Sometimes, going to Paris is a bad idea

In November, the company I work for decided to send me to Paris on the second week of January. Reservations and plans were made. Because it was some kind of a by-chance perfect timing situation that may never present itself again, M -who both had one week of vacation banked and a rare lag in his schedule-, bought a plane ticket, too. My mother accepted to come over and babysit (which she was only able to do because that specific week is very slow for her business). Our real estate agent had assured us that things only usually picked up on the second half of January, and that we should enjoy these few last weeks of relative quietness, because it would likely get crazy after that. So we had told my mom that she probably wouldn't have showings, or maybe say, one, so it shouldn't be a big deal. Of course with the house uncertainty going on a trip was not the most rational thing ever, but we still thought it was a too-good opportunity to pass up: a week in Paris for the both of us, for the price of one (cheap) flight + M's lunches and dinners. We were beyond excited for this trip, only our second one alone since becoming parents five years ago. Even if I had to work, it would still be a fanstatic break in our routine, not to mention a great opportunity to reconnect. In Paris!!!  

Then during the Holidays, without notice, everything got cancelled. And obviously, we were both really disappointed, and mad at ourselves for booking M's ticket so early and so confidently... He ended up paying a hefty $300 fee, which we clearly could have done without. All this to say that the atmosphere since then has been quite grim around here.

Then, something happened, right at the exact moment when we would have been supposed to leave. Apparently houses, like politicians, are subjected to momentum, and we suddenly sensed that ours had shifted. While the market remained post-Holidays-dead everywhere in town, we had four showings booked within a few days.

And... two buyers who came back for a second showing.

Which led to... two offers on the same day.

So providing that the buyers' (preapproved) financing gets cleared and that the inspection goes well (which it really should be), ladies and gentlemen, THE HOUSE. IS. SOLD.   !!!

 
It's funny, but we feel much better about not going to Paris now, or even about wasting that money on a cancelled ticket. Because honestly, in hidsight, I cannot think of a worse week for us to have been away.