Boomer and SS

There is one thing that you are forgetting regarding the sale of a home.....

a lucky penny !!!!!!!

You see....I have used some of your ideas like the one "House for sale soon" - which really works. We had some activity while we were preparing the house for sale. Our realtor really liked the idea also.

We also buried St. Joe and spoke to him on a daily basis. My neighbors think I am strange....but boy he really works. Or was that the penny!!!!

We have had a few lookers, some open houses and some return of lookers.

We have lowered our price, and offered to help with the closing costs.

Well, it worked. We went into the "talk" mode for a week. Back and forth like a yoyo. I was determined not to lose this buyer. I need to move to TV.
So while we waited for the prosceptive (sp) buyer to make another offer, I went shopping. While we were out, my friend stops and picks up a penny. It is tails up. She passes it to me and I ask her " what would you like me to do with this?" she replies " this is a lucky penny...when you see one tails down , pick it up and give it to someone heads up and they will have luck"


OK I will bite on this one....I put the penny in my pocket and continue shopping. One hour later, our realtor calls and guess what -----we now have a purchase and sales agreement.


So SS , when I receive the word that we have a closing date, I will let you know and send you my lucky penny ( unless you get one before that)....

Holy Smokes!!
 

I never thought of a lucky penny!?!? :shrug: What an excellent idea!! Thanks JoannP and everyone else for their great ideas today. Congratulations Joann thats great news!! :pepper2:

SS,

I know you asked Halle and not me. But I am delaying getting some work done around here so I thought I would throw in my opinion anyway on what the virtual tour shows.

Your home and yard are lovely and truly immaculate. I have a vague idea of your area and it is really nice, too. I have been in Plymouth.

Re. the virtual tour photos, the opening picture I got was of the trees without leaves. Once I opened the tour I was greeted by that glorious green yard. Beautiful trees in full leaf. Can you change the opening picture easily? Spring in Michigan is beautiful. I would capture that for the first impression. You have some beautiful pictures there. I would put one with green everywhere on the opener. Not only is green so welcoming, but it makes the listing look more current than showing winter still.

Have you considered that if you get close to a deal, that nice television thrown in could help.

.......and Joann, I am so glad to hear that my "For Sale Soon" sign was a hit. It really did work on the last house I sold FSBO for someone else. It created a little urgency and actually was what brought the buyer.

Good luck to all of you.

Boomer

Selling Your House
 

Over the years I have taken pictures of our yard and gardens, etc. at different times of the year for my own purposes-to see what is in bloom, when, etc. Also the different seasons to see the leaves and the winter landscape. Since our house has been for sale, my husband loaded these pictures onto something that can be shown on our 40" TV in the living room. The prospective buyers see a slide show while they are touring the house. The real estate agent thought it was greate , since when the house went on the market May 1st the landscape was still gray and nothing was in bloom, not even leaves on the trees. It can't hurt

house photos
 

We put together a photo album for buyers showing scenes of the house being built and our backyard and stream during the seasons. We have been told that it is very well recieved. Good luck and keep the faith. As my realtor says, it only takes one buyer.

Thank you all for your help. Boomer - the winter photo is only on the moveinmichigan.com website. All the other websites that we are listed on have the updated photo. I don't know why this website won't change the photo on the listing!

Yesterday a woman drove up to the house while my husband was mowing the lawn. I think she was a little embarrassed to be caught snooping, but she got out of her car anyway. She said that her son came to look at the house a few days ago, and she was passing by and thought she would take a peek at the house and yard. She stayed for 5 minutes or so chatting with us. Our realtor called later to tell us that the couple that came to look at the house on Wednesday are very interested, and she thinks we might have an offer by the weekend. We are starting to get our hopes up again! :pepper2:

Oh SS -

How the time moves slowly when you want things to happen. It is like being 8 again and waiting for your birthday in 6, 5 4 3 .... days.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Your home is beautiful and that young couple would be very fortunate to live there. I can picture children running and jumping and running through the sprinkler on a summer's day...

Best of luck


Kate

SS,

Wishing you tons of good luck with your recent showing. I can feel your excitement. Its hard to stay calm and not get hopes up when you hear news like this!!! :MOJE_whot:

I just had a look at your listing. Looks like a beautiful spot. As a former real estate broker for 20 years, I want to compliment you on getting rid of your personal stuff. Your home looks like no-one lives there ... and that is exactly the way you want it to look. Like a model home.

I agree with Halle. Buyers are distracted by clutter, personal photos, figurines everywhere, trinkets and trash. People would always say to me "If they don't like our stuff, they don't have to buy our house". And then they would be frustrated and unhappy when their house didn't sell. People aren't buying your personality, put your personal stuff in storage!

Neutral houses in move-in condition sell.

Good luck with the couple that came on Wednesday .. hope you get an offer!

I did reply to SS in a PM and hopefully she will not need to make any of the changes I recommended.

Unfortunately Sellers look at their house and see all the work they have done to get it ready for sale and Buyers look at a house and see all the work that still needs to be done. I agree with Barefoot many times Sellers don't want to hear what we have to say about the home that they love, but business is business and you must be able to detach your self emotionally.

Well, we just heard back from our realtor and they are writing an offer. She told us we should have the offer in hand by Sunday afternoon! Oh, pleeeease let it be a good offer!!!!:pepper2::pepper2::pepper2:

SS,

I am soooo happy for you! Good luck and keep us posted! :pepper2: yaaaaa!!!!

Wow!!!!
 

