A Journey of Farewell: Selling Our First Home and Embracing a New Chapter
Today marks a truly bittersweet milestone for our family: we officially closed on the sale of our first home. For nearly six years – five years and eleven months, to be precise, though who’s counting every single day? – this house was more than just a structure; it was the foundation upon which countless memories were built. We poured our hearts, souls, and endless hours into transforming it from a mere house into a cherished home. We intentionally kept the news under wraps, preferring to wait until every detail of the sale was finalized and confirmed. Now, with the ink dry and the keys handed over, we’re finally ready to share the full backstory of why and how we embarked on this significant journey.
The Genesis of a Move: From Forever Home Dreams to Practical Realities
Our discussions about listing the house for sale first began in the summer of 2013. From the outset, we never envisioned our first home as our “forever” residence. As we settled into homeownership, we gained invaluable insights into what truly mattered to us, identifying specific needs and desires for our next living space. Primarily, we yearned for more room, anticipating the growth of our family and lifestyle. However, just as these conversations were gaining momentum, I discovered I was pregnant. In my youthful naiveté, I made the decision to postpone the sale until after the baby’s arrival. In hindsight, I wish someone had imparted a dose of reality, highlighting the immense additional effort involved in selling a house with a newborn. Yet, as with most things in life, I believe everything unfolds for a reason.
Instead of listing, we channeled our energy into a major kitchen upgrade, deciding it would be our final significant home improvement project before putting the house on the market. This renovation was a labor of love, a strategic investment, and a way to enhance our daily living while subtly preparing for future buyers. Fast forward to January 2015, we reignited our plans, beginning the arduous process of meeting with banks to secure pre-approval for a new mortgage. This phase illuminated another crucial reason why selling in 2013 might have been simpler: my corporate income stream was no longer active. Having transitioned to full-time entrepreneurship, the mortgage application process became significantly more complex. Any self-employed individual who has navigated a home purchase can attest to the rigorous scrutiny; it felt like we needed to prove everything short of our firstborn’s blood type to satisfy the lenders.
Navigating the Pre-Sale Labyrinth: Mortgages, Taxes, and Toddler Logistics
Our initial intention was to list our home in the spring of 2015, specifically targeting February, to facilitate a move during Florida’s “cooler” months. However, the intricacies of self-employment meant a further delay. We had to wait for our business taxes to be fully processed and cleared, a seemingly interminable period that felt like years, though it was only a few short months. While we technically could have listed our house earlier, we were resolute in our decision to secure 100% confirmation of our loan approval before committing to the sale and the subsequent move. This cautious approach, though testing our patience, provided an essential layer of financial security and peace of mind.
During this waiting period, we actively began the crucial process of decluttering and preparing our home to be “show-ready.” This involved a systematic room-by-room purge, boxing up personal items, and creating a sense of spaciousness. We opted to take all the listing photographs ourselves, a decision that proved immensely practical. This allowed us the flexibility to photograph each room at our leisure, eliminating the pressure of maintaining a perfectly pristine, show-ready home with a curious toddler constantly in tow. This method not only saved us time and stress but also ensured the photos authentically represented our home’s best features.
The extra time also afforded us the opportunity to tackle those lingering, minor projects that homeowners often defer. For instance, the transition molding in our front room, incorrectly installed by the previous owners, had also fallen victim to our dog’s chewing habit. For five years, we lived with this small imperfection, pushing it to the back burner. It’s truly amusing how these seemingly insignificant details suddenly leap to the forefront when you’re preparing to sell. Jon finally invested the fifty dollars for a new piece and expertly replaced it. These final touches, though small, contributed significantly to the overall appeal and readiness of our home.
The Listing Launch and an Unexpectedly Swift Offer
Once we received the much-anticipated “green light” in mid-May, our focus intensified. We made it our singular goal to finalize all preparations, and on Friday, June 5th, at precisely 11 AM, our home officially hit the market. We had extensively deliberated between attempting the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route and enlisting a professional realtor. A part of me sometimes wonders about the money we might have saved on fees with FSBO. However, the reality of selling a home is incredibly demanding. It’s an arena outside my professional expertise, and certainly outside Jon’s. Considering I run a business, we both work tirelessly, and we have a highly energetic toddler, entrusting our sale to a qualified realtor proved to be an exceptionally wise decision.
Our realtor handled every single detail, from scheduling and managing showings to navigating negotiations, consistently going above and beyond our expectations. She truly earned every single penny, making us feel that her services were unequivocally worth the investment. For anyone in the Central Florida area seeking an exceptional real estate professional, I wholeheartedly recommend our realtor, Linda Sampieri. Be sure to tell her we sent you!
