Turning my home into a SOLD!!!! house ...

[Travelinana]

Sheila, I can only send you my thoughts and prayers. Watching the person who has been your friend, lover, soulmate must be the hardest thing one has to endure on this earth perhaps next to losing a child.

[Dawn309]

Sheila, you are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. I know how hard this is and am praying Larry goes gently when it is his time. I found, no matter what, you are never ready for the end. Sending {{{Hugs}}} to you. We are here for you.

[Travelinana]

I can understand taking out a lot of furniture cause with less furniture a room looks bigger. But to take everything out or put all of it in storage makes no sense.

I have a realtor's license tho has been inactive several years. I found I wasn't mean enough to sell at least in the market of my then hometown. We were told to advise buyer's to paint neutral colors, makes it look fresh and clean, make it feel homey like bread baking smells (I think BJ did this) and soft music.
This was a little contrary to my thinking even then. I prefer to go into an empty house so I can inspect closer for flaws that might be masked by furniture. I chose my current home because first it was the perfect plan for me..it is close to my son (but not too close) and I loved the red kitchen. I didn't ask them to move the furniture out but I sure found damage from a puppy after I bought it. I love dogs so I mainly felt sorry for the little dog as all these were signs of needing outside or being confined or bored. I am trying the homey touch without painting the interior first because my price is right and it will easily appraise for this. IF it comes down to it I will tell them to go pick out colors and I will paint. Another point is when selling in a neighborhood that is desirable and if other houses are for sale, the fresh paint might win you the sale. Location is very important. If the location, size and price is right, no doubt a buyer will come along painted, furnished or not.

[JanetA]

just wanted to add my thoughts on house/home hunters.... I watch it frequently and am amazed at how closed minded the lookers are and how unimaginative too. they can't seem to fathom how they could make it theirs,, and sometimes i feel sorry for the realtors that are showing them.

the most prevalent thing I notice all the time is that they ALL want stainless steel appliances and granite countertops! Every stinking one of them! Don't they know those things (granite) cost thousands of dollars and up the price on the homes. And since when is stainless steel so freeking wonderful???/? Some of the homes they look at have perfectly good or BRAND new white or black appliances and the ppl go wretching out of the kitchens and say they just CAN'T do with those! SHEESH!

I was glad to see others,,, namely you girls,, think like I do that those lookieloos are so dang picky and DUMB,,, and like i said first, lacking in imagination.

GOod luck to anyone who tries to sell their house these days! We will be facing that one of these days,,, no idea when tho, still taking care of my mom..


Janet G formally A

[Getupngo]

My heart is going out to Sheila and her family ...

Well, the carpet cleaners, locksmith and realtor are all coming tomorrow. I'm trying to get as many "in progress" boxes finished or cleared out so the agent can see what we're working with.

On Saturday my son and stepdaughter came over and SD took home a whole trailerful of Jim's outdoor gear from the shed next to the garage. Mike helped load and unload and I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted. I had been all kerfuffled about what to do with that gear. I'm feeling like I can finish this job!

We also got to laugh and remember Jim and his (many) endearing quirks as we sorted through all that stuff. He was a really funny guy. I was so disappointed that she didn't want the "groover" toilet seat (river runners amongst us know what THAT is ... ).

I can't remember if I told you all about the footlockers. I was drilling down in Jim's gear/tool area in the laundry room and found two locked army footlockers. Now, I know they preceded me so they belonged Jim's kids. Long story short, I had a locksmith pop the locks, but I didn't open them and stepdaughter took them on Saturday. I'm VERY curious what had to be locked up like that. Ha!

On Friday I will be done. On Friday I will be done. (rinse and repeat as needed)

[Bethers]

Hope they tell you what's in those footlockers - I'm curious and want to know!

As to house decorating - I know all the reasons, and sometimes agree. I mean one house I bought, they would have gotten more money had they spent some - but they didn't, it was my gain. I was able to negotiate more because I had to replace all the carpet, paint all the rooms, etc etc. Another house I bought, I couldn't negotiate as much because everything was spic and span including the curtains being left. They weren't what I would have purchased - but way better, too - so I kept them.... hahaha - how we can change decor quickly.

Another show on HGTV where they fix up houses, I've seen them put color in. I like that. I think clean, up-to-date and make it look bigger, more spacious - are the most important. And I do believe they make people look stupid on those shows, also. I mean, c'mon - how many of us would choose from 3 houses - you know darn well they looked at more. Although you can get lucky - but if I went on House Hunters and was told I had to buy one of 3 houses shown... well, they best have the money for it or do a dang good job of finding what I want in the price I want. C'mon - totally not realistic. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy watching when I have tv.

