Getting frustrated!

[Trish Crocker]

I'm getting so frustrated and reading TOTV bring me closer to moving mentally and yet just makes me sad that things aren't happening fast enough. We have had our house on the market since last September..we have reduced the price many times, it's a great house and is now priced just right but still nothing!! We aren't even getting showings. I have added new pictures to the multiple listing, reworded the verbiage, and last night we planted St. Joseph. The house is clean..top to bottom..we painted the walls and epoxyed the floor in the garage...I've tried baking cookies, open houses, baking cookies FOR open houses..There have been 48 homes in our price range sold within the past 90 days in our area. I'm really not expecting answers...just thanks for letting me vent...and any prayers you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

Trish

[JSR22]

The week we buried St Joseph 3 people came back for a 2nd time and the following Monday we had an offer. We close 7/20 and head to TV. Wishing you luck in selling.

[BeeGee]

We first put our house on the market 5/11 - fully expecting folks to just flock to our home and have a bidding war.....now wouldn't THAT be great??? But no, we've cleaned and polished and baked.....painted, rearranged, staged - I'm afraid I've got "House Won't Sell Fatigue". We did not sign w/original realtor when agreement expired and have signed w/another agency - one who has a great reputation and lots of success...we've lowered the price to almost make us sick and still nothing....it's very discouraging (and oh yes, we planted St. Joseph, too!) Prayers going up on your behalf, Trish and all the others that are in our same circumstances and would appreciate the same for us. Hang in there and as my very optimistic husband says: "It'll happen, all in God's time" I believe him, but it's still difficult. Goodness! Didn't mean to go on and on....

[jmm2760jmm]

Do you have your home staged by a professional? Is it listed with a realtor? Price and Pretty are the two factors in selling homes in this tough market. Sometimes having another person's opinion is best as we get too emotionally attached to see something that may be obvious to others. What is the feedback from your showings - that is usually a good indicator of why they didn't choose your home to buy. Just a few thoughts...hope it helps and good luck to you!

[Trish Crocker]

Do you have your home staged by a professional? Is it listed with a realtor? Price and Pretty are the two factors in selling homes in this tough market. Sometimes having another person's opinion is best as we get too emotionally attached to see something that may be obvious to others. What is the feedback from your showings - that is usually a good indicator of why they didn't choose your home to buy. Just a few thoughts...hope it helps and good luck to you!

I am the realtor (sad, isn't it??)...I have also gotten advice from all of the top selling agents that I know and they too are stymied. As far as staging, the house looks great...neat, clean, nicely decorated. The last feedback I received from a showing the other day was "The wife wants French country..your home is too modern but her husband loves it". The other problem we have is the house is on what is considered a 'main' street but it is set far back off the road on an acre of land...with a circular drive. Our house is priced between 400 and 600 thousand lower than the homes in our sub that aren't on the main road. To go much lower than the price we listed for would be almost impossible...and every agent I have talked to say it is priced great. Our backyard looks like a park...nice trees, private..... Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Someday we will all be in TV and this will be a memory.

[Trish Crocker]

We first put our house on the market 5/11 - fully expecting folks to just flock to our home and have a bidding war.....now wouldn't THAT be great??? But no, we've cleaned and polished and baked.....painted, rearranged, staged - I'm afraid I've got "House Won't Sell Fatigue". We did not sign w/original realtor when agreement expired and have signed w/another agency - one who has a great reputation and lots of success...we've lowered the price to almost make us sick and still nothing....it's very discouraging (and oh yes, we planted St. Joseph, too!) Prayers going up on your behalf, Trish and all the others that are in our same circumstances and would appreciate the same for us. Hang in there and as my very optimistic husband says: "It'll happen, all in God's time" I believe him, but it's still difficult. Goodness! Didn't mean to go on and on....

BeeGee...my prayers are with you. I agree with your husbands thoughts but sometimes it's hard. Take care and good luck!!

[Cynbod]

You have my prayers. This is a difficult market but as someone on here has said "price it as low as you can stomach." Then reduce it if you can.

[BeeGee]

and yes we've had a professional stager come in and give recommendations and yes, we did all of what she said was a must!!! Thanks for your prayers Trish, your home sounds just lovely. I'm sure it'll sell soon.... The feedback we've received has all been good...they just love our home!!! Well, they're either lying or they found something that they loved even more!! So...NEXT!

[Golfer in Sanibel]

Your home is now stale in your market area. You might wish to take the house off the market for a couple of weeks and then re-list it. It will appear fresh on the MLS.

