House Hunting Update + Neighbors
November 13, 2009 | 35 Comments
WE GOT THE HOUSE!
This week has been a series of phone calls, emails, faxes back and forth from everyone and their brother and lots and lots of waiting. But it has paid off – the sellers accepted our latest offer!!! We still need to do an inspection and I’m going to fly out there next week for it so we’ll just keep the champagne cold for now.
As I get ready to move, I wonder what our neighbors will be like. (Will they be cool or will they make my life hell?) I’ve lived in a lot of places and therefore, have had neighbors in both categories and many somewhere in between.
Our current house is the first house (as opposed to an apartment) that I’ve lived in as an adult and the best part for me, hands down, is what you don’t get with a house: neighbors on top of you. You apartment dwellers know what I’m talking about.
When we lived in Manhattan we had a neighbor who I would hear cursing and screaming on a pretty regular basis. It didn’t sound like anyone was with him so I concluded that he was either a) on the phone or b) talking to himself, both of which were disturbing propositions. The couple of times I actually saw him, he looked kind of scary so that certainly didn’t help matters.
So on it went like that for at least a year and then one night we were watching NYPD Blue and when the credits flashed by, I saw his name. (I knew his name because it was on the mailbox next to ours.) So it turned out he wasn’t a homicidal maniac, he just played one on TV! He must have been rehearsing all that time. I think he should have had a talk with his agent because judging from all the yelling and screaming I heard, he was being typecast.
Our neighbors in Seattle have been really great and I’m going to miss them. Hopefully our new neighbors will be just as nice. Do you have any good stories about your neighbors?
Have a lovely weekend, all! See you Monday.
(Images: 1.NY Times 2.Newsday)
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November 13th, 2009 @ 12:39 am
I believe there is truth to Southern Hospitality, so let’s hope your neighbors are filled with lots of charm and fresh baked pies!
Melissa´s last post ..Wishful Thinking…
November 13th, 2009 @ 1:53 am
Oh boy do I ever have stories about my neighbors! But we’ll save that for after your move. I’m so glad this initial state of negotiations is complete! An early congrats and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for an uneventful inspection.
And Southern Hospitality is definitely alive and well. Yep, I think you’re gonna like it here!
nkp´s last post ..Bohemian Rhapsody
November 13th, 2009 @ 5:23 am
Congrats on the new home!
I’ve been an apartment-dweller for the past few years and don’t have any stories quite as fun as yours! The most noteworthy was waking up to a loud string of swearing coming from the hallway. I got out of bed and crept toward the peephole to see my neighbor in a pretty wicked fight with some guy. Police were called. The next morning there was blood streaks on the walls in the hall. It was such a sleepy apartment building before and after that incident. So strange.
November 13th, 2009 @ 6:16 am
That is too funny. Not any really great stories here. But I agree with nkp, Southern hospitality awaits!!!
November 13th, 2009 @ 6:49 am
i’ve had a bit of everything so far. crazy ones, quite, party, unberable, noisy… but all of them very sociable.
i’m sure you gonna get funny and very community driven
November 13th, 2009 @ 7:39 am
Mazel mazel, Sweetie!
I have no OTT neighbor stories, just your general pains in the asses.
Raina´s last post ..Your thoughts please
November 13th, 2009 @ 7:48 am
Congratulations! Like you, my husband and I move frequently, so I have had many neighbors, but thankfully none have been too scary. Although there are still stories to be told…
Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese´s last post ..Greetings from Texas!
November 13th, 2009 @ 8:00 am
I once lived in a flat (in Britain we don’t call them apartments unless they’re really swanky which this one definitely was not) and our neighbor broke in and burgled us! That was fun. But now we love in a great neighborhood and our neighbors are just so welcoming and friendly – makes all the difference.
lucy@fourwallsandaroof´s last post ..These four walls: Sarah and Danny’s house tour
November 13th, 2009 @ 8:19 am
Congratulations with your new house!
I do hope that you will have good neighbours! What a story you told us here!
