Upgrading by downsizing.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, I moved.  The time came were I needed a change… but not for the sake of change.  There was actually thought behind it.  Go figure.  It was a combination of being practical, financially responsible and thinking about the future.  

Aniko came into my life…. with one thing leading to another.  Anyone reading our blog, knows this.  With my many trips to the great white north, my 2 bed, 2 bath condo is not being utilized to the fullest.  In another words… a “waste of money”.  Every so often I was crunching numbers, looking at the housing market and thinking of what my actual needs are.  During my drive back from MTL in January I crunched numbers again in my head…. you be surprised what you have time for when on a 15 hour drive.  I got back to IL and looked again what my options are.  Contacted a realtor and by February I was looking at places. 

Michael Pittman is the man you want when it comes to buying/selling your home.  I told him my plan and needs and he was sending me listings the same day.  After several weeks, we found the place that fit my needs and my budget. I put in an offer, they countered, I said I would agree to their counter if they would included all the furniture, they agreed. Done.  Six weeks later had the closing and a new, smaller (1 bed, 1 bath) condo. 

Now to sell my 2 bed, 2 bath condo.  Purge, start packing and get it ready for staging (THANKS ANIKO!!).  When all was done, Michael looked at it and was surprised how well it showed. Had two small tips (change 2 light bulbs and move a few things).  He listed it on a Friday morning and less then 11 hours later already had an offer…. above asking.  Oh dear…. that was not expected.  Happy about it, but it totally threw me for a loop.  I thought I would have more time to update a few things in the new condo, to move stuff into the new place and finish packing.  All while still swinging back and forth like a pendulum between IL and MTL.  Luckily Aniko was able to come back and help with phase 2, which we thought might only happen late spring or in the summer.  The scramble began. 

We got through the scramble.  The packing. The purging. The moving.  Have been officially and permanently in the new place since May 15th. Let me rephrase that…. relieved of the old condo (aka burden) since May 15.  Being that I’ve had my new place since March 29th.  I even had a squatter for a coupe of hours.  That story is for another day. 

Since then, I have been getting used to my new surroundings, noises, potholes and new places to eat.  That’s the best part.  Love me some new food. Nom Nom.  Still have boxes that need unpacking and things that need to be either thrown out, purged, donated or stored.  It’s a process.  But a process that in the long term is totally worth it.