Scrub scrub scrub

After working on the old house this week, I can proudly let tenants move in in a week. I am not done but within two days I expect to be completely finished. I rented a rug doctor to give the carpets a once over before having the "professional carpet cleaners" come in to do the living room. The property manager asked me to have them professionally cleaned as that is what we ask of the tenants at the end. I am hopeful they can remove even more stains, though the carpets look fantastic with just getting a thorough cleaning from me.

The cleaning of the carpets only emphasises to me how much I dislike carpets and how next time I am ripping out the carpets in Trevor's room and putting in the rest of the laminate. The carpeted rooms were so much more work than the laminated rooms. I would be done if it weren't for the carpets. A little sweeping and vacuuming and a damp mop and the laminated floors were done and looked great. Even the bathrooms were easier than the carpeted rooms.

My mom has been coming over and packing. She packs everything. If I allowed it she would strip the house of light fixtures and anything nailed down. I told her its a rental. We have to leave it for the tenants. I said throw out the junk, but she said she would just pack it tightly for moving. I will really need to go through everything at the other end.

I was very appreciative of the help. I had tossed everything into the living room from upstairs, so the upstairs was completely ready to clean. I cleaned while she packed. I loved the company also as it was lonely on the first days she wasn't able to come over. We have just a couple of more loads to get out of the house. The upstairs just needs a last walk through to hit the spots I missed. I saw a window sill that needed wiping. Mom pointed out some finger prints on a door jamb. I need to wipe down the white moldings, make sure I don't miss a spot. It already looks move in ready.

I just have to get the rest of the junk out of the house. Two more loads and I should be done. Last night I went to pick up the boys from a play date on the way home. I had left just enough room to fit them in. They wanted to bring their friend home with them. I ended up leaving half my car load in my girlfriend's garage so I could fit the extra child I hadn't planned for into the car. I will get the stuff later, when I return him at the end of the weekend.

Two more trips I tell myself, then the burden of that house will be off our shoulders for a while. I just feel badly for people who did not think of this solution sooner and found themselves in financial difficulties. We are able to charge a rent that covers our mortgage. We can live where we want to be for the rest of our lives.

While packing I came across a smiling photo of my Dad and his sterling silver thumb print I had made when he died. I felt that he would have been proud of us and have loved the house. His wish was for us to own our house without a mortgage. I took two years to get it done, but here we are. Tom is thrilled. My Dad would have been happy. I love that we are not in the market with all the turbulence and volatility. I have a solid roof over our heads, a physical asset to appreciate.

I am not in the market. I am a woman of property now. It took everything we had available, but I am comfortable with my choices, especially this week. Tom has been playing double shorts and finally his bets are paying off. In one week he has had a 20% return. He has a little play money in his 401K, which means it is tax free returns also. He has been having a fun time calling the closes and charting the bounces. One of the few people happy with a tanking stock market.

I am just relieved that we can sit back and watch the world from a house we never thought we could own, completely debt free, except for our "investment property" which is a great tax right off, up to $25,000 a year.

Now I am off to take Trevor to conditioning and swing by Home depot. Today, I work on the L house as it is getting a little out of control with my not being here to unpack. I don't mind missing that commute. I really need to get those closet rods hung. I did buy two dozen light bulbs, but we used them all up and I still need more.