Emily, That is wonderful advice and very easy to do!

I leave the house very early in the am to drop son off to school acrossed town and hit the gym, Threfore I am heading back in just after the local kids are already in school so it would be a good time to "pick up" at least my end of the block!!
Thanks for the idea!

One thing I wish to clarify is the begging that goes on is done by the druggies who I know use the cash for their habit. I would NEVER let a child go hungry or without meds.
The drug use here is off the charts!!
Open air drug use...kids puffing on pot like a baby with a pacifier. The police generally don't do anything about a kid, teen, young adult using a handful of illegal drugs...they are hopelessly overworked trying to get to the dealers and suppliers. I suppose many inner cities are the same.

When Frank and I started our wish list, the number one item on both list was low crime LOL!!! Even before a big efficient kitchen LOL!!
A big effecient kitchen is a close second LOL!!

Cheers!
Susie

Susie, I am so happy you have made the decision to move on. I also applaud you for sticking it out this long, trying to believe that your neighborhood would survive.

You have picked a tough time to sell. My advice is not to buy a new house until you've sold this one and take the first reasonable offer from a qualified buyer that comes along. It may not be the person you hoped would move into your house, but that's reality. I hope the real estate market opens up soon.

Good luck to you. You and your family really need to move on.

Pam

Something I saw on one of the house selling shows on HGTV was the cautionary advice that the moment your home goes up for sale, it ceases to be your home. Since this home is such a home for you, it may be difficult to remember that, but I thought it was good advice.

I wish you the best in selling your house. It may take a while. There may be some creative advertising or promoting you could do. A house we've been thinking of buying as a retirement home I found on Craig's List. We haven't completely decided whether to buy it or not, since we love the land it's on, but there are some major problems with the house. Nevertheless, it's never out of the back of our minds. So, maybe someone will see your house in the ads and fall in love with it, and actually make that commitment we've been too chicken (or smart) to make. Good luck with it.

Sally

Good luck to you! You are beginning a new/good chapter in your life, and so is your family. Your house holds memories, but you will make new memories in your new place. Your kids will follow your lead. Detach yourself from the "house/structure" - formally known as your home. Enjoy the new adventure ahead of making a new house your home. It is exciting, and your immediate family should all be a part of the plan to move forward.
It is bittersweet - you are being forced out of your comfort zone - but you've finally made the decision and you are going to make another great home with your family - thats really what home is all about - not the actual house.
I've moved alot - as a military child and as an adult - by choice. Maybe all that moving as a kid taught me never to become to attached to houses!

Susie, I am so sorry for the predicament that you are in. I would be so stressed and angry. You don't need me to tell you how tough the market is but I sure hope that by some twist of fate, you sell it quickly.

I think whatever it takes, you need to commit to getting out.

Best of luck,
Cathy

Good luck Susie. I can't imagine watching my neighborhood deteriorate like that.

Crossing my fingers and toes that you get a great offer soon.

Tracey

Yes, you'll have to let go, and believe me girl, believe me, I know how hard that is going to be. It's just a matter of time before my beloved nest goes up fo sale. But you have to let it go, you are doing the right thing. I feel your pain and grief, but the sooner you get it done with the sooner you can start your new, better life. Although this is the tough time to sell, it is also the great time to buy! Come to realize that the house is not going to go to a wonderful family like yours. You have to let it go, ASAP. Prolonging it will only make the pain last longer.

Susie, good for you! We're not that far behind you and plan to put our sign up the minute the market starts to look a little hopeful. Our neighborhood is a starter-home community, so we've come to terms with the kind of homebuyers that might be looking in our area.

Number one, they are going to be middle, to low income buyers, and number two, we are not going to get the money we have hoped for, no matter how much work we've done to the house. Lastly, it's going to be hard for buyers in the middle to low income bracket to even get loans, so we worry too.

It may not seem fair, but you're gonna have to keep up with the things that other people don't want to do in order to sell your home (like pick up trash). Fortunately, we have a homeowner's association, so at least we have a little clout when the neighbors decide to paint their house orange or when the other tries to run a car repair business out of their garage.