[Getupngo]

There are a lot of serious buyers in SLC right now. I've heard tales of multiple buyers bidding up the asking price. (From this thread to God's ears!)

Can't remember if I wrote this here before, but what we are experiencing is a delightful double-whammy -- waaay low interest rates and what economists call "pent-up demand." Folks were holding tight following the crash and deep recession and now they're willing to make a move. Actually, Utah's economy is doing pretty well compared to the nation.

PLUS ... there is a low inventory of houses on the market -- and few foreclosures. Doesn't hurt that I live in a darned nice neighborhood. Both of my next-door neighbors tore down their older homes and built big homes. My west-side next-door neighbor listed theirs for $675K. Mine will be listed for less than half of that.

So here's hoping it sells quickly. My kitchen is something to fall in love with. It's big (and bright) for a house of its era.

[Readytogo]

Whoever said the realtors on that show get a little impatient, was watching one the other night and they showed her rolling her eyes! My new word I learned today? Kerfuffled! Wendy

[kelpie]

Somebody mentioned the stainless steel appliances - I hate them! and it would be a negative for me. Probably not a deal breaker, but I might switch them with the ones i have here which I picked out and bought brand new - no stainless!

[AlmostThere]

Somebody mentioned the stainless steel appliances - I hate them! and it would be a negative for me. Probably not a deal breaker, but I might switch them with the ones i have here which I picked out and bought brand new - no stainless!

I will never buy stainless again. Such a pain to keep clean!

[Echo]

I'm sitting here watching House Hunters and Property Virgins, so all this is cracking me up wildly!!! One couple just looked at a gorgeous house that was built in '93'. The female said, "hmmmm kinda old"! Jeeze! I think it had black appliances and I loved the look of the whole house.

Personally I do not like the neutral colors at all. Desert Beige leaves me flat and barren. I do like Sage green tho. Even white is better than any shade of beige. I would much rather see some colors. Nothing wild but definitely need color in my life.

[Dawn309]

I love color too. Since the MH is so neutral, will definitely be putting color in each room. Thinking burgundy and light sage green throw pillows in livingroom. Blues, yellows and red in galley. Coral and dark turquoise in bathroom. Navy in bedroom so far. That's as far as I've gotten so far decorating in my mind.

[Getupngo]

It's getting closer.

Solved one problem today. The oven on my slide-in ceramic top range died a while ago, and I thought I'd have to give an allowance for a new range. But my agent recommended I look on a local classifieds service and found an almost identical used range (replaced by stainless, thank you Lord!) for $200. And they will deliver it to the house. Do you know how hard it is to find a slide-in range? It's Providence, I tell ya!

My son and a friend will have to haul it inside & install it -- then load the old one into the trailer to take to the dump. Unless, of course, I can find an appliance repair shop that will take the old one to repair & resell. Hmmm ... maybe I could pay that person to haul the new one inside & install. I'll see what I can find.

My daughter-in-law is loaning me a crib for the 2nd bedroom. So I'll finally have a nursery! Get to shop for cute bedding and a stuffed animal or two.

I will move into the RV on Thursday afternoon and will continue repeating my mantra: "I will be done on Friday. I will be done on Friday."

[Colliemom]

It is indeed a major issue now days of getting buyers to buy a house. With so many on the market, you really have to make yours stand out. And usuing neutral paints, decluttering, taking our furniture to make rooms look bigger and most of all, getting your "personal life" out of it, makes a big difference. Any real estate agent worth their salt will tell you that. It's a far different world from what it used to be years ago. People have to be able to visualize themselves in that house, they don't need to be spending time admiring your family pictures or not liking the colors you like, or the curtains on the wall as Echo said. Some people can't visualize things as well as others. I can look past things. My concerns are if the house is in good condition, everything is working, how old some things are (roof, furnace, water heater etc.). One can always repaint, recarpet or wood floor of whatever, but now days people are busy and they don't want to be bothered with that stuff. That want it all done and move in.

[Getupngo]

Footlockers:

My stepdaughter hasn't had the heart to go through them, but says they are full of old guns, antique fishing rods and reels, and other old sportsman's stuff -- including a muzzle-loader. I think the contents belonged to my stepdaughter's great-uncles, Clem and Saul, and I told her that she and her sibs might make some money selling those old items on eBay.

Although I'm glad I didn't open it myself, SD didn't need to be confronted with guns after an emotionally butt-kicking day of memories from sorting through all her dad's camping equipment.

Just discovered a closet I hadn't cleaned out. And you know what I found? An old old old projector. Another eBay candidate.