A guest post by Beatriz Jensen-Perez
I remember the first time I met Diane (and her lovely mom) on our first tour day. We were looking at units in high-rise buildings along the lake. She was so excited to get the ball rolling and to find the right place ASAP. Unfortunately, most of the places we were seeing lacked space for an office and character — her most important must haves.
As fate would have it, in the middle of her home search, Diane gets a job offer that would change everything. Once we started our new search, Diane landed on a home with SO much character! This unit had it all: a private outdoor space, one parking spot, a second bedroom and the most picturesque office overlooking the beautifully landscaped courtyard. Not to mention, it was walking distance to all of her (our!) favorite spots and to the lake!
I was so nervous for her final walkthrough since the sellers agreed to fix a few things before closing. Once I saw how excited Diane and her parents were when we got inside (and that the repairs had been made), the nerves disappeared. It made me so happy to see that Diane would be able to move in and start decorating just in time for the holidays!
I cant wait how she continues to make this place her own. Congratulations!
A few quick questions for Diane:
How many homes did you look at before finding yours? At least 30
How did you know this was The One? Before going to my showing, I knew on paper that this home checked all my boxes. My perfect neighborhood, the space I wanted, in unit laundry, the right balance of updated/vintage and the type of building. Obviously, there were other basic things I needed to check (water pressure, water stains, cracks, condition of the floors, etc.) but I knew in my mind before going in, if I fell in love with it, I could safely put in an offer. And the moment I knew I wanted to move forward, was when I could picture myself happily living in my home now AND I knew I had room to grow too. I could see having my friends and family over. I knew exactly where I wanted to put my Christmas tree. I could picture having a dog running around and I knew there was so much future potential for me. I just had a voice in my head telling me this was it and if it was meant to be it would work out. Even after a crazy inspection and an even crazier contract review, that hope never really wavered. And it could be that this was my third offer submitted, but I was unemotional about that craziness. I had a weird sense of peace about some of the delays and some of the chaos (keyword: some).
What is the very best feature in your home? The best feature is probably all the natural lighting! I love waking up in the morning and seeing how the sun shines through the bathroom window. I love opening up my curtains in the morning and looking into the courtyard. I work right next to two big windows in the den and soak in the daylight all day. And at the end of the workday there is a beautiful golden light that streams in through the kitchen. It is so dreamy!
Which room do you spend the most time in? I spend the most time in the den – my home office! I’m permanently remote so getting this room set up was top priority. I got a standing desk and started to fill the room with all my plants and a big cozy chair. I love that I get to sit near the windows all day. I love that the den is connected to the living room but feels separate enough that I am not working and living in the same space all day.
Go-to restaurant in your neighborhood? Wakamono! I think I order their sweet potato maki at least once a week.
Share your fave memory in your home! I have a lot of favorite memories but I love thinking about how hosting my friends has evolved as I moved in. The first night I ate Wakamono with a friend sitting on a blanket in my living room and we toasted champagne in paper cups. Before the holidays, I celebrated with my friends and my Christmas tree stand was actually moving boxes and we crowded around my couch with my folding tables and chairs. And just last week, I was able to cook for my friends and we all cozied up on the couch and watched a movie together. My friends even started to know how my kitchen was set up and just helped themselves. Seeing my home become a safe, cozy space for my friends makes me so happy. Finally having the space to gather together again and seeing my friends make themselves at home has made the home buying process so worth it. It’s going to be such a fun summer once I can use the deck and enjoy the festivals in the neighborhood too!
