Is there a thread for people selling their house?

[Mickeyluver37]

Well, we had our first showing, and we got all good feedback, except the client found the home to be too small. With 1800SF and 3 kids, and 2 dogs, we felt so too, but there's not much bigger in that price range!

 

[MontanaZoo]

My sister had a showing last night, another one scheduled for tonight, and an open house on Sunday. And it's now on the internet too.

It's 2128 sq ft and I think I calculated out $70.40 per sq foot if I did that right. 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 garage...hoping that's the right combo, she really needs to get out from under the mortgage payments she can't meet now that she and her husband have split up.

 

[klmall]

There was another long house selling thread but I don't know where it went.

Another Marylander here, in Montgomery County who put our house on the market a couple of months ago. Lots of showing but not even a bite. Now today, our realtor, whom we really like, called and told us we're probably not getting shown enough due to an unfinished basement. We're the only home in our asking price range without one it seems. We absolutely cannot go a dollar lower! Nor can we afford to finish the basement at this time just in hope of selling! One visitor told his realtor that our 1 year old stainless steel, top of the line appliances needed replacement! Yikes!

At least we don't have to move. Only problem is DH is so unhappy working; he really wants to retire (I'm already retired) but the expenses of maintaining our 2200 sq ft. 2.63 acre ball and chain will drive me to finding a job soon!

Everyone says our 24 year old, totally rehabbed home is very nice but it just can't compete with the hundreds of McMansions out there!

And it doesn't help that my brother took an extra year finishing the rehab as DH reminds every week!

I commiserate with each and everyone of you! This has got to be SELLER'S HELL!!!!!!!

 

[Mellie2162]

There was another long house selling thread but I don't know where it went.

Another Marylander here, in Montgomery County who put our house on the market a couple of months ago. Lots of showing but not even a bite. Now today, our realtor, whom we really like, called and told us we're probably not getting shown enough due to an unfinished basement. We're the only home in our asking price range without one it seems. We absolutely cannot go a dollar lower! Nor can we afford to finish the basement at this time just in hope of selling! One visitor told his realtor that our 1 year old stainless steel, top of the line appliances needed replacement! Yikes!

At least we don't have to move. Only problem is DH is so unhappy working; he really wants to retire (I'm already retired) but the expenses of maintaining our 2200 sq ft. 2.63 acre ball and chain will drive me to finding a job soon!

Everyone says our 24 year old, totally rehabbed home is very nice but it just can't compete with the hundreds of McMansions out there!

And it doesn't help that my brother took an extra year finishing the rehab as DH reminds every week!

I commiserate with each and everyone of you! This has got to be SELLER'S HELL!!!!!!!

Everyone just hang in there. Its just not a seller's market right now and with everyone thinking that the world is coming to an end, no one wants to buy right now. We have decided not to stress about it anymore and just wait it out. Hey it only takes 1 person to buy it. Anyway, we can't compete with all the new homes in our area with the builders offering so many little perks to the buyers, so I guess we are just stuck staying here doing what we've been doing. Hang in there though.

 

[Terry36]

We will be selling our house soon and moving to MS so I would like to join in as well.

 

[maddiemom]

Well, we opted to reduce the asking price yesterday for our home. It is not going to be listed as "reduced" because we don't want the negative perception that something is wrong with the house. It will just put our home a little more in line with others in the area (even though there are several that were at the level we were, there were another several that were lower). We are hopeful that it will make the house look even more attractive to prospective buyers.

We have another showing on Monday. I will be crossing fingers, toes and my eyes that day!!

I really want to be able to be excited about our new house, just can't get too excited right now.

The other problem is the interest rates that have climbed this week. We are considering paying an additional amount to lock in a rate now (with one opportunity to lock again if the rates lower). Not really sure what to do about it.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Everyone just hang in there. Its just not a seller's market right now and with everyone thinking that the world is coming to an end, no one wants to buy right now. We have decided not to stress about it anymore and just wait it out. Hey it only takes 1 person to buy it. Anyway, we can't compete with all the new homes in our area with the builders offering so many little perks to the buyers, so I guess we are just stuck staying here doing what we've been doing. Hang in there though.

Yeah, but if you had seen the place when we bought it, with multiple offers on it in 2003.... ugh, I try not to think about it!

