[tippyclubb]

If it weren't hard enough to sell a house in the Detroit, Mi. area, it may be almost impossible for us. In spite of it all were following through with our original plan and placing the house on the market May 5th. I'd like to share our story with you all.

Back in February we look out the window and water is shooting out the lawn 4 or 5 feet. The water main pipe broke and we have no grass in half of our front lawn. This cannot be repaired until late May or early June. Didn't think much of it, just a small bump in the road, but not prepared for what would happen next.

Not long after that I wake up one morning to see black smoke rolling down the street. I look outdoors and the house to the left of us is on fire. Thank God everyone got out alive, but they did loose two cats in the fire. Every window in the house was busted out and part of the garage door. The house is now boarded up and looks like an abandoned house. Great, now this is not a good look for potential home buyers. It gets worse.

Two weeks ago I get a call from my neighbor on the right asking if she could borrow our shop vac. I take it over there and she has a foot of water in her basement.

A few days ago the construction has begun on both houses. Yep, a flood restoration truck on one side and fire restoration on the other side. Plus, we have a huge area of grass missing in the front yard with a huge pile of dirt. I have to laugh to keep from crying.

We debated much before going ahead with plans to sell. May is prime time for selling homes and 90% of closing happen this time of year. Our agent assures us the house will sell because of low inventory and our home being in great desirable condition. We will see what happens. I may need to bury two or three St. Joseph statues upside down in that big pile of dirt.

[shcisamax]

That is a quite a challenging story. Sorry. BUT it will work out.

[Happinow]

My heart goes out to you. The good thing is that both houses on either side of you are being worked on and that means improvement. Hopefully the restorations move quickly and things won't be unsightly for long. Things are bound to turn around for you. Soon you will be able to look back at this experience and wonder how you got through it. It will make your move all the sweeter! Keep thinking positive thoughts. Wishing you all the best.

[njbchbum]

What with repairs being made to the homes on either side of yours, I'd say that the black cloud that had hovered there for so long is on the move! Hopefully the real estate folks who show your house will be sure to suggest to potential buyers that they should buy now rather than face a price increase after those other homes are fixed up!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by tippyclubb

If it weren't hard enough to sell a house in the Detroit, Mi. area, it may be almost impossible for us. In spite of it all were following through with our original plan and placing the house on the market May 5th. I'd like to share our story with you all.

Back in February we look out the window and water is shooting out the lawn 4 or 5 feet. The water main pipe broke and we have no grass in half of our front lawn. This cannot be repaired until late May or early June. Didn't think much of it, just a small bump in the road, but not prepared for what would happen next.

Not long after that I wake up one morning to see black smoke rolling down the street. I look outdoors and the house to the left of us is on fire. Thank God everyone got out alive, but they did loose two cats in the fire. Every window in the house was busted out and part of the garage door. The house is now boarded up and looks like an abandoned house. Great, now this is not a good look for potential home buyers. It gets worse.

Two weeks ago I get a call from my neighbor on the right asking if she could borrow our shop vac. I take it over there and she has a foot of water in her basement.

A few days ago the construction has begun on both houses. Yep, a flood restoration truck on one side and fire restoration on the other side. Plus, we have a huge area of grass missing in the front yard with a huge pile of dirt. I have to laugh to keep from crying.

We debated much before going ahead with plans to sell. May is prime time for selling homes and 90% of closing happen this time of year. Our agent assures us the house will sell because of low inventory and our home being in great desirable condition. We will see what happens. I may need to bury two or three St. Joseph statues upside down in that big pile of dirt.

Good Grief Girl. I'll say. Now is the time for some good things to happen, and I have lived long enough to guess that they will.


You have a bunch of friends who you haven't met who will be keeping their fingers and toes crossed. We will be waiting at this end to greet you with hugs. You might add a St. Jude statue too, just for....a little extra help. (I really don't believe in buried statues, but it can't HURT.)

[Suzi]

I'm originally from Detroit and have family in the suburbs. Currently live in the UP and the villages. Don't know where you are located, but I wish you the best. I can only imagine how overwhelmed and frustrated you must feel. It will work out. Summer and fall are great times to sell a home in MI. Especially fall season. Its just beautiful. Some of my family have sold even in winter. Good luck and we'll leave the light on.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Good Grief Girl. I'll say. Now is the time for some good things to happen, and I have lived long enough to guess that they will.


