Updates on houses that are for sale

[Blonde Granny]

If a potential buyer can't/won't be honest with the agent that been chosen to represent them, why would a seller want to deal with someone who is dishonest?  And believe me, sellers find things out about the situation when the offer is presented.

As the saying goes: This ain't my first rodeo.

[chiver78]

pat. take it easy for a couple days if you can. it's a lot tougher to rebound if you're worse sick.


Sugi, the open house seemed to go well. now I just wait, I guess.

[Jaguar]

Apr 29, 2013 10:34:21 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

pat. take it easy for a couple days if you can. it's a lot tougher to rebound if you're worse sick.


Sugi, the open house seemed to go well. now I just wait, I guess.

Pat get better really soon.

Chive I've got my fingers crossed. HON YOU ARE GETTING OUTTA THERE !!!

[Blonde Granny]

We just got the slide show pictures, and they are fantastic!!!!!  The photographer has them copywrited, so I can't post them to my photobucket account.  I'll see what I can do after they are on the MLS website and Realtor.com  Otherwise, I'd have to post the link that includes our full address and I'm not certain I want to do that.

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2013 8:59:17 GMT -5 Opti said:

My agent has been pushing the location as a reason for the price and I turned it around: the location is exactly why I wouldn't pay the asking price, who wants to live that close to the train tracks?

Secretly we would, also we would rather have a garage vs extra living space or amenities that push the HOA to 300-400 vs the $110/month it is now.

But my agent does not need to know that. All he knows is I am currently interested in 5 condos and townhomes, which one we will pick is everyone guess.

In reality we have two favorites

Oh and I have an pre-approved letter in the amount of 240k while I was approved for 340k. My agent doesn't need to know that

Carl, a couple things to think about. If your agent isn't a newbie and has been working in this area for awhile the odds of you fooling him with the location issue are basically zero. Really you would believe someone would buy a condo near a train he hated, less amenities than he wanted, less square footage, all for a garage?

Second, while the pre-approval letter will help you with a lowball offer it will likely hurt you
in any negotiation situation where the final price is higher than $240K. If you have several offers on the table and they both offer $250K. If one has a pre-approval letter for $260K and one for $240K odds are high the buyer will go with the one with the higher pre-approval letter even if there are small contigencies. The assumption from the seller side will be that it is iffy that the $240K approval letter person will be approved for more than $240K and also buying at the top of your range you are more likely to bail on a agreement to buy the house and then put a stink on it when you bail.

I admit, if you actually buy one I'll probably be surprised. You remind me of someone who only shopped big homes he could get a severe reduced price on. In the end he never bought one. It was however, 6 plus months of interesting drama.

My approval letter was done for the amount of my offer....I certainly didn't want the sellers to know I was approved for a purchase price of almost $200K more. 

[taz157]

chiver - When we sold our house 5 years ago up north, we actually got our buyer from an open house. Yes, it is rare that an open house will get the buyer, it does happen periodically. Good luck!

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2013 8:59:17 GMT -5 Opti said:

I am not buying it for a garage, I am interested in it for the location and he knows that. But I also understand why the location is making it such a hard sell, it is right next to the train station. I am not thinking about me, I am taking about selling it later on. I am not going to overpay for that because they sure aren't going to move the train station anytime soon.

So while I like the location,  if I cannot get it at a good price I rather move further into town and my wife can drive the 10-15 minutes to the train station.

Units are in the building circled in red:

Second, while the pre-approval letter will help you with a lowball offer it will likely hurt you
in any negotiation situation where the final price is higher than $240K. If you have several offers on the table and they both offer $250K. If one has a pre-approval letter for $260K and one for $240K odds are high the buyer will go with the one with the higher pre-approval letter even if there are small contigencies. The assumption from the seller side will be that it is iffy that the $240K approval letter person will be approved for more than $240K and also buying at the top of your range you are more likely to bail on a agreement to buy the house and then put a stink on it when you bail.

If this was a seller market and every home was getting 10 offers I would agree. I am talking about 2 units that have been seating for over 2 months and it does not seem that anyone is knocking down their downs trying to buy.

Also I can call my broker tomorrow morning for a new offer letter for let's say 280 and pick it up on my way out of work. The reason for the 240k is because I planned on offering 235k.

I admit, if you actually buy one I'll probably be surprised. You remind me of someone who only shopped big homes he could get a severe reduced price on. In the end he never bought one. It was however, 6 plus months of interesting drama.

And I might not, I am in no urge to buy "right now". If we do find a good house, fit within our needs and yes, we will probably go ahead and buy.

