We Sold Our Home

[nanci2539]

Yes we did! We signed the contract last night. It's a solid buyer and there are no contingencies. The planning date for passing papers is May 28th. Our home was on the market for three months

What I feel worked for us is (1) price; (maintenance); and (3) cleanliness/staging

We dropped our price by $50K. It was a one time reduction. Instead of little increments, we made the decision to do a one shot drop. We accepted $19,000 less than the asking price. In this market, we consider ourselves fortunate. If you are selling and get an offer, work the offer. Meaning, counter offer but give something back. In my case, I countered after her first offer. She came back $10K lower; then we countered again offering to have the back yard summer ready and also leaving my eight oversized ceramic planters.

She said no to that so we went with her first counter.

Now I am so stressed and so scared, I can't begin to tell you my emotions.

Our plan is to go to TV and rent until we find the right home for us.

The furniture will need to go into storage. Does it make sense to store it in FLA or store it up north until we'e ready?

How do I go about finding a rental that is pet friendly. I have cats and they go where I go.

Now we have to get through the inspection but that should be okay (I hope) And, I need to tell my family. My son and his family'; my daughter and her family. And Both live within a mile of me. I have three grandchildren, 7, 6 and almost 2. Every time I think about moving, I have to hold back the tears.

I'm sure I will be asking a million questions next month.

[Rokinronda]

Congratulations!!! :welcome: Your family knew this day was coming and I'm sure will enjoy visiting you here. Get some web cams for everyone, so you can see each other while chatting. Tell the kids how close you will be to DISNEY!! A big deal to little ones! Pools, golf cart rides, buffalo, music and dancing, etc.. NO MORE SNOW!! You will be very happy here! Don't worry, be happy! ;D

[JohnnyM]

Hi Nanci, A Major Congratulations to you and hubby. I can only imagine the thrill and relief of shedding your once beloved home. Now it is full forge ahead, The Villages. Godspeed on getting everything done to your satisfaction. Maybe you started the ball rolling for the rest of us :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup:

[RCT]

Congratulations Nanci!!

[nONIE]

Wonderful news Nanci! Dont you worry, it will all work out with the grandkids! Ronda is right, so many fun things for them to do here. :bigthumbsup: mabe too many!!

[Barefoot]

:welcome: You'll love the Villages, don't be nervous. It's the best decision I've ever made. I'm glad to welcome another Pet Lover aboard!

[chelsea24]

:welcome: I know that feeling and it's the best! Congratulations nanci, look forward to meeting you. I love so many snowbirds that will be flying away soon, it's nice to know who's coming here to stay. :bigthumbsup:

[Peggy D]

Nanci

Congrats!! That is just wonderful news.

I wish you the best. Can relate to the cats--we have 3 babies too.

[beady]

Great news Nanci,
We had some discussions some time ago about leaving the grandkids. Well, I did it holding back the tears but at the same time so excited to be headed for TV.
I sympathize with your emotions over the next few months but believe me you will get through it.
Rokinronda is absolutely right about getting set up with web-cams. We see and speak with the kids in NH and NC every Sunday. Last Sunday our 7 year old grand son read us a book ,while his 2 year old brother bounced on the couch in the backround. Hilarious. Ben (the 7 year old) will be here in mid-April for 7 days. He's telling everyone he gets to have a vacation from his baby brother. Granddaughters arrive tomorrow for Easter and a 7 day visit. So , excited.
Take a deep breath, start packing and be assured you will love being here. wav wav

[bobfl]

If you decide to store furniture in FLA be sure it is in air conditioned storage. The Summer heat and humidity can create a mold problem.

[gfmucci]

Congratulations. Now you are entering into the fun, creative, real anticipation of moving stage. The journey is the destination.

[mmclover]

Great news, I hope to be right behind you. I have concerns for traveling with my pets, to get them down there safely, and I understand your excitement and fears. I am leaving a home I have been in for 43 years, a little scarey, but the anticipation of TV makes it exciting.

[scottke]

Congratulations. I do hope your good luck starts it for the rest of us just like Johnny said. It will be the right move for you. We're leaving 9 grandchildren behind who also live very close and spend a great deal of time with us. This will be the right move for us too when the day comes. Hope to meet you in TV.

[pm10]

Congrats, Nanci!!!!! We'll hopefully be doing the same, early next year. We have 2 grandkids - now living 2 blocks from us. It's hard to think of leaving them - but as so many have said, we'll keep in close touch. And we have 2 cats to move with us, too. But I look at it as such a great adventure - to such a wonderful place!! Keep us posted on your progress. I remember reading all about Barefoot's journey (that was when I first found this site) - and enjoyed every word she wrote. All of us wannabees will enjoy your journey, too.
Marcia

[diskman]

Regarding your furniture, it is from my personal experience with a long distance move. The cost of storage and moving your furniture. Vs getting new stuff for your retirment home. BUY NEW! if you must keep a few items of sentimental nature do it. Sell the rest.
We spent $7,000 to move our "treasured belongings" after we realized what a mistake!
Larry & Bev 8)

[Villages Kahuna]

Nancy,

Almost any good moving company will provide storage. You should make air-conditioned storage a requirement for any mover you choose. If so, you can be indifferent to where they actually store your furniture. Because movers are on the road so much, they sometimes store furniture in some strange places, often several hundred miles further away from your final destination than the house you're moving from.

But Diskman is right. Storage costs of furniture is a lot more expensive than I thought. We had considered it, but after getting the monthly storage prices, we quickly changed plans. Storage seems to be more for corporate accounts than the individual. At least that's the way the service seems to be priced.

With the terrific "free furniture-golf cart" deals TV is offering right now, you could almost furnish an entire new Villages home with a "Florida" look and just keep and move only the most important pieces from up north. We really planned every room down here in detail and got rid of several rooms full of furniture that simply didn't make the cut for the mover. Sometimes that's as hard a leaving the grandchildren. But if you pay to bring all that stuff down here and find it doesn't fit or look right, you'll kick yourself. I'd go so far as to say that almost every new Villages homeowner has bruises on their butt because they brought too much "stuff".

[Barefoot]

I have concerns for traveling with my pets, to get them down there safely, and I understand your excitement and fears.

It took 26 hours of driving for us to get from Canada to TV last October with our two dogs and one cat! It was very exciting as we hadn't yet seen the home we'd bought. Everything turned out perfect as I knew it would. :bigthumbsup:

Sadly, now we must leave TV for six months (because we are Canadian we can only stay in the USA 182 days a year). :barf: The trip back to Canada isn't going to be nearly as much fun.

Still, I must say the past six months have been among the very best in my life and I've met a few soulmates that I will miss terribly. ;)

My mother always said "Don't wish your life away" and as I get older, I know the truth of that saying. Still, it is hard not to wish that the time will fly by so that I can return to TV.

Bereft Barefoot >:(

[nONIE]

Barefoot,
We will miss you too. Wish it didnt have to be this way but we will look forward to more fun in the sun when you return in the fall.

Wishing you a safe and uneventful trip back to Canada and remember.... We are just a keyboard away! ;)

[Frangyomory]

Best of luck. I sent you an email and gave you our experience on our move three years ago. Hope it works out well foryou.

[Sidney Lanier]

Congrats!!! No easy feat in today's market. We ourselves are snowbirds, but if there's any way we can help, any questions to answer, please feel free....