Rockford is off the market

We took the house off the market on Tuesday.  There has been no interest recently and there's no point keeping it on the market right now.  We are also getting into the Winter months where we really don't want to move.  The funniest thing is that we have been inundated with phone calls and letters from agents wanting us to list with them!!!  Sam got 4 or 5 calls on Wednesday and he just told them "find us a buyer and call Sarah".  I guess we will get the holidays out of the way and then think about what we want to do next year...

Last open house

We had an Open House yesterday, probably the last one before we take the house off the market on the 15th.  Lynne (one of our agents) was there and I talked to her at the end of it.  There were two sets of people that came through the house, one of them needed a bathroom on the ground floor and the other was looking for their daughter.  I doubt either are really interested.  Lynne said that most people are put off by Tom and Cheryl's house next door.  Even though we have curtains up at the windows on the side, it's not enough to get people to get past it.  There is absolutely nothing we can do about it, even putting a fence up would not help.  It might stop the dog barking though.  Maybe we will have better luck in the Spring.

Nearing the end....

1. Question: Is the customer interested in the property? Answer: Very
2. Question: How well did the property show? Answer: Good
3. Question: Your (and your customer's) opinion of the price: Answer: Too high
4. Question: Please rate this property: 5(Best)
Question: COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Answer: Clients really liked the property. Biggest negatives were outside. They are not sure about the small lot, the neighborhood as a whole, and the mean dog next door.

 This was the result of our latest showing. We had a house showing on Wednesday night and Saturday morning. On Saturday, we went walking while the showing was going on. When we got back, they were still there. The guy was out in the yard standing near the fence and Toby was constantly barking. I told Sam they would not be interested in the house because of the bloody dog!!! Lo and behold, they did comment on it. 

Sarah said they were pretty interested and she sent them some information about comparable house prices in the area, plus what I told her about the dog. I think they have been the most interested so far, but not heard anything about them wanting to buy our house!!

We had an Open House yesterday afternoon, with 3 or 4 couples through. Sarah said one of them stayed about 30 minutes, but she didn't know if they were the people from Saturday. This may have been our last for now because we said we'd take off the market on September 25

Open House 8/24/13

Sarah held an Open House yesterday. She had five sets of people come through but she didn't think any of them were looking to move immediately.  Of course, they all loved the house (as usual).
We went to the science center to see the Egyptian exhibit.  Ben really enjoyed it, he's getting much better at reading everything and enjoying the exhibits.  Maggie just saw the exit and pushed me towards it!!!! 
She did enjoy sitting on the camel though.....

Meeting with Sarah

Sarah came over this afternoon and we discussed what we wanted to do with the house.  We agreed to keep the selling price as is, but keep on the market until September 25th.  At that point, we will take off the market and wait until next Spring.

Open House on Sunday.....

What to do next

Sam and I were talking about the house sale and decided to talk to Sarah regarding what we should do about it. Our impression is that everyone that sees the house loves it, but they have problems with the street, neighborhood or Webster taxes. The house has been for sale for over two months now and we've had very few people come through. We are thinking about taking it off the market and trying again early next year at prime buying season (we seem to have luck in February). Maybe we were just a couple of months too late getting it on the market.

Sarah thinks we could sell it by the end of October, but, in order to do so, we should likely reduce the price. She suggested $549,000 for psychological reasons, i.e., just under $550,000. Sam does not want to reduce the price. There are many reasons for us not to want to move right now, start of school year, moving in the Winter, having nowhere to go right now....

I think we will try to meet with Sarah this week, have an Open House this weekend, and then take off the market if there is no interest at that time

The flowers of open house.....

One of the perks of having your house up for sale is being able to semi-legitimize buying flowers. Luckily, there is the opportunity to get some flowers from the school garden at the moment.  I have been getting sunflowers from the garden-we had planted some with the girl scouts and there are a bunch growing wild.  They look lovely on the dining room table and they last longer than if you buy them in the store.  I also got the pink ones in the garden, don't know what they are but there were a lot of bees on them.  My garden is doing OK, it's overgrown but good since it saves watering.  We have loads of black eyed Susans and the Japanese anemones are starting to flower now.  We have a few things growing on the front porch.  One pot of gazanias and one of lantana (both in my favourite category)

More feedback

1. Question: Is the customer interested in the property? Answer: Maybe 2. Question: How well did the property show? Answer: Good 3. Question: Your (and your customer's) opinion of the price: Answer: 4. Question: Please rate this property: Answer: 4 5. Question: COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Answer: very nice home and shows well - I showed to some out of towners and they really like newer construction like this home - they are keeping on their list at this point, but will probably wait until they come back the first week in Sept to make any decisions - they were a little unsure of the neighbhorhood - thanks for letting us take a look

Opinions of our house so far.....

