Chapter 5: To Buy or Not to Buy…

 

Wolf flew out the very next day and met us at the house. He had the same reaction I did. He loved it. Almost instantly, he could picture us living, hosting, and spending long, un-rushed stretches of time with our family. 

With our hearts leaning firmly toward yes, we shifted into practical mode. We revisited our builder’s advice, carefully reviewing the condition of the house and the upgrades and improvements we hoped to make:

Could the kitchen be improved and made more farmhouse-authentic (and slightly less 1970s)?

Could the plastered walls, inside and out, be stripped back to reveal the beautiful stone beneath?

Could we add a pool that would blend into the countryside?

And could the fireplaces, be brought back to life?

This wasn’t just about falling in love; it was about making sure the dream made sense before committing to it.

Time, however, was not on our side. The real estate agent had already scheduled additional showings for the weekend, and we could feel the pressure mounting. He knew we were serious, we had gone to considerable lengths just to be there, and thankfully, he managed to hold off the other potential buyers for a few days. Still, the clock was ticking.

As if the moment needed one final dose of rural authenticity, the house had no cellular or internet service. Luckily, our neighbors came to the rescue, generously offering their patio, and their Wi-Fi as our makeshift headquarters.

Perched outside with phones in hand, we spoke with our builder and advisor, talked through the numbers and logistics one last time, and then looked at each other.

Yes.

We would make an offer.