08/06/2026
I have the best time with the people brave enough to work with me. Suffice it to say: I’m not for everyone.
My biggest fault is my extreme love for “old house charm” (the “bless your heart” of home buying)…homes that “just need a hug”. And, of course, the smaller the better, I always say!
There is a house here in Marietta that I have shown to no less than 7 hopeful homebuyers, and 6 of the 7 said, “Yeah. No.”
This house is adorable. I cannot wait to talk more about it. Or, more about the first-time homebuyers who finally said “Yeah” without that two letter obstacle following it to thwart my lovefest.
We went back to this house so many times! And, to their credit, they never said no. (To quote the philosopher, Lloyd Christmas, “So, you’re saying there’s a chance…”)
And to quote my story-telling Grandmother, “and then one day…FINALLY AT LAST…” they said yes.
I think they actually said, “Why cant we quit you!?” And then said yes.
Of course, they have probably rethought the decision a hundred times over. It’s a wee, little gal, and they have a new baby. But, they are old house people. They are cottage style people. They love living near the Square. And of course, the price ain’t bad either.
Because, this house just needs a hug.
Last night, we were meeting a plumber to add to the constantly shifting list of priorities. Every time a new concern comes up, we actually get decent news, but I keep waiting for them to say, “That’s it. It’s too much!”
(They come close. Often. But, like the merry little track pony I am, I keep walking them toward the gate.)
So, last night, Liz and her friend Abby were checking out the fun vintage things in this sweet little abode. And they closed a bedroom door, and tested the skeleton key. And got locked inside. Very, very locked inside (like a full 10 minutes of all of us trying everything we could to get that door open kind of locked inside) with a 5 month old who was ready to blow, a smoke alarm that beeped infernally with a low battery, a plumber discussing options for waterlines in the hallway, and a deadline for due diligence coming up fast.
I was expecting to have to call the fire department. Instead, they finally just climbed out the window and made ridiculous fun of themselves, while Alex, Liz’s husband, breathed quietly into a bag.
I got a ridiculous case of the giggles, and fully expected them to have me laughing all the way to the phone to call the agent to cancel the contract.
Instead, we all agreed it was a blessing that it happened with so many people around. And we went home. And I briefly forgot about the door.
Except, we haven’t had the appraisal yet. And today, Liz asked what the appraiser would do when the door didn’t open.
And I realized I hadn’t even told the listing agent. We were in the midst of that last desperate moment of trying to get everything to work out before time was up, and it fully dropped out of my head.
So, I let the agent know about the lock not working in the door and asked whether there might be some trick to opening it. He said he knew nothing about it and immediately blamed the home inspector, and I readily explained that Liz had simply turned the key in the lock, and we just wanted a plan before the appraisal and asked permission to try to get the door open.
He gave permission for us to try, but he was grumpy about it.
Just a short time ago, Alex climbed back through the window, and my chubby self went through the front door to the hallway side of the door. And after a little bit of cussing (me), and some actual thinking (Alex), a stroke of luck and inspiration combined and Alex was able to get the bolt lock to open.
This is the face of a guy who knows he’s got skills. A guy who can save his wife and baby from old doorknobs and bring an old house back to life.
And the face that’s probably going to want to punch me when they really start digging in.😎
But, today: VICTORY!
They haven’t even closed yet and the memories are already piling up. 😉