That's great news SS!!! :pepper2: I am so happy for you!!
You certainly deserve to celebrate this weekend. So put the broom down and the polish away and relax!! :beer3:
Jeanne:coolsmiley:

Just heard back from our real estate office, and we have showing #50 on Sunday from 12 to 1 pm. This is a completely different couple coming to see the house from the one that is writing the offer on Sunday! Told our realtor to let them know that there is another showing happening while they are writing their offer. Maybe they will make it a good one!!!!:pepper2:

Wow SS you are full of good news today!! :pepper2:
That would be great if they went into a bidding war!! :coolsmiley:
I hope at 50 this will be your last showing and get a great offer!!

Good luck! Things are changing
 

We're coming down in June for LSV. were down for St. Pats celebration had a great time. We lucked out put our house on the Market Memorial Day weekend got an offer 9 days later to the 1swt couple that looked at it contracts are being drawn up. Hopefully things are looking up,several homes in my area have sold in recent weeks.Can't wait to move. Patchogue,Long Island soon TV.

Fingers are Crossed!!!
 

Hey, SS!

What great news you are sharing with us!! It's all so exciting, and I sure do hope you get a great offer and can soon realize your dreams!

I so enjoyed checking out your listing. It's not that far from where we used to live - just S of the high schools in Sunflower, N of Warren. I remember your area well. Your property is absolutely beautiful, and so well manicured! And all the hard work and love you put into your home would make any buyer lucky to have it!! (What was the name of that restaurant that used to be on the N side of AA Road? Something like the Roadside??)

Anyway, I will say another prayer for you this evening and hope that this weekend will produce at least one solid offer, so you can start the journey to non-stop fun!

Best Wishes,
Sunflower

Congrats, SS. Fingers and toes crossed for you!

sunflower- we are directly across the street from where the Roadside used to be. It was already closed when we moved in 15 years ago, and they tore it down a few years later. It is just a big grassy field there now. Wow skip! 9 days on the market and you got an offer? That's amazing! We were down in TV for the St. Pat's celebration too, but we were already on the market before we left. Sitting on pins and needles for the next couple of days waiting to see if it's a good offer!!!barf

Good luck
 

We just sold our house and our mailman told us that several houses on his route have sold lately - one was on the market for two years. Hope all goes well with your offer and we can meet in TV soon.

Keep the Faith!
Good Luck!

OMG I hate this part! We got the offer, and we have counter offered....now we are waiting to hear back. :sigh:

Oh SS, I will be checking up on you later here. Just wanted to say that I am out here hoping for the best for you. Good luck.

Boomer

Same here SS

We played Kenya today with a lovely couple from Traverse City - which made me think of you.

k

Oh my gooooodness!!
 

Wow SS...good luck!! It sure sounds great! :a040:
I know this is nerve wracking but hang it there...we are all praying for you!!
Jeanne :beer3:

SS,

I am waiting with fingers crossed to hear if your counter offer gets accepted. Hope to see you in chat later.

SS,

Just checked the putter after 2 days and I cant tell you how happy and excited I am for you. Im a nervous wreck for you!!!! Can hardly wait to hear the results on this offer and I hope and pray its in your favor!

We had an open house today. The realtor said only 4 couples came thru but a couple of them seemed to love the house. Im a nervous wreck for me too, so now im nervous for both of us, I think Im going to need meds SOON!!!!!! LOL! Please St. Joseph work your magic!:bowdown:

I know EXACTLY what you're going through. It seems like time stands still.

Good luck

Hey Sschuler;
I did the same thing when I finally got an offer. Then I walked around for a day thinking what an idiot I was to counter. It all worked out and I am now in the bubble. Good luck you have been waiting long enough. Your going to miss stuffed cabbage and pirogues though. Dont forget Its got to close first, think your nervous now just wait.
Benj

Good Luck
 

Fingers and toes crossed here. :pepper2:

Good Luck!
 

Heres' hoping it all works out for you!

Still waiting to hear back on the counter offer. Their realtor said they were getting together today after work. But we have showing #51 tomorrow from 2-3 pm. anyway. This is the second showing that we have had since they put their offer together. Maybe this will scare them a little and make them come up to our price in our counter offer. :shrug:

Good Luck SS!!!
 

Oh I hope so SS!!! Whewww bet you have been on pins and needles all day long!! :faint: Hopefully with them knowing that you have another showing will settle on your counter offer!! :coolsmiley:
I'll be praying for you!!!

SS,

We are thinking of you... and only you know the price you will take for your house.

Please forgive me if this seems pushy, but.. don't get too hung up on a number. A dear friend of mine went back and forth with a (CASH!!!!!) buyer two summers ago. The buyer did most of the conceding and when she would not compromise for about $5,000, he walked - and bought a house down the street. Her house was on the market for another year before she pulled it - at way less than the $5000 differential.

Hold hands, say a prayer and decide what is the right decision for you.

Good luck.

Kate

SS ~
I, too, am on pins and needles for you! Katezbox is right - consider all offers carefully. A friend in real estate said the first offer is usually the best offer. But you have to do what you feel is right. My heart is with you and there are many of us who are sending good wishes your way.

I hope today is THE day!!

Best wishes,
Sunflower

Well, they didn't accept our counter offer...if fact they wouldn't change their original offer at all. We were prepared to meet them in the middle, but they weren't willing to budge. So we told them no. We were still 15 grand apart. Sooo disappointing!

Showing #51 today at 2 pm.

Darn it.

Actually, what I really mean is :cus:

Boomer

Boomer I agree :cus:.

I am so sorry SS, I know you must be so disappointed, it certainly is the pits!
Good luck today on showing number 51, I pray and pray you will get some good news soon!! :bowdown:

I havnt had a showing in weeks :cus:, I wonder if my realtor left the country? :shrug:

Good Luck today!!

Jeanne - tell your realtor to refresh your listing so that it pops up as a new listing again. We get more hits after our realtor does that to the listing. We have done it a few times since we listed in March. And it works!