Wow, what a day!  We've had ads in two papers this week, and got a few calls that didn't pan out, and one showing that fell through (guy never showed.)  DH was getting really stressed.  He is the more pessimistic of the two of us, which is sometimes a frustration for me, but that's neither here nor there.  He was sure the apartment wasn't going to rent, he seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown at times, and he was ready to pay the landlord to advertise it.

Well let me back up a minute.  When we told our landlord we were leaving, he presented us with a little contract he's had made up over the years, whereby if we agree to pay him the equivalent of one month's rent to cover "expenses", he will handle all the advertisment, showing, etc. to get the apartment re-rented.  DH and I both smelled a rat in this (it doesn't cost $400+ to place a classified and drive downtown once or twice to show the place) and decided to show the place ourselves.  There is, after all, a legal and highly common procedure for this that's been standardized by our provincial housing board.

So you can imagine that after several days with no real interest we were starting to think maybe we should just pay his stupid fee and be done with it.  On the other hand, I had a good feeling about it.  I had finally got past my own worry and just...I dunno.  A little birdie was telling me it would all work out.  I'm not the kind of person who walks around all day thinking everything is going to be just fine, so I figured maybe I should run with it this time.

And then today I got 3 different calls, within the space of an hour or two, all wanting to see the apartment.  One walked in the door and said basically "oops, no;" another was mildly interested but decided to take something else.  The 3rd one though...signed the papers!!

Can I just say... I KNEW IT! I knew it I knew it I knew it!

So where we stand now - we have signed the papers to cede our lease to this lady, and she has signed to pick up the lease that we are ceding to her.  The only thing left is for the landlord to approve the new renter and sign.  He has very limited reasons why he might refuse.  Basically, unless this woman is a convicted felon, the worst that could happen is that he will make us wait the entire 15 day "decision period" to get his approval.  But DH is taking the paperwork to him in person tomorrow so hopefully that will speed things along ;)

There are a few things still left to arrange.  Some repair work to be done and some repainting, and get the fridge brought in that belongs in the apartment but we don't use because we have our own.  So there's still a fair amount of negotiating that will have to be done.  But in my mind, the worst is over.  The uncertain part, where we weren't sure if anyone would even want this apartment, and in the "off season" (July is the standard month to move)...that's done.  Now it's just details.

And I feel really GOOD right now!  I got the house clean and kept it clean, I took most of the calls, I called the paper to figure out how to place an ad, I wrote the ad...DH did a lot of work too, and he'll be the one to do the part I'm least looking forward to (talking with the landlord) but I am so proud of ME right now.  I feel like I really stepped up, and I calmed my own fears, and look!  Success!