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Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I imagine you gathered, from the whole selling-the-house business.
We're beginning to wrap things up here in Oklahoma (just had our last first tornado watch of the season. Ah, the nostalgia is setting in already…), and have orders to our next station — North Carolina!
That's right, we're heading back to the East Coast this summer, and are looking forward to living near the ocean again, and within (long, but reasonable) driving distance of family for the first time since before we had kids.
Our house has been on the market for about two weeks now, and we've had enough showings to keep us on our toes, but not quite enough for our house to just be clean all the time. Is that a thing? Clean all the time? I suspect it isn't.
In fact, we continue to approach maximum mess-ability over here, since Eleanor is fully mobile (and quite the explorer), Molly has finally learned how to consistently open doors on her own, and as helpful as Pippo can be, there's only so much spontaneous tidying a 5-year-old boy can be expected to be responsible for.
At least the two older ones can actually execute a pretty decent Blitz when they put their minds to it. We have done our best to associate house showings with ice cream and other fun to help in the motivation department.
Still, between the actual blitzing and vacuuming out the door and the knowing that at any moment we could get an hour's notice to have the house ready, this all consumes more energy, mental and otherwise, than I hoped I could get away with it consuming. (A friend was telling me about having her home on the market, and realtors appearing at her door at no notice with clients, or calling from five minutes away. And she has more children than I do! I think I would go crazy.)
My consolation is that several times a week, we come home to an absolutely spotless house. I walk in and think, “This is a great house! I would totally buy this house!”
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Shannon says
We were stationed at Cherry Point before we got orders up to NJ 2 years ago. My firstborn was born at Camp Lejeune (I assume that’s where you’ll be?) and I worked in Jacksonville as a speech pathologist before he was born. We lived on Emerald Isle. If I can be a resource don’t hesitate to reach out!
Cristina says
My first was born at Camp Lejeune too! Actually, Jacksonville is my husband and i’s hometown and our families are still there. Let me know too if you have any questions! That whole area is so nice for families. We would love to go back and settle there…and we might too, in another ten to twenty years once he retires from the Navy 😉
Rosie says
Yes, Lejeune – thank you!
Rosie says
I was wondering where you guys would be moving – North Carolina! That’s so exciting! I hope the house sells soon 🙂
Rosie says
Thanks, me too. 🙂
Lisa says
That’s exciting about NC- enjoy the ocean! And once when our house was on the market an agent + client showed up unannounced and the house was a mess, plus I had just changed a dirty diaper and the stench was still lingering. I was mortified but let them take a look anyways. Our Realtor told me later that it’s okay to turn people away and ask them to make an appointment, but when you’re eager to sell as soon as possible that’s easier said than done! 🙂
Rosie says
Oh my! Yes, it would be hard to say no. I’ve wondered how bad it would have to be for me to turn someone away…
Michele says
I’m so excited for you getting to move back East! It’s wonderful being (somewhat) driving distance from family. My husband was interviewing for jobs this spring, and I was so relieved when he ended up with the one that was only about 4.5-5 hours from grandparents! A few of them would have meant flying or taking two days to drive to see family – and you know how delightful that is!
Rosie says
Oh good, I’m glad it’s working out for you, too – I’ve been hoping he’d end up someplace good! We’ll be more like 12h from grandparents, but with a bunch of aunts and uncles and cousins halfway between, so that makes it more manageable.
Anne says
Just a tiny bit of encouragement…. Our house sold after the messiest viewing we had. It was short notice and all I had time to do was shove the kids and dog in the van!! So, from our experience, it didn’t have to be totally spotless to sell!! Best wishes!!!
BetsyM says
My sister had the same experience as Anne. They had the unannounced agent and messy house but the couple, who were wanting a family, LOVED the “family lives here” look. Prayers for St. Joseph to intercede and help sell your house.
Rosie says
Oh wow, good for you! That is encouraging.
Tamara says
I have been so curious to know where you would be moving! I am so glad it will be closer to family! Yea for all of you!!
P.S. We lived in a rental that was on the market for 2 years…. All I will say is never, ever again.
Rosie says
Oh my. That… is a long time.
kristina b says
I don’t even want to think about trying to sell our house and move with little kids! It’s a fight to keep the house clean enough to live comfortably in, much less clean enough to look good for potential buyers 🙂
I love the pictures of your kids playing, too – they are so beautiful.
AnnyM says
“This is a great house, I would totally buy this house!” Made me laugh. Also,
your babies are beautiful! 🙂
Barbara says
People can be more accepting of daily mess than you realize (as long as everything structurally is in good shape). Our first house sold to a last minute showing (actually it was the first showing before the sign was in the yard), while I sat in the family room with one little boy and the baby was napping upstairs. No way I was waking the baby for a showing with five minutes’ notice. It’s a sellers’ market in Ohio. Is it in Oklahoma?
Rosie says
This is an encouraging story, too! This is the busy moving season for the military, so there is at least a steady stream of buyers. We’ve had a lot of interest, so hopefully…
Jill Foley says
Praying the house sells quickly – regardless of mess! And moving to North Carolina sounds exciting – I lived there for 4 years while my husband and I went to grad school.
Sarah Pavel says
We were in the same boat this Spring. We’ve been stationed here in NC at Fort Bragg/Fayetteville and have absolutely loved our six years in this state. Our previous posting was in Texas so it was exciting for us, too, to be able to drive to family again (long drives, but still, not eight hours just to reach the Texas border drives…). Enjoy your time here. The NC coast and inland are both so beautiful. To help us get out and explore the state we set a goal of visiting all the state parks before we moved – we’d hit a park either as a daytrip or weekend camping trip, take the backroads, and stop into little local towns in the area between hikes or swims. We didn’t get through all of them (four kids in 32 months slowed our pace significantly) but we did manage about 60-70% of them. Such fun memories!
