HOUSE HUNTING HORRORS

It has only just begun, yet already I want to head butt a brick wall. The search for a new property to rent is doing my head in. We were told we have two months left in our current rental, as the owner is selling. However, as this falls right in the middle of when Justin is away, we want to have found something, and moved, before the 20^th of September. 

Oh and let me tell you it is a hard thing to do. Getting a decent rental in Brisbane, at a good price is akin to winning lotto. We could live close to the city in a dumpster for what we could afford, or further out. Even then, the below is an example of a two bedroom, three quarters of an hour from the city.

I showed up today at a viewing, me and about twenty other people. Some are nice, and will chat. You even see some at other houses you look at.

Others, like this lady today, actually have no manners what so ever. She shoved me, to get into a room that already had way too many people in it for its size. When I turned to her and said excuse me, she played the ‘I don’t speak English card’. Um, I may not speak Cantonese, but I know that option!! To make it even sillier, she had been speaking perfect English to the realtor.

It makes me sad, we all want the same thing, a place to call home that does not break the bank. Oh, and someone to pack and move all of your stuff for you.

The other choice is I can live in a six bedroom home with ocean views, three bathrooms, a study and four car garage for $260 a week; the only catch is that it is on Russell Island. This one cannot claim close to transport as a selling point.

It may just be easier to win lotto than to find a nice rental at a decent price. 

LEAVING MY COMFORT ZONE

How do you know when it is time to move? Or time to stay. I have spoken about the issues with this house before; now the owners may or may not be selling. We feel we are living in limbo.

When I travel I am adventurous, and love the thrill of the unknown. Travelling to countries and immersing myself in the culture. The unexpected is what I crave. Yet at home, I like a life of simplistic pursuits. I like to garden, to sew, to blog, and most importantly be at home with Jarvis. One of the main things that 'holds' me to this house is this was our first home. This was the house where Jarvis was born. 

I went and looked at yet another rental today. The first question I always ask myself as I enter a possible new house, “can I see myself being happy here?” There were good and there were bad things about this house. How do you know when it is time to leave your comfort zone? 

A dream is your creative vision

for your life in the future.

You must break out of your

current comfort zone and 

become comfortable with 

the unfamiliar and the unknown.
Denis Waitley 

This was Jarvis's room back when he was Dim Sim

The dinning room where each night we sit and talk.

DEAR REAL ESTATE/PEOPLE WHO OWN OUR HOME

This is an open letter to the Real Estate who mange our home, and to the people who own it

This house has become our home. I have loved it greatly in the eighteen months that we have lived here. I believe this shows in the care and love I have given this home. From the internal renovations I have done, such as painting bedrooms, painting door frames, repairing screen, and sewing and replacing torn blinds. 

To the external, which I have also done a lot of work. It was a massive task cleaning up the back yard (with a huge amount of help from Dad and my little sister), I cleaned away the pool site that had been a safety risk to anyone entering the back yard, landscaped, planted grass, and built two huge edible gardens. In the front yard I have dug up and landscaped the front garden beds.

I believe all of this work is a sign of how much I love and care for this house, even though we only rent it. I believe it is very reasonable to ask that we do not have to live in a house that floods every time Brisbane has heavy rains.

The downstairs, Jarvis’s play area and the office/sewing room has yet again been further damaged from this week’s rains, and will continue to do so until repairs are done. I am aware that plumbing and drainage need to be done to rectify the situation, but surely it is not too much of an ask, to not have a cupboard that turns into a waterfall each time it rains?

I am also aware, that we have now asked over a dozen times for this repair to happen, and as of yet we have received no response, other than from the Real Estate telling us they will inform the owners. 

Thanking you

Your tenant, Julie

Below is an example of just some of the work we have done to the property.

What was the backyard.

What the backyard is now