Buying and Selling Houses, Australia

Or how to exhaust yourself and start yelling at your family.

So my life has all been about the house, or rather houses, lately. The good news is we found a bigger, cheaper house in the nearby town of Gawler. The bad news, to secure the loan we had to get our house on the market immediately.

Our plan to take our time and get everything painted and primped and finessed over a few months was out the window. Also kiboshed was the clever idea we had that we would move out before any opens, meaning that the cats, dogs and kids would just be happily settled and making a mess in the other house. Instead, we were now doing everything in two weeks and then managing 6 cats, two dogs, two teens and the mess they make for each open. All while getting the extensive to do list, done.

We had our first open on Saturday. We worked our arses off and we got there; the house was looking beautiful, and the sun was out. Partner, dog and kids at the park. All our cats had been caught and put in carriers in the car. Our real estate agent arrived. I went to drive out of the driveway with moments to go. The car wouldn’t start.

Panic. We aren’t meant to be there when people come through; the car isn’t meant to be in the drive and certainly not with six cats in it!

Thankfully, my partner was a little clearer headed than me. He left the girls and the dogs at the park and enlisted our neighbours help. We ferried all the cats past prospective buyers and into the neighbours carport.

My neighbours then insisted on inviting me inside and being hospitable. They were so kind and considerate and I was given snacks and coconut water and they conversed with me. Meanwhile, my brain was mush and my body was aching all over. I was exhausted. I did my best to try to keep up my end of the conversation. I was unsuccessful.

Thankfully, the open went well and the following day went much more smoothly.

Part of the problem I think is that we have been watching Selling Houses Australia ever since this adventure started and we now have high standards as to how our house should be presented. Except we are not Shayna and Charlie. Nor do we have a team of labourers and tradesmen at our beck and…