I checked similarity here in Denver CL. I'll say it's a fair price. You can negotiate to price you're comfortable with. Start at $300 and see how far you can get from them and look at it closely for any damages, etc.. Many of them want to get rid because of the move or ? and/or just need money. Good luck! Let us know...

I will chime in first :) I use this rule of thumb. (setting aside that it has a nice name) What all can happen to a couch in 7 SEVEN years. How would you ever know how it's been cared for, was it cleaned regularly, was it slept on ever, puked on, peed on, do they have pets, kids? was it used for...well um, well other activities other than TV viewing? Not exactly the kinds of questions you dare ask the person who is selling it, but still... Well, after thinking on those few things, I'd probably never buy furniture from anyone that I didn't know. The ick factor for me is too high to do it. I may be a freak. who knows.

We just bought a house with lots of issues (roof, plumbing, electrical, poorly done renovations, bad siding, etc.) and I would say unless you are prepared to do a LOT yourselves, you would definitely need far more than the difference between this house and the turnkey one to do the work. We are probably in a much more expensive market than you are (based on that house price) and we are paying about $25K just for the roof, because the previous roof was failing and there was a TON of damage to wood underneath that needed to be replaced -- original quote was for $14K before the old shingles came off! This is a moderately priced roofing job, we could have gone cheaper but we only want to do a roof once. Redoing our wiring is going to cost ~$10K, plumbing ~$5K. We're doing all the demolition and plan to do drywall and finishing ourselves, otherwise those would be higher. Siding is a HUGE expense -- around here it runs at least $15K to re-side a house. We're putting down a new slab floor in the unfinished basement and that will be around $4K. $250 per dumptruck load (and we've filled three already). Anywhere from $700-$3000 for new water heater, depending on whether we go tankless. Then there are the multitude of "smaller" expenses, like replacing some of the windows (previous owner put vinyl windows meant for a stucco house on one with wood siding), someday refinishing the floors, laying a new patio, extending the deck, interior paint -- it all adds up! We figure it will cost us at least $150K to get the house to where we want it (spread over many years) but it will still be far less than we would have paid for a turnkey house in the same neighborhood. Hope that's somewhat helpful!

My parents had house/pet sitters, first one they paid a small amount but I sure didn't like it, found out she was at her own place daily and the reason was the house wouldn't be empty and the pets had someone upstairs all the time with them. The plants were to be watered too. I was downstairs and picked up the mail, they got the newspaper daily that my parents kept going for them to enjoy. After that they traveled for months on end and didn't pay them anything as yes, they had free room and board, got use of dad station wagon to drive. They had satellite tv, a nice house to stay in. They bought their own food though, that was the only thing they had to buy. Pets food, dad would load up huge for them to have on hand to feed for that length of time. Dad also arranged at the vets that for any reason the pets got sick, something happened, he would pay them when he came home as they knew him and he paid on time all the time so no problem there. Alot of pets need the compionship of humas to be with them especially at night as many sleep with owners. Dogs must be taken out first thing in am to go and last time at night and in between but they also needs walks too and must be responsible to do so as some dogs aren't easy to walk or there are other dogs or things to be careful in neighbourhood. Picking up their stuff and where does it go? And if its snowy out, that must be shoveled by law, here its got to be done daily by 10am. Do you allow them taking them out in car and are they responsible to do too. Its a huge responsibility to take care of others pets. I know our pets, our golden retriever went into a huge depression and lay there for four days and didn't move in the kitchen. He missed my dad so much. He also got fed way too much by one set of house keepers. Another housesitter/petsitter, threw one of our cats across the tv room due to it went on its lap with muddy paws and away went the cat. I was shocked and not happy over that. Also found all the pets terrified when the broom was brought out and figured she must have went after them all with the broom. Sure its nice to have things like huge tv and guest area but you are there not to watch tv but to take care of their pets and play and walk dogs and pick up and those things. Some will pay a fortune and others small amount. Or like someone said switch with family, you look after my pets and we will look after yours when out of town. Also helps when pets know the person too and not freak out. Cats, we have had them hide and even when I pet sat them here and there, I had to go looking for them and fuss over them. I tell you they are good at hiding in all kinds of different spots. Also concern of empty houses can be broken into so need to know that no one is telling anyone that it will be empty over that certain amount of time. And make sure they pets are fine if not staying there as fire or anything can happen. Cats still need someone there and their box cleaned out daily and fresh water is a must for all pets daily. some are given treats like at bed time, that means going on call at those times to do those things. And some dogs need to go out during the night and so check for accidents and clean them up. Also some dogs go out really early, must be awake and take them out to do their stuff. There is not partying,etc. when owners are away. We had one time when went to my brothers wedding for weekend, a young lad up the road come and take care of our cats and golden, he got skunked bad. And the kid had a party too, took full advantage of an empty house, so think of all that when hiring anyone of any age what could happen. Lock up all valuables and make sure nothing is left out. Leave money or make arrangements with vet like my dad did to pay when get home or have them call you or give them permission to a certain amount and call anyways. Our golden retriever always walked down the driveway when dad got the newspaper and then walked him back up to the house. And so that had to be done so he got his exercise at least of that amount. One couple took sunny out in dad's station wagon car and he loved his car rides and getting out where we live. I looked after a cat who was allergic to itself and it wasn't easy as it scratched constantly and made itself raw and looked painful and terrible. The cat was lonely too as it was all alone, I would go and feed it and that was it. I did try to stay a tiny bit to fuss over it and then leave it.