Taking Possession

Recent posts on Sweet Digs Seattle:

• Kirkland Weekend Events and Open Houses, Sunday, December 16th
• Bainbridge Island: A Look at Indianola
• Latest Eastside Price Reductions 

Finally! It’s yours! Yours! All yours! Muahahahahaaa! You’ve signed on the dotted line throughout the 3 inch stack of boring loan mumbo jumbo papers at the Escrow office and now it’s finally time to get the keys to your new home sweet home.  Now what surprises await?

When I sold my first place, the possession date for the new owners was on a Monday, I was moving out over the weekend. The buyers asked if I could get my stuff out a day early so they would have a weekend day to move their stuff in. In a lapse of judgment I agreed to this arrangement and of course good ol’ Murphy had his way with me. The move took longer than expected and I was up until wee hours in the morning vacating. By Sunday morning I was so pooped out I was approaching delirium. Everything was out except one last box of some Mescal from Oaxaca, aged 10 years in American Oak barrels, $75 a bottle (in Oaxaca!). I called the new owners and let them know they could move their stuff in and that I’d just be back for the one box. When I showed up to the house, there was a glass half full of my precious Mescal sitting on the counter next to the box! Rude!! I was mortified. So much for trying to be an accommodating person!  Rule 157 of taking possession of a home is don’t drink the seller’s good booze after they let you move in a day early! Duh.

And for every such unpleasant tale there’s the inverse. My loan guy Sam at Wells Fargo is not only a financial genius but also a heckuva nice guy. When he sold his last two homes he left a bottle of wine and a card for the new owners. The card said something sweet along the lines of “I’ve had a lot of great memories in this house and it’s brought me much good luck, I hope it does the same for you. Moving sucks so enjoy this wine!”. When he did this at the second home he actually hand delivered it to the buyers and the lady started crying.

Most people usually only have to deal with a few old paint cans and maybe a little extra cleaning when taking possession of their new home. Make sure you know how to properly dispose of any hazardous chemicals like weed killer that might be in the basement or shed.