Since March 2020, almost everyone has been impacted by the universal event. What follows is a summary of the last, nearly two years of our lives.
03/13/2020: Covid-19 lockdowns began in the U.S.A.
08/26/2020: As a broker of our own company, I listed our previous residence on the MLS.
- A break-a-leg moment: Later that afternoon, I broke my heel bone because of a freak accident, related to putting the house on the market. (Let’s just say that being a perfectionist can be hazardous to one’s health.)
- Despite this condition, David and I began our mission to find a condominium in West Bloomfield, Michigan, our favorite area of choice. Not having to rely on other agents was quite helpful, eliminating the waiting time, especially during one of the hottest sellers’ markets in recent history. In fact, I doubt that we would have been able to put our new residence – the one we really liked – under contract if I were not handling the searches and showings for ourselves.
03/30/2021: Began our temporary stay in a hotel in Southfield, Michigan.
03/31/2021: Closed on the sale of our previous house.
07/29/2021: Closed on the purchase of our new residence. Per the agreement, the previous owner stayed there until 08/20/2021.
08/23/2021: Major remodeling at our new residence began:
- I became our own general contractor for this project. For every aspect, we had excellent contractors with whom I had the privilege of working.
- All carpets removed.
- Hardwood floors throughout most of the main floor; and vinyl plank throughout the finished basement, except for the utility room which retained its tile floor.
- Major plumbing and electrical updates throughout.
- The second bedroom on the main floor was converted into an office/treadmill room; its closet became an adjoining laundry room. This transformation completed the creation of a master suite which also contains a bedroom, walk-in closet, and bathrooms. The remodeled layout somewhat resembles that of the previous house but on a smaller scale – which is plenty for just the two of us. The goal of these updates was that, if necessitated due to aging, we will be able to function fine without ever having to set foot in the basement.
- The walls between the kitchen and living room were knocked halfway down – to create a more spacious feel and add countertops for extra dining spaces and entertainment.
- All-new kitchen appliances. Due to the bottlenecks in the global supply chain, caused by Covid-19 lockdowns, however, as of this posting, we are still waiting for some of them to arrive from overseas.
- Doubled the number of closet shelves, utilizing the existing unused spaces, in both guest bedrooms in the basement.
- The epoxy coating was applied on the garage floor.
- Fresh paint was applied throughout the house, including ceilings and the garage.
- The double decks in the back were repaired, permanently stabilized with concrete for safety, and freshly stained. David has frequently talked about rocking chairs for years. We will be getting a couple in the spring. Can’t wait to enjoy the outdoors with him, share our favorite tea with cream, and start learning to relax a bit – if that’s at all possible for me!
10/09/2021: Checked out of the hotel and moved into our new residence. Finally!
12/17/2021: As of this posting, it is likely to be a while before every tweak in every room will have been completed to our expectations. Covid is forcing me to accept things happening at a snail’s pace.
Regardless, above all else, I simply love our new home, its neighborhood, and the location which is convenient for almost every destination, local or otherwise.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