Greet
Greet´s last post ..I won a give away
November 13th, 2009 @ 9:22 am
Alek, so exciting congrats, can’t wait to see pictures and details!
Maria´s last post ..Favorites Friday: November
November 13th, 2009 @ 9:26 am
Congrats, hope the inspection goes well and looking forward to pictures!! I love to move, like you, but need to now stay put for a long time, so completely loving reading about your experience.
Neighbors, lived in apartments for years, heard lots of stuff, but your story tops them all. That is too crazy…
Love my current neighborhood, built on the concept of new urbanism, it has lived up to the concept and hype. I have more friends in this neighborhood than all my previous neighborhoods combined and more events than I can pack into a week. It has made all the difference…
Good luck!! Janell
November 13th, 2009 @ 9:27 am
Congrats, that’s fabulous!! I love my neighbours, but the whole vibe with the neighbours is so completely different when you live in a house than it is when you live in an apartment, don’t you think?
Dagny @ Beautiful Living´s last post ..Before and after: Indie’s room is finished! / Indie sitt rom er ferdig!
November 13th, 2009 @ 9:38 am
Very exciting! Hope it all goes spectacularly well!
And good luck with the neighbors, I am sure they will be lovely.
Sophie @ Century Finds´s last post ..Doily Glasses Giveaway Alert!
November 13th, 2009 @ 9:56 am
CONGRATULATIONS Ally!
No juicy stories here. Our neighbors have always been fantastic. With the exception of a neighbor in SF who fought with the world…
She had conflicts with all the people in our house, an entire apartment building to the left of our house, and and entire apartment building to the right of us. She fought with the construction workers, the previous owner and when we mentioned her name at the bank, when we came to sign some papers, the clerk broke down and started sobbing uncontrollably. Our (young and pretty did not help!) neighbor simply thrived on drama.
On the day the moving truck came (my husband was already in LA) I remember our wonderful neighbors lining up in the garage to block her from entering so that I and our little baby could drive out of the garage in peace and without any extra added stress. (Otherwise I would have smacked into a pole just by seeing her! She had that effect on people!).
Needless to stay, I smell drama – and I run!
It is just not my way of living. Life is too short and precious.
Can’t see any of that coming your way, dear!
Your neighbors will looove you!
Happy weekend!
November 13th, 2009 @ 10:48 am
Congrats! Can’t wait to see how you decorate!
November 13th, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
How wonderful! You have to show us a photo of the outside just to keep us sated! And very funny story about your NY neighbour.
K-Line´s last post ..Clip Trip
November 13th, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
Thank you, everyone!
Dagny: Very true. It’s a big difference.
K-Line: I actually don’t have one! But when I go out for the inspection next week, I’ll take pics!
November 13th, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
Congrats on the house!!
The guys that live right above me are the exact same way… Half the time I feel like I’m living beneath a backwater bar between the jumping and the yelling. It’s insane and I hate it, but only 6 more months in the lease…. such is the life of the apartment dweller!
Jessie´s last post ..Fashion Friday
November 13th, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
Really exciting news. Will you have any RHOAs as neighbors? I’ve had lots of neighbors, mostly really great people, but we’re still waiting for someone to bake a pie as a welcome gift…
Jane @ Beach House´s last post ..Getty Museum
November 13th, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Really exciting news Alek/Ally! When we drove to Houston from Seattle for our move we stopped in Palm Springs for a few days to reap a wee bit of fun. Out of the way a bit but was well worth it to us weary movers. Good to say we’ve had decent neighbors. Last house in Seattle was likely our worst. On the one side it was a snotty Dr. & his wife (not that all Dr.’s are snooty of course). They were young, wealthy, & privacy mongers. In 2 years they never, ever opened their windows or blinds. And to think that’s in Seattle where you crave light! Looking forward to more news ahead xx
November 13th, 2009 @ 12:58 pm
I wish you all the best with your move. It is a strenuous time and can be quite stressful so I hope that it all goes smoothly for you. Hopefully your neighbours will ve lovely and soon you will be telling us stories of welcome baskets and parties. !! XXXX
Jacqueline´s last post ..GREY MATTER ……….
