was so upset with my name being wrong that I wasn't in the mood to sign any more papers and to just leave it the way it was.

Today I also made major headway in getting my address changed everywhere.  There are just two small items to finish up with getting the utilities all switched over.

[finnime]

Good for you, Sharon! Selling and buying are such complex, multi-threaded processes.