The Secret Garden
Each time I drove to her house during the listing process, I would notice this beautiful mess under all the bushes in the lot next to her home. Finally, the third time I went by I had enough time to actually look. I am almost always late for something.. I remembered my seller was concerned about the neighbor’s yard next to hers, and her mentioning that someone had passed away that was associated with the home. As I sat there and looked, I noticed under all the bushes and overgrown landscaping that there was something beautiful hidden behind all that mess and I needed to see what I could find!
Later that evening I told Rusty about the house I saw..I explained the hidden beauty I saw and he said “we'll see if we can go look.” I looked up the tax records at 9pm that night for the owner information of record. I text my friend that is from Kerens and asked for her to do a “little diggin” to see if I could get in contact with the owner. She said she would make some calls, and by 10:30am the NEXT day I had talked to two different people and had an appointment to see the home at noon that day. It was so easy..
On the way to the home, it started to pour rain! Like we can barely see the road at times. The moment we pulled up, the rain stopped and the sun shone through the clouds. I was so excited! I felt this was a sign from the heavens! I enjoy living my life knowing that God is on my side. I find that life is more fun! Call me crazy, but there was a dark cloud that did not seem to end and then poof - it was gone..just in time not to mess up our appointment -- or my hair.
The owner explained that the home had been vacant for a year and “it was a little messy.”
When we walked into the house I could hardly breathe!!! I am not sure if it was the stench or the potential I could see!!
My breath caught in my throat when I saw the beams in the living area. I bounced on the balls of my feet when I saw a double sided fireplace and original hardwood floors.
My stomach turned when I saw the bathroom. The ashtray by the toilet stood out to me and was totally disgusting. My skin crawled when I saw the kitchen. The mice had been chowing down on top of the microwave for quite a while! The white microwave was now yellow and brown from the mouse filth.
We entered the guest house through the darkness. I saw a snake skin by the side table. I was on high alert at that point! Snakes are not my thing! I was trying to be brave. My mind said BE COOL! Don’t freak out but….My body had to make a quick exit when a rat jumped out of the lamp shape in the guest house.
As I was entering the light of day and safety I thought.. YES it has a guest house! Be cool! Be cool! I kept repeating to myself. Be cool.. this lady cannot know how excited you are about this house….if she does it will cost MORE!
Shhhh beee coooolll!! So I was cool,,,,or at least I think I was..
She told me her price, which was way more than we could pay. We left to think about it. I let Rusty do most of the price thinking. I was emotionally attached so I did not have a clear head at all. I did gather comps that sold to help make sure we were looking out for ourselves.
The next day, I was still holding on to the “football” because I was too nervous and couldn’t bring myself to call to make the offer.
Rusty called me and asked if I had talked to them yet. Meaning the homeowners. I said “no, not yet. I haven’t gotten to it….” I was not sure if that was entirely accurate.
I had worried about it and looked at my phone at least a dozen times the hour before Rusty called, thinking about it. After we hung up, a friend in my ladies Life group from church sent a YouTube link out with a song called Spirit Lead Me by Influence music & Michael Ketterer. I listened to the song and it spoke to me!
I knew that song was sent to give me the shove I needed. I had been taking the bait of the enemy and doubting what I was supposed to do…. I leaned up in my chair, I called the seller, and I made our offer which was $15,000 less than her asking price. She said she had to think about it and talk with her husband and call me back. The longest two days of my life!!!... and then she finally called back…..We ended up $12,500 less than she wanted!
At that time we did not have the funds...I did not have a loan secured… I was literally stepping out in faith. I emailed my lender and the last line of my email read “I gotta dream and a plan – I just need some money 😉”
One full week (the longest week of Rusty’s life) and we had the funding! We not only had funding, but we had “better than we had hoped for funding,” plus some! I was shocked at how God had stepped in. I am still shocked. I have a prayer journal with notes asking and praying for so much less than I have been given!
We had a closing date set for June 6th. After all the scheduling conflicts, the seller was able to come sign June 14, which I personally thought was another nod from God because my birthday was the next day. I felt like God was saying “see kid you asked me to do something and I gave you so much more. I am trustworthy. I can take care of you and your dreams too if you will let me.”
I am so blessed to have this opportunity. I am excited to share it with you all. I hope you enjoy the remodel of “The Secret Garden”. I know I will! https://youtu.be/yN2FYxyLtUs
Come on! Let’s Make Somethin Outta Nothin!
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