We'd like to move out of state and buy some property. No neighborhoods!

The really bad news is that our house was appraised for far less that its worth and we still have a few more years on the mortgage so we HAVE to get our asking price and we HAVE to sell before we can buy.

Knowing this we have been out looking at neighborhoods, trying really hard not to look at houses per say. Don't want to see and fall in love with something we can't make an offer on just yet LOL but we did narrow our search to 3 great communities in nearby New Jersey. (Look out Woodie-Looks like I may be a Jersey girl soon)

We have good credit but in this economy even DH is scared that WE may have trouble getting a mortgage...I think we'll be ok. I mean no one is perfect-we've been late on bills in the past but never the mortgage, and now we have paid off all but 2 cards. When we bought a car last year we were told we had excellent credit so I hope we sail through the mortgage process.

We interviewed 3 realtors before we decided on John. All 3 said we should do nothing more to the house cuz we would not get it back.
The first guy suggested if we price it for $80.000 he may sell it in a week but that was far too low for us. Yea its only an inner city row home but we have to get more that $80.000!!

I did get good news in that I an having a walk thru tomorrow!! YEAH!!
I am hoping for the best!

Cheers!
Susie

Just found me on the web...d@mn could have picked better pics huh??

Here is a link that might be useful: listing

Back when I was briefly thinking about moving to Philly I was looking around for houses--I think you will get your asking price no problem, really. I don't think it's a matter of selling the house for peanuts, its a matter of "appropriate" pricing, meaning being realistic, which it sounds like you are. Good luck!!

Walk thru tonight!!!

I "think" I have everything in place.
I did take some more flattering pics and I'll print them out but not in time for tonight.

I cannot begin to tell you all how much swap stuff is being used to stage my house!!!

Wish us luck!!

Cheers!
Susie

Gosh, Susie, I would think your house will sell quickly for that price. It's really cute. My only suggestion is to tell the photgrapher to put down the lid on the toilet next time!

Good luck.

Is there some way that y'all could afford a storage facility to put a lot of your stuff into while the house is on the market? Your house does look cute, but I suggest reducing the amount of stuff you have in the house so that it looks roomier and less personal. At least, that's what I'm always seeing on those shows on HGTV, which certainly doesn't make me an expert.

Sally

OMG the toilet pic is exactly what I am talking about!!
In the kitchen pic my FIL was actually on his hands and knees laying the new floor. My new pics are far better.

I did ask my MIL if we could store some stuff at her house for a few weeks, she has a 4 bedroom home but she whined about it. Funny cuz my own mother was not too happy about storing Amy's dorm stuff in her basement over the summer.
Maybe its the age??

Well it was a very young couple, prob early 20's according to Drew. I do not have any more info cuz they were about 1/2 hour early and so Hubby was not home yet! Grrrrrr!!
Drew said they seemed to really like the house as they came in and looked around. The lady liked the colors and commented on both the size of all 3 bedrooms as well as the pantry!! The fellow liked the size of our finished basement and the fact that we still have a garage.
However as they were leaving they just left and said nothing. Drew said they seemed indifferent.

So I guess if they want a second look we'll hear in a few days but in the meantime my agent told me they are offering grants to first time buyers and they have had a ton of calls in the past few days-he said to keep my fingers crossed but he thinks the tides are turning in this area.

Oh and I got a statue of St Joseph but the catholic church frowns upon the idea of burying it in the yard so they suggest placing on a mantle or place of honor in the home.
I'll try anything!!

Cheers!
Susie

Neutralize your house - St Joseph on the mantle may offend a potential buyer -not me - maybe find a hidden place of honor - maybe under your pillow. When I was selling my house, I had gone on a trip sponsored by our Catholic Church. It was suggested at lunch by some of these ladies to bury St Joseph! I had never heard of the custom. The lunch group had varying opinions of whether it was okay or not to do this. I sold my house quickly, so didn't have to make the decision.

Susie -- it sounds like you were planning on your husband being at home when people come to look at the house? I would STRONGLY recommend against either of you being home when anyone comes to look -- I think it is a major detractor and prevents people from really imagining the house as their own. I am surprised your agent didn't say anything to that effect?