[KEVIN & JOSIE]

Just hang in there. The market has been harsh on exceptional higher end houses. Most of the ones that have sold in our area are the lower end homes needing work. I guess with the slow economy, people who otherwise would purchase a home they were qualified to buy, are chosing the lower price home as there is still a fear of buying real estate.

[BostonCelt]

I know what they say about a lawyer who represents himself, not sure if it applies to realtors....

I'd think 48 comparable sales in 3 months in the area would be extremely encouraging. That's a very active area, no? Your time HAS to be soon.

Priced $400,000 to $600,000 below your neighbors must be a typo.... Otherwise.....WOW!!!

Ask yourself (or, rather, a disinterested 3rd party realtor), "If I absolutely, positively had to sell within 30 days, what would that price be??" It might be your price.....

[Bill-n-Brillo]

.......Our house is priced between 400 and 600 thousand lower than the homes in our sub that aren't on the main road. .......

Seriously!? WHEW!! "High rent" area! :D

All other things being equal across all the equivalent homes currently on the market in your area, do what you can (IF you can) to see that yours is priced the best. Nobody likes it nowadays, but it IS price that sells - it's a buyers' market.

Best wishes for a successful sale!

Bill :)

[jimbo2012]

It's been on the market since Sept, 10 months, you turned away buyers at higher a price. they bought something else, those prospects I guess you must consider out of the market.

In this market people want a super deal you may not be offering that super deal in relation what buyer perceives as added value v price.

You said "The other problem we have is the house is on what is considered a 'main' street but it is set far back off the road on an acre of land"

An acre is 200 x 200 how far back can it be, wouldn't a main st turn families off with little kids, so you may have a narrow market without kids.

You can sell anything for the right price, sounds like you need a big drop.

Being the owner/broker you may not be subjective enough, and other brokers are being polite not telling you their real opinion.

10 months is too long

Now we think our home is in a very soft market, we decided not to even try and sell, we are renting. Surprisingly here anyway that market is easier, we are getting a much higher rental income than we ever thought people would pay.

It's going to work for us, may not for others

[jebartle]

a friend of mine was in the same boat, put out balloons for open house and sold that week.....Or you could do what we did and raise the price $25K and also sold within a week.....Good luck, paradise is waiting...




I'm getting so frustrated and reading TOTV bring me closer to moving mentally and yet just makes me sad that things aren't happening fast enough. We have had our house on the market since last September..we have reduced the price many times, it's a great house and is now priced just right but still nothing!! We aren't even getting showings. I have added new pictures to the multiple listing, reworded the verbiage, and last night we planted St. Joseph. The house is clean..top to bottom..we painted the walls and epoxyed the floor in the garage...I've tried baking cookies, open houses, baking cookies FOR open houses..There have been 48 homes in our price range sold within the past 90 days in our area. I'm really not expecting answers...just thanks for letting me vent...and any prayers you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

Trish

[Sable99]

We feel your pain!!! Now, it is my turn to vent!!

Mom and I put our St. Augustine Beach condo on the market this past December. We are ocean side; but, we are so close to the beach that we hear the tide.

We listed our furnished condo with a realtor recommended by TV's Relocation Team. Our 1st 6 month contract is up in a few days. I would like to take our condo off the market in the hopes that the market turns around. We rent our condo out most of the year and it pays for itself. Mom wants to renew the contract. She feels we have several summer renters that return every year (some more than once a summer) and maybe they would be interested in buying it.

We did get one low ball offer that we didn't respond to. They came back with a second offer and we countered. We didn't hear back from them. I don't think we have to give our condo away. Its not luxurious but is very nice and was professionaly decorated. And about 4 years ago the entire condominium complex was upgraded to Hurricane 5 status. And, believe me, that cost a pretty penny.

I closed on my TV home in the Village of Charlotte on May 4th. But, unfortunately, my plans are to rent it out unfurnished, long term until our St. Augustine condo sells.

Here is hoping we both have good news soon!!

[Beatit]

We are experiencing the same in Atlanta. The house has been on the market for over a year!!!! No showings since around Memorial Day. Where have all the buyers gone????

We close on our house in Sanibel on September 10. We are moving forward hoping to sell before we pack up and leave an empty house to show.

For all the Atlanta folks I think we should invest in a huge St. Joseph and plant him on top of Stone Mountain!!!!!

Good luck to everyone!!!

[NavyCO]

Unless you are a wealthy person, to buy in the Villages, without having a solid buyer anywhere is foolish.

