trying to sell house = so frustrated

[cats mom]

I love the wall color in your kitchen, but I'm wondering if something more neutral would appeal to more buyers?

Personally I would never let the color of a room influence my decision whether to buy a house or not... but apparently I'm in the minority there. Never understood that. Paint is such a quick, easy, inexpensive fix.

We put a fresh coat of boring, neutral paint throughout our entire house; well, except for one of the secondary bathrooms. What can I say, I'm a rebel... had to retain some sense of control AND leave it with a bit of personality.

Hopefully you'll get a buyer really soon and won't have to worry about that though.



ELLE-TN, good luck to you as well. Got to get a few lookers to even get any feedback... so it must be really tough for you.

I had a friend come over and walk through my house today to give any suggestions she thought would help before we list. I thought I had prepared myself... but it was still tough not taking things personally. Might be easier with somewhat anonymous posters on the Dis.
Maybe you can figure out how to post a few pics. It's not too tough - there's a tutorial on the tech support board.

 

[cfknight]

We put our house on the market a little under a month ago...I have been a fanatic about keeping everything spotless clean...Now that school is out it is literally driving me crazy since I have three kids under foot and I am constantly going behind them trying to keep everything perfect Anyway, thing is no-one has came to look at it yet. I think I would feel better if we had some lookers come by at least it wouldn't seem like such a waste of effort (yeah , yeah I know it's not a waste of effort since we do live here) I've had my husband do all of the honey do jobs that have been waiting years and years so even if our house doesn't sell and we stay put we have accomplished something... but I WANT SOMEONE TO COME CHECK IT OUT!!!

Anyone have any advise? Do open houses really work? How many families generally come to open houses? Should you serve cookies & drinks at an open house? Shoot I think I could even advertise "free" hot dog lunch and Open House maybe that would draw a few lookers!

Our house has been up 2 months, we average 2 lookers a week, in the surveys everyone that has looked at it likes it,We have had no complaints, but not a single stinking offer. I don't understand.

 

[lisak1]

Our house has been up 2 months, we average 2 lookers a week, in the surveys everyone that has looked at it likes it,We have had no complaints, but not a single stinking offer. I don't understand.

I could have typed that post.

I've been experiencing exactly the same thing. My house looks like no one lives in it... all of the feedback has been stellar, but no offers. I've got a showing scheduled tomorrow afternoon, and an open house Sunday afternoon. hopefully this will be the weekend.

 

[cfknight]

I could have typed that post.

I've been experiencing exactly the same thing. My house looks like no one lives in it... all of the feedback has been stellar, but no offers. I've got a showing scheduled tomorrow afternoon, and an open house Sunday afternoon. hopefully this will be the weekend.

LOL...I also have a showing tomorrow afternoon! And An open sun.

 

[lisak1]

Good luck to both of us, then.

The feedback is funny, They will say, "Great house, beautiful house, but client wrote on a different property." If it was so great, why didn't they want to make an offer?!

not helpful feedback at all.

I've done everything I can do at this point, it's just a waiting game for the right person to come along.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

We have had our house for sale for 4 months and have had 15 showings and 3open houses. The open houses have been pretty much a waste of time. On 2 of them nobody even showed. We have also had all positive feedback, but the bottom line is always that someone else is able to sell for a lower price than us. It's not that we are priced too high(quite a bit under appraisal actually), just that there are a lot of quick sell houses right now that are either trying to beat foreclosure or they have been transfered out of state for their jobs.
OP- We all want our house to sell quickly, but lets face it, it's most likely going to be a long haul with the market the way it is now. So stop being a clean freak about your house or you will go nuts and end up having to have multiple mental health days. It took me 2 months to find this out the hardway.
These are some tips that I find have been a helpful:

Don't worry about kid clutter. It looks really really messy, but it actually doesn't take that long to pick up. If your kids are old enough to pick it up either have them do it or at least have the help.

Keep your countertops clean. It'll give you the sense that your house is a bit cleaner and usually the kids will contain their mess to the floors making this a fairly easy job.

Keep your bedroom in show condition. This way you can consentrate on the areas that need attention on show days.

Keep your laundry in check. Never have more than you can shove in your washing machine to it hide from a buyer.

Same as above with the dirty dishes.

Make sure you and your realtor are on the same page with the amount of notice they will give you. I usually have at least 2 hours.

This all being said, it's still a pain in the butt and I've said to DH more than once recently " If I have to clean this house one more time for no reason I'll ........... do something." I don't know what but I'll think of something.
Good luck! I hope it goes well and quickly for you.
I feel your pain.

 

[MyZoeJane]

Oooh, good luck to those of you with showings this weekend! My showing came this morning 15 minutes early (at 7:45am!) just second after I shoved the girls out the door with grandma for breakfast.

The guy told my DH that he wasn't going to be able to stay long but the guy stayed with me for almost 40 minutes...

This was my first time showing the house.... and I did a DARNED good job if I do say so myself! I think I could sell it before DH could!

