Part II - Preparing For Showings And Waiting For Offers
Preparing for Showings is completely anxiety ridden. Presenting a home that looks as if nobody lives there is is an effort ...but it is also a step in separating yourself from the personal aspects of your home.
I am not a perfect housekeeper....my house definately looks lived in.I even have my share of chachkies! But, a week before the listing would be active I found myself entering and re-entering each room, as if I were a stranger, trying to see through another's eyes. I packed away many things and bought new valances and pillows for the Living Room (Red....a concession to some Feng Shui advice). I put on a new comforter ensemble I had been saving for a year! (found it on sale!) and it's matching curtains. It is a beautiful satin set but nothing I would normally use because we have two dogs who sleep on our bed.Much to my family's chagrin...I took all of the frequently used items such as toaster oven, coffee maker, blender etc. off of my counters and put them in a large bin in a closet. The kitchen looked great.....and it really wasn't that difficult to go get the items as needed! I felt compelled to vacuum before every showing and should have bought stock in Windex as I sprayed and polished everything in sight!
One would think it would get less anxious as time went on but every showing was as frantic as the last....picking up and hiding the traces of normal life!
We have been fortunate in having quite a bit of activity and great feedback. We have had five different prospects request second showings.
Every time there is a second showing my husband and I have allowed ourselves the luxury of going out to do drivebys "just in case". Picking out properties to see when we have an offer....don't want to waste a minute! But.....the offers don't come.
The frantic cleaning cycle begins again!
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Edit: In between starting this post and now.....we have received an offer! It was less than the asking but doable....we accepted and are now doing drivebys "For Real"! My next installment will be Dealing With Home Inspection and Finding A New Home!
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"
To those of you who commented on the"beginning" of this post.....sorry it was supposed to be in draft mode and I forgot to change it! I appreciate all of you (and your support) more than I can say!!
Congratulations on having an offer!
Joan, a house prior to showing can never get enough spic and span and a clean organized house always shows well. Good luck.
Thanks Linda....what a relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gary...read my edit!! We got (and accepted) an offer! I can be messy again! Yhea!
Oh, Joni! I'm SOOOOOO happy for you! Now send some of those good vibes to Ohio so my house sells! :)
Honestly - I am very happy for you. I know you have mixed emotions about this move, but you will carry all the memories with you no matter where you are.
Please keep us posted on your "new" home search! I need to keep track of you!
Congrats, my friend!
Congrats on the offer! That "stager" inside you came out and it paid off! All that work was worth it. You did good!
Hi Joni,
Congratulations! Now you get to start a new diary--"Diary of a Buyer". :0)
Carol...thanks so much! I'm actually excited about a new start! Our credit sucks....and funds are limited so this will be a challenge...but still fun!
Thank you Sharon....I took my tips from all of you talented Stagers here in the rain
That's a good idea Cynthia. I already have a few stories to tell!
Hi Joan...I'm so glad I selected you for a Meme. I'm getting to find out what you're up to.
Congratulations on the contract. This is a wonderful time to be buying. There are so many choices.
The very thought of putting my house on the market scares the daylights out of me. I have no idea how long it would take for me to get it ready. My children and hubby would probably send me away on vacation and purge everything in sight.
Kate
Well Kate we have been here 25 years and "purge"is definately the order of the day!