[Roaddog53]

You know what they say. When you least expect it and stop worrying about things, it happens. Been there many times. I put my house up for sale in Michigan. It was gorgeous on a large lake with views and lots of extras. At first I was excited. Got some viewings and was fun to read their comments. Some were it didn't have room for horses! Some didn;t like a room. One wanted a theater room NOT where it was at! Just excuses. The realtor, and people all said the house was perfect, but still nothing for a few months. Than I said forget it. Was happy there for a while. The realtor was shocked when I turned down over 20 requests to show it. Showed it 36 other times. He was perplexed and told him in time. I just "didn't like the people" Tire kickers. He was patient. He kept in on the market but reduced the "listings on line and paper". Assume to save him money.
Finally someone came along in MID-Winter! Who would have guessed! I said ok to let them see it. I was going away anyway. they looked, looked the next day, and bought it for almost not much less than i was asking.
So one never knows. I know all are impatient to get here.

[Penguin]

Just my 2 cents but were in a sad state when it comes to selling houses. Buyers know that the seller needs to get out so they want the home for next to nothing. My home here in Illinois is appraised at 40% of what I paid 6 years ago. If I really want to sell I would have realize that I'm going to take a beating. I sold my moms condo last year and took a 90k beating on that one. I believe there are many people to blame for us being in this unfortunate state but if you need to sell you must be willing to get creamed or try and wait it out and see if things get better. Its just the way it is these days and dont feel alone, there are probably millions of folks in the same boat. Good luck.

[asianthree]

Ya just have to wait it out, i know its hard but in mi its the way it is

[bandsdavis]

Trish and BeeGee, it took us 18 months to find the "right" buyer. Like you, our house was priced right and according to our agent, showed like a model. It just takes the right person to come through that door, but they are coming! We close in TV next week after first visiting 5 years ago. You will be here,too. Have faith and hang in.


Bill and Sue

[Trish Crocker]

Your home is now stale in your market area. You might wish to take the house off the market for a couple of weeks and then re-list it. It will appear fresh on the MLS.

Golfer, I just did that...2 weeks off, new pics...just waiting :(

[CarGuys]

I'm getting so frustrated and reading TOTV bring me closer to moving mentally and yet just makes me sad that things aren't happening fast enough. We have had our house on the market since last September..we have reduced the price many times, it's a great house and is now priced just right but still nothing!! We aren't even getting showings. I have added new pictures to the multiple listing, reworded the verbiage, and last night we planted St. Joseph. The house is clean..top to bottom..we painted the walls and epoxyed the floor in the garage...I've tried baking cookies, open houses, baking cookies FOR open houses..There have been 48 homes in our price range sold within the past 90 days in our area. I'm really not expecting answers...just thanks for letting me vent...and any prayers you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

Trish

We were in the same boat Trish, I had a dead line of move a home and buy in TV before my Jobretired me and left me stuck in NY.

I just kept lowering till the get sick point! I had no luck until I went with The Village Relo Program. Home sold in two months.

Hang in there-

Herv

[CarGuys]

Your home is now stale in your market area. You might wish to take the house off the market for a couple of weeks and then re-list it. It will appear fresh on the MLS.

Yes I forgot Trish, After four years ours was " STALE " we did remove it for 6 months and came back on with a atractive price.

[Schaumburger]

Trish, BeeGee and Sable, I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that your homes sell soon! :pray:

[delima2000]

We were in the same boat last year. Finally sold our house after we took it off the market. We also put St. Joseph in our backyard after we unlisted our house. Couldn't believe when an agent called and ask if we were still interested in selling our home. I told him only if they were in the buying mood. He said yes, we showed the house that day the offer came in and we accepted it. That was in may of last year and in June we were buying our house here in the villages. We also had a trailer at a private campground that we were trying to sell for the last two years so when our home sold we took st.Joseph there and the next week we had an offer and accepted that. St Joseph really worked for us. Just hang in there it will happen. Good luck.:pray:

[k2at]

I recently sold my house in New Jersey after having it on the market for 2 1/2 years. It is so frustrating to know the house is priced right and yet no one even comes to look at it. All one can do is ride out the storm until the right individual comes along.

Be patient. That one buyer will eventually come along.