You have a bunch of friends who you haven't met who will be keeping their fingers and toes crossed. We will be waiting at this end to greet you with hugs. You might add a St. Jude statue too, just for....a little extra help. (I really don't believe in buried statues, but it can't HURT.)

Wow, what a story. Bury those statues! I believe, I believe!

AND, tippy, 2BNTV informs me that there is a wonderful wine tasting at ABC liquors on October 15. With food. You must be here by then!

Fingers crossed. Buyers will see that the houses on either side are being cared for and will be in good condition like yours.

[elizabeth52]

OMG.....bury six of those statues! And I was feeling bad because we just found out our sewer line needs to be replaced! Just think, it will make a great story to tell at your first Crispers luncheon in the Villages!

[tippyclubb]

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words. Our agent did say she would inform buyers the house with the fire would look brand new when finished.

We are fortunate in that its not imperative the house sells quickly so we have the time to wait out the construction phase. Of course we would like to sell quick but then we will be homeless and moving in with our son for 4-6 months. Yikes, that's another thread one day.

Gracie I'll take you up on those hugs! I'm a hugger.

[Parker]

The construction on both sides of your home would NOT keep me from buying your home if I liked it. I would be looking at area and at how well other homes in the area are kept up. Keep your home very clean, uncluttered, and priced right. You'll do fine.

[jnieman]

If it helps any we had our home on the market and we lived near the Air Force Base. They changed the pattern that the planes take to take off. The C-17's were taking off in a pattern right over our house. They were so low I could read the lettering on the bottom of the plane. Loud noise and many times a day. Every time we had a showing the planes would begin their training missions and start taking off. It took us 1 and a half months but we sold it. Wishing you the same luck that I had.

[justjim]

There is usually only one reason why a house doesn't sell---PRICE. Even if a house is not in a good location or needs updates, it will sell if the price is right.

We have bought and sold over 25 homes. Make sure your Realtor has done a "good" market analysis and price your home accordingly. It doesnt hurt to do your own research too. It's not what dollars you want out of the house, it's what someone is currently willing to pay.

Finally, the longer on the market the harder it usually becomes to sell.

Good luck. You will be coming to the finest retirement community in the country.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by justjim

There is usually only one reason why a house doesn't sell---PRICE. Even if a house is not in a good location or needs updates, it will sell if the price is right.

We have bought and sold over 25 homes. Make sure your Realtor has done a "good" market analysis and price your home accordingly. It doesnt hurt to do your own research too. It's not what dollars you want out of the house, it's what someone is currently willing to pay.

Finally, the longer on the market the harder it usually becomes to sell.

Good luck. You will be coming to the finest retirement community in the country.

This is true, BUT... look at the market too. You mentioned that you are fortunate in that you don't have to sell in order to move to TV. We were in the same situation in 2011 when we bought in TV. But the market was not good then.

Then we put our MI condo up for sale in June of 2012, and had no interest after a month of showings. Our realtor (who had not marketed the place at all, but nonetheless...) told us if we could hold onto it for a year, things would be different. So we took it off the market and enjoyed the summer there.

In April of 2013, I came home for a week to go to a friend's wedding, and on impulse threw it back on the market (different realtor). The first person through bought it, for more than we had it priced the year before. Had to hurry home and pack it up. You might have this same luck since the market has picked up even further.

(And then, of course, there's that upside-down St. Joseph in the yard!)

[NotGolfer]

As you said, your agent will prepare her clients re: what's going on. That said though, many prospective folks do a virtual tour of homes these days before coming for an on-sight look. So, if your home shows good in the photos or video, that should be in your favor. This could work out well for you, so don't lose faith!!!

[OBXNana]

We've bought and sold more than our share of houses. If we were looking at a house and houses on either side were getting major renovations, we'd say GREAT. Those house will improve the neighborhood and appreciate the value of the house I'm considering buying. That would be incentive for us to put in an offer.