November 13th, 2009 @ 6:30 pm
I once climbed on top the radiator and screamed out the window at a neighbor across the courtyard for playing John Denver every morning at 5:45 a.m. And he screamed back, ‘it’s not me!’
Your story is even better.
Yay on the house.
Bromeliad´s last post ..Big grey sweaters
November 13th, 2009 @ 6:58 pm
The neighbors to my right are WONDERFUL. They are the cutest couple with two playful puppies and a brand new baby! The neighbors to my left, however, are every homeowner’s nightmare. In the ten years we have coexisted on our street, he has routinely mowed his lawn wearing knee pads and safety goggles, requested that speedbumps be put in on our FIVE-HOUSE STREET to protect his TEN-YEAR-OLD son, and prevented the sale of two other neighbors’ homes by scaring away the potential new owners. Better luck to you in Atlanta!
November 13th, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
Congratulations! How exciting. I bet your new home is wonderful. The photos of the other houses you looked at were amazing!
Farmgirl Susan´s last post ..Thursday Farm Photo: Looking Up
November 13th, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
I wish you nice new neighbours.
Have a nice sunday.
Christian
le banc moussu´s last post ..Seriez vous médicus ou pathalogus?
November 14th, 2009 @ 10:28 am
Congratulations!
Cannot wait to see the pictures.
Anita´s last post ..I would if I could….
November 15th, 2009 @ 8:28 am
Congrats on the house!!! How exciting! Right now, I live in a downtown apartment, that has very thin walls… so let’s just say I know more about my neighbors than I care to at times!
~KS´s last post ..They Call Me Mellow Yellow
November 15th, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
lol – that’s too funny!
Congrats on the new place and all the best with your move. Can’t wait to see pics of the new place!
A Life More Fabulous´s last post ..Soft sea green
November 15th, 2009 @ 8:10 pm
i’m sure your neighbors will be great (or at least they’ll have fake southern hospitality on their side). i love that your homicidal neighbor was actually an actor, but are we sure he was acting? hehe.
Down and Out Chic´s last post ..Sunday Purchase: Vintage Wallpaper Jotters
November 15th, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
Sounds like life’s a whirlwind for you at the moment Alek! We have fantastic neighbours in our little no-through country lane except for the one opposite who’s the Aussie cousin of Splendid Willow’s SF nightmare! Bizarre would be the kindest description I could give her. Your cross-country road trip sounds interesting, hope the puppies behave perfectly!
Millie ^_^
Millie´s last post ..Channelling Elsie
November 16th, 2009 @ 5:43 am
Congratulations on the house!! I can’t wait to see pictures and all the fabulousness you’ll do with it. As for neighbors – I can’t wait to hear about them, either. Hopefully they won’t play homicidal maniacs on TV. I think Turner goes for cleaner stuff, no?
-maria
vintage simple´s last post ..A bright and happy place
November 16th, 2009 @ 9:29 am
CONGRATS!!!
And what a funny story! We are fortunate enough to have lovely neighbors.
erin@designcrisis´s last post ..House Hunting In Hell
November 16th, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
oh my gosh what a funny story!!! hahahahaha anyway, congratulations & i cannot wait to see what you do with your house. (i really am in love with your current house & know the next one will be just as awesome.)
also, love the de gournay wallpaper… you could do something like the blow-up in my dining room maybe with a gorgeous de-gournay-like mural maybe??? it wasn’t too terrible– DEF not thousands.. i’ll keep thinking..
xoxoxo
November 17th, 2009 @ 9:05 am
so so exciting! congrats! there’s so much you can do with decorating with wallpaper (big scale and small scale) — you should definitely try something. good luck with everything on your plate.
jen jafarzadeh´s last post ..color me happy housewarming
November 17th, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
Great story! I have so many crazy neighbor stories, but none that great! Love it! Thanks for sharing!
Lilah´s last post ..Please, Oh Please