Showings Total: 6 Last Thirty Days: 2 Last Seven Days: 1 Agent Inquiries: 0

Activity Date/Time Comment Past Showing 08/02/2013 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Showing Feedback: Is the customer interested in the property? Maybe How well did the property show? Excellent Your (and your customer's) opinion of the price: Please rate this property: 4 COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Beautiful house with some really nice finishes. Buyers loved the kitchen and family room area. 2nd floor was larger than we anticipated....nice big bedrooms. Buyers are just starting to look. Past Showing 07/07/2013 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Showing Past Showing 06/22/2013 9:30 PM Showing Feedback: Is the customer interested in the property? Somewhat How well did the property show? Excellent Your (and your customer's) opinion of the price: Just right Please rate this property: 4 COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Sarah, They like the house, but less sure about the neighborhood. They would prefer to have all the homes on the street of the same vintage and design. Joel Past Showing 06/22/2013 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Showing Feedback: Is the customer interested in the property? Maybe How well did the property show? Excellent Your (and your customer's) opinion of the price: Too high Please rate this property: COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: I finally got to show my client this home. He likes just about everything about it with one exception. He does not like the Webster taxes, which we can not change. He said he will keep it as an option. The home shows nicely and is so tastefully done. I think it is a very handsome home and has a lot to offer. Great location. I will keep you informed and thank you for the showing. Past Showing 06/12/2013 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Showing Feedback: Is the customer interested in the property? Maybe How well did the property show? Good Your (and your customer's) opinion of the price: Too high Please rate this property: 4 COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Home shows very well. Buyer does not like back yard or street. Its on the short list. Past Showing 06/12/2013 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Showing Feedback: Is the customer interested in the property? Maybe How well did the property show? Excellent Your (and your customer's) opinion of the price: Just right Please rate this property: 4 COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Great property. Client will discuss with spouse and let me know if he wants to see it. New Listing 06/09/2013 5:00 PM

News on the Clark house

Jason had an offer for the Clark house "as is" and he has decided to take it after talking to us.  We still have no movement on our house and can't really commit right now, so we decided to let it go.  So, not sure if there will be a number five any time soon, but I am sure it won't be the Clark house....

Open House today

We had an open house today and someone came through with an agent too.  I think our realtors are more concerned with us selling than we are at the moment.  We seem pretty relaxed about the whole thing....

Busy Weekend at Rockford (hopefully)

We have a house showing at 9:30 and 2:30 tomorrow, then Open House on Sunday.  Fingers crossed.....

House Sale Update

Well, our house has been on the market for a week and there has been next to no interest in it so far.  Sarah texted me yesterday and asked if we wanted to do an Open House on Sunday.  She's also going to do an Agent Open House next Tuesday.  She is concerned about the lack of interest, but says it appears to be a general thing at the moment.  we know that sales slow down after Spring, but I would still have expected more.....

Open House 6/17/2013

Father's Day and raining-not a good sign.  Still, we had 4 sets of people through the house.  Only 2 signed in, so I'm sure the others were neighbors!!  I am surprised at how little interest we have had so far, but it's been less than a week, so I won't worry yet!!!

House show!!

http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?id=682960&resize=1&ref=1
Found this today!!!

Things have been slow going.  Two people came round on Wednesday night and nothing since.

Jason went over numbers with Sam yesterday.  The Fairview house is out, would take way too much money to fix it up.  That may be the same with Clark, we'll have to wait and see.  We may be staying where we are after all.....

Open House 6/11/2013

We had an agent open house on Tuesday. Sarah said it went well, plenty of agents and three potential buyers. It took for ever to get everything exactly how we wanted it, but it looked great when it was done.

The Miss Havisham house

Jason threw a new player into the mix this week. He found a house very close to him that wasn't even on the market. He made them an offer before he saw the inside of the house and it was refused. Now it is on the market for a week to see what the level on interest is. It was owned by an old lady who recently broke her hip and is now in a nursing home. Great Expectations immediately came to mind, it reminded me of Miss Havisham locked up in her home for years, it even had the lace tablecloth on the dining room table.

There are no pictures on the website, but it is listed

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/655-Fairview-Ave_Saint-Louis_MO_63119_M78110-31858?row=1

We went to look at it with Jason.  I almost cried when I went in-it's my dream home and my nightmare!!!!  This could be a fabulous home, if it is fixed up right and for a reasonable amount of money.  As it is, it's a daunting amount of work and a massive amount of money.  I guess we'll keep our options open until we find out if Jason could even get it

This is the back of the house, they had an addition built on years ago 

There is a huge amount of land, it's a very nice lot

There is so much of the house that is original, including the front door.  Jason thinks it can be saved

These pictures are scary, it's scarier in real life and (as Jason says), the outside is its best feature!!!!

We are off and running.....

http://www.movoto.com/mo/2434-rockford-ave-rock-hill/691_13031648.htm

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2434-Rockford-Ave_Rock-Hill_MO_63144_M83297-36328?row=4

Agent Open House tomorrow!!!!

Getting our house ready to sell

The photographer came over to take pictures for our house listing. I had to clean up the house significantly. I have packed up all the extra stuff lying around and made it look more generic everywhere.

I think it looks bare everywhere-nothing at all on the mantel any more!!

Sarah brought these flowers over for the middle of our table.  I guess she wasn't satisfied with my peonies!!!

Ben's bedroom was the hardest room to tidy up (we'll leave Greta's out of the picture)

This was Greta's effort at cleaning up her room.  Sarah didn't take any pictures of it, not surprised really!!!

Maggie's room is always pretty easy to sort out.  It helps that we've just had her room painted

I'm really good at clearing out and organizing the closets!!!!

First impressions

We met Jason at the Clark house on Saturday morning so we could look through the inside and discuss some possibilities.  Ben took this picture of us standing on the front porch-possibly the first of many?

The house has been empty for a year and I was surprised that it's actually pretty clean inside.

This is one of the bedrooms upstairs.  There are three of them and they are all pretty small.  They are also made smaller by being built into the roof.

This is the bedroom on the front of the house.  It takes up the whole front, but is pretty narrow.

This is the third bedroom

This is the upstairs bathroom

This is the front room.  I have always wanted a house with an open staircase off the front door.  Ironic that we were thinking of moving it (not sure that will happen!)

Stairs and entrance into the dining room/kitchen

I think this must have been the dining room

Ben is looking very happy at the possibility of moving

This is the downstairs bathroom, they had the washer and dryer in here

The kitchen!!!

I think overall this must have been a pretty nice house....