The market response to our listing was nothing short of astonishing. Our house went live at 11 AM, and by 2 PM, we had already received five inquiries. By 3 PM *that very same day*, we received a verbal offer – sight unseen! I had called our realtor around 2 PM to confirm the “For Sale” sign was up, only to be met with the exhilarating news of the multiple inquiries. At that precise moment, an undeniable gut feeling told me our house would sell incredibly fast. I had even forewarned Jon that this might be the case, drawing on the experiences of fellow DIY bloggers who often report sales within a week, or even a day, of listing. Still, hearing back from Linda less than an hour later with a verbal offer left me utterly floored. Of course, Jon was immersed in meetings, making it impossible to share the exciting news immediately.
The following day, our focus shifted dramatically to house hunting. We had viewed ten properties the weekend prior, but none had truly captivated us. At this juncture, a wave of panic began to set in: What if we couldn’t find a new home quickly enough? My mind, ever prone to dramatic scenarios, conjured images of us homeless, living out of a cardboard box. Fortunately, I managed to snap myself back to reality, reminding myself that everything would, in fact, be okay. That Saturday, we ventured out again, exploring a few more homes. We thought we might have found a contender but remained unsure. While attending a friend’s birthday party, the prospective buyers who made the verbal offer came to view our house (even Skyping with family members to “see” it remotely!). Upon our return, negotiations commenced, and shortly thereafter, we signed the official offer paperwork. Just like that, our home was pending and off the market.
It felt like a small miracle that we only had to ensure our home was “show-ready” three times throughout the entire process. For that, I am eternally grateful. Let’s be honest: living with a toddler is akin to cohabiting with a walking hurricane. Maintaining consistently clean and tidy rooms often feels like an impossible feat.
Embarking on a New Adventure: Finding Our Dream Family Home
Weeks stretched into what felt like an eternity, though in reality, it was perhaps just two intensive weeks of house hunting morning, noon, and night. Finally, we discovered a home that resonated with us and felt like the perfect fit for our family’s next chapter. Jon immediately fell in love with it. For me, however, it required a bit more convincing and even some friendly negotiation with my own husband regarding certain changes that absolutely had to happen before we moved in. These were my deal-breakers, essential for me to fully embrace the new space. I won’t be sharing photos of our “new-to-us” home just yet, as I’m a firm believer in not jinxing things until they’re truly finalized. However, I can enthusiastically share that the floor plan is absolutely fantastic and ideally suited for life with a child, offering both practicality and comfort.
Beyond the layout, the home is situated in a wonderful neighborhood boasting A+ rated schools, a paramount consideration for us as parents. And perhaps the most exciting feature for our Florida lifestyle: it has a pool! This was high on our wish list for our next home. Had this property not included one, we were fully prepared to embark on the process of building a pool ourselves within a few years. Having an “instant” pool as soon as we move in will be an incredible blessing, especially after the intense heat and sweat of moving out of our first home. The thought of simply jumping into the cool water to refresh ourselves is incredibly appealing and a luxury we eagerly anticipate.
Bittersweet Goodbyes and Exciting New Beginnings
So yes, we have officially moved out of our first home. Last night, we paid our final visit to what was once “our home,” retrieving the last few remaining items. We walked to the mailbox for the very last time, but this time, our son Ryder, proudly holding both our hands, accompanied us. It was an incredibly sweet and poignant moment. The entire process of selling, searching, and moving has been undeniably bittersweet; it’s the most accurate way I can describe the complex swirl of emotions. I don’t believe I was fully mentally prepared for the magnitude of selling our beloved home, and perhaps no one truly ever is emotionally ready to let go of their first home, the place where so many “firsts” happened.
This past month has been a whirlwind of ups and downs, an emotional rollercoaster that has tested our resilience. I am profoundly grateful that this particular chapter in our lives has now closed, and I eagerly await the unfolding of our next adventure. Frankly, I don’t think I could have handled any more emotional strain! With today’s closing, it is officially no longer our “first home.” The new owners are a sweet, recently married couple, and we wish them all the very best as they begin their own journey in their new Florida home. Their genuine excitement and appreciation for all the hard work and love we poured into the house makes this transition even more joyful for us. Knowing they love everything we did provides a wonderful sense of closure.
The Road Ahead: Temporary Stays and Future DIY Visions
In the interim, we are comfortably settled in a short-term rental while we eagerly await the closing on our new home, scheduled for August. This temporary arrangement has given us a chance to breathe and plan. And believe me, we have an exciting slew of brand-new DIY projects already brewing! Seriously, I can barely contain my excitement for what’s to come. If you follow my Pinterest boards, you’ve likely already noticed a surge of home design pins popping up in your feed, offering a glimpse into our future aspirations. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these next few months, fully transitioning into our new living space.
Over the coming month, I will be sharing photos of our old home, highlighting some of the major room transformations and DIY projects we completed there. And as soon as we officially close on our new home, you can expect a comprehensive unveiling of photos and detailed project plans for our next exciting chapter in home renovation and design. Stay tuned!