The good news for me is that our schools are crowded, so there is no new construction. New stuff stopped sprouting up a few years ago. Plus, supposedly there will be a housing shortage with this BRAC they keep talking about, and all these jobs coming to Ft. Meade, so we'll see. Not like I can hold out selling my house for years though!

We didn't get any showings this weekend. But today, another house on my street was listed, and they are asking 30K more than us! We are definitely priced to sell, so I hope it doesn't take *too* long!

Hopefully someone on the thread will have some luck soon!!!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I think you're right that it's hard to get the feel of the size of a completely empty room. Especially the bedrooms, it's hard to see how a queen would fit vs a king etc. But, at least it's all moved or almost all, there's still some stuff in the garage.

Ok, another question, my sister painted over her outlets in some of the rooms because she says she didn't like to see a white or beige outlet/outlet cover on an otherwise dark wall. I think she's crazy (especially since I'm the one who had to clean the paint off of the outlet covers and the outlet). Would anyone else consider doing this and wouldn't it be a huge turn off to see when you were looking at a house? I told her to think as outlets and switches as wall jewelry. I KNOW she'd do it again though.

Honestly, when I see this, I assume the person was too lazy to get a screw driver and take off the plate, so they just painted over it.

 

[MontanaZoo]

Update on my sister's house, after the first week of it being listed she had at least 8 realtors and clients through, had an open house on Sunday and had 12 groups through, 3 or 4 say they're very interested.

 

[luvflorida]

Our agent held another open house this past weekend. Once again, not one person showed up. We said no more open houses until we move. After that, I don't care how many she has.

We are now in total packing mode. Boxes and bins everywhere. The most difficult part is having to sort through so much stuff and deciding what to do with it. We have piles for throw away, giveaway to friends/relatives, Goodwill, yard sale (this Saturday ), storage, daughter's dorm room, and the house we're moving into.

If we had sold the house before moving, I think it would have been so much easier packing. The house we're renting is smaller than the house we're selling, so some stuff is going to have to go into storage. It's this in-between houses that is hard. However, I think it would be worse to buy another house before selling this one. I hate not knowing how long it'll take to sell this house.

It's an adventure, that's for sure!

 

[Bren's Mom]

Just wanted to chime in with a success story...so you all who are listed or about to list will know that it CAN be done!

We received multiple offers on our home after a little over 4 weeks on the market. We got less than our asking but not less than the minimum set that we'd sell at. Here are some of the things that worked for us, based on our quick sale and feedback from agents and prospective buyers:

Do any 'deferred maintenance' rather than think you can just take some money off the price of the house. i.e. replace or repair roofs, fix any leaky faucets, patch and driveway cracks.

Remove all of your personal items. ALL of them. Yes, your baby is cute (so is mine!) but if you have a single guy who hates kids come look at the house you want him to be comfortable enough there to want to make an offer.

PAINT. Neutral colors. My dss had chosen an electric blue for his room and loved it. My ds fought me on it but I won and we repainted it a pretty gray. Very neutral. We painted every room except my ds's whose room had just been painted when he was born 2 years ago, a nice pale blue. We also painted the ceilings. Not fun, but with new, bright white paint the ceilings did seem taller.

Be sure to have curb appeal. If you have tired old flower beds be sure to weed them well, plant some annuals (or if you're getting ready for next year just plant bulbs, things like day lillies come up with lots of green and pretty flowers). Put down mulch if there is bare soil. Replace your front light if it's rusted. Repaint the front door if it's looking boring, red is good but any color that's welcoming is good.

We rented a 'Pack Rat' (same as a POD) several weeks before we went on the market. Packed up all of the basement and attic storage stuff, removed excess furniture (for example, in our living room we had a small upholstered rocker, sofa and oversized chair, we removed the chair), sold our giant entertainment center on Craig's list (which we weren't intending to bring with us anyway). We kept in the house only the bare minimum, no large pantry stock of food, no extra dishes or pots and pans, no extra bottles of shampoo, etc. And then we had the storage container moved to their storage warehouse. All off season clothes were in bins and were the only thing stored in the basement.

Stage the rooms to be as welcoming as possible. In our small master bedroom we bought a $50 comforter set at Walmart in a pretty sage/flower print with a stripe on the back side. We bought pretty new valances that matched (also at Walmart) and has just the side tables, a lamp on each with our alarm clocks and 1 dresser that we were sharing (having removed the other one). Our closet had only the current clothes that we needed so it was only about half full, all of the hangers were white plastic and the clothes were organized.

