Selling a house for the first time. This sucks!

suzymarie · April 2012

Its only been on the market since Thursday and I am already losing my mind. This sucks!

I have been obsessively checking my email for showing notices and comments after showings. We have had 7 showings, 3 of their REA's have left comments via the online system. We are losing a ton of money regardless, and seeing people's less than positive comments (even though I know they are true!) is hard to take.

I need to figure out how not to be obsessive about this. We have moved already so there is nothing I can do except wait, at this point!

suzymarie · April 2012

04/01/12 8:19PM

Interior: Fair | Exterior: Good | Curb appeal: Good | Staging: N/A | Appropriately priced ($219900)?: N/A | Comments: Buyers like the yard and LR/DR area. But the breafast area in the KT is a bit odd. Also, the lower level is quite chopped up. Not sure of their interest at this point. Will let you know if there's further interest.

04/01/12 10:45AM

Showing Status:Confirmed

03/31/12 2:00PM	Showing Status:Confirmed Showing Agent:Kevin G. Karalus Showing Office:Bridge Realty
04/01/12 7:17AM	Interior: Good \| Exterior: Fair \| Curb appeal: Good \| Staging: Good \| Appropriately priced ($219900)?: Yes \| Comments: Buyer has not ruled it out, but still looking.

03/31/12 11:00AM	Showing Status:Confirmed Showing Agent:Elizabeth A Anderson Showing Office:Edina Realty, Inc.
03/31/12 8:18PM	Interior: Good \| Exterior: Good \| Curb appeal: N/A \| Staging: Good \| Appropriately priced ($219900)?: N/A \| Considering a second showing?: No \| Comments: This buyer has very specific needs and this home is not going to work for him..

03/30/12 5:00PM	Showing Status:Confirmed Showing Agent:Daniel P. Borys Showing Office:Edina Realty, Inc.
03/30/12 8:17PM	Interior: Good \| Exterior: Fair \| Curb appeal: Fair \| Staging: Good \| Appropriately priced ($219900)?: Yes \| Comments: Nice listing, may take another look, love the lot.

suzymarie · April 2012

^^^ those are the comments.

We could hire someone to repaint the exterior, which may be on the table if that continues to be a comment (it is 3/4th brick, 1/4th stucco, but the trim and gutters are painted and they need to be repainted- it had been on the to-do list for this summer. Any idea how much that would cost?)

We are priced on the lower end of the comps bc we don't have central air and we have baseboard heat, and the bedrooms are split. But, the house is in above-average condition for the neighborhood. Here is the listing if anyone is curious:

http://www.edinarealty.com/david-forsythe-realtor/homes-for-sale/MN/St-Anthony/55418/2608-36th-Avenue-NE-72042710

hereonceagain · April 2012

I think it's too soon and you're taking it too personally and only looking at the negative. Our home had lots of negative feedback but within 7 days we still got 3 offers. But we were in a prime area. I wouldn't pay to do changes this early unless your realtor advises. Good luck!

hereonceagain · April 2012

Ok I just looked at the pics. I would not pay for any upgrading. If anything, I would invest in some staging, and possibly have the realtor list nicer pics with better lighting.

MarieSD · April 2012

I've never sold a home myself, but I think the comments you posted were actually pretty positive! We looked at a bunch of homes, and couldn't give much feedback beyond "nice house, but we just don't love it."

Those comments all sound pretty positive to me, especially that last one. I took a look at the pics and I think your house looks great, personally. Just try to give it a little more time.

Good luck!

sratsey · April 2012

It's soooo hard not to take everything to heart when you put your home on the market. It DOES suck and I can truly empathize. It is too soon to start worrying, but I will tell you know that you need to take your heart out of the game and the sooner the better. We made some really bad, emotionally driven choices when it came to selling our home. The comments, IMO, are pretty positive. I got a lot of love the decor, hate the location...which is infuriating, because a lot of people who came to see it knew of the location before they even showed up. Good luck!!!

suzymarie · April 2012

I know I am being crazy. Thank you for the comments, they do help. I need to just chill and be patient.

I do think I am going to ask a neighbor to plant a few annuals out in front. I would love to do a few hanging baskets but they would have to be watered daily and that isn't going to happen!

CCinLove · April 2012

We never got any positive feedback about our house, but it sold in 6 days. I think none of the people interested in our house left feedback. Don't worry about it yet. I totally understand about being annoyed by the negative feedback. Some if it was totally unwarranted in our case, such as overpriced. Our house was priced to sell. Lots of buyers are out of touch, or just don't know your market as well as you do. We didn't have many comps in our neighborhood, so it was clear that some of the people that looked at our house were comparing it to houses in the same price range in other neighborhoods.

lurkergal1 · April 2012

I really think the comments are pretty positive overall. It's hard not be emotionally invested, though.

lurkergal1 · April 2012

Also, I think your bathroom and kitchen are both really pretty.

nhahn2206 · April 2012

I don't think those comments are all that negative really. And just looking at the comments it seems like the exterior and curb appeal are fine. I'd be more concerned about staging the interior if I were you. Especially the area that one person commented was "choppy." Give people an idea of what they can do with the space rather than leaving it up to their (non)imagination.

suzymarie · April 2012

nhahn2206:
I don't think those comments are all that negative really. And just looking at the comments it seems like the exterior and curb appeal are fine. I'd be more concerned about staging the interior if I were you. Especially the area that one person commented was "choppy." Give people an idea of what they can do with the space rather than leaving it up to their (non)imagination.

Well, it is "choppy"!

It is a finished basement, and the rooms had to be worked around the staircase, laundry room, boiler, and water heater. So there is nothing that can really be done other than tear out the whole thing and start over. We did open up one wall that separated 2 "family rooms" but that is it.

brianabrad · April 2012

hereonceagain:
Ok I just looked at the pics. I would not pay for any upgrading. If anything, I would invest in some staging, and possibly have the realtor list nicer pics with better lighting.

I agree. I think the kitchen area and bathrooms look very nice but some small staging might really help. It's hard for lots of buyers to see the hard edges of thinks. For example, add some soft towels to the bathroom and maybe something small and decorative to the counter. Add a pop of color in the kitchen with a decorate bowl or something.

Ask the agent to re-take pictures with better lighting in the house. Get a better angle of the kitchen, it was hard to see those wonderful appliances that looked to be stain and newer from what I could see.

Don't take the feedback to seriously. It's only been a few days. Give it some time. Best of luck!

aokon · April 2012

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Selling a house for the first time. This sucks!

Re: Selling a house for the first time. This sucks!

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