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After spending a week getting Becky's house ready for showing and listing it with a friend who was a realtor, they settled into their new routine. Becky would spend two to three nights at the cabin, but Tim never spent the night at her house. Part of that was Becky's discomfort but most was because it would be very noticeable being in town with close neighbors.
They also started looking for a new place they could share. They reviewed everything available in Clarkesville with her realtor and decided nothing was what they wanted. A similar review of the properties in Cleveland resulted in them touring two, but again neither was happy with what they found.
They moved on to Dahlonega, a favorite town for both of them. Engaging a local realtor they were shown three houses, the last being just a few blocks from the town square. It was an historic farmhouse, the original farmland having long been sold off and divided, except for three acres.
"I love this house!" Becky exclaimed. "I've always wanted farmhouse style and this is the real thing!"
"I agree. It needs some work, updating bathrooms and kitchen being the biggest challenges. The rest is cosmetic, and you like to paint even if I don't. And the lot is large enough to build a nice garage and workshop, similar to what I have at the cabin," Tim replied.
"You'll have to get the city council to approve any structures you want to add. While it isn't a designated historic property or area, there are restrictions to adding buildings. I can recommend an architect who is very good at designing buildings the council typically approves," the realtor told them.
The asking price was about equal to what Becky expected to clear from her current house, so she put in an offer about ten percent under it. They shared their thinking about the updates and the need for a garage so the realtor could pass that information along to the seller's agent. They asked if she could draw up the offer for Becky's signature while they had lunch, and she assured them she would.
The realtor drove off after they told her they would walk to the square for lunch then walk to her office where they'd left their car. They agreed on Shenanigan's Irish Pub and were quickly seated in the lower level. Becky ordered the Irish Stew with a Guinness and Tim chose the Fish & Chips, and also a Guinness.
Everything was delicious and they were in a great mood thinking and talking about what they might do with the farmhouse if her offer was accepted.
"I've never touched Bill's life insurance, which is enough to cover the offer I put in," Becky said. "If they accept it, we don't have to wait until my current house sells, nor do we have to go through the mortgage process. We could buy it and start renovations right away."
"It would be great to have all that done before actually moving in," Tim replied.
"And moving here means no-one knows our back story, so no gossip. We're just a mature, divorced man shacking up with a mature widow," Becky grinned.
Finished eating they settled up and walked to the realtor's office. As promised, she had the offer drawn up. Becky and Tim both read it over to ensure it was correct before she said "Make sure they know that this will be a cash sale. As long as the home inspection doesn't find anything serious we can close very quickly."
Becky signed the offer, took her copy, and they left, driving back to the cabin. The offer expires in three days so they wouldn't have long to wait for an answer.
Much of the drive back lacked cell service, so they were nearly home when Becky realized she had a voicemail. She accessed it and put her phone on speaker so she and Tim both heard the realtor explain that the seller had countered with a price halfway between asking and offer.
"What do you think?" Becky asked him.
"The offer specified that they agree to pay up to two thousand five hundred dollars to correct issues the inspection finds. I suggest you increase that to seventy-five hundred at the selling price they are now asking for," he said.
"That sounds like a pretty good idea. If the inspector only finds twenty-five hundred worth of repairs they make out like bandits, but if its' more than that we get some of the increased price back."
Becky called the realtor and explained the counter-counter-offer terms. The realtor agreed it was a good compromise and said she would update the offer and email it to Becky for her electronic signature.
This time the sellers took longer to make up their minds. It wasn't until about noon the following day that the realtor called Becky with congratulations. Naturally she and Tim celebrated by making love, once in the afternoon and again at night.
The closing was set for two weeks out and the realtor recommended an inspector she had worked with in the past. As they waited for his results Becky's house had a fairly steady stream of showings, but so far no offers. She wasn't overly concerned as she'd already decided to sell of most of her existing furniture. Having shared that furniture with Bill she was reluctant to bring it to the home she planned to share with Tim. And, to be honest, it really wasn't the right style for a farmhouse. Best to start new, she thought.
She shared this thinking with Tim who understood and felt it was entirely her choice. He would be comfortable with whatever she wanted to do. "I'd like us to start browsing antique stores. It would be great to find some authentic pieces similar to what would have been used when the place was built two hundred years ago," she told him.
"I'm good with that. You know I enjoy browsing antique stores, although I usually ignore the furniture as I have no need for it. So we can go back to the same shops we've already browsed and do so again, with different eyes," Tim replied.