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that it sells quickly!

Emily

I agree with Emily. It's extremely inhibiting for prospective buyers to view in the presence of the owners. They don't feel they can freely discuss pros and cons, check closet space, drawers, etc. (Not snooping, just examining for capacity.)

Also, in shifting things to your MIL's or elsewhere for the duration, be sure any jewelry or other items you particularly value are not left in the house. Realtors try to keep an eye out but some people tour looking specifically for things to lift. Or it may just be a little child running through an area breaks a cup or vase you have a sentimental attachment to. If those are pulled out so you're not worried about them, it makes leaving your home during viewing easier.

Carol

I've heard of burying St. Joseph to help sell the house. I even saw it on an HGTV show.

He must be all-powerful because my firend said she prayed to him to send her a good husband, and believe me, she got a honey. Someone mentioned praying to him for something else, I can't remember what now.

I wonder if he answers the prayers of Protestants? It's worth a try.

Susie, bury him in the backyard not the front so no one steals him.

By the way --- YAY PHILLIES!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Bury St Joseph

I did ask about leaving when someone wants to see the house and our agent said its fine if we are here. They don't do lock boxes on occupied homes, I told him I would take the opportunity to walk the dog and wait. He said that would be fine.
Frank just wanted to be nearby...kinda noosy. He said he would have waited in his truck but he wanted to take a look.

Still haven't heard anything so I guess it wasn't what they wanted and I am really fine with that. Its a big desicion to make and the buyers should be sure when they choose...hey I will be on that side soon too and believe me I will not rest till I get what I want LOL!!

As for valubles, I really don't have too much to worry about but I am planning on taking down the family pics in the hall and in the kitchen. Plus I will scale down my holiday decor when the time comes...best to keep it simple in order to really highlight the house instead of 75 or so nutcrackers-it'll be weird not putting them out but I have to keep my eye on the prize which is a nice safe home for my family!!

Cheers!
Susie-----YAY PHILLIES!!!

Susie, I agree with the others. Get out of the house while it is being shown. I know from past experience when I'm looking to buy if the owners hang around, I spend as little time as possible, in and out.

And when we sold our homes we made sure to leave prior to the prospective buyers arriving.

It is also best to de-clutter. And there should be nothing or next to nothing left on your kitchen counter or your bathroom(s) counter. Books and knicknacks should be boxed up and put away. You are going to have to pack them up to move anyway so you might as well do that now. What you think is cute or decorative, most prospective buyers won't.

We have sold and bought a number of homes so I speak from experience.

Ann

You know I guess I never really thought of my house as being cluttered but I took a look at "my" pics with a different eye and thought "wow" you guys are right...not so much clutter in a bad way but prob too much for the purpose of selling.
So I will put more away today.

My mantra these days is to "simplify".

CHeers!
Susie

E mail me if you want to see my pics

When you've got an entire family living in a smallish house, you are bound to have clutter. Where the heck else are you going to put stuff? Still, it's best to pack it away since it only points out that there may not be enough storage space.

I really hope a buyer comes along quickly for you. The first day after signing the deal you'll have to celebrate by not making the beds and not washing the dishes!

My experience is it ain't over until the day AFTER escrow closes, after the funds have really truly gone through.

Hope you get lots of action this weekend, Susie (HOUSE action, getchermindsouttathegutter)

Yeah Yeah! Let's see some action!!

Lets see if this works

Here is a link that might be useful: New house pics

Susie, If this were my home I'd take down all of the pictures taped to the fridge as well as whatever is pinned or taped to the kitchen cupboards. And I'd be tempted to take down the garland too. I think the entrance will look more spacious without it.

You have done a nice job decorating and I'm sure your house will sell quickly.

Ann

Yes I agree with Ann that the fewer personal items you have in view, the more a prospective buyer is able to imagine it as his new home.
It should look neutral and uncluttered, as though the present owners had already moved out.

Here's a website with some very good tips for you at the link below!

Good Luck!