If anyone wants to get an idea of what a staged house (for not alot of money) that was done by just a plain ol' homeowner feel free to pm with an e-mail address and I'll send some along. It WAS easy to do.

Oh, and one other piece of advice. When your agent gives you feedback from themselves, other agents or prospective buyers LISTEN to them. If you haven't done all of the things you need to do and they said they think you should do them you might want to reconsider. Some things are worth doing!

Good luck!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If we had sold the house before moving, I think it would have been so much easier packing. The house we're renting is smaller than the house we're selling, so some stuff is going to have to go into storage. It's this in-between houses that is hard. However, I think it would be worse to buy another house before selling this one. I hate not knowing how long it'll take to sell this house.

It's an adventure, that's for sure!

Oh I feel your pain, as I sit here in an apartment. We have 2 storage sheds and stuff all over the place.
And we sold our house.

Yuck on this market. I can't find a house to buy.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Well, I guess I can be happpy that my house closed yesterday, after almost 11 months. The house we are in now is a tad smaller square footage wise, but has more rooms. 1/2 of the garage is stacked with boxes. Until we buy this one, we are not doing any decorating. It is so temporary feeling. But at least I know we can move forward and excersize our purchase opttion. I think we are getting a good deal hjere and I hope that the market will improve to where there will be some equity in the house in 5 years.

Good luck to all of you selling. I think the best advise that has been posted is listen to your realtor. If you are serious about selling, so what it takes to get buyers in to look. Like they say on HGTV, the is "Designed to Sell" not "Designed to Live".

 

[hipporina]

We will be listing our house tomorrow. We have been working feverishly trying to get it ready to show. We have a contract on a house to buy that is contingent on selling this one, so we need it to sell quickly. The person we are buying from has been talking about doing a trade, and that would be really great.

 

[kellig]

Bren's Mom - Thanks for some great advice, suggestions, and perspective.

 

[princesspiglet]

Add me to the list! Our house has been on the market since April 26. We have had 3 agent tours and 4 open houses. Lots of people have gone through the house and loved it, however no bites. We are living 4 hours away in a rental and can't check on the house as much as we would like. We are thinking of adding a little marketing scheme,like "Live 3 months free!". Since we are already paying the mortage and rent, we figure why not offer to pay it for someone else for 3 months. If it helps us sell it faster...

I was very stressed out about it for the first month, now I am in "whatever" mode. Luckily, we are not struggling, but it would be nice to just be done with it so we can move on.

 

[Mellie2162]

Well it has officially been 2 full weeks on the market with this new realtor. Seems like a lifetime. Its really getting hard to keep the house clean.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Well it has officially been 2 full weeks on the market with this new realtor. Seems like a lifetime. Its really getting hard to keep the house clean.

I made the mistake of setting the oven to self clean about 4 hours before a showing. An hour into it, it stunk so bad, that I turned it off, so the oven stayed dirty for the showing.

We got all new blinds, paint and carpet, so we only had the bathrooms and kitchen to clean, plus the two living rooms with the hardwood floors. And yet no matter how much I clean, I still keep finding dust!!

princess piglet....I'm trying to be in whatever mode too, but I would very much like for the house to at least sell before I want to start Christmas shopping!!!

MontanaZoo- that's amazing!!! I would be thrilled if we had that kind of traffic. You'll have to keep us posted, and hopefully you'll be our first to sell on the thread! OH, and I've been watching HGTV as much as I can- on one of the episodes today, they painted over the "unsightly outlets" to blend in with the walls. I still hate it though.

 

[MontanaZoo]

My sister has received an offer on the house, I guess the two weeks of painting, fixing things, and curb appeal helped! The house is completely empty and move in ready too. And she has some other offers that may be pending as well! It went on the market last Monday.

 

[mickeysgal]

Oh I feel your pain, as I sit here in an apartment. We have 2 storage sheds and stuff all over the place.
And we sold our house.

Yuck on this market. I can't find a house to buy.

It's a buyer's market. I would think it would have been the opposite. Aren't there a ton of homes on the market where you are looking or are you looking for a particular kind of home/property that isn't so readily available?