Adventures of a Non-Binary Author – The New Cottage?
When we were property hunting last year, we would give everywhere we saw a nickname. It made it easier to remember which place we were talking about. One of the first properties we looked at. One which we viewed more than once. Our original real contender. That one we nicknamed the cottage. Our second real contender we called the two bed. And the one we were going through the purchasing process with, was known as the attic. The property market was so much slower back then. It made it easier for us to have proper discussions about everywhere we were seeing. We could take our time with second viewings. And just hoping things didn’t sell whilst we were waiting to.
This time around we have our sale. We can put in an offer today if we wanted. We are primed and ready to go. Which is almost certainly a good thing, considering properties aren’t hanging around like they used to. I’m honestly surprised the one place we’re still viewing hadn’t been snapped up yet. I’m not going to complain. It’s part of the reason I have such a good feeling about it. I’m a strong believer in the idea things happen for a reason. We lost the attic, because we were meant to own a house. This property was still on the market, because we were meant to view it together.
I meet my partner from work, and we make our way over to where the house is. It’s not that far from the flat I used to own. In fact, it’s in what I would consider the nicer part of the area. What’s more it also has it’s own, off-street parking. That’s a rarity this close to the city center.
As we wait for the estate agent to arrive, we discuss various things. One of the neighbouring houses has had an attic conversion. Another has solar panels. These are both things we could also do. The idea of an attic conversion would give us the third bedroom we might need. It’s one of the suggestions I’ve already made looking at the pictures, knowing the place could be considered cosy.
Once the estate agent gets there, we make our way inside. The place feels like a home. Not just a house. Not too clinical or oddly shaped. But like a home. My optimism only grows. This could be it. We’re told there’s another offer in. However, that offer has come from someone who still needs to sell their current property. That puts us in a stronger position. My partner suggests referring to it as the new cottage. I don’t protest.
As we leave we discuss what offer we should put in. We then make no short work contacting our mortgage advisor. He thinks the offer sounds fair. But we’re not the ones who need to decide how fair the offer is. The only ones who can really accept are the sellers. And there’s only one way to find out.
To be continued…
