kristi,

Have you asked your realtor what the average DOM for your area is? BTW, since you mentioned you are new to selling real estate...DOM means "Days on Market".

I don't think anyone can tell you whether to accept the offer, or not. To not do so is, of course, a risk. You may still be trying to sell come summer or even fall. There's just not a way to answer your question definitively. But, if you live in an area where homes are hard to sell then I'd give very serious consideration to this offer.

Good luck with both the sale & your move.

Tricia

Do these buyers have to close by april for some financial reason or do they have to be able to move in at that time? If they just have to close and own the home and not actually move in ask if you can rent back from them until the kids are done with school. I agree with the above poster, if you have a sale and you are ending where you like to be profit wise...rent something month by month. Ship all of your stuff to where ever you are going out west and stay in a suit hotel or maybe someone with a house for rent will let you do month by month and just ship everything you absolutley need to your new home or storage area and go to a rental home with the bare bones for the month. Hope it all works out for you!

I feel for you -- I've always had to stay behind with the kids til school was over before relocating with my husband's job transfers so I know your pain. We were always able to swing a rent back situation, close in April but rent back for a month or so. I'd propose that situation, if they accept it, then go for the sure thing and take the offer. I can tell you that we've lost buyers because they didn't want to allow us to rent back, but we always ended up better off for it, with a higher offer on our terms. But there are no guarantees, you could pass up this offer and then not get another one for 6 months!!

Take it without regret! Hell yes! There has never been a more stressful time in my life than this past couple months with people traipsing through our home. I would have even given up that 10K just to have it over with!

I would recommend renting but put most stuff in storage (or PODS) to avoid the double move coming.

Just a thought, if none of the above suggestions works out for you, it's not necessarily a bad thing to pull the kids out of school before the year is over. We moved our kids midyear. It really helped them adjust to the new place more quickly I think. They were made a fuss of as "the new kids" and given some special treatment. It did help that I was in touch with the new principal and teachers well before the move. I've had many clients that have moved kids in April or May so the children had a few weeks at the new school. They were able to make friends before the long stretch of summer break. (Assuming you aren't moving to a district with year round schools.) I hope this makes you feel better about the possibility. I do know that each child is very different and may have different needs.

First of all, you should find out why they want to close in April. This is still open to negotiation where it most likely will not kill the deal. If you are amicable to their terms, price, etc., countering back that you want a later closing is not out of the ordinary. They could very well say no, but at least you tried.

I would try your darndest to make this deal happen, but don't be afraid to at least ask for a later closing. Their reason could soley be because of convenience and if they hear that you are amenable to all their terms, but need a later closing, then they most likely will see your attempt at negotiating in good faith and respond in kind.

Take it and move now!!!
;)

Hi,
How close to asking price is your offer?

So the house next door hasn't sold in a year ??

Do you consider the price that the buyers offered reasonable?

If yes, I would go ahead and sell. If you don't, you might regret it tremendously if you happen to find yourself in the same situation as you neighbor.

First thing you should do is find out if the house across the street has something wrong with it or is overpriced. (most likely overpriced). Since you got an offer within 2 weeks, you will probably get another. The tricky thing is, your first offer is usually your best offer. I think the biggest problem sounds like you negotiated too low for your circumstances. The buyer needs to move, you don't. You are being inconvienced, they arent. They need to pay for that, you dont. I would see if your agent can renegotiate. Tell him/her to say that you didnt plan on renting, storage, carting the kids back and forth to school etc. There is added expense and you can't come down that low. Chances are, they will come up on their offer if you are willing to let them have the house when they need it.

If you are happy with the offer take it and move now. We moved our kids last April and they had time to make friends before the school summer break. No friends could mean a looong summer!

depending on circumstances, etc., could you leave your kids in someone else's charge to finish out the school year--or for a month or two of whatever's left so you can travel to the new place (without them in tow, and WITH them safely ensconced in Grandma's spare room, or their best friend's bedroom)?

That might make the whole transition much smooth for all of you. The grownups would have time to look for work, housing, and summer-camp programs (that would help them make friends) without worrying about childcare, kids' bedtimes, regular meals, etc.

The kids could get just a few more weeks of school at their old school, and could move perhaps shortly before the year ends. They won't miss much in the last month of the old school, and you can pick WHEN you want them to leave, based on how things are playing out--you'll have flexibility. But if you move just before the school ends in the new place, they could meet a few new kids before the summer, and then fall wouldn't feel as stressful.

Not everybody's willing to do this "park my kids with someone else" thing, I know. And not every kid would cope. My oldest would be GREAT, she'd think it was a hoot; my youngest would be OK but he'd miss us a little bit; I have friends whose son would be miserable. I'm fortunate to have grandparents here who'd be willing, and I have also occasionally found friends whose judgment I trust, that I'd be willing to have them serve as substitute Mom or Dad for a short while.