random thoughts – Day 1,929 – (Saturday) – houses and home

Late yesterday, there was another request for a showing of my house for today. An offer was made yesterday but with no agreement in place yet, the new request was granted. There was another morning hustle to make sure the house was presentation ready again.

Luckily, there hadn’t been much of a chance for me to mess it up too much from Thursday’s showing, but the birds had plastered a couple upstairs windows with their airborne excrement. The vinyl tilt-in windows made it quick and easy to deal with the dried avian offerings on the screens and windows.

There was quick dusting and vacuuming, spot cleaning of the kitchen floor, fluffing of pillows, wiping of sinks and counters. And then, I was westward bound. The house I looked at Thursday had an open house today and I went to see if I liked it as much today as the other day. (I think I do.) They weren’t even taking any offers until after today’s open house.

It was busy and I got to be a fly on the wall, which was kind of fun. One person expressed their concerns about the bathroom skylight to their companion who was in an adjoining room. I wondered if they were real concerns or a strategy to turn some of the other visitors off the place. Another expressed their surprise to the realtor that of the decorating updates done over the years, removal of the textured ceilings wasn’t one of them.

Several visitors said they lived a street or two over, walk or drive by often, and just wanted to see the inside of this one. One shared their knowledge of the neighborhood with all within earshot and I learned there are seven different home layouts in that neighborhood. Between Mom’s house, a family friend’s, and the three open houses attended, I’ve seen several of the layouts, but still not one with sliders and a back deck or a garage instead of a carport.

After the open house, I took Mom with me on a ride to Athol to an open house at a 1940s-era house with amazing original wood floors and woodwork and high ceilings. I love older homes and this one has original light fixtures, numerous closets, French doors, a two-car garage, and lots of charm. It needs a full set of kitchen appliances, light sanding and floor work, a garage roof, some window panes in an enclosed back porch, and new ropes in the original windows or new windows. To name a few. Not rocket science, not impossible, but more than my budget and patience can accommodate. The skillful photos were very flattering, but I’m still glad I got to see the reality of it. I wish I had the capability to polish it up to be the shining jewel it certainly was once upon a time.

Kiki being cute, 6-28-25.

There were updates from the latest showing of my house and the planning of responses. Once we get those numbers settled, the focus can shift to finding my next place, and I’ll be the one sweating blood and bullets and making an offer.

As usual, Kiki has been ruling The BungaLowell.  Her routine, best as I can figure,  involves sleeping all day then emerging from wherever and being adorable, asking for face rubs, and alternating between posing in various rooms and padding around the house all evening. I'm not sure what she does when I sleep, but she's quiet enough with it that she doesn't wake me up and when I arise in the morning, the place isn't trashed. Good Kiki.