SharonCb

Here is a link that might be useful: Preparing Your Home for Selling It

Susie, you do have a beautiful home with lots to offer. You've done a wonderful job decorating it, but I agree with everyone that you still need to remove the pictures and the personal items, such as the guitar, if at all possible. I really like your house, though. I'd love to live in one like it.

One thing I wonder about, and DH and I have talked about, is are buyers really that unimaginative? Is it really that hard to see past the current owner's stuff or color choices or furniture arrangements? When we watch those staging shows on t.v., they always have to change the paint color, even if there's nothing wrong with the paint color. It's as if they have to do something to make a show. Even if the paint color is awful, can't the buyer see past that? Even if there's toys in a room, can't the buyer see past that, too? Well, according to these staging shows, buyers can't see themselves in a home that has any personality at all. So, I guess the deal is to make it as easy as possible for the prospective buyers.

Sally

Dreat ideas!!

All the fridge pics are magnets. Frank took down all but a few. The frames on the cupboards are also magnet picture frames-at one time I thought about placing great food pics there but never got around to it, they are also gone.

Frank came home with boxes so I can probably get started packing things away and store them in Amy's room.
Still no word if MIL will let us store boxes there.

Oh and I DID get lucky Friday night!!
Not what you think...I was getting ready to make a nice shrimp dinner for the family when the phone rings-it was the realtor asking if we can show the house at 6 pm.
So I put the shrimp back on ice and stashed it in the fridge, straightened up the place a bit lickety split.
The buyer showed up and hour late but once she arrived we all went out to sit on the porch. The realtor walking thru thought it was weird and said we could come inside but we stayed out since we were chatting with a neighbor.

The buyer was a lady about my age os Spanish decent and she spoke in very broken english but she was able to say she liked the house-very nice-something like that. But no offer as of today.

Yesterday Frank and Drew went to a few open houses in our target area. I must say that I didn't really care for any of them. Very small rooms-I like a more airy open layout.
So now I am worried once we do sell we may have to settle.

And so the worry creeps in...no one said this was going to be easy LOL!!

Well I am off to paint to railing going upstairs, then to work...hope to be home by the second inning!!
Go PHillies!!!

Cheers!
Susie

Susie, I find it very strange that your real estate agent would suggest that it is okay for you to be in the house while it is being shown. In fact, I'm surprised that she didn't tell you to take a walk or a drive and not look like you were hanging around outside. I thought it was common knowledge that a seller should not be around when the house was being shown. You want the prospective buyers to take their time and not feel rushed and that isn't possible if the owners are on site.

When we were showing our home we would disappear for at least an hour and sometimes we would come back and find the buyers were still in the house so we would disappear again for a while.

As I mentioned above, any home that we looked at where the owners were on site, we felt rushed and not free to discuss the pros and cons of the home.

Ann

Ann, I was of the mindset that we should also be away when the home is shown-just thought thats the way it was supposed to be. So I said to MY realtor that whoever was home would go and walk the dog or something...he said it was no big deal.
He was more concerned with having the house available for tours as much as possible so I said go ahead and make it unlimited since someone is always home and if not I can be home to unlock it in just 10 minutes.
The lady who came on Friday was with another realtor on the service and she just seemed like it was odd that we go outside, when truth be told we do sit outside quite a bit.
Friday evening was very nice out so we lit the citronella candles and relaxed.
We could hear then speaking in Spanish but could not understand what they were saying...my Spanish is very limited but what we could make out was favorable.

I was just SO glad I hadn't started cooking the shrimp...geez that would have been a strong smell LOL!!

Sally, I know what you mean...if you watch HGTV you see commercials for schools to learn how to be a stager.
I guess you can make a lot of money telling people to tidy up LOL!!
But really, I have to live in this house while we sell so of course its bound to get messy but as I've learned if you just take a few minutes in each room you have have it looking good in no time.

A lady at the gym told me to get some good candles...LOL!!!
I think if I walked into a home with candles I would suspect they are trying to cover something up.

Cheers!
Susie

Susie, you are exactly right. When I walk into a house with candles burning or a strong air freshener smell I also suspect that they are trying to hide something. Especially if they own cats or dogs.

