Progress

We are making progress in our decision to downsize and sell our house.  Faith Fleming, our realtor, was here yesterday and had worked up an estimate.  We talked about what needs to be done in the house (not much!) and a timetable for selling.

Faith suggested putting the house on the market in mid-March with the stipulation that we would not move out until early June.  It is early for Notre Dame hires coming in but she said that there are folks who came in last year and are renting while looking for the right house.  A house down the road sold in three days!  May we be so blessed!

Laura's artwork

I felt overwhelmed again after she left.  But I went through the kitchen and our bedroom and took her suggestion to get everything off the floor and counters-or at least 2/3 of what was there.  It was not an impossible task!  The dining room is already pretty uncluttered and so is the living room except for my music which can be easily put away.

Jeff's favorite puzzle

The family room will need work because that is where we spend most of our time.  Faith suggested keeping an empty bin and when showings are scheduled, dump everything it it for the time being.  The upstairs bedrooms should not be too difficult to "stage."  The basement rooms are another story--no pun intended.  Faith has listed the "train room" as a potential fifth bedroom but it sure doesn't look like it now with golf bags, Jim's dad's diaries, an old kitchen cabinet, and even a dresser left by the last owners--let alone Jim's train set filling every bit of space.

I have started a box of books for our second book give-away at church.  I have another box of household stuff that I can offer to my friends at Bible Study and then send the rest with Mary Brown who donates to a thrift shop in Niles.  And what really makes me happy is that Cyn Haas asked if her daughter who is moving from a one bedroom apartment to a five bedroom house could have first dibs on buying furniture.  We have no need to sell things but would love to have them take the bunk beds and the canopy bedroom suite and several chairs and a desk.  I love the idea of another little girl, Cyn's grand-daughter, enjoying the sturdy yellow furniture we bought used years ago--and is good for a lifetime ahead I think.

I'm happy to write that Jim cleared off one desk downstairs and has begun working on another one.  He gave away some books this week and is making plans to give away others.  There are many many more to go but he is making progress!

I was surprised at how definite Jim was about deciding to go with Faith's suggestions.  We agreed however that we are finished with being home owners and ready to rent--probably in Princeton.  But that will be the next big decision.  I hope our house sells quickly so we have time to get rid of more stuff and look for places to live at our leisure.