Anyhow, he kept saying there were "several positives" but in the end he repeated that the bedrooms were small... to which I replied both times, "Yeah, but that's what comes with the price!" with a smile on my face. He nodded and agreed. The house would be for his sister-in-law who is older and widowed... This house was MADE for that situation.

He loved the kitchen color and even liked the wood paneling in the living room because it was "good quality" ..... LMAO!

Here's hoping that when he BRINGS HIS SIL WITH HIM on Sunday... she loves it and makes a reasonable offer!

BTW, have any of you buried the St, Joseph statue that people bury?

Some might refer to me as a heathen but I'm about to go buy one and convert just to sell this house!

 

[cfknight]

Good luck to both of us, then.

The feedback is funny, They will say, "Great house, beautiful house, but client wrote on a different property." If it was so great, why didn't they want to make an offer?!

not helpful feedback at all.

I've done everything I can do at this point, it's just a waiting game for the right person to come along.

I'm sick of the waiting game. I'm in the process of building a home and I need mine sold. We had some lookers yesterday say " we loved the home,the colors the decore, the back yard...but unsure of the neighborhood due to a basketball goal on the side of the street 10 houses up" ...What the heck is that sapposed to mean?

 

[dizcrazy]

Wow - misery really does love company!

I have felt much better reading these posts - our house has been on the market for five months and no offers. Not even lowball offers, which is incredibly frustrating. We dropped AGAIN because we dont know what else to do.

At least it really IS the market, and not just my house.

one thing I learned --- if your house needs updating, DO IT NOW! I am so sorry that we didnt spend the money for new rugs last year, rather than now having to offer 2k to the buyers for carpting, because that is some of the negative feedback we have been getting. (We may end up just replacing them in general and not offering that 2k. )

Anyone else feel like crying? I have never cleaned so much in my life!

 

[ELLE-TN]

DIZCRAZY - THAT JUST ABOUT SUMS IT UP FOR ME TOO. I HAVE NEVER CLEANED SO MUCH IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I'M BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE MY SISTER IN LAW WHO IS OCD. YOU COULD EAT OFF OF HER BATHROOM FLOORS IF YOU FELT SO INCLINED. ANYWAY, GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WHO IS SHOWING THIS WEEKEND.

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A RACE TO SEE WHO GETS A CONTRACT FIRST....READY, SET, GO

 

[Nicolepa]

I totally agree with this. When we were selling our house, I insisted that the realtor give me the code to the lockbox. I then took the key out so no one could "pop in" without notice. If they gave the notice I required (I just asked for one hour) then I would tidy up, put the key in the lockbox, and leave.

Our house sold very quickly by the way, so I don't think my requirement hurt us at all.

When we sold ours my realtor gave me the lockbox. When I was home the lockbox was inside. When I left the house I put the lockbox outside. If the house wasn't showable I wouldn't put it out either.

 

[cfknight]

DIZCRAZY - THAT JUST ABOUT SUMS IT UP FOR ME TOO. I HAVE NEVER CLEANED SO MUCH IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I'M BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE MY SISTER IN LAW WHO IS OCD. YOU COULD EAT OFF OF HER BATHROOM FLOORS IF YOU FELT SO INCLINED. ANYWAY, GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WHO IS SHOWING THIS WEEKEND.

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A RACE TO SEE WHO GETS A CONTRACT FIRST....READY, SET, GO

Your right, I'm so sick of cleaning. Not that it bothers me, but that all that work EVERY time we show, And it doesn't matter. We could have left the house a wreck and it wouldn't have made any difference...LOL. They can like the house and give all the great feedback they want, but it don't mean squat without an offer!

 

[eh24fan]

That's our problem!!!! My house is immaculate inside. They all love it till they get to the sunroom and see the highway. I just never thought it would be a problem because we live in a resort town and are only 2 miles from the beach! Lesson learned!!!!!!

I'm assuming you live near Rt 1? I live in Milford and I can tell you that if we were able to buy a house 2 miles from the beach, we wouldn't give a crap about the highway. LOL You can put up a fence or plant some trees...who cares! You are at the beach!

 

[tink2dw]

Originally Posted by mla2177
That's our problem!!!! My house is immaculate inside. They all love it till they get to the sunroom and see the highway. I just never thought it would be a problem because we live in a resort town and are only 2 miles from the beach! Lesson learned!!!!!!

Put up some light, bright white curtains that filter the light and stop the potential buyers from being HIT in the face with the highway!!

I watch the "Real Deal" on TLC and Richard is always saying price the house 10% below everyone else!! That's how Trademark sells so many homes!!

To really Sell you want to put away all your family pictures and photo's and Clear the rooms of excess furniture, tables, chairs, toys, whatever, so people can see the BONES of your house. So they can see themselves living there.

If you are moving anyway start packing, get it down to the bare necessities. Then get advise on "staging" your home to make the most of the space you have or don't have.

 

[lisak1]

All of the cleaning I have to do is ridiculous.

