Buying a new/selling current home -- my God...

[JM Aggie08]

I feel like we haven't slept in the last 2 weeks.

We'd been looking at moving into a larger home sometime in mid-2019, but decided to accelerate the process given that interest rates are on the rise/we're looking to start a family this year. We managed to find a fantastic home in an ideal spot prior to listing our current home.

What an absolutely exhausting experience. Our option period just ended on the new home, which coincides with the 10 days we gave ourselves between meeting with our listing agent and today having photos/scans taken. You really cannot appreciate the amount of work that goes into getting a house list-ready until you've actually gone through it -- and there's only 2 of us/limited stuff in a 2000sqft house. We've spent every waking moment not at work cleaning, doing minor repairs, cleaning, and just getting things prepped. Oh, and cleaning.

I'm not particularly looking forward to the showing process and having to constant vacate the home, but am looking forward to have some downtime compared to the last 1.5 weeks.

 

[gorcorps]

The amount of work and cleaning that I'd have to do to my house (especially the landscaping) scares me so much that I'll probably never move.

 

[rh71]

De-cluttering is big - so people can actually see the space they're getting. But I never liked the idea of vacating my home for a showing. Or removing my family pictures. People can't focus enough to look around those factors? WTF? When we showed, we had toddler twins and all we really did was put all their stuff away in 10 minutes. Keeping everything clean for weeks was a pain but still relatively simple to do. It's the first few steps you're going through now that will be hardest.

 

[ponyo]

The amount of work and cleaning that I'd have to do to my house (especially the landscaping) scares me so much that I'll probably never move.

I've so much junk in my house after 20 years I'll probably never move too. It would just be easier for me to buy another house and keep my current one.

 

[JM Aggie08]

De-cluttering is big - so people can actually see the space they're getting. But I never liked the idea of vacating my home for a showing. Or removing my family pictures. People can't focus enough to look around those factors? WTF? When we showed, we had toddler twins and all we really did was put all their stuff away in 10 minutes. Keeping everything clean for weeks was a pain but still relatively simple to do. It's the first few steps you're going through now that will be hardest.

Amen to that. Our damn pets don't know/care what we're trying to do, and that's been particularly challenging. Here's to hoping it sells quickly.

 

[sdifox]

I've so much junk in my house after 20 years I'll probably never move too. It would just be easier for me to buy another house and keep my current one.

Lease some space from madoka.

 

[Exterous]

It wasn't a huge deal for us so I can only assume anyone having problems is a slob

Making the bed in the morning was a PITA though since thats one thing we almost never do and we never knew if someone would want to schedule a showing during the day. We also had a "junk" carboard box that we could throw a few things into and take with us in the car when people wanted to see the house. (mostly bills and a few odds and ends)

But I never liked the idea of vacating my home for a showing.

But if you stay that can be really awkward for the people looking at your house. It's hard to have an honest discussion about the space if the owner (who might be emotionally invested) is nearby.

 

[JM Aggie08]

It wasn't a huge deal for us so I can only assume anyone having problems is a slob

Making the bed in the morning was a PITA though since thats one thing we almost never do and we never knew if someone would want to schedule a showing during the day. We also had a "junk" carboard box that we could throw a few things into and take with us in the car when people wanted to see the house. (mostly bills and a few odds and ends)



But if you stay that can be really awkward for the people looking at your house. It's hard to have an honest discussion about the space if the owner (who might be emotionally invested) is nearby.

It's more-so remediation of things that we were willing to 'live with' -- a less-than-ideal shower door, re-polishing the floors, painting the bathrooms (not in bad shape, needed a little extra love).

 

[ponyo]

Lease some space from madoka.

Get off his nuts.

 

[Riverhound777]

But doesn't it feel nice coming home to a clean tidy house?

I decided after I remodeled my condo that I wouldn't let it get cluttered and dirty. But rather than constant cleaning myself, I bit the bullet and have housekeepers come once a month. Sounds 1% I know, but it really isn't that bad at $75/m. As a result I also have to keep it tidy and de-cluttered so they are able to clean. It's a bit of work each day putting things away, but the benefit to my sanity is worth it.

 

[JM Aggie08]

But doesn't it feel nice coming home to a clean tidy house?

I decided after I remodeled my condo that I wouldn't let it get cluttered and dirty. But rather than constant cleaning myself, I bit the bullet and have housekeepers come once a month. Sounds 1% I know, but it really isn't that bad at $75/m. As a result I also have to keep it tidy and de-cluttered so they are able to clean. It's a bit of work each day putting things away, but the benefit to my sanity is worth it.

We're VERY tidy people, but there's a difference between us just living our lives and having to maintain a 'staged' home

 

[bbhaag]

I feel like we haven't slept in the last 2 weeks.

We'd been looking at moving into a larger home sometime in mid-2019, but decided to accelerate the process given that interest rates are on the rise/we're looking to start a family this year. We managed to find a fantastic home in an ideal spot prior to listing our current home.

What an absolutely exhausting experience. Our option period just ended on the new home, which coincides with the 10 days we gave ourselves between meeting with our listing agent and today having photos/scans taken. You really cannot appreciate the amount of work that goes into getting a house list-ready until you've actually gone through it -- and there's only 2 of us/limited stuff in a 2000sqft house. We've spent every waking moment not at work cleaning, doing minor repairs, cleaning, and just getting things prepped. Oh, and cleaning.

I'm not particularly looking forward to the showing process and having to constant vacate the home, but am looking forward to have some downtime compared to the last 1.5 weeks.

