Shelves

I started to work on building shelves into a small closit next to my kitchen. I have to finish the shelves so I can put my kitchen together. I made a fun comment to someone at lunch today about how I enjoy being a single woman who can bring her lunch in a Lowes bag and talk about using her new saw the night before and building a set of shelves. It's just so much fun. Fitting everything in my schedule has been difficult, but I'm managing. I hope to make some serious progress this weekend.

Moved in!

I moved in this past weekend. I was so incredibly blessed with 6 additional sets of hands to help me move. I got some stuff set up right away, but I've still got boxes and am still working on putting everything away.
I've been keeping myself busy with small home improvement projects. I've been continuing the work on the quarter round for the baseboards and I've also finished painting one room. I'm hoping to get through with the other bedroom this weekend.
I have discovered a truth other homeowners probably know: doing stuff to your home can be EXPENSIVE. Every time I go to a home improvement store I spend nearly $100. I have been spening the tax credit that I got so I can afford that right now. Otherwise I would need to hold off and save up for some of this work.
Everything has been going well, but I've been busy busy busy. Doing condo work after regular work just takes time.

Painting etc...

I've been taking some time before I move my stuff into my condo to work on a few things. I've been painting and doing small fix jobs. Nothing major, just makes things homier and look nicer. I've been adding quarter round around the base boards because the people who did the carpeting didn't do the best of jobs (or weren't paid to do the best of jobs, could be either). It takes time to miter all the corners, but looks fantastic afterward. My bedroom is about done. I need to paint the two doors and put back all the outlet covers and I'm done with that room entirely!!!
I had a new oven/range and dishwasher installed yesterday. Lowes was very good at helping me pick the best products and I got a good installer. I figured I could have written into my initial offer on the condo new appliances, but they probably would have asked for a higher sales price. That price would have likely been more than I paid for the appliances. And good ol' Uncle Sam is sending me an $8000 check to cover the costs.
My next project is to pain and add quarter round to the front room. This one will take more work because I'm doing it 3 different colores: one color below the chair rail, another above it, and then the chair rail itself. That's the next project
I did buy new "pulls" for my kitchen cabinets. I've installed all the drawer handles and they look great, but I have to drill an additional hole for the cabinet handles so I haven't done that yet. It's amazing what changing those can do to a kitchen. I plan on changing all the hinges as well, but that might involve re-painting the cabinets too so I'm not sure I'm up for that just yet. Maybe next month?
I know some people would like to buy a place and move in and not worry about painting. Truthfully I could have moved in, but I really like making the place my own. I just spent a ton of money on it, I want it to feel like it's mine.

Closed and done!!!

I closed on the condo Wednesday! I did a final walk through with my mom at 8am, then closed at 9am. I signed my name a million times. They wanted my middle initial in my signature and I never use it so that made me stop and think EVERY time. It was about an inch worth of papers that I signed and dated. I had my mom there with me for support and because she's bought homes before.

It took about 45 minutes to sign everything and I decided my escrow officer was great at reading upside down.

After it was all said and done, my lender and my realtor gave me gifts. That was cool. I must say the two of them, Jessica and Steve, were absolutely wonderful to work with. Everything went smoothly. They did everything they could to help me. I trust them and would recommend them.

I didn't get keys to the condo until the day after about 2:30pm. They wouldn't give me the keys until the title was recorded. So I headed over and picked out some paint colors and went to Home Depot and got ready to paint. I also grabbed a new lock for the door (good idea for safety) so one else could possibly have keys. I also put up new smoke detectors and 1 (of several to come) light fixtures. I didn't have a lot of time yesterday evening to work, but I got some crucial prep things done.

I'm a home owner!!! How did that happen?

Packing

I started packing the other night. I don't have a ton of boxes, but I figure it's a start. That way I can go and unload some boxes and bring them back to refill. I'm getting excited!

I went online and set up my power bill. I still need to call the newspaper and deal with my internet company so that I can move all of that over pretty quickly. I just haven't had a moment at home to take care of any of it. I've been go go go with life.

I also still need to go to my bank and get a chashiers check for my down payment. FYI the fact that it's a cashiers check is IMPORTANT!

Things to do!

IDA check

I submitted my documents to get my IDA money early so I already have my checks for the title company. Now I'm just waiting for my closing. I do need to get the funds from my personal account in a cashiers check form for closing.

I walked through the condo again with my parents and they looked at everything and turned everything on. It was good to walk through again with a different set of eyes. I received good suggestions from them as well.

I have begun to gather my documents to amend my 2008 tax return to get the $8000 tax credit. I'm pretty darn excited about that! Next year I'll itemize my deductions and hopefully get more back due to mortgage interest.

Now I'm just hanging out until closing with a bunch of IDA money in my "pocket."