I have to be out the door at 7:00 AM to get to work, So have to do all of my cleaning before I leave the house in the morning, usually betwee 6-7 AM I am cleaning for an hour. The weekends are a bit easier because the realtor will usually call by 10:00 AM if there are any showings planned for that day.

I really hope i get an offer this weekend, because today was my son's last day of school. A teenager at home all day can really wreak havoc with the best cleaning efforts done first thing in the morning!

 

[disneyde]

To the ladies who are having to clean their homes like crazy.......you might consider hiring someone to do bathrooms and deeper cleaning weekly, bi-weekly or monthly whatever you can afford and or need so you can concentrate on the superficial clutter cleaning and kitchen detail which is daily unless know one eats at home...........tell your husband it will make you easier to live with and it's for your mental health.

 

[lisak1]

http://homes.realtor.com/prop/1078734112

here is the MLS link to my house., it has a 360 tour. Other than my son's bedroom downstairs (which I know is not the most desirable color, but come on..), I think the house looks fantastic. No negative feedback so far at all. I may paint my son's bedroom after this weekend if i absolutely need to, but I can't see that it's that much of a detriment.

 

[disneyde]

LISAK1..........I saw your home tour.........my opionion........very clean home.

1. neutral colors in main part of the house very good.......but there is no pop at all.........it's always best to stay with the neurtal paint BUT then pop the neutral with a contrasting color in accents....this can be in pillows, decor and art....it's hard to tell what would work because colors aren't always true in pictures.

2. A table that is set is alway inviting.........but less is more.........napkins, silver and a plate and candle.........remove 2 chairs if you can live that way....even just for showings.........it creates the suggestion that there is more space.

3. Remove both wine racks in the dining room and in the kitchen........extra furniture that leaves the impression of less space and that you need more storage because you don't have enough.

4. The plant in the living room is beautiful BUT it is not the right porportion for the room or maybe just where it's located..........without seeing your house in person I can't be sure but the wall with the entertainment center seems to be very big and that wall if it has an open corner might absorb that plant.

5. My suggestions are just that and not meant as personal attacks so please don't take them as such......I have helped design to sell a number of home very successfully.

6. Your wall art is out dated (i'm sorry) and hung too high on the walls........an inexpensive way to do art for your walls without spending a fortune is buying a canvas at michaels or another craft store and then buy craft paint.........your furniture has a contemporary feel to it so you could do something as simple as masking the canvas (make sure you get the kind that has canvas on the sides too so you can paint the sides too) and do 3 vertical lines thinnest one in the middle 2 sides matching both in color and size.......if you don't like it no loss repaint........and the size I'm thinking only runs around 35 dollars a lot less than a framed print.........this will create a little more of a focal point for your room.

7. Another inexpesive idea for wall art that never goes out of style is baskets........they always give an organic earthy feel to a room and are universally appealing and I think would go with your furniture.

8. The room with the fireplace...........FIREPLACES sell homes......everyone wants one even if they never use it.
loose the screen it is outdated and hides one of your best features.
entertainment centers do not sell homes and it with your big
sectional is detracting from your room.
If I were designing this room to sell your home I would remove the
entertainment center break apart the sectional and only keep one section face it towards the fireplace with a sofa table (maybe one of those tables from the kitchen or dining room can serve as this) behind it........buy two inexpensive chairs from target.......they can even be garden...........I know I've seen nice looking ones for less than 40.00. buy a couple pillows.....new art over the fireplace and where the entertainment center was......put the big tree from the living room in the corner on the wall where the railing is above it in the picture..........you might even paint the wall with the fireplace a contrasting darker (not dark just darker) color to really draw attention to that feature...........create a conversation area around the fireplace that draws the buyer in and makes them think about cozy evenings around the fireplace instead of distracted evenings around the TV.

AGAIN this is designing to sell your home not designing to live in it....there is a huge difference.

The wall colors in the bedrooms while aren't ideal for selling but I would concentrate energy on making the main room a bigger draw........then think later about repainting the bedrooms neurtal colors.

 

[lisak1]

good tips, thanks. it's funny, your staging ideas conflict with the staging professional I hired to help me out. She suggested the whole wine table in the kitchen thing. I have adhered to her suggestions completely... the pictures are the end result. I guess it's all a matter of perception and that person's ideas, experience and taste. I appreciate all the help I can get at this point. All help is good help, and I thank you for the ideas. There are some newer colorful touches in the kitchen That I picked up last weekend, so that's been addressed, for the most part.

Good ideas about the family room downstairs, Thank you. I just might take some of them up. When my soon to be ex-husband finally moves out, alot of that furniture will go with him and it will be easier to make these changes. The huge entertainment center will be gone, along with one of the couches.

 

[Martha7]

I see that you're in Ypsi. We have a home on the market in Saline, which is taking forever to sell! The market is definitely horrible in any of the Detroit suburbs. The only suggestion that I would make would be to plant some small bushes around the house. You can go to Lowe's and get some really reasonable ones, which will greatly add to your curb appeal! Good luck! I think we're all going to need it! As my husband said, "We haven't even had an insulting offer!"