I'm interested in knowing why you have to be home to open the house? Doesn't your agent's office have a key? Everywhere I have lived the home is shown by either the listing agent or arrangements are made by the showing agent to pick up the key up at the office or the showing agent has a code to unlock the key box attached to the door.

Ann

Nope, they do not do that here. Plus they only do lock boxes if the home is vacant.

Last year at this time Katies mom sold her home as well as K-Pops home. She refused to leave a showing. She was there for every walk thru and followed them around. I really thought that was intimidating for the buyers but she sold K-Pops house very quickly and her own about a month later.
Katies mom is, how do you say, overbearing at times and both houses needed a lot of work but she got her asking price on both.
Who knows??

We signed a 6 month open listing contract so any realtor from any agency can show the house.

Cheers!
Susie

Susie, I sure didn't mean that your house isn't tidy! Your house looks very nice.

Some of the homes I see listed on line with pictures are so funny. One I saw showed a chair with a bunch of clothes piled on it - unfolded clothes that had obviously been worn. The jeans still had the belt on them. Another picture of an extreme fixer upper had a syringe laying on the kitchen counter. I didn't even want to think about that! lol. I've always thought those shows like Designed to Sell were exaggerated and fake, but after seeing some of the pictures I've seen on line, maybe they're not faked.

Sally

You might try baking some cookies or brownies when a prospective buyer is coming through - yummy baking smells are ALWAYS good!

Even the slice and bake things will give off enough aroma that it will be a pleasing smell.

And good luck! I know the market is picking up here, hope the same for you

Alexa

No offense Sally...the only place here that is untidy in the basement so you see there are no pics although I ditched the gym today and cleaned it up a little.
My giant pantry in down there and I want to highlight it so I spent some time purging...trying to get rid of some stuff I bought and really planned to use but with those holiday food drives coming up I thought it would be the best time to downsize. Why did I buy 4 boxes of brownie mix anyway??
I don't even like brownies too much!! LOL!!

Alexa, I have been told to keep cookie dough on hand. Maybe I'll pic some up.

AS for air freshners and candles I do enjoy burning candles if its a scent I really like. My current fave is Yankee Candle sun and sand. I also have one of those plug in air fresheners to use on days like today where its damp and dreery out to take away that closed in aroma but I really don't trust them being plugged in when no ones home or we are sleeping-plus the refills are pricey!!

Frank went to this one open house on Sunday and made a comment that it smelled like old people lived there LOL!!!
The house was empty but prior it was occupied by 80 yr olds LOL!! I guess they could have used some cookie dough!!

I am keeping the faith!!
Go Phillies!!

Cheers!
Susie

Susie, years ago when we were looking at buying our first house I couldn't believe the things people left laying around. Dirty dishes stacked nearly to the ceiling and all over the counters...and smell?! Whew. Yeah, I want to buy a house where the people are too lazy to even keep the kitchen clean. What about any other basic maintenance? Then there was the house with the dirty underwear laying in the hallway. Pretty funny....but we ain't buying that house! Don't people GET IT????

Duane

Here is a list of potential houses we can afford in out target area. This list was compiled by an agent in NJ who Frank met touring the open houses on Sunday.
Some we have looked at or rather drove by.
Some are new to the list.

My personal fave is the Lakehurst house. It reminds me of the houses in Cape May but its at the very top of our price comfort level.

I am going to request an appointment to see it though.

Take a look and give me feedback.

Cheers!
Susie

GO PHILS!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Lakehurst is on Page 2

Susie, the link won't work without signing in and registering.

I'd love to see it!

Carp....Grrrr...!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Maybe this??

