update on the spokane house

Holy moly. This whole sale thing might actually happen! I'm one of those "hope for the best, prepare for the worst" kind of girls, so I've just assumed something would fall through (and something still can, so I'm not done holding my breath)... but so far, everything is falling into place instead!

Our realtor is a gracious and generous man, helping us get the price just right to where the buyer agreed to pay what we absolutely HAVE to ask. The buyer wants to close by February 16th, which would mean HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! We are not going to argue with that in the least and are doing everything within our pitifully measly power to speed it up to even sooner. February 15th, even. The home inspection was finalized this week, and when we got the results, we were nervous to see what they found, because you never know. We improved a TON in that place, but there are still known issues that we assumed would be pointed out. Not dangerous issues, but head-scratchers...

• like the siding that covers half a window, but does not cover the side of the house below the window (where siding typically goes)...
• or the silicone caulk (that is not paintable) that was used for everything from filling nail holes to lining the corners of the rooms to attaching the shower-head coverplate to the wall to securing cord to walls...
• or the garage roof that offers dappled sunlight to the concrete floor below...
• and I could go on, and this doesn't cover the unknowns that a conscientious inspector might find.

I figured there would be a laundry list of expensive changes that we'd have to firmly refuse to make, and the buyer would decide it was too big a project to follow through. I would then have to beg on bended knee, showing him the inspection that didn't deter Rob a few years back, and demonstrate how much we had fixed since then, including things we didn't even know about, like the door frame covering up a pierced electrical main, and isn't the fresh paint PRETTY?! BUY THIS PLACE, MISTER! PLEASE? PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE?!

And yet I refuse to acknowledge desperation.

The inspector found a damaged knee joint in the attic and some uncovered electrical boxes in the basement. Total fix will be about thirty minutes and a few bucks, according to our dear friend, a contractor, who accepts payment in plum jam and beer and is married to the prettiest gal around. We heard the results with disbelief, which I am glad the buyer was not around to witness:

"Really? That's IT?!
WOOOHOOOO!!!!"