Our last week as homeowners

After arriving home from our trip to Cedar Point, we had just one week to finish our move into the RV!  We left it parked outside and plugged into the barn, and moved in everything we wanted to take with us, starting with our mattress.

By Sunday night, we were officially living in the RV in the driveway, and continued to sell, donate or throw away what was left in the house.  Thankfully, the weather had gotten a little milder, especially at night, and we were comfortable without the A/C, since we were running off a 20 amp plug in the barn!

Gradually, the rooms in the house were being emptied,

leaving only the items being left behind for the new owner.  The kitchen had the only remaining seats, and was used as our “office central”.

Bryce was in charge of burning old documents and records that we no longer needed.

It was a busy and chaotic week, with people coming over to buy the last of our bigger items, and arranging for utilities to be taken out of our names, and filling garbage bags with stuff that’s been stored for the last 15 years . . . and making sure that everything was in place for the closing on Thursday!

We were originally supposed to close on Friday, but the realtors wanted to have an extra business day of cushion, in case there was a glitch in the paperwork, so we agreed to a late Thursday closing, with us maintaining occupancy until Friday at noon.

The closing was amazingly quick and smooth – I guess that’s what you get when there’s no bank involved! – and before we knew it, we were no longer homeowners!!

We went back to “that house we’ve called home for 15 years”, and did some more moving and cleaning, and then met our realtors at Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner.  It was quite the celebration, and Patrick & Scott presented us with “closing gifts” of gas cards for Tom & I, and a really nice pair of Nikon Binoculars for the boys . . . they are such great guys, and we really loved working with them and getting to be friends!

Just 10 minutes before the noon deadline on Friday, we removed the last of our stuff from the house, and walked over to say good-bye to the neighbors.  We had visited with just 2 of the 5 neighbors by 1pm when we saw the new homeowner drive up, so we walked back to talk with her for a bit.  She and her kids are really nice, and I think they are going to love living in their new home!

By 3pm, we had eaten lunch and finished putting things away in the RV (at least in temporary locations), and were hitched up, ready to drive out.  We finished our good-byes with the other 3 neighbors, with hugs and promises to keep in touch, and then it was time to take our last trip down the driveway!

It was a little difficult to leave our first real house, and the only home the boys have ever known, but we’re looking forward to the adventures that lie in front of us!!  ROAMIMG FREE!!!