PART I - THE DECISION
I have debated a while about writing this. Then I decided that there was value in the perspective. Value to we Realtors and Sellers alike!
We work with Sellers on a regular basis. We council them, persuade them, convince them, support them and give constant re-assurance. But how many of us are in touch with what they feel? How many understand what it feels like to sell your home, your memories, your young adult aspirations?
As of the middle of last July, my husband and I have listed our home For Sale. We moved to Concord NH from a very small town 45minutes to the North. We had always liked Concord and felt it would be the perfect place to raise our son. It was 1984 just before the previous Real Estate Boom and Bust.
This was our fourth house. We built our first, and re-rehabbed the next two. this one was only 5 years old, exactly the style we wanted and the location was perfect. Close to the school, near shopping, a great neighborhood and a wonderful yard! We have lived here for 24 years.
We really never planned on retiring here. I wanted something much smaller, needing less yard work, having a smaller Mortgage Payment and lower taxes! When we reached that "magical point"....we would sell the house, buy something small and re-invest the rest. I wanted to travel!
But, as so often happens, circumstances dictated our time frame. My 64 year old husband lost his job. His company went out of business and after 30 years in sales he discovered that the answer to the question "will ya still need me....when I'm 64"...was no! There were health concerns that meant we had to take out private health insurance and the related expenses of premiums and medicines...many medicines. Suddenly our income has been reduced by half.
I admit we probably should have made the decision to Sell back then but we tried to hold on! We got behind on our taxes, but we tried to hold on! He took a few part time jobs. We exhausted our savings and retirement and even sold a few things. But we eventually admitted that if we wanted to have anything left.....we had to Sell.
I have discovered as a Seller and what we need to know as Realtors.....is that in many cases, even if the head has made the decision, the heart is fighting it. You find a slew of projects and fixers that have to be completed before you put it on! So it gets put off a little longer. The carpets need cleaning. The house needs staging. The curtains aren't right......meanwhile it's still not on the Market! All of these improvements take money and if you're living paycheck to paycheck...it will still not be on the Market! On one hand you're frustrated....on the other relieved!
Eventually you do get to that point. The house is as ready as it will ever be. It's time! You take a deep
breath and price it not where you would like it to be....but where it has to be. You take your perfect pictures, do your virtual tour and put it on MLS. Then it's hurry up and wait.
Never again will I be impatient with a Seller who vasilates. Never again will I be callous about the worth. Never again will I be judgemental about their situation.
There are many people out there selling under duress....I will be patient and caring with every one!
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My second installment will be titled: PART II: PREPARING FOR SHOWINGS & WAITING FOR OFFERS
Concord NH Realtor
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Joan Mirantz - Joni is a Realtor® with Keeler Family Realtors, a locally owned, Customer Service oriented Firm.
Joan Publishes a monthly Newsletter "Food For Thought" under the pen name Realtor Sherpa.
(Joan also answers to Miz Maven and Miss Joni.)
Joan works in Buyer and Seller Representation with concentrations in the Merrimack Valley Area and towns surrounding Concord NH - the Capital City.
"I love what I do, and it shows in how I do it"
Bless your heart for writing about this subject. I'm currently working with couple that love their home -when I went to the listing appointment I commented "I understand you have your heart & soul here in this home"...the Seller (husband) said "No, we have our blood in it"! They are struggling with the fact of selling this home that they have worked so hard for... My heart goes out to them and others... Let's remember as Realtors we are also counselors, friends and almost like family. They are entrusting "us" to take care of them during this difficult process... Thank you for your blog.
Well Said, Sometimes we have to take your self out of the picture and try to see things through others eyes. Its hard to empathetic to one if you don't understand were they are coming from.
best to you and yours
I'm a vagabond. Always have been; prior to becoming an agent. My husband and I have gone back to where we want to be... 3000 miles from where we own. As I told him today, it's a price war with a beauty contest thrown in.
You are right and this is a good reminder. I have a couple of sellers who are vacillating. I am not the pushy type, but this definitely gives me pause to remember the whys of where they are comoing from.
