Following Mrs. Russell, he hitched a still sleeping Maddox a little higher on his shoulder. One thing about his boy, once he went to sleep, he was out. Nothing disturbed him. Not even being pulled in and out of the truck multiple times.
This was the second house they’d looked at with Mad asleep. It made Jake’s life a bit easier, although he did want to see his son’s reaction to each place. The last one was a definite no; it had been on a major thoroughfare and Jake hadn’t liked how close the house had been to the sidewalk either, so the fact Maddox had slept through that whole viewing didn’t matter.
“The attached garage is not original to the property. It was added about five years ago and I must admit, the builder did a great job of making the addition look as though it has always been here both outside and in.”
He listened to Mrs. Russell with one ear, his focus ninety percent on what he was seeing. There was a small front step, an equally small roof over it to keep the weather off. Jake didn’t think it would shelter much. He’d extend it. Or he could put a full porch across the front of the house.
“The foyer gets a lot of natural light from the two side windows,” Mrs. Russell pointed out as she opened the door and stepped aside to let him go in first.
He wasn’t a fan of those floor to ceiling windows flanking the front door. He’d probably get rid of them, close them in or widen the entry and fit a larger door, or double doors if the space allowed.
The foyer also got a lot of light from the two-story void over his head. Looking up, he smiled. Yeah, those side windows weren’t needed. Not with the huge window on the second level.
“I’d leave you to wander around but the owners have explicit instructions on viewings.”
“Of course. The place is filled with their stuff.” It actually made it easier to picture his own furniture in here.
The last two places had been empty and the two before that had been staged with leased furnishings and what the stager had obviously considered ‘trendy’. It had given those places a showroom feel, one that felt cold and unwelcoming. This place looked like a home, felt like a home, felt lived in, and he could easily imagine the family had just left to go out for lunch or to the store.
Jake had barely stepped through the door and already he was itching to buy and put his own stamp on the place. “Are they solid on their asking price?”
“They say yes, but there might be some wiggle room.”
“Is it overpriced for what it is or the market in Sunnyville?”
“Actually, no. It’s bang on in my opinion.”
“And that would be an expert one.” He grinned over his shoulder at the self professedbest real estate agent in town.
“Yes.” Mrs. Russell smiled back. “I’ve been selling and leasing property in Sunnyville for over forty years—no one comes close to that knowledge. In fact, I sold this house to the Bernards about twenty-five years ago.”
“Definitely an expert then.”
“When it comes to homes in Sunnyville, yes.”
“Good to know.” He glanced into the living room. “Can we see the backyard?”
“Have a look at whatever you want. I’ll just follow along behind.”
Jake made his way into the living room then through it to the wide arch that separated the area from a fantastic kitchen with eating nook. It wasn’t the state-of-the-art appliances that drew him, though, it was the gorgeous glass-walled section that overlooked the small deck and backyard.
Standing in front of that glass with the large expanse of green lawn and huge oak tree complete with swing beneath its shady branches in the back corner, Jake said, “Put in an offer.”
“What?”
“Give them the price they’re asking for. Quick turn-around.”
“You—”
“It’s exactly what I want, in my price range, and I’m not going to bother looking further when I doubt I’ll find anything better suited.” He took his eyes off the yard, looked at Mrs. Russell, and smiled. “You kept the best for last, didn’t you?”
She grinned. “I did.”
“The rest were just to show me how perfect this place is.”
“True. Although the others weren’t bad properties and it is good to get an idea of the market so you’re able to see the value you’re getting if you purchase this one, but yes, after speaking to you this morning, I thought this place would be perfect for you.”
“Make the call,” he said with a nod. He didn’t want to wait. Not now that he’d found the place that was theirs. He couldn’t explain it, but in his gut he knew this house was meant to be their home. “Tell them I can transfer fifty percent of the asking price today.”
