We Accidentally Rented Our House

We accidentally rented our house. How does that happen, you ask? Well, here's how it happened to us. Remember when we were hard core crushing on that old farm house a while back? It had been on the market for 4 years (4 years!) and we thought it was a sure thing. I We fell in love with the beautiful, old house that needed some serious work (think Joan Rivers) and moved to make to make it happen. We put an offer on the old girl, and most importantly, started pinning ideas about improvements. It had such charm.

I'm talking front porch swing, mud room, and this patio:

What's not to love, right? 

So we listed our house for rent, thinking surely we'd get this house that had been waiting on us for 4 years (4 years!). Our patient realtor drew up the paperwork, we talked at length with a lender, had a contractor come out to give us a price on some things we couldn't do ourselves, and pinned some more stuff. And then we didn't get it. After four years (4 years!) the house had been under contract for ONE WEEK when we made our offer. What? BUT WE'D PINNED THINGS! 

I'm not gonna lie. I pouted for a little bit. I'd let myself get too excited about it too soon. It took me a few weeks to be okay with the idea that this wasn't the right house or the right time for us. Something better will be in store, I'm sure. 

In the mean time, we listed our house for rent. You may remember this post about a potential renter. When we didn't get the farm house we decided not to rent the house. But The Husband didn't actually take the ad out of the paper. Sneaky man. So a few weeks later we got a phone call from someone who wanted to see it. I told The Husband our house wasn't for rent, as WE HAD NOWHERE TO LIVE. 

He replied that of course our house wasn't for rent, but it wouldn't hurt to just let her come see it because probably nothing would come of it. Fine. 

So she came. And she wasn't crazy. And she liked our house. And I thought to myself "too bad, it's not for rent." I think you can guess how it goes from there. 

• Her sweet little daughter was here. Named Amelie. (Okay, that's cute.)
• She teaches just down the street from our house (Well, that would be convenient if our house was for rent. But it's not)
• At the Montessori school. (Oh, I do love a Montessori school.)
• Why is she moving? Her current landlords are putting her house on the market. The old farmhouse that she lives in. (Coincidence)
• Her boyfriend will be moving with her, but he travels 47 weeks out of the year. What's he do? He's a stand up comedian. (Sold. Yes, it turns out our house is for rent after all. When do you want it?)

She wants it the first of July, so we're moving out next month. Except we don't actually have a place to live. SO.... The Husband's grandmother is in assisted living and has a house sitting vacant in the town we grew up in just 30 minutes away. We'll be there for a little while as we look for something we can grow in. I sure will miss our first house, but it's time now for a Montessori teacher, a standup comedian, and a girl named Amelie to have it. 

Accidental Rental: Don't let it happen to you!