Well....there are some nice houses there!
you knoww hich one I like....that's the one on Laklehurst....but the one on Drexel St is very nifty too!
I like older homes! You get gracious touches that you couldn'ta fford in a newer one.
And you have lots of yard and kitchen in both of them!
Linda C

When I first visited the house I ended up buying, when I walked in on a dreary March day, the owners had their bread machine going--the house smelled like homeade bread. Made a very nice impression, but that's also because the house was nice and clean, etc. You don't have to go overboard I think. But I dunno, I am perhaps not as easily influenced as the average buyer. I could look beyond some fridge magnets. What impressed me about the house I bought was not the bread smell, it was the all new double pane vinyl windows, the downstairs bath, the newish neutral kitchen, the finished basement and the garage with motion sensitive light, and the patio lights, which made a great impression at night. Those are still the features I love about my house. The living room and kitchen were neutral and didn't need a lot of changes, which was a big plus. The upstairs bedrooms were way out there with the splatter paint on the walls (three teenage boys), but that was easily painted over. Houses that made somewhat of a bad impression on me had over the top loud wallpaper, which could be removed and painted over, but that's two steps instead of one. But even that didn't bother me--what sold me on my house was ammenities and layout, not decorating.

Well carp! I wanted to see the houses too - but the link now says it has been viewed a max number of times. Susie - email me where you are looking - I would love to know if you will be closer!

Alexa

Susie good luck with home hunting. I remembered when Drew was beat up and how horrible that was. I thought of you when our LA Times posted a list of the top ten violent cities...here are some places to avoid in case you stretch out (Oakland, California, is in red because that was the city discussed in the article).

Drats...I can't view on that site either!!!

So anyway try the link below. The house I'd like to see is on the first page. MLS # 5382833.

Alexa, sadly I will be even farther away, The good news is if you ever go to the south Jersey shore, you will no doubt be driving very close by and if you ever fly out of the Philly airport, you'll be able to wave!!

Jesse, yea we looked into crime as one of our top prioritys and its well below average where we are going. The house in question is just behind the local police station by a block. Hopefully that would deter any would be trouble makers. The schools are far better than anything you can get in Phlly which is good since I would not be able to afford to send Drew to Parochial school any longer.

As for this house...well I refuse to get my hopes up based on a picture LOL!! Believe me, those pics can be very deceptive. I saw one house on line that was adorable. Turns out when we looked at it there was no rear wall!! Half the siding was ripped away and there were no windows in one upstairs window!!

That being said this house would definately be perfect for us!!

Cheers!
Susie

Here is a link that might be useful: #5382833

Susie, I've been following your adventure here and thinking of you - that house is very charming, but I know what you mean about not judging a book by its cover! There are so many things that makes a house "right" -- try to meet the neighbors while you are there, that has such a big impact as well. Wishing you luck!

You know I was wondering if I should talk to neighbors??
Over the past few weeks we saw lots of folks out and about-some even waved like they new us.
I just felt a little awkward asking about the neighborhood-like if it sux they would say so??

Last week we went to the local diner for lunch. When we left we asked the hostess for directions to the high school...there nust have been 3 different people offer to give the directions-one lady said she went there! I found them all to be very outgoing.

Me and SIL are going over to the area on Friday and its supposed to be nice out so maybe we'll chat it up with the locals.

Cheers!
Susie

One suggestion, even tho it may be difficult to arrange, but important. Make sure that you are able to look at the new neighborhood at critical hours of the day. Rush hour in morning and afternoon, weekends at different times of day, morning and late afternoons. Evenings at about bedtime. Think in terms of traffic, barking dogs, leaf-blowers at 7 am on Saturdays, things like that. Try the job commute both directions on a typical workday.

Moving is such a trial and ordeal! Wishing you the best of luck that all goes smoothly!

Helene

Great ideas Helene!!

Maybe I'll get up early tomorrow and scout the area during the morning rush.

I did get some good news today!!
Well other than the Phils winning the world series LOL!!

All the financial paperwork is done and we got the best possible news!! We scored and excellent credit rating!!!
The realtor listened as we poured our hearts out with worry that we'd been late a few times on payments ect...He told Frank no worries...there were no blemishes and that we are pre approved for $225,000 to $240,000!!!

WHEW!!!

The realtor said even in todays economy we would have no trouble getting approved for a mortgage!!

I am doing the happy dance!!!

Oh and Frank got sidetracked and forgot to ask to have the open toilet pic removed LOL!! So I am about to fire off and e mail myself!! LOL!!!

Cheers!
Susie