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House For Sale ... Again

posted at 12:46 am
on Jun. 24, 2008

Comments: 4 so far

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Dear universe,

You’ve been very good to me lately.  Very good, in fact.  I’ve been getting into shape, collaborating well with co-workers, enjoying the sun,  eating well, seeing friends, getting new clients.

So what’s up with this sign on my lawn?

We got a call on Tuesday from the property management company, that the owner of our house wanted to put it back on the market.

When, we asked?

Tomorrow, he said.

Ah, we said.  Ahhh. AHHHH!

The owner, Robin Vrba, has put the house back on the market, this time for $999,000 instead of $1,278,000.  That’s a 22% price difference in three months.

From this, I can deduce two things.

1) It’s much more likely the house will sell this time, and quickly.

2) It can’t be a good sign for the upward trend of the housing market that this house is now for sale for 22% less than it was just several months ago.

So on Wednesday morning, we had a quick house meeting, Susie and Matt and I, to talk about what that meant for us all having to move.  If it sells, we’ll have 60 days from the time the sale completes.  And according to BC law, it’s the second month that’s free (in other words, the last month before we have to move out, so if we move out in 30 days, no discount.) We decided in the house meeting not to wait to find out if the house sells, but to start looking right away.

Then, the other thing we found out, is that Matt has already been looking for apartments. He told Susie on Wednesday night he had had an appointment and had looked at a shared house situation closer to the center of Kitsilano.

He had been considering taking it.  But he told Susie he was now unsure of whether he should take the place because “Hop Studios World Headquarters” might end up somewhere far away - we don’t know exactly where we’ll settle, so he doesn’t know where to rent a place.

So in two or so months, we’ll have a new address for Hop Studios - unless this place doesn’t sell right away, which is totally possible in this market, although we’re not going to wait around to see if that’s the case.  And wherever we end up living, whether Hop Studios is in the same space or not, Matt’s likely not going to be living with us.

Final thought: if you know of a place for rent that would be suitable for any of us, by all means, let me know.

Overheard

“Oh boy! Another great opportunity for personal growth!”

...who said it?

“I’m not bitter about what happened to me as a child, and my mother was instrumental in keeping me from being so. ... She taught me to be grateful for my life regardless of what that entailed, and that’s directly related to the image of Christ on the cross and the example of sacrifice that he gave us. What she taught me is that the deliverance God offers you from pain is not no pain—it’s that the pain is actually a gift. What’s the option? God doesn’t really give you another choice.”

...who said it?

After over a decade of user testing, it is clear that the way we search the web is similar to the way we would search our home for valuables as it was burning to the ground. Frantically.

...who said it?

“We must shift the focus of companies back to the customer and away from shareholder value ... The shift necessitates a fundamental change in our prevailing theory of the firm… The current theory holds that the singular goal of the corporation should be shareholder value maximization. Instead, companies should place customers at the center of the firm and focus on delighting them, while earning an acceptable return for shareholders.”

...who said it?

“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.”

...who said it?

Comments

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear this guys! Feel for you ... but you were talking about the Universe ... it has a habit of balancing out so maybe the next place will be even more awesome!

By the way, love the site design, very refreshing, also like the clear options on the feeds.

 

Posted by Stewart Marshall
  at 7:53 am on Jun. 24, 2008

 

 

 

Ugh. I guess that was bound to happen eventually.... I hope you find an even more fabulous Hop HQ. But don't move somewhere crazy far away, ok?

 

Posted by sio
  at 2:17 pm on Jun. 24, 2008

 

 

 

Bummer!!!

Yeah, I guess it makes sense to start looking straight away. My guess is that after a drop in price like that, it really will sell this time.

We know of one place, but it might be a little tight for you two, Matt, the cats and Hop Studios... Sorry.

 

Posted by Jason
  at 3:21 am on Jun. 25, 2008

 

 

 

Sounds like you're on a rollercoaster, Travis. I suggest you look for a long-term lease. Don't stress, you'll find it and it's infinitely better than where you are now.

 

Posted by Francois
  at 2:40 pm on Jun. 25, 2008

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