I’m a Realtor and 12 days ago I became a seller.
As a Realtor we have helped hundreds of families buy and sell their home and yet this time (my 8th) I am reminded more than ever what “moving” means and how it effects us as people.
It has been 4.5 years since our last move. At that time we had a puppy and a 16 month old baby and were moving into a home that needed a total remodel. The time before that we had a 6 day old baby and had bought another home that needed a complete remodel. The time before that I was freshly divorced, need out, and found a cash buyer… Why is this time different? All of those other times our houses sold in 3 days or less and we never had to take our own advice, so here is what I have been reminded of the last 12 days.
1.) Prepping your house takes twice as long as you think it will and it is hard work. We repainted, de-cluttered, deep cleaned, rearrange, re-landscaped, had the windows done and then still on the day of pictures were hiding items in drawers and the oven.
2.) Showing your house is hard. It takes me an hour to prep for showings and then at least an hour to walk people through the house and show them all that has been done and explain what all the features are (this is common in the price range of my home). Not to mention getting rid of the toys, baby stuff and the dog to make it ready.
As a Realtor we have helped hundreds of families buy and sell their home and yet this time (my 8th) I am reminded more than ever what “moving” means and how it effects us as people.
It has been 4.5 years since our last move. At that time we had a puppy and a 16 month old baby and were moving into a home that needed a total remodel. The time before that we had a 6 day old baby and had bought another home that needed a complete remodel. The time before that I was freshly divorced, need out, and found a cash buyer… Why is this time different? All of those other times our houses sold in 3 days or less and we never had to take our own advice, so here is what I have been reminded of the last 12 days.
1.) Prepping your house takes twice as long as you think it will and it is hard work. We repainted, de-cluttered, deep cleaned, rearrange, re-landscaped, had the windows done and then still on the day of pictures were hiding items in drawers and the oven.
2.) Showing your house is hard. It takes me an hour to prep for showings and then at least an hour to walk people through the house and show them all that has been done and explain what all the features are (this is common in the price range of my home). Not to mention getting rid of the toys, baby stuff and the dog to make it ready.
3.) Living like you don’t live in your house is frustrating and makes everything a little harder. For the first week we were on the market we did not eat or cook at home - this was to keep it as clean as possible - I love restaurants but after a week it gets old.
4.) You realize how much stuff you have you don’t actually need or use.
5.) Not getting feedback is annoying. “Your house is amazing” and no offers sucks and what it really means is we missed the mark on the price.
6.) 7 showings and no offers... I had to take the advice I was giving to my clients. It was time for a price adjustment (day 6 we dropped 5% of list price) and pushed us into a different price range.
7.) Showings at ridiculous times. During tornadoes, hurricanes, snow and ice storms and 1000 million degree weather... and getting everyone out in it.
8.) The emotion that comes along with wanting to move. Wondering when are we going to get an offer? When is this all going happen? How are we going to handle the move with 2 kids and really, where were we going to go next?
9.) To do or not to do an open house. On the team we have 40 open houses scheduled a year. I do one 3 weekends a month as part of our service to our selling clients but I was hesitant to do it at my own home. They don’t sell the property, and do I really want people here looking at how I live? It’s a little too close to home - ha - BUT why miss the amazing opportunity it might bring to meet new clients and families?
10.) Is it a God thing? I mean is it all in the timing - I personally feel so.
So thank you. Thank you to our sellers for everything they do to get their houses ready, thank you to the agents that schedule to show and turn up on time. Thank you to the buyers that are flexible with showing times and being understanding that sometimes it's a circus to make it all happen.
3.) Living like you don’t live in your house is frustrating and makes everything a little harder. For the first week we were on the market we did not eat or cook at home - this was to keep it as clean as possible - I love restaurants but after a week it gets old.
4.) You realize how much stuff you have you don’t actually need or use.
5.) Not getting feedback is annoying. “Your house is amazing” and no offers sucks and what it really means is we missed the mark on the price.
6.) 7 showings and no offers... I had to take the advice I was giving to my clients. It was time for a price adjustment (day 6 we dropped 5% of list price) and pushed us into a different price range.
7.) Showings at ridiculous times. During tornadoes, hurricanes, snow and ice storms and 1000 million degree weather... and getting everyone out in it.
8.) The emotion that comes along with wanting to move. Wondering when are we going to get an offer? When is this all going happen? How are we going to handle the move with 2 kids and really, where were we going to go next?
9.) To do or not to do an open house. On the team we have 40 open houses scheduled a year. I do one 3 weekends a month as part of our service to our selling clients but I was hesitant to do it at my own home. They don’t sell the property, and do I really want people here looking at how I live? It’s a little too close to home - ha - BUT why miss the amazing opportunity it might bring to meet new clients and families?
10.) Is it a God thing? I mean is it all in the timing - I personally feel so.
So thank you. Thank you to our sellers for everything they do to get their houses ready, thank you to the agents that schedule to show and turn up on time. Thank you to the buyers that are flexible with showing times and being understanding that sometimes it's a circus to make it all happen.
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Call/Text/Email us if you ever have any Real Estate questions or needs!
918-282-3451
AussieTeamTulsa@gmail.com
Facebook.com/AussieTeamTulsa
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