RamblingNana's Blog

Whose idea was it for us to move anyhow?
Jul 11, 2008 | 10:55 PM PST
Tags: condo , moving , selling , real estate , market
Well, we would appear to have survived the first week of having our apartment on the market.  I think I've aged at least 10 years in the process . . . at least my face certainly looks 10 years older.  Can you say "haggard?"  OMG!!!  Talk about stress! What a production this is!  I don't ever recall moving (or attempting to move as the case may be) being such a trial.  I'm too darned old to move.  I've got roots here for Pete's sake!  I'm settled.  I need to sit quietly by the window and just watch the world go by . . . maybe rock back and forth a little.

Our real estate agent tells us to make sure the apartment is absolutely perfect.  It is totally staged.  We've put a ton of "stuff" in storage so that it's de-cluttered. Actually it looks very nice.  I couldn't even tell you what I'm missing.  I may be hitting Craig's list with a vengeance once we get moved.  I'll try to sell off some of my treasures.  That will thrill my husband.  I just hope my Mother isn't watching.

We get sudden phone calls that announce "someone" is coming for a viewing in 30 minutes and can we be ready to clear out and go hide during this process.  We've had 9 viewers.  We've spent a lot of time sitting in our underground parking lot . . . waiting.

I can't believe the cleaning I'm doing.  It never stops!  I don't want to cook or bake because my stove and oven will get messy.  I don't want to eat because I'll mess up the counters and the sink.  I don't want to comb my hair because I'll leave hair somewhere for sure.  I get up at the crack of dawn so that my bed looks like no one has ever slept in it.  We never stop Swiffering and washing floors and vacuuming carpets.  I dust and polish incessantly.  There is absolutely nothing out of place.  We even hide the laundry and our golf clubs in a janitorial cupboard down the hall.  We don't want anyone to think we have any dirty clothes.  Actually I'm thinking I may look into buying some disposable underwear (hee hee).

We are getting very positive comments on our place. We had our first negative comment yesterday from a really sweet couple who I think really suited this place.  The condo was "perfect."  Unfortunately our balcony was too small.  They were coming from a big house and ... they were right.  It would be too small for them to enjoy sitting out.  

Unfortunately the market here has been affected by the real estate shmozzle in the US.  It shouldn't be, but fact is, it is.  We got our first offer today:  $25,000.00 lower than our asking price . . . and our asking price is right in line with what it should be. Our price is what other condos in our building have gone for in the past year.  I was choked!  We were so disappointed. All I could think of was:  How DARE she insult me with such a low-ball offer?  How DARE she?!!!  If she can't afford to pay the advertised price she should go condo shopping somewhere else!  Grrrrr.

Whew!  Got that off my chest.  Obviously I'd make a lousy real estate agent.

So, that was the end of that offer.  Now we start all over again. It's awful.  There is so much product on the market right now.  People just aren't buying like they were a few months ago.  Of course if our new place had been completed when it was supposed to be completed, we would have sold our place in the blink of an eye . . . months ago!

Still no word as to when we can move into the new place.  They wont tell us anything other than "the end of Summer."  That may be a blessing in disguise if this place doesn't sell.

And the saga continues . . .

Grumble, grumble grumble.
Feb 13, 2008 | 11:29 PM PST
Tags: condo , condo new construction

Got the "official" letter from our builder today.  Because of the delays as a result of  bad weather conditions and/or lack of available skilled tradespeople, occupation of our new place is delayed until late Summer 2008 blah, blah, blah, blah.

I shouldn't complain.   I feel like I'm waiting for a bus - you know how you keep stepping off the curb and peering down the road to see if it's coming yet. ;-)

Speaking of feeling un-settled.  My son sold his place last Friday.  He is very pleased - but feeling sad to think of moving after putting his heart and soul (and back) into building their home and improving the land.  They still don't seem to know what they are going to do.  The new owner is letting them stay on the property for the Summer.  They are really looking forward to enjoying the land and the garden after working so hard on getting it the way they want it.  Me too!

Winter seems very long this year.  I just realized I've got another three full months before I can even think about starting my flowers on the balcony.  How I envy those of you who live where it's warm all the time and you are always surrounded by flowers.  Lucky!

I'm going to have to find another forum to vent on - I've no flowers to talk about!

Well, enough complaining for one night.  I'm going to go curl up with my book. 

Cheers!

The Tulip Magnolias are out - Spring must be here!
Apr 9, 2007 | 6:38 PM PST
Tags: condo , petunias , shade , balcony , spider mites , aphids , tomatoes , container gardens , container tomatoes , miniature tomatoes , hanging baskets

Hi!

I found this delightful site last Summer.  I really enjoyed posting and receiving comments from "the gang."  I got tips that I fully intend to use this coming season.

I have seasonal worries about avoiding aphids on my container tomato plants and keeping spider mites at bay that I'm always looking for the latest advice on.

I'm living in a condo, so as you can imagine, a balcony flower display is somewhat limited space-wise - that doesn't stop my interest in what other gardeners are doing.  Never met a gardener I didn't like.

I had a beautiful flower garden when I had my house.  Many happy hours trying to make everything perfect.  It breaks my heart that I never thought to take photos of it before I moved.  I've only got a couple of fuzzy shots of my back patio. You can view them on my photo album.

We will be moving to a much larger condo next March.  Can't wait!  It's still just a cement foundation - but at least they've started on it.  I'll have a 15' x 25' north-facing patio in the new place.  I'll really have to come up with lots of shade-loving plants to dress up my view.  I'm looking forward to getting lots of tips and suggestions from the forum.

I'd like to share a garden with you. It's my childhood friend's and I love visiting it each Spring.  She is a wonderful gardener.  The garden is planted with perennials that don't need extra watering.  She pretty much lets nature take its course.  Take a look at the album I've put together and click SLIDESHOW - it's lovely. The garden is on an island on the Westcoast of BC where we get lots of rain. 

Cheers!