We still have not closed on the house. Turns out our lawyer was in the hospital for about 3 weeks. I have no idea why someone couldn't let us know this until about a week ago. We went with a lawyer Joe's dad recommended, or I thought we did. Turns out his lawyer friend he recommended has a lawyer brother, and we got the brother. During the last week or so the non-incapacitated brother was supposed to be getting stuff done, but nothing happened on our end.

We were trying to get an early occupancy agreement. The owners were supposedly fine with it and just needed their lawyers okay in case we burned down the house or something. Noone worked on this closing while our lawyer was hospitalized, as far as I can tell.

I am so frustrated. The closing date is Monday. We wanted to get grounded wiring and overhead lights put in and rip out the (fugly) carpet before moving in. Now The lawyer is supposed to call today and let Joe know if we can move in Sunday. That's like the day before the closing date. I wasn't even fully awake when Joe told me this, so I don't know if we are just dropping things off there or if we're actually moving?

About a month ago the only problem was the title search hadn't been done. As far as I know it still isn't... Last week Joe said their lawyer needed to send title paperwork to our lawyer and it would take 2 days from then to get the title search finished. We have gone in circles with Joe sending everyone everything they need, but none of them send necessary paperwork to each other. We pay them, but they don't DO anything. Now I know why people stay in the same house forever, they probably tried to move and no one ever did their job in the closing process...

At least it's a foursquare, and when we need to block off a room to work on it we can still access the rest of the house and get in and out. I'm imagining the worst will be removing the paint from the stairs and banister etc. since the only bathroom is upstairs. The baby is in diapers, so if we all stayed downstairs, she'd be fine. And we could set up some unmentionable emergency bucket in the basement if necessary, I'm envisioning lead paint in the removal process and actually having to seal off the stairs... But other than that most of the rooms can be accessed even if one is closed off for work. If we'd gotten a crazy-mazey Victorian it might not have been that simple...

As if it will be simple...

I need to find houseblog friends doing DIY with a toddler living in the house, for inspiration. We just got Amelia her first lead test last week (at 1 and 1/2) and she's all good. So we know if anything happens it's the new house, or us that caused it.

Since writing that when I woke up I have talked to Joe a bit more. He called our lawyer and it turns out THEIR lawyer STILL has not sent the abstract of title to our lawyer. It's been what, at least 6 weeks? The other day our neighbor made a comment to the effect that he thought there was a problem with one of the kids about selling. Our house is being sold by the 5 kids of the deceased owners. There was no will. I am now wanting to ask the neighbor what he heard or over-heard. (at the time he made the comment I didn't know there was any problem other than our hospitalized lawyer, and didn't think it was relevant....)

Our lawyer has been calling their lawyer for weeks now, about the title. He has never gotten a response. Part of the time their lawyer was supposed to be on vacation. We found the house pretty much immediately, within a few weeks of the owners death. Within the first week of the ad being online. The realtor had said they wanted to sell asap because they don't want to pay to heat it in winter etc., but I really wonder now what the heck is going on. I think all 5 sons were there the day we met them when they were moving their parents stuff out and we were having the house inspected. Supposedly they're all on board. But I really wonder why we can't even acquire the title info, if they want to sell so badly. With a motivated seller, why would they let their lawyer stall forever unless there's some problem!?!?!

Why put it on the market and then not do your part in the process of selling? We could close 48 hours after their lawyer sends it. This makes no sense to me...