Week 48: Christmas has come early...
Hooray!...the house is finally here...at last I have secured my first investment property in the midst of Corona. I didn't anticipate the delay to be eleven months, well technically ten as that’s when the hammer went down officially. I couldn't get myself to say it was mine until after completion when I had finally picked up the keys to my beloved. Reason being I had two deals falling through one during the early stages which wasn't too bad and the other just before completion. That one was hard to swallow as we had put some cash in but the time spent was enormous. I learnt from my mistake and didn't view it as my own until the final email from our solicitors which stated:
‘...You have now completed on your property 23 High St; ’keys to be collected from_____’
I still remember the exact time, sheer bliss that very moment when all your hard work finally pays off and you sit and ponder in disbelief that is this for real? or a figment of your imagination or worse your mind playing tricks on you?? Anyways, a weekend had passed and things subsided when those all important emails were coming through from the RICS guy and various contractors. It finally sunk in, it was my baby even if it’s for a short while, but still mine nevertheless.
I would like to thank all those involved. Some family members that actually contributed after months of debating, discussing and some tears along the way. My rainy day fund which I was saving for something very important and finally a loan which went through after countless applications and rejections. Got so immune to the NO’s that I developed layers upon layers of skin. I was so obsessed with this purchase that I wasn't going to let anything/one come in the way. I could almost feel the weight of the keys against my palm and the (sweet) smell of rotten timber along with the dampness of a dilapidated building was all that I could think about.
...‘If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it’...
Muhammad Ali
Looking back in hindsight the hardest part was asking for the money, that didn't sit well with me. I am okay with lending to others but not the other way round. This was the last option as I had exhausted the list of ‘potential financial contributors/institutions’ to tap into. It was my last resort but I am glad I did. As I sit here writing this post I already have the crew stripping out the entire house, skip/removal all sorted doing the first stage of decommissioning with the first of many payments sent. They started earlier today at 8 am sharp and my control freak inner gene is in turmoil to drive up three hours north but the sensible me saying; “stay put and leave them to it, you are of no use to them instead focus on other matters of equal importance (yes I talk to myself now) failing that just drive down before sunset to join the lads for a builders brew if it gets unbearable (those ants in the pant’s are raging war at the moment haha.
‘Don't let Pride get in the way, Persistence is the only ‘P’ you should be worrying about’.....(My own quote...)