Hi Joni... I have heard it said that the best doctors are those who have had to be patients at some point. Maybe there is a lesson the be learned here for REALTORS! Thanks for sharing your story with us!
Joan,
I'm very saddened to hear of all of the misfortunes you and your husband have faced over the past few years....and also very sad to hear that you have reached the point of selling the home you love so much. I'll keep you in my thoughts and talks with the universe and wish for you both the strength you need to see this through.
and remember, I'm always here for you if you ever want a friend or an ear to talk to...
Jo
Good post. Looking forward to reading part two. Have a good weekend.
Joan, thanks for sharing your feelings. I learned this very same lesson this past year. A different version of the same story with identical emotions. It was a very traumatic experience and took FOREVER to get my house ready, with one delay after another. I have a whole new perspective now which will only help me better relate to my sellers. Fortunately for me my house sold fast because of that thing about pricing it where it needed to be. Good luck to you, if I was closer I'd have you over and we could cry on each others shoulders!
Joni - I know all about the anxiety of making the decision to sell. Ours is on the market now - and we have it priced BELOW what we paid for it. That's a heartbreaker for me. This market is so stagnant in some areas that it truly is a waiting game.
We finally came to the decision that if we wait for the house to sell we might be here for another 2 years. If we leave it on the market or try to rent it out we can go on with our lives and ride out the market slowdown.
So that's where it's at. Both a For Sale sign and a For Rent sign in the yard. And still no bites.
The moving truck gets packed on the 31st. I hope God looks out for us adventurers.
Kelly....I am very glad that yous was the first response. I really debated on putting this all out there but felt there was something to be learned from it. You re-enforced my decision. Thank you!
Thank you Timothy...looking through different eyes can be a positive.
How true Vickey....that's cutting to the quick!
Sharon...you just justified what I wrote....Thanks
Joan -- I think it is very courageous of you to share this experience on a very personal level. I think often we forget that there is so much going on emotionally for sellers and for buyers. Understanding these things can make us better professionals and we can serve out clients needs much better. Hope you home sells soon!
Steve....learning...that's what life is all about isn't it? I think I'm verging on a PHD
Jo....as usual your sentiments are so heartfelt. Just knowing I have such caring people in my corner lightens the load!
Hi Gita...the next part will actually have a bit of humor....promise!
Janna...thanks for jumping in. I suspect there are many more Realtors out there in this place...the odds are with it! Maybe we should start a support group? :0)
I hope all is on the upturn for you at this point! (I'll be happy with a virtual hugg){{{{}}}}}}
Carol...we have talked about renting it out but I am very concerned about all the work and money invested in it being trashed. My prayers are with you for either a sale or rental because we all know keeping an empty house is a huge drain!
I have no doubt ....with you being the type of person you are...your move will be a huge success!
Hi Joan...People are not numbers or statistics. People are historys and personal stories. We need to approach each Seller not just knowing their motivation but also knowing their story!
Joan,
just popping back in to let you know that I'm featuring this post in the Inspiration group.....it has messages for all of us in a multitude of ways. I know that reading it will benefit many who are currently in the same or a similar situation....Jo
For Transparency, Writing from the Soul, and Imparting Deep Messages for all of us, this post has been featured at the
Inspiration Group
Thank you Jo....
Joan, I too am so sorry to hear about how difficult things have become. It is a huge decision to sell, especially in this market and I know the feeling that something ELSE always has to be done to the home to get it ready for the market. You know I wish you all the best---and every other seller out there who has to make the difficult decision.
Hi Carole...I am definately not alone! My new philosophy has become day by day...that works! I do appreciate allmy riends on here. It has become a very bright spot!
Well, Miss Joanie, that's a BEAUTIFUL home. And the whole accounting brings me great sadness...really GREAT sadness. Other than by prayer, I can't help from down here, a thousand miles away. Oh, I wish I could.
Bill
Hi Bill Cherry...just hearing from you, and knowing you care, gives me a lift! Prayers are always a good thing....now if you have a relocating Buyer.....
Thanks for commenting Bill {{{{HUGS}}}}