I can empathize with what you're about to go through and what you've already been through. We listed our home about 60 days ago and all the prepping and cleaning was a two week madhouse.haha From installing new outlets and gfi's and all the decluttering it was pretty wild.
The worst part now is trying to keep the house "show ready" for whenever we get a showing request. With two teenage boys and the dog it can be a challenge.
Best of luck on the sale though hope it sells quickly for you!

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I don't think we have too much crap so much so that what we have just doesn't fit. By that I mean, too much furniture I suppose. I have no problem getting rid of crap, thankfully my wife keeps her crap to one room. Hell, she still has VHS tapes that she refuses to throw out because "one of these days" she will review them and see if there is anything she wants to keep from her teenage years of recording music videos and crap.

What I REALLY hate is the concept that you have to sell your house while your stuff is still there - otherwise it might not sell as well - or not for as much money. I have most of the house paid off - so by the time we move I would have no problem buying our next house first, moving, and then trying to sell it. But sadly, that doesn't sound like it would be in my best interest.

 

[bbhaag]

I don't think we have too much crap so much so that what we have just doesn't fit. By that I mean, too much furniture I suppose. I have no problem getting rid of crap, thankfully my wife keeps her crap to one room. Hell, she still has VHS tapes that she refuses to throw out because "one of these days" she will review them and see if there is anything she wants to keep from her teenage years of recording music videos and crap.

What I REALLY hate is the concept that you have to sell your house while your stuff is still there - otherwise it might not sell as well - or not for as much money. I have most of the house paid off - so by the time we move I would have no problem buying our next house first, moving, and then trying to sell it. But sadly, that doesn't sound like it would be in my best interest.

Our current home is paid off so we had the same thought. Find a new home then do any little repairs it needs, paint, carpet, ect then move in and sell the house we are currently in. We interviewed a couple of realtors before we decided on one and both of them said "Stop moving stuff out of the house. It's perfect now with decluttering you've done. It shows off the room sizes nicely but doesn't look bare."
I guess for whatever reason most people have a hard time visualizing what an empty house is capable of so they need to see a few furnishings to help.

 

[highland145]

2008, we were trying to sell (thankfully didn't), I live with 2 clutter pigs. If it's a flat surface, there's something on it....paper, clothes, toys, and the realtor (friend of the wife's) would call and ask if she could show it in the next hour. My next home is the nursing or funeral home.

 

[rh71]

But if you stay that can be really awkward for the people looking at your house. It's hard to have an honest discussion about the space if the owner (who might be emotionally invested) is nearby.

True (because we once commented on wallpaper while the owner was in the next room) but buyers are free to discuss it outside afterward too. I personally didn't feel awkward with them there - just don't say anything while in that room and quietly do so in the next. My personal feeling as a seller - I'm not taking my whole family out for an hour for every showing just because of that factor, especially when many are flaky and don't even show on time. They'll just have to deal with it. Luckily we have a seller's market here and many end up with bidding wars because everyone wants the good school districts first and foremost.

 

[Exterous]

True (because we once commented on wallpaper while the owner was in the next room) but buyers are free to discuss it outside afterward too. I personally didn't feel awkward with them there - just don't say anything while in that room and quietly do so in the next. My personal feeling as a seller - I'm not taking my whole family out for an hour for every showing just because of that factor, especially when many are flaky and don't even show on time. They'll just have to deal with it. Luckily we have a seller's market here and many end up with bidding wars because everyone wants the good school districts first and foremost.

That is hardly the most constructive environment to discuss something. Memories are flaky and impressions of a space that color those memories differ but in the physical space points and counter points become concrete, easy to validate and discuss\work through. Just because you aren't bothered that doesn't mean a buyer won't be. If you don't believe me just look at all the recommendations out there on what owner's should do when showing a house. "Leave" is always top of the list and for good reason. It makes buyers uncomfortable so many who rush through the house without giving it the same consideration they'd give an empty one.

Maybe the realty market by you is different but here any realtor worth their commission is going to tell you to get out of the house. You're going to risk negatively impacting the (likely) most expensive financial interactions of your life because you're too lazy to leave? Even worse - in a seller's market where you theoretically only have to do it a few times. Sure you'll probably sell your house. But for as much? Intangibles matter and house negotiations are often based on emotion which is the reason people stage, bake cookies and leave.

 

[rh71]

^ I don't deny any of that. I just won't leave, or take my personal pics down, unless I have some hardship selling. Been ok so far and so have family members here. Certainly different elsewhere in buyers markets.

Another opinion of mine is that people are just a bit too nit-picky and look at way beyond what they need to. I know it's a huge purchase, but they're commenting about the color of walls... I mean... seriously. That's the first thing people automatically update anyway.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

^ I don't deny any of that. I just won't leave, or take my personal pics down, unless I have some hardship selling. Been ok so far and so have family members here. Certainly different elsewhere in buyers markets.

Another opinion of mine is that people are just a bit too nit-picky and look at way beyond what they need to. I know it's a huge purchase, but they're commenting about the color of walls... I mean... seriously. That's the first thing people automatically update anyway.

I'd pull down some fucking pictures and move some stuff around in an instant if 30 minutes yields me $10k more on an offer is all I can say.

I don't disagree it's nit-picky and childishly stupid.... But people are stupid... and if it yields me better offers, so be it.

 

[rh71]

^ problem with pulling down a stairwell full of pictures - the nails or holes in the wall left behind. Would buyers rather see that? I'm not patching that shit up either.

 

[sdifox]

^ problem with pulling down a stairwell full of pictures - the nails or holes in the wall left behind. Would buyers rather see that? I'm not patching that shit up either.

Replace pictures