17 DAYS LEFT: Putting a Bow On My Career; Our Trailer Arrives...!

First things first: Ethan and Lilly's Condo closed yesterday! I picked up the key from the lockbox around lunch, spun by Nellis Auction to collect some winnings, and then came back home to pick up Nathan (in case you are just joining us, we sold my car back in February). We had a 2 PM appointment to sign docs for the sale of OUR home, which took maybe 10 minutes. Selling is always so much faster, and there are so many fewer documents to sign when you aren't borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

We then took a carload of stuff over to their place that we weren't taking with us - open seasonings, cleaning supplies, and cookware....

When both kids were off work, we met them at their home to deliver keys - and another carload of glassware, plates, silverware, Tupperware....pretty much all of the 'wares. And also a bottle of champagne and flutes, although Lilly posed with the bottle. 

They are in no rush to move in and want to paint some walls with accent colors first; they have to be out of their rental by July 30. We're trying to tell them that it will be here before they know it!

I started my real estate career in 1997, at the age of 19. As you might expect, I did not gain much traction as most of my peers were in college. I landed my first buyers from working for a custom home builder as the main agent's assistant - a couple in their 20s that worked for said builder. They also bought a townhome, on the outskirts of Green Hills (Nashville), a trendy part of town. It seemed appropriate to close out my real estate career by selling a townhome, on the outskirts of Uptown Phoenix, to a couple in their 20s. Bookending it, if you will! 

Today, (DAY 17) I woke up around 5:30 in fear I would miss a call from our U-Pack Truck Driver. As I previously mentioned, U-Pack ended up being about 25% less than PODS and other services that drop a container at ground level. Our delivery time was between 7 and 11 AM. Most reviews mentioned a very communicative driver, so I anticipated a call or text when he was getting close.

I had just rolled out of bed a little after 7 to start getting dressed when I heard "bing-bong" - no one else rings our bell that early, it was Larry, our driver! He self-parked right where we wanted it - so the ramp would end at the edge of our driveway. Everything packed is in our garage so we can dolly it right out.

Larry showed us around, then detached his semi and left us this BEAST.

Here is a video short: U-Pack Trailer Delivery

Around 2, Clayton (my father-in-law) and Ethan showed up to help us move Zach's stuff from our home, into Ethan's current rental home, as Zach is taking over the lease. Zach came over when he got off work at 4, and they ended up taking 2 full truck beds out of our home and garage, hallelujah! We also stuck a console table, some pillows, a TV and other goods in Ethan's SUV. We're making good progress on clearing the house out!

I was waiting on new vacuum bags from Amazon to arrive; somehow most of ours have leaks. They were delivered just now, so tomorrow I should have all of my clothes packed, and 98% of the home so we can start loading the trailer on Saturday morning! (PRO TIP: U-Pack gives you 3 business days to load your trailer. I had ours delivered on a Thursday so we have the weekend days for free!)