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2013 9:10:03 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

If a potential buyer can't/won't be honest with the agent that been chosen to represent them, why would a seller want to deal with someone who is dishonest?  And believe me, sellers find things out about the situation when the offer is presented.

As the saying goes: This ain't my first rodeo.

Because I have seen agent use the emotional aspect and information they gathered to push homebuyers to purchase a particular home or go over their price. No one will care more about my money than me.

The home purchase is purely financial for me, no emotions, teary eyes and see how our kids can grow there. All about the bottom line.

If a sellers don't want my offer, I won't take it personally. I got options and I have yet to see a house that I "must" have. 

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Apr 29, 2013 16:16:21 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

We just got the slide show pictures, and they are fantastic!!!!!  The photographer has them copywrited, so I can't post them to my photobucket account.  I'll see what I can do after they are on the MLS website and Realtor.com  Otherwise, I'd have to post the link that includes our full address and I'm not certain I want to do that.

Understandable. Always good to watch your privacy online.

[taz157]

We are getting ready to list our house as we are moving 4.5 hours south due to DH's job promotion! We are still in the midst of fixing up our house to sell it. When I have pictures ready ( by the end of May, if not sooner), I'll post.

[TheOtherMe]

I have gone to Open Houses in this small town (less than 2,000 population) just to see what they look like and how they are decorated.  I refuse to sign in for the realtor or give my name.

Of all the houses I've sold, I've never had a productive Open House and would probably not agree to one now.

I don't expect to be moving for a long time.

Right now, our concern is on getting parents moved here to an independent living apartment.

[Deleted]

Okay, I'm going to bump this one up.

One of the suggestions my realtor made was to take the leaf out of my table and rearrange the chairs to make my dining area look bigger.  What do you guys think?  

DR Pics

For the actual listing photos, I am planning to remove the dog's crate and toys, but they will be here when people view the place (so I included them in the photos for you all)

What looks bigger/better?  Small table with the chairs in 4 directions, or big table with chairs on 2 sides?

It seems trivial, but there are 4 other identical units up for sale right now (I'm hoping at least 1 or 2 will sell or be pulled from the market when I go to list, but it is what it is).  The trivial stuff matters - and that includes trying to make a 650 sq ft condo look as big as possible.

[Deleted]

definately the smaller table.  you want people to be able to walk all around it.

[Deleted]

The actual distance from the wall/space to walk is the same either way, but that answers my question.

[chiver78]

definitely the smaller table. any way you can minimize your own stuff, that helps to make the space look as large as possible. that's one of the things that worries me - my LR/DR furniture is all oversized for this space. as in, 60" DR table without the leaf.... and the big comfy chairs are 48" wide.

I like your paint color

[Deleted]

Thanks! It's kind of a funky green, but I'm hoping I can sell it as a neutral.  The hot pink bathroom may be a harder sell...

[Blonde Granny]

I agree, it looks much better without the leaf. Just be aware, the dog could discourage some people,especially if an odor is present, or allergies are a factor.

And yes, I know it's not polite to  diss pets, but some of us are not pet lovers.

[Deleted]

She'll be gone during any showings, and I'm a pretty aggressive vacuumer, but that's about all I can do.

I know I have walked out of houses that smelled like cat because of my allergies, so I'll understand if someone with a dog allergy passes. But the dog is staying. 

[chiver78]

hot pink??

in an effort to be constructive, is the hot pink the paint? or is it the tile? if it's the paint, you will absolutely be doing yourself a favor to repaint before you list. my spare bedroom was a peachy coral tone that I just loved, and I repainted with the same "Haze" as is my open LR/DR area just to make it neutral.

[busymom]

I agree with everyone else.  The smaller table makes your diningroom appear larger. 


Wow, you guys all have gorgeous houses!  I've got my work cut out for me before Mom's house will be ready to put on the market. 

[Deleted]

May 5, 2013 17:13:36 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

hot pink??

in an effort to be constructive, is the hot pink the paint? or is it the tile? if it's the paint, you will absolutely be doing yourself a favor to repaint before you list. my spare bedroom was a peachy coral tone that I just loved, and I repainted with the same "Haze" as is my open LR/DR area just to make it neutral.

Ha.  Yes, it's paint.  Technically, it is raspberry...

But repainting it is on the tier 2 list.

Tier 1 is cleaning, de-cluttering, and small staging stuff I can do now.
Tier 2 is the more time-intensive stuff for when I finish my dissertation.

[Deleted]

May 5, 2013 17:40:28 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

May 5, 2013 17:13:36 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

hot pink??

in an effort to be constructive, is the hot pink the paint? or is it the tile? if it's the paint, you will absolutely be doing yourself a favor to repaint before you list. my spare bedroom was a peachy coral tone that I just loved, and I repainted with the same "Haze" as is my open LR/DR area just to make it neutral.