Selling with littles underfoot was super stressful (or oldest two, twins, are three, so not much help in that department) but, like you, it was such a pleasure coming home to a spotless home multiple times a week. Like you we kept pulling into the driveway and saying “what a nice house! I’d buy this place!” Good luck!
Heather says
I’d buy that house! The flow, the light, the calm and welcoming vibe you’ve given it!
How did the mantel turn out?
Rosie says
🙂 Thanks!
I am so happy with the white mantel! I was actually thinking, now that I have all these photos of everything looking preternaturally tidy, that I should catch up on a few “afters” of projects, or maybe even do a little house tour before we go…
Barbara says
I took pictures of all the rooms in both houses we have sold on days when the house was ready to show and I had a few minutes to get photos (rare with little boys underfoot). They are some of the favorite pages in the photo albums, though. The boys love looking at their “old” houses.
Katherine says
I’m just curious, not having any experience with the military: Why would a military family buy a home, knowing they could be moved unexpectedly and fairly often? It seems fairly risky financially, not to mention nerve-racking (in an already stress-filled kind of life).
Sarah Pavel says
In many (most) military roles you know how long you’ll be in a posting before the next move. So, for example, my husband I knew our current posting would be at least five years. The housing market varies, but in our case buying a home for several years was a better use of our money than renting and never getting any return on investment. Depending on the housing market, of course, living on post or renting have their own advantages. Houses in military towns tend to be relatively easy to sell because there is always a new contingent of personnel arriving every Spring during PCS season (~May – July).
Stephanie says
We just buy where we are stationed and then rent them out ourselves! Great investing opportunities! Also it is so nice to own a property, a lot less worry when not having to deal with landlords, eapecially with a large family…
Rosie says
In some areas, yes, it would probably be a little crazy to buy a house when you knew you’d only be there a few years. But as Sarah and Stephanie said, in our case, in this area, it made financial sense for us to buy. Plus, it gave us the opportunity to live in a house and area we love much more than any of the rentals or on-post housing that were available when we arrived.
We did consider keeping the house and renting it out, but decided that it made more sense to sell.
(We’re planning on living on base in North Carolina, largely because Capt. P will be back in a deployable billet, and it gives us more flexibility and leaves me with less responsibility when he’s gone!)
Sarah says
We just moved into the O-3 housing at Lejeune and LOVE our neighborhood. It was worth the wait. We arrived in February so there was zero turn over. Hopefully the wait list moves fast for you during peak season.
Rosie says
Oh fun, we’ll be neighbors!
Rachel says
so nice you will be somewhat closer to family!
Mary says
Yay for moving back east!! Wishing y’all a safe move and a quick sale of your digs in Oklahoma!
Lauren says
We took the first cash offer we got when we sold our house last year. A little lower than asking but the peace of mind with no more showings, and no loan uncertianty was so worth it! I had a 4 year old, 2 year old, 1 year and was 6 weeks pregnant as we moved into our new house.
Jennifer says
We had our house listed over Advent once. What a mistake! I remember I had just taken down all the Christmas decorations and the kids began pulling everything out they could. Just then, the phone rang that a showing was 15 minutes away. I had ten minutes to get everything back in the attic and clean up, plus get the kids in the car and out of there. I just grabbed bags and threw everything I could grab into them and put the bags in the car, there was really no time to clean after hauling the tubs back into the attic. After all that, the showing never showed up! I don’t envy you at all!
Dawn says
We were stationed at Fort Bragg for several years. We live in the mountains of N.C. now. I hope your house sells quickly.
Blessings, Dawn
Tacy Williams Beck says
I love North Carolina. We have cousins in Charlotte, Asheville is amazing– full of culture and good food- and of course the Outer Banks is a gorgeous area. Enjoy!
Mrs. B. says
Welcome back to four season weather, Rosie! Though not sure how much snow you can count on… It’s funny how you’ll be practically moving horizontally across the country. I hope you sell quickly, and yes, do take pictures! You’ll treasure the memory and the kids will enjoy seeing themselves in a place they may not remember much.
anel says
Wow! Everything seems terribly formal in the American market. Here in South Africa you are home most of the time when an agent shows your house. It is much less common to have your scenario where everyone needs to be out of the house. Stress, anyone….? 8-0
Kimberlee says
I love all the beautiful pictures of your children. You are one impressive lady, keeping a lovely show-ready house with three little ones! (like mother, like daughter, of course) I hope you sell soon and all goes well as you prepare to move back east. St. Joseph’s feast is on Sunday!
Kris says
I rarely post but read LMLD faithfully! We live in Raleigh. NC is a beautiful state. Boone and the Outer Banks are absolutely beautiful and family-friendly. Outer Banks Favorites: Wright Brothers Museum, Jockey’s Ridge, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Duck Donuts. Boone Favorites: riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway & Come Back Shack for a great burger. North Myrtle Beach (in South Carolina) is best for swimming. Fall is a great time to go to the beach – much cheaper rates, not crowded, and still warm! Hope your move goes well 🙂
Woman of the House says
I love the picture of all three of your kids on the couch. How did you get them all together at the same? lol
I hope your house sells quickly and easily. So glad you will be within reasonable distance of family!