Monday, July 11, 2011

update

My house is still for sale.  In fact, the price was lowered a month ago.  Prior to that, there had been an average of one showing scheduled each week since the house went on the market in late March.  Once the price was lowered, the showing requests stopped completely!!  Go figure!!

Actually, the is a reason - it's the time of year.  My realtor says that things slow down in July.  Not good, since there are 17,000 houses for sale right now in this city.  (Mine is the only house fronting a world class rose garden, but that seems to matter not at all.....)

Meanwhile, I keep pouring money into the house.  I laid out a good deal of money this past week to fix a clog in the underground drainpipe which drains water from a downspout to the street.  The poison ivy has become so prevalent that I have to pay people to help me try to maintain the landscaping.  I also had a threshold repaired and a doorknob replaced (after the old one was sawed off!).  I also repainted a basement closet. 

Now there's nothing in or about this house or property that I'm ashamed of - short of renovation, I have done everything I can.  