Ha.  Yes, it's paint.  Technically, it is raspberry...

But repainting it is on the tier 2 list.

Tier 1 is cleaning, de-cluttering, and small staging stuff I can do now.
Tier 2 is the more time-intensive stuff for when I finish my dissertation.

I would definately try and get the painting done soon....people overestimate how long something will take and how much it will cost....believe it or not, it could discourage a buyer.

[taz157]

Good luck Sarah! I like the 1st pic better too. With hot pink bathroom, good luck with you decide.

Granted, all of our rooms, except our DD's room, will be painted a neutral color. DD's room has 3 walls painted a light pink with a hot pink accent wall. Keep in mind, DD is 21 months old and still sleeps in a crib. Unless the realtor suggests it (when we talk to her), we aren't planning to paint her room.

[Blonde Granny]

It's been a week since we listed our house, and not a single showing or even a phone call from our agent telling of any inquires from other local agents.

My DH is thinking we're over priced, but knowing him, he'd start off with a $40K cut in price.  Sheesh, its only been a week, and the weather here has been dreadful.

OTOH, this is what I saw over the weekend on Zillow:  House near us sold for $290K in 2006.  In 2011 the house was resold for for $225K.  Those owners now have it for sale  $235K.  It is about 200 sf larger than ours, but from pictures appears to be plain Jane, with no upgrades.  The house has been listed for 180+ days with 1 price drop of $10K.

I say it's not the price of ours that has caused no showings, but that we live in an area that has become the laughing stock and butt of jokes from surrounding cities, and most of the news coming out of here is nothing but the drama from our city.  It's doing nothing but discouraging people from buying here.

Our agent a week or so ago mentioned the agent tour was tomorrow (he thought).  We have heard nothing from him about it, and being a Queen Bitch anyway, I'm reluctant to call him and ask.  Sometimes I just want to sit back and watch someone fall on their face....real grown up, I know...LOL. 

OK, from the sounds of this post, I need another cup of coffee and a cookie.

[Wisconsin Beth]

HUgs BG. 

[Blonde Granny]

Thanks Beth, I had another cup of coffee and a Sunbelt chocolate health bar to go along with it.  My day is improving quickly.

[Deleted]

You'll find your buyer.  You guys have lots of time.

For every area that was hit the hardest by the crash, there are still people who want to invest in the recovery, who get transferred for work, who have made this community their home and are ready for an upgrade.

It's a different part of the country, but Detroit has a similar recession/housing bubble stink to it.  My sister and her family just made the step-up from starter home to until-we-retire-and-downsize home.  As soon as I unload my condo, I'm going to buy someone else's starter bungalow, so they can go buy their upgrade house.

The cycle continues.

[Blonde Granny]

The cities of Bentonville and Rogers are on fire with selling homes.  Not only that, building permits have skyrocketed in both.  Our place was developed back in the l960s as a retirement golfing community, complete with 900 sf houses with a car port, no a/c and a little electric heater stuck in the wall.  Those houses are now selling to investors at $25-30 sf.  We're sitting at 93 sf along with many others here who want to sell.

I think it is simply a case of no buyers above the price of about $60K.  I certainly wish we could get a mulligan on buying this place, and I see us living here for a long time to come.

Oh hell, another grey skies day and my disposition isn't any better than clouds and rain.

We're leaving town on a long awaited bucket list trip this week, and I refuse to think about this place during the time we are gone.

[Deleted]

May 6, 2013 8:43:47 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

We're leaving town on a long awaited bucket list trip this week, and I refuse to think about this place during the time we are gone.

Have a great time. Granny

[Blonde Granny]

The cookies are freshly made and I'll finish up with the lemonade in 15 minutes.  The agents tour is today, DH called the agent, and the time slot is 10-11Am.

Since our agent is a little too laid back, I've printed out the high end upgrades we've done to the house and will give one to each agent, politely saying :if you have any questions about upgrades, here is the list.

When leaving for our trip that same list will be on the entry table for prospective buyers to take with them.  And if I don't get the promised brochures, I'm going to print out the listing sheet and attach that too.  I even about a stand up frame to put them in.

No one can say we haven't done everything we could.

on edit: the agent tour was fantastic!!!!  Now if they just have a buyer to two.  Our agent is showing the house Thursday morning.....I have printed out the listing sheet that the agent has on his website, along with the upgrades list and the 3 page brochure is sitting in a prominant place on the entry way table.  There are 15 printed, and I'll be counting them when we get back home.