In 2000, when we moved to Texas, it was so sudden we didn't have time to be exhausted. We didn't even have a look-and-see visit like all the following ex-pats had. Although the idea of the transfer was mentioned in December 1999, the visa process started in late January, and once it was approved, it was go, go, go. We decided to put the house on the market as it was old, and being empty for more than a year would not be a great idea. Fortunately, the company arranged for everything, apart from selling the home.
We have been planning this move for at least a year. Gordon originally planned to retire at the end of January 2024, but the company made an offer he could not refuse, so it was pushed out to the end of April.
We have accumulated 24 years of stuff that neither of us wanted to leave behind. Gordon has his collection of musical instruments, and I have my art room. Both of us hoard books! In the nearly 50 years I have been making my art, I still have most of it. It would have been all right if I stuck to just painting, but in 2006, I came across bead embroidery. Since then, I have gone on to explore and make many mixed-media pieces of work. I have never sold anything, never even attempted to sell anything. The thought of working to order, arranging to sell things, and all the business side of being an artist just didn't seem possible. At best, I am a hobby artist who has built up an impressive amount of work.
Selling a house is a lot different from Scotland. We have spent months painting and repairing things. Everything has to be neutral. It must not reflect you, but the buyer needs to be able to imagine it as their home. The realtor came around the other day and left us with a list of things she recommended we do before the house is photographed this Friday and how we could showcase the home for a prospective buyer once it goes on the market the following Friday. Now, we are frantically going around doing the things she recommended. They are all little things but annoying.
My art room has been the biggest challenge, as I still use my sewing machine. I am about to finish embroidering luggage tags for our bags going home. I have been boxing up stuff left, right, and centre! But I still need some sewing supplies to be available. Also, have loads of notebooks out as I plan our move to Scotland.
Yesterday, we had a video walkaround with the shipping company agent. We had too much stuff! However, that isn't an issue, as most of it consists of items we can easily replace once we return to Scotland. I sealed most of the boxes we packed. It turns out we should not have done this, as the shipping company needs to have a visual of the contents for the inventory.
This side of things is coming to a head, and although the market is very tight at the moment, hopefully, the house will be sold fairly quickly. It's a matter of pricing it right.
In three weeks, we will be in Scotland, house hunting. We hope to secure a home before we return, but unlike here, the housing market seems to be speeding up, so we must be quick but not hasty. Is that possible?
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