Well, the owners of the second house of interest have now accepted our offer to buy it. “Yes, we will take all your income for the next thirty years.” Again, we’re doing a contingency offer since the Mega Millions thing fell through last week. This time it’s a “bumpable buying” situation, meaning until we have an accepted offer on our house, someone else can swoop in with a higher offer. That also means we have to make our house-ready for market, fast.

After all the purging and cleaning last spring, I had hoped that this round would be easier. Instead, our house looks like we’re running an illegal daycare. While I was contemplating either a firehose or just fire, I got a text from a friend who I remembered was involved with a cleaning side hustle. Did someone have time tomorrow to come to my rescue? They did! (Cue: angel choir)

I have discovered that money can indeed buy happiness. After a few hours of cleaning lady pre-cleaning, that is decluttering to the level where the real filth begins, I packed the kiddos in the van and let the professionals take over. Three hours and three sunburns later we returned to a house that resembled the pretty pictures on the real estate estate one-sheet. Seriously, I need a list of products because they got off-brand Sharpie off the fridge and our tub wasn’t even that clean when we moved in.

So, if anyone you know is in the market for a Depression Era farmhouse with a yellow door, let me know. Chickens are negotiable.