Advice on Selling Your Home

[travelstiles]

In today's Wall Street Journal, Personal Finance section, there is a very good article on selling a home in today's market.
"How to Sell a House, When You Have to Sell It Now"
Seven tips for homeowners who can't wait until the market turns around
By DAVID CROOK
July 14, 2008; Page R1

You can check out the recommendations online at wsj.com, or try
http://online.wsj.com/public/page/2_1581.html

NOTE: this link will only be active for a few days unless you are a WSJ online subscriber

[graciegirl]

Well done video and good advice.

I am not in the market but almost every day I look at resales here in TV, just because I am interested in how people decorate and how much they are asking. (We bought a house in Hadley last month) I am a big fan of Designed to Sell on HGTV and I find that many people would benefit by watching that show and taking their advice.

I hate pictures of homes where blinds are closed and there is stuff all over the front of the refrigerator and a lot of appliances out in the kitchen. And frequently in my opinion there is TOO much furniture to present a home attractively.

[KathieI]

Gracie, totally agree.

That's exactly what my realtors had me do for my LA house. All personal effects are gone or packed already for my move to TV. Nothing on kitchen counters, etc. and almost all furniture is in the garage. People can come in and visualize where their furniture will fit, etc. Its hard to live in the house like that, but it seems to be working, there's been some action.

I too am a big fan of HGTV and have put small orchid plants in bathrooms and a vase of sunflowers in the dining room. I even went so far as to put a couple of colorful pool swimming rings in the pool to make it more inviting.

Keep your fingers crossed but I'm not in too much of a hurry, I'm putting my down payment on my new Hadley house today or tomorrow so hopefully we'll be neighbors....YEAH!!

Now I have to do some homework on the counteroffers idea. Lots of new learnings going on with this move, but its good stuff.

[travelstiles]

040
Kathie ~
Congrats on finding your home in Hadley!
And good luck with the LA home - I'm sure you'll get an acceptable offer soon ~
Travel

[KathieI]

Thanks Trav,

That video really helped about the counter offers... I'm not going to play silly games, these seem to be viable buyers. Keep your fingers crossed, I'm so excited too -- scared but excited...

040 040 040 040 :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

[jojo]

Good luck on the sale. I'll be an "almost" neighbor in Amelia.

[KathieI]

Thanks JoJo, I'm swamped with paperwork but its fun and the end result will be wonderful!!

I counter-offered on the LA house today, so keep your fingers crossed. I'm only playing "little" games, I don't want to lose these buyers.

Will keep you posted. Everyone from Amelia, Hadley, Duval and Liberty Park are invited to the first party in Hadley!! Yeah!!

[travelstiles]

...what about me? :(

[pm10]

How bout Hemmingway?????????????????? Won't be there til around Sept 1st - but love a good party!
Marcia

[Rokinronda]

HHMMMM I'm NOT INVITED!! AAAAHHH!!!!!! :'( :'( :'( :'( OH NO I guess we aren't invited! :dontknow: guess we have to have OUR OWN parties! >:( hhmmmmmpphhh ;)

[travelstiles]

Kathie -
Your peeps are waiting for an invite...

http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/travelstiles/misc/th_peeps.jpg

[KathieI]

OMG, LMAO. That is so funny. As far as I'm concerned, everyone in TV is invited, even if we have to sit out on the lawn.... fine by me.

I used to have parties in my studio (1 room) apartment in Manhattan and invite 30-40 people thinking that some wouldn't show...... Not true. Everyone showed up. Some had to sit in the bathtub cause there wasn't any room in the main room. But it was fun and we would dance the night away.

It was like sitting in the subway, except Kathie was making her famous spinach salad and quiche...

So, consider yourselves all invited... Just hope the neighbors won't complain.

[travelstiles]

The neighbors won't complain if you invite them as well, Kathie... ;D

[renielarson]

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh96/renielarson/methatswho.gif ME...in Liberty Park...I GOT A PERSONAL INVITE... 040 :clap2: :bow: :hot: :2excited:

[ripwho]

kath - good luck on the home sale .... as a sports fan I always say ' it's not that you have to hit 300 and make the hall of fame to sell a house... just 1 'hit' out of a hundred at bats will sell it for you'.....

[njgranny]

Kathy,

I'm laughing at the picture of the people sitting in the bathtub. Once my DH invited 35 people for Christmas Eve and couldn't understand why I was concerned. It's too cold for people to sit outside in NJ on Christmas Eve! Ha, ha. It all worked out fine, though.

[KathieI]

I'm laughing at the picture of the people sitting in the bathtub. Once my DH invited 35 people for Christmas Eve and couldn't understand why I was concerned. It's too cold for people to sit outside in NJ on Christmas Eve! Ha, ha. It all worked out fine, though

NJGrams, it was a funny scene. But it was always fun to have parties at my house, usually they got totally out of control and I had to throw most of the people out by 3am in the morning cause we all had to work the next day. Good memories.

Update on the purchase: Got the underwriter to "almost" say I was approved today... It hurt her tongue to actually say it, they just "love" to keep you hanging. But she's invited to the party too so maybe she will approve me tomorrow. It looks like the closing date of Aug. 6 will be met, so I'll keep you updated on the party. Other good news, I think my house in LA sold today too. God is really with me!! I'm blessed in many ways.

Thanks Rip, good quote... Kath