[Down Sized]

Like everyone, my house took 2 years to G I V E it away. Normal times it would have been 1 - 3 days. All you you can do is set tight. You really don't want to get stuck with two houses in this market. Most buyers are having a hard time getting loans. To qualify they need at least a 700 + credit score. There goes about 75% buyers. Then 20% down, there goes another 15%. That leaves the remainder as your buyers pool. There are exceptions but, VERY FEW.:posting:

[Nannyof3]

I'm getting so frustrated and reading TOTV bring me closer to moving mentally and yet just makes me sad that things aren't happening fast enough. We have had our house on the market since last September..we have reduced the price many times, it's a great house and is now priced just right but still nothing!! We aren't even getting showings. I have added new pictures to the multiple listing, reworded the verbiage, and last night we planted St. Joseph. The house is clean..top to bottom..we painted the walls and epoxyed the floor in the garage...I've tried baking cookies, open houses, baking cookies FOR open houses..There have been 48 homes in our price range sold within the past 90 days in our area. I'm really not expecting answers...just thanks for letting me vent...and any prayers you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

Trish
After 3 months of a lot of activity and all the agents telling me how wonderful my home was but still no contract I offered a $1000 bonus to the agent who brought me an acceptable buyer. the agents came out of the woodwork and I had a sale in 3 days.
my agent said $500 was enough but when you're talking $175,000 for the house $1000 is a drop in the bucket. Try it, you have nothing to lose.
If you are a FSBO, list with The Villages, they're the only game in town. I was a realtor for 25 years up north.

[Posh 08]

Your home is now stale in your market area. You might wish to take the house off the market for a couple of weeks and then re-list it. It will appear fresh on the MLS.

It takes 90 days off the MLS in this area to reset to 0 days on market. Maybe that varies from market to market?

[Posh 08]

Trish
The inventory of homes is going down and prices have started to go up in some areas. I recently raised my price a little. The market will improve for all levels of homes. Now with that said, where does one get a St. Joseph?

[stuckinparadise]

My husband and I can relate to your situation. We had our house on the market for about 10 months before we finally found a buyer. In our case, we have another year before we completely retire and move to our home in Tamarind Grove in TV. It's rough having two mortgages but we figured as long as we are both working, it was okay. We are closing on our house tomorrow and have moved into an apartment until next July. We buried more St. Joseph statues, pictures and cards in our back yard than the Vatican! I wish you the best in the sale of your house.

[kentucky blue]

I am the realtor (sad, isn't it??)...I have also gotten advice from all of the top selling agents that I know and they too are stymied. As far as staging, the house looks great...neat, clean, nicely decorated. The last feedback I received from a showing the other day was "The wife wants French country..your home is too modern but her husband loves it". The other problem we have is the house is on what is considered a 'main' street but it is set far back off the road on an acre of land...with a circular drive. Our house is priced between 400 and 600 thousand lower than the homes in our sub that aren't on the main road. To go much lower than the price we listed for would be almost impossible...and every agent I have talked to say it is priced great. Our backyard looks like a park...nice trees, private..... Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Someday we will all be in TV and this will be a memory.

I've been in the commercial real estate business for over 30 years,but have several friends and associates in the residential markets.I've learned alot from them,plus my own experiences in having several of my homes sold.Find the best and most aggressive realtor you know,list with he/she and get out of their way.Let them price the house,since they have no emotional involvement.Your home is too pricey for the current market or it would have already sold after this length of time .Your home is in the upper price range which is the toughest market to find buyers .You need to offer the selling agents a bonus,so they will have an added incentive to show your home.Bottom line
is you need to list your home with another realtor and keep your ego and emotions out of it.Anybody that tells me it's impossible to lower the price of their home needs to have a reality check .Sorry if my post sounds harsh,but what you are currently doing is not working,these are some constructive ideas that have worked in the past,best of luck,and hope your permanently in TV very soon.

[Trish Crocker]

Thanks for all of the insight. Since I am the listing agent, I have been talking to a lot of other agents for ideas. We have been consistently lowering the price, putting it on and taking it off the market, etc. .We can't take it off for a long period since it is summer right now and this is when the buyers are looking..plus, taking it off for a few months would mean possibly delaying our move. We are bringing Steves mom and dad to live with us in TV and since they are 95 we want to get them down there as soon as possible. I'm sure it will all work out and I really appreciate the support from all of you. Oh, and Posh...you can find a St. Joseph 'home sale kit' at a Catholic Supply House..this is where we got ours. Good luck to all who are in the same boat..can't wait until we are all settled there!

Trish

[stuckinparadise]

I hope things work out for you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed until we sign the dotted line and get our check.

[jimbo2012]

Thanks for all of the insight. Since I am the listing agent, I have been talking to a lot of other agents for ideas.

Trish, if you're the listing agent, here in NY on MLS that means if another agent sells your home they split the comiss.

If that's the case it may be shying others broker away or said another way you're only paying half?

Just a thought as to why it's taking long?????

[Trish Crocker]

Trish, if you're the listing agent, here in NY on MLS that means if another agent sells your home they split the comiss.

If that's the case it may be shying others broker away or said another way you're only paying half?

Just a thought as to why it's taking long?????

It doesn't make any difference...whoever has the listing (in this case, my broker) will be giving the selling company 3%. Typically when a home is listed, the listing company charges the seller a fee (usually 6 or 7%)..out of this whoever brings the buyer will be receiving half (3-3.5%). As a side note...for anyone that thinks we agents are making money hand over fist by charging 6%..you have to understand..if I list a home for 100K and receive a comission of $6000...half of that goes to the buyers agent...half of what's left goes to my broker and then I pay a 12% fee to the company on top of that...therefore...I end up with $1320 that I now have to pay taxes on. Out of that I also have to pay for the sign and advertising....by the time it's done, I MAY be able to supersize at Mcdonalds! :). We won't even talk about the cost of gas when working with buyers that then decide, after looking at 25houses, that they either changed their minds about buying or buy a for sale by owner...urrrg. Trust me, I'm not complaining...I love my job..just giving you a little insight.

[CaptJohn]

Have you thought of listing it at 8% or offering the selling agent/broker a bonus? I was a broker for 40 years and it's a matter of finding the right combination at the right time. I've even listed my own properties with other brokers cause I thought they could do a better job on a particular property. Some I just sold myself. You have to figure out the right strategy for your situation and take all the ego stuff out of the equation. Will your broker let you list with another broker? Some won't if you have a written agreement with them or some just get mad or offended. These are different times and require whole new ideas. The old days and ways are gone and not coming back.

[kgentile1010]

Good Luck with your house. My husband and I sold our house last year and lost 150K. Although it stings at the time, I am so happy to be moving to The Villages. We still work and although it's a lot of money, it's not enough to stop our dream. :) We looked at the competition and found the houses that matched our house the closest. Then we dropped our price about 10% less than those house. We got 4 offers, not a bidding war, but we sold it. Turn on your 'buyers' eyes. What house would you buy in your price range. You can keep going down until your house beats all the ones out there.

[paulandjean]

Just sold a house in Michigan. You may have to go "Land Contract" With a large down payment.....

[John_W]

Homes and home selling and building has always been an interest of mine. I've held a real estate license in both Florida and Georgia and use be a realtor in Spring Hill, Florida. I've published 'Homes & Land Magazine of Savannah' at one time. I've personally built two luxury pool homes in Pensacola, Florida. So I know my way around the real estate market.

When we put our last home in Baltimore on the market May 2011 we sold it in 18 hours. Yes, the listing agent left our dining room table at 6pm, we had a showing at 10am the next morning and a contract by noon. Every home has it's sellling price. I studied the market in my zip code for months and when we listed our home I knew exactly what we were going up against. Every home has a selling price, you just haven't reached yours yet.

[jane032657]

Wow, I am getting a lot of sage advise from reading all this. This week we are having our roof power washed, decks painted, windows washed, gutters cleaned, inside painting I have done all the touch up and then on to the MLS. We have an agent and are presently looking at his market analysis and deciding if "his price is right". It is a lot of emotional and sensible energy. We do not have to sell our house to move, it can stay for sale when we move to TV, but we sure hope it sells. Then we are worried whoever buys it will want it before we are moving in October but if that is the case we will have to live like Bohemians with the two Setters until we can leave end of September. I hope for the latter!!! Wish everyone luck who is on the market. We are selling a 1923 farmhouse on a half acre 20 minutes North of Seattle so it will take a special purchaser to love it like we do! So we are all playing The Price is Right game.

[IADCathy]

You may want to consider increasing the buyer realtor share of the commission by 1% rather than reduce your price again. I bet we will see you soon here at TV after that! Good luck!

[tommy steam]

I am the realtor (sad, isn't it??)...I have also gotten advice from all of the top selling agents that I know and they too are stymied. As far as staging, the house looks great...neat, clean, nicely decorated. The last feedback I received from a showing the other day was "The wife wants French country..your home is too modern but her husband loves it". The other problem we have is the house is on what is considered a 'main' street but it is set far back off the road on an acre of land...with a circular drive. Our house is priced between 400 and 600 thousand lower than the homes in our sub that aren't on the main road. To go much lower than the price we listed for would be almost impossible...and every agent I have talked to say it is priced great. Our backyard looks like a park...nice trees, private..... Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Someday we will all be in TV and this will be a memory.

Wishing you the best of luck

[Finallyfree]

Did you get a realtor referral through the villages? Our sales rep's admin person stayed in contact with the realtor. Could not have been more pleased.