I had a great conversation with my bank today, through whom we hold our current mortgage, and with whom we will apply for this one. They said a letter of pre approval is good for 120 days. The banker said it is very easy to get it extended thereafter, they would just need to recheck our credit scores, and that there would be no more paperwork that we have to submit for the renewal of an additional 120 days. She mentioned having a client who is now on her fourth renewal! The banker encouraged us to get pre-approval for a higher amount that what we are looking for because she is confident we will qualify and it is obviously much easier to get a montage for a smaller amount than the pre-approval, but a lot of last minute work to apply for a montage that is higher. She sent me all of the paperwork to get started and said they would all be working from home next week if I had any questions. She said the biggest hiccup she sees now in the buying process is getting appraisers out to a property. But that is quite far down the road for us. I'm glad to have something positive to focus on by getting all of our paperwork together. I'm sure it might take longer than usual to get verification of whatever we may need from employers as HR departments seem quite slammed with organizing work from home capacities. Lindee Lee, I'm sorry for your Tenant and in turn for you too. I hope there is a lot of government support and forgiveness for both renters and landlords who need their rent checks. I just looked at the financial support net that England is rolling out. It is enviable and will keep their economy in much better shape.

I am low on stamina, but a few clicks here and there help us out. Unfortunately, the Yahoo Groups FreeCycle has closed down, but there is still Craigslist. Dallasannie, while I do get a lot of what you are describing, overall, I have to disagree while agreeing. But I sure do get the desire to find a best fit home for some things. Our mom would drive us a tad bonkers with her seeking perfect matches in various realms. I think you might have burned yourself out. And I truly understand how that can happen. I have had up and down medical woes and many commitments over the years. Then we inherited a lot of family things as our parents “aged out” of housing all sorts of thing. Huge collections of family photos and professional photos. Tools, furniture. Then there is the “our” stuff. On the other side, I have given great stuff away ($2500 organic natural/real, barely used queen latex mattress in a protective covering. Too firm and it took up too much real estate. I probably could have gotten some real useful cash for it, but pre Marie Kondo and with fatigue and aches decided just to give it away. Lots of calls and it went to a nice couple who’d been sleeping on the floor. They were thrilled, I was happy. When we need something, I keep watch on Craigslist etc.. Free pretty new good brand clothes dryer Free, nearly new KA white dishwasher. Guy said the grinder/disposal made a noise. We bought new crumb grinder. Nothing was wrong with it. Quiet unit, 3 years now. Purrs. Free. The couple really just wanted stainless, not white. Yay. Our smooth top kitchen range with convection fan oven broke on the top. Part not available. Found a free one, used it for a year, but burners were without enough OOMPH. One day, I looked for a used convection oven. Bada Bing! Local, nearly new. Spotless. Not white, but stainless-black. $200 versus $900 to $1600 for DW new. It had barely been used. Super clean. Shiny. Manuals online, for free. Score! I’ve given plants, shrubs, whatever away. Met a good buddy or two. Alisand, I have a colorful, not drab large oval braided wool rug that my sweet late MIL made. Needs to be repairs and resewn a tad. I have pure wool — kilt from Scotland, a navy pea coat, and some wool challis I bought decades ago before I came to understand that orange, spring leaf green and soft brown (paisley) were not the best colors for me. And I was never doing to use that otherwise wonderful fabric. I can use some of the (3-4? Yards) fabric to fix a few braided rugs, but, instead of my searching high and low for the one or two souls who might find it useful, I want to offer it to you. And, I always figuredI’d have time to get around to creating “painted” hooked rugs with nuanced shading, not “by number.” Who knew life is rich and jam pack with “To Dos?” PM me if you like it or want to see pic of fabric. And that doggone wool plaid short kilt, about size 8 or 10. Pleats stitched down at waist to hip. Looks cool with leotards or opaque stockings and kicky boots. Above knee length. Circa 1968. Too sweet to tear into strips for a rug (read Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar — remember the comment on her boyfriend’s or MIL’s rug? All that labor and care by a woman, only to have men’s thoughtless shoes trod over it. Wonder if that help conclude her decision to head toward the gas oven. Incredible sad. What a talent losses. ~~~ I love, collect, fix up vintage sewing machines. They take up time and space. Sometimes people give machines to me. I tune up machines for others, give some away. Help people resolve problems via online. Never worry about finding the perfect recipient who will appreciate something. Even a working vintage sewing machine (usually) will migrate to an appreciative new owner. Some don’t. One point A to point B efficient acquaintance just chucked a lovely Singer Redhead (“red eye”) treadle into the trash without even bothering to look for a taker. (“Free at curb...”). She’s a ismissive sort who Is e known for decades. A bit defensive, cold. Well, lo and behold surprise, a few weeks ago, she got into another psychological projection snit and hung up on me. Truly. What tha?! I am not surprised and don’t miss walking on eggshells. But, jeepers. Upshot: life has depth, connection, meaning and challenges. Give thoughtful fairness and decency. Don’t fritter time away over “stuff” you no longer want to fuss with. Share love, peace, goodwill, passion, fun, creativity. Don’t fret over dusty possessions or shallow, imperious people. There’s a lot of important real connection within your walls and beyond your threshold. Peace, stuff and beyond stuff ;-)

If you "hope to get started right away" then we assume you have chosen your contractor and you are already on the schedule. Is there a GC or are you managing the contracting to various trades? Plans underway? What procedures does your contractor have in place and are you comfortable with them? And if you are in a condo, the access (daily unloading and transfer of materials and tools), space for fabricating (do you have an area where the saws and other equipment can be used?) And yes there will be noise and dust. Waste removal, parking and other considerations are likely built into your proposal/contract. And it will take longer than two weeks even if you have every design and material selection done in advance. Note that a covid impactor you might not be considering is the lead time on products and materials. You have not yet demoed the space, correct? Most of us have safety procedures in place and specific to COVID,. and we adapt within reason. That is a conversation we have with our clients to assure that every job is a good fit for them and for us. The most important resource is your trusted and vetted contractor. Hire wisely and you will have your answers.

wildchild2x2, I'm with you with our warlock. He can't close anything down though. During the first shutdown all he kept saying was the "science says". Ok show us the science. Some county representatives took him to court and the liar didn't have any proof of science. He lost the case. He still can designate the number of people allowed in a business (not that many business or people are paying attention to him), but that is it. His old rules still apply, but there is always ways around it. Like if you drink you have to have a meal. Like covid knows when your drinking alcohol or not. So bars just put some hotdogs on a paper plate on the tables. It doesn't mater that that hot dog has been sitting there for 8 hours. It's food and it is on the table.