[Parker]

My father was a very successful broker for many years and knew the market well. He always told us that ANY house will sell if:

It is IMMACULATE. This means keeping it spotless and ready to show all the time. Rent a storage space and take all extra furniture, junk, yard stuff, garage stuff there. Sight unseen. Fresh paint, sparkling floors and windows, freshly cleaned carpet, ceiling fans. Everything, especially the kitchen, spotless. Should SMELL fresh too, but not artificially so.

It is attractive from the street. Clean flower beds with fresh mulch or rocks or pine bark and some pretty flowers, bushes freshly trimmed. No junk. Front door clean, fresh, inviting. Lawn mown and edged all the time.

PRICED RIGHT. Not what you think you should get, not what you might once have gotten, only what you can get NOW based on sales of comps in your area. The price right now WILL BE UGLY. You just gotta face the facts. As you said, the cost of keeping it on the market is also ugly. And the cost of the stress of having your home always ready to show, and nothing to show for it, your future held captive, is also ugly.

As my wise father always told us, and we sold every home we owned over the years within a few weeks of listing them every time, IF YOU PRICE IT RIGHT, KEEP IT CLEAN, and don't get your feelings hurt with low offers, it will sell. Everybody is looking for a deal right now and offers come in very low, but most people will negotiate. Get rid of it if possible, take a load off your shoulders because life is short and times are uncertain, and come on down to enjoy yourself.

We wish you well. Your in the same boat with a lot of good folks. Godspeed.

[mickey100]

Parker, your father was a wise man indeed. Thanks for posting!