Inspection Finished!

I've been putting everything kind of on hold until the inspection.  I had this terrible vision of having movers ready, putting in my 20 days vacate notice at my apartment and then having something catastrophic wrong with the boat.  That and it was a good way to not have to deal with anything for a while.

Inspection was done last Monday, and now the inspection report is back!  Nothing huge that we hadn't already talked about, though I hadn't noticed that were weren't any smoke detectors when I walked through.  Now is the whole 'demand' part, which can be stressful.  I am never clear on what is reasonable to demand to be fixed and what I can just deal with later.

The biggest issue is the moisture in the hull.  There is no current leak, but the moisture is there and it can rot out the wood.  I am now, more than ever, convinced that I will replace the hull, but I do have time.  I am going to 'demand' that they put in an industrial strength dehumidifier and make sure it drains out to the lake (there is no way I'm going to empty it every day) that has a timer or something like that on it.  On my own I will put in humidity sensors in the hull to monitor and the inspector said that it can be checked up on while still in the water as the moisture can be measured from inside the hull.  Unofficially he told me that would ensure no issues until I was ready to replace the hull, but that he wouldn't wait more than 10 years.

He also valued the houseboat lower than the asking price, mostly due to the moisture in the hull.  I mentioned to my realtor that if they wanted to pay for half the hull and have the valuation at that price point I'd be game, but I don't see that being a reasonable thing to do, those hulls aren't cheap.  My real concern is that this will move out the closing date as I don't want credits, I want the stuff actually *done*, I don't have any experience here or even know who to hire to fix things.

Oh and some of the outlets don't have junction boxes, who does that??  I don't work with electricity and I know that is a super double plus bad idea.  I think an electrical fire is my worst nightmare on a houseboat, even more than it sinking.

So I sent an email to my realtors, and then three follow ups as I thought of other things (they are very patient with me) and we'll see what happens next.  I'd like to keep the closing date but my lease at my apartment isn't up until October so I have time. 

Does my furniture really not fit??

Here I go, downsizing... again.... I swear this is the last time.

I moved up to Seattle just over three years ago, and I did the serious downsizing thing then.  I got rid of a whole moving van worth of stuff.  I have been living on my own for more than 20 years and I had accumulated quite a bit of stuff in that time.  I went from an 1830 sq foot condo to an 830 sq foot apartment and a storage unit.  And I did it, and it worked!

When I moved out of that apartment I went down to 711 sq feet, but that apartment had a fantastic terrace that let me have outside space.  I love this apartment in downtown Bellevue, but owning my own houseboat is the right move.  So, from 711 to 353, this is my last downsize.

At the inspection earlier this week I got all of the measurements, and it's looking like I can take most of what I had intended, though not all of it.  The one thing I'm kind of sad about is that I can't take my coffee table.  It is the last piece that I held onto from my first grownup furniture purchase.  It's going to a good home, but I am a little sad.

I'm getting rough estimates right now on what movers will costs, the plan is to have them move most of my storage unit and select furniture items and books to my mom's place in AZ.  Then, assuming we close on August 1, we move me into the boat!  After that I will give people a chance to take what is left, and then I'll have them haul everything left over to Good Will, or call a Junk Place that was recommended. 

This is getting real!

Inspection Done!

Spent last Monday at the boat dock with the inspector along with Linda and Kevin.  Watching it come out of the water was just amazing!  I didn't get there in time to see the tugboat but I did get to watch them take her out of the water.

  

They cleaned off the hull, and the rainbow just made it even more fun

They next drove it over to where it was going to spend the day

Once they got to the parking spot they backed it in and put it on blocks

Overall it was kind of amazing to watch!  The inspection was done in a few hours, we're waiting on the report before making any decisions, but nothing earth shattering came up, so it's looking promising!  I'm confident enough that I'm starting to talk to movers.

Moving is getting complicated

Right now I'm waiting.  Our inspection is tomorrow (July 16th) and I will know more then.  I've been through a few house inspections before but they weren't as pivotal to me as this one will be.  Not only will I have an expert there to ask questions of, but I will be getting all of the measurements, and there are a lot of things I don't know about houseboats.  Once that is done I can apply for insurance and moorage, then the loan can fund.  If things go as planned we expect to close August 1st. 

Then it gets complicated.

 I will have essentially three moves.  The first one to the boat, and what goes will be decided once I get the measurements, there is some furniture I know I can take but a few pieces are up in the air.  I am going to want to move into the boat as soon as possible since enjoying it in the nice weather is kind of one of the points.  This includes moving outside furniture and plants, which will be a new experience for me.  That is complicated and daunting enough, but then there is more.

My mother is being gracious enough to take some things that won't go on the boat.  This includes the antique dresser, the books I'm not willing to part with, art, basically things that are valuable that I don't want to expose to the potential of water.  However I can't just send my storage unit to my mom's as much as that would simplify things.  I need to make thoughtful decisions and only send her the important items since she's basically storing them for me for free.

After that is done then it's the all call of 'come over and take anything that is left' and whatever doesn't get taken goes to Good Will.  I have a taker for the big TV (though transportation for that is proving a bit complicated), the butcher block island, and at least some of my kitchen appliances, but even in a small apartment there is just a lot of stuff.

I'm also going to have to have items delivered to the boat and I'm not sure how complicated that will be.  A full sized mattress, the small chest freezer (assuming I can get it to fit), most likely there will be new furniture when mine won't fit.  It's a bit overwhelming.

It would be easier if I wan't so dead set on moving in as soon as possible, but isn't that the point of buying a new place? I adore the apartment I currently live in, but it's time for the next adventure!