Tile Sneak Peek

Mid project. Our kitchen backsplash!  About half way done with installing the tile. Once it cures overnight, we will grout tomorrow after work.

10 Days In

Okay, well we are not nearly as unpacked as I would like to be.  I was sick for a full week, including during move day and to be honest, I simply didn't want to do anything.  Now that I am on the mend, things are starting to pick up!  I am hoping to be completely done but this weekend.  Fingers crossed.

I am actually really surprised with how many issues we have found with this house.  Don't get me wrong.  I love this place, but I was expecting less urgent issues than what we've come across.

Issue #1 - Roman Shower.  The shower pan is beginning to separate from the tile, creating a crack in the caulk.  This in turn has allowed water to get into the crack and out onto our bathroom floor.  We can't let this go for long because obviously it could cause serious water damage as well as mold.  Adam is on it, we just have to find a time where either Mike and I are home to let the workers in.

Issue #2 - Kitchen Sink.  Just found this one tonight by chance when I was looking for the trash bags.  Apparently we have a leak in the pipe on the non disposal side of the sink.  We've been here for 10 days so you can imagine what it looks like under there.  It has ruined the inside of the cabinet.  So pissed about this.  If I had known I needed to check all the plumbing that closely before we moved in, I would have.  For those of you still in the building process, please make sure you check for leaks under all of your sinks!  Adam says it can be fixed too, but Im skeptical about how the cabinet will look. 

Issue #3 - Drywall.  This one isn't as serious because it won't cause permanent damage, but O.M.G. why can I see every single seam on the ceiling?!?!  Anywhere that is bigger than a single sheet of drywall, there are seams.  Seams. Seams. Seams.  Everywhere.  You can REALLY see them at night. (you were right M). 

On a happier note, we finally decided on a tile for the kitchen back splash.  It is a little unconventional, and we have been met with some skepticism but I am positive it will be GREAT.  Our order comes in on Thursday and we hope to start the project the weekend after next.

What do you think?

And since I know everyone loves pictures, here is Daisy enjoying her new roost.  She loves the arm of our new couch so she can look out the window.

Wow, we've been busy!

We had Verizon and the Lowe's blinds installer in on Friday, painted just ONE room (with the help of my mom) and moved on Saturday!  Our new home is a MESS, but its still OURS!!

We still have a few things at the old place, but at least the movers got most of it for us.  We used My Truck Buddy.  They are awesome.  We also used them last year to move into the apartment.  They are affordable, quick and polite.  If you are in the market for a moving company, they are your guys!  The only thing they don't do, is back your boxes.  TOTALLY worth it though!

My mom rolled up to the house right as the movers were arriving with our stuff on Saturday and once they unloaded everything, she blew through the kitchen and unpacked all of our boxes!  It was such a big help.  I wonder if I can get her to come back and do the rest of the house? :P

I think once we get settled in, it will begin feeling more like a home.  We still have tons of painting to do because on Friday, the paint fumes and dust in the new house made me sick.  Did you know that paint fumes can give you bronchitis? YEP it CAN! Its not contagious or anything, but still very inconvenient.  So it will be a slow process for us, but I am determined to get it all done!

Once the house is in better shape, I will take some photos.

In the mean time, here is one of the messy living room with one of the rugs we bought during black Friday.  Don't mind the TV on the floor.  We are in the process of remedying that now!

It's been a busy day!

As you know, yesterday the branch manager called late afternoon to tell us that we wouldn't be closing at 10AM, but that she was sure we would close sometime today.  About 10:30 this morning she calls to let me know they are GOOD TO GO and asked whether we wanted 12PM or 1PM.  Well duh, we needed to be in there ASAP so Mike could run off to basketball practice afterwards, so we chose the 12PM appointment.  Thank goodness we picked the earlier time because it took TWO HOURS to close.  It took us about 45 minutes to sign all the paperwork, but towards the end, our settlement specialist noticed that our 2nd trust on the VHDA paperwork was more than it should be.  So she took all our paperwork to get a second set of eyes.  After 15 minutes she comes back with bad news.  Turns out VHDA was insisting it had to be the larger amount (about $200 difference) which meant they had to redo about half of the paperwork so we could sign it all over again.  Redoing the paperwork took about 35 minutes and it took another 10 minute to sign it AGAIN and then she made copies for us.  I am so happy that part is all over with!  WE ARE HOME OWNERS!!

Once we left NVR, Mike ran off to practice and I headed on over to the house.  I got there and look what I found!

An awesome gift basket from Lauren and Adam!  We are so grateful to have such an amazing team!!  Thank you so much Lauren and Adam for being there for us, even if it was just letting us vent!  You ROCK!

I unloaded a few items from my car and promptly got to work calling the utilities to get everything set up and I took a quick trip over to the post office to get our mailbox keys.

I took Friday off so the blinds guy, and FIOS guy could come in and do their thing and also so I could paint a few rooms and then move in on SATURDAY!!!! SOO EXCITED!!!

This post wouldn't be complete without thanking Chrissy, Kay, Carey and the NVR settlement team for working their butts off to make sure we closed today.  They really did go above and beyond.  THANKS GUYS! I'm sorry for making your lives hell the past few weeks! :P

And of course thanks to all of my blogger friends who have cheered us on to the finish line!

We were almost there!

...and made it almost the entire day stress free, until branch manager called to tell me that the underwriter failed to get VHDA final approval.  A pretty big deal when you have a VHDA loan, dontcha think? 

So we are being reassured that we will still close tomorrow, but they don't know exactly WHEN.  Branch manager says close to 12-1PM.

This would have been nice to know last week so I could arrange coverage for my job.

How can you overlook something as important as a final VHDA approval?!

FINAL APPROVAL!!

WE GOT IT! WE GOT IT! WE GOT IT!

With conditions of course, but its just paystubs and W2's,  and a few forms we have to sign.  So I think that should be OK.

We are scheduled for the 19th, but I am still waiting for a time.

YAY!

Closing Update!

Alright! This is the closest we've been to a real closing date! Branch Manager called to let me know that she was able to speak to our underwriter today and she said that she told her that she hopes to have our file done by early afternoon tomorrow (Thursday).

I asked her if the file is indeed done by that time, would we will still be able to close by the 19th and she said YES it shouldn't be a problem because everyone is keyed in for the 19th and they are ready to roll when that file comes in.  She even went so far as to say that even if the file comes in at the end of the day, we should still be OK.  I guess once that file comes in, she will be able to give us an actual TIME too.

So I am really super excited right now, but am trying to temper it in case something bad happens.  YAY!!