Celtic House

After much deliberation, we chose Celtic House.  Archer preferred Square House, but I pointed out that it was the same price as Celtic House but lacked a garage (hello?  I'm not clearing off 12+ inches of snow off the car during the winter!) and a yard.  For me, the yard is a huge selling point.  So our agent and her husband (they work as a team, but everything is in her name) came over last night around 8:30, and we signed the contract.  Before she came over, she contacted the listing agent and asked what was the lowest offer the sellers would entertain.  It seems she has worked with the listing agent a lot and felt comfortable asking this question.  He gave her a number, she gave him a number, and he said something like, "I think I can get my people to work with that."  So we submitted an offer about $12,000 under asking price, based on a few things.  The house really does only have 2 bedrooms (again, there is a large finished room in the basement that could be a bedroom as well as a main floor addition that could also be used as a bedroom), and it has been on the market since May 5 (I think this is due to the bedroom situation; most people can't see the potential of this house).  Our agent said she'd drop off the paper work by 10:00 this morning, and that we should know something by 5:00 this afternoon.

At 10:30 as we were loading up the boys for Wild Man's 11:00 soccer game, Archer's cell phone rang.  It was our agent.  She was with the sellers and their agent, and the sellers were planning to counter at $4,000 over what we asked.  They told our agent that if we'd split the difference and meet in the middle we'd be done.  Archer said, "M and I have already talked it over.  We're 100% comfortable with that.  Let's close the deal."  So we got the house, which is a really lovely, little house (although it is actually much larger than it appears to be), for $10,000 under asking price, which is about 5% off the price.  More to the point, we like the neighborhood it is in much better than The House, and while it is a bit smaller, the yard is much, much nicer.  Barring any thing showing up on inspection, we have a house.  And while it is older, the only things that need to be done to it are cosmetic.  I mean, there is a crazy Greek-themed wallpaper border in the downstairs bedroom that has got to go, and the kitchen is the same copper color that we just painted over in our house.  But aside from that, it is a great house.  I'm very, very happy with our decision, especially considering how easily the deal went together.

As a bonus, we just got a call from our agent.  The sellers do want to keep a few things, primarily some plaid drapes they love (please, take them, I said!) and a light in the dining room that the husband made himself (I also said, feel free!).  In exchange, they are leaving us their massive freezer, their lawn mower and other lawn tools, and possibly some outdoor furniture.  It seems they are thrilled that a family with young children bought their home, and as they are moving to an apartment, they will leave us anything they don't want--and they'll clear it through our agent first!  What lovely, lovely people!  I think we're going to be really happy in this home.