4 years and 1 month ago our family purchased our home in Florida after an excruciating 6 month wait. For those of you who don’t know or don’t remember, we embarked on the journey of a short sale; this process can take weeks or months and for us, we were in the latter. The location drove us since the home was on this incredible street with old oaks shading and arching the drive and the home itself was on a cul-de-sac. The home was, well, super duper sad. It needed a lot of TLC and for the price we were willing to do it. Neither my husband nor I had a history of “fixing” homes but we felt it was something we could accomplish. I had no idea how proficient we would have to eventually become. We YouTubed our way through each problem of our home including a total DIY bathroom remodel (to the studs) and electrical wiring for new lighting and outlet sockets. We painted every square inch of the 2,300 sq. foot home to replace the yellow and orange walls with our chosen shades (mostly greys). We moved water heaters for more pantry space, hung cabinets and closet shelves, lovingly saved the 30+ year old Sago palms that were never groomed and nearly died. We did it all for us but with the thought that we would likely move at least one more time and if we did, the sweat equity would pay off. If we didn’t well, we got to enjoy a beautiful home on the most amazing street with our family.

Moving, it turns out, would be in our future. I recently announced that we are moving back to North Carolina, back to where our family lives and where I was born and raised. I’m thrilled with the prospect but also heartbroken to leave a home that we love. I’m terrified I will never find a gem as special as this one. Every year since I’ve moved to FL I’ve posted an update of the progress made on our home and with a heavy heart this post will be the last. To look back here- 2013, 2014, and 2015. The photos were taken for our listing by me and it was listed on August 19th 2016. Want to know how our listing went? You have to wait until the end of the post to find out! I’ve included a slideshow to view Before/Afters or you can just scroll.

Before

After

Wow.

I had honestly forgotten how far the home had come until I looked at those old before photos.

As I mentioned before we listed our home on Friday and immediately after listing we had our first showing request. I’m talking immediately. Since I was traveling to the airport we re-scheduled that showing and had 2 more requests, all of those happened on Sunday while I was out of town.

My husband felt good about those showings and said all three were very interested with offers imminent. On Monday morning early I flew from CA back to ATL for a connection. As soon as I landed I got word that we had an official offer that was, get this, above asking price! Then we received 2 more offers and 2 more showing requests.

Ladies and gentlemen… we accepted the first offer and soon will be under contract. We are working through a relocation company so there is a third party involved but we are looking at being out of our home by the end of September.

I don’t think I ever expected the home to sell so quickly and never imagined the potential for multiple offers in ONE DAY. I’m feeling a lot of emotions, terror at the next month and a half being one, but also just pride and joy that the home we made was the object of a lot of love from potential buyers. Selling a home is a marathon journey when you’re living in it and we have spent 4 years making it a home and months making it a home for sale.

At least we can keep the memories…

Our boys spent 4 years playing on the cul-de-sac, they learned to ride their bikes on our quiet street while our lovely retired neighbors enjoyed watching them grow up. We spent 4 Christmas mornings together in this home and hung lights on the palm tree in shorts and t-shirts. It was everything we hoped the home would be and I’m hopeful we can find another home that lives up to what we built here. It’s sure going to be hard but we think living near our family again is certainly worth the effort. Now we will get to share these little guys with everyone else who has missed so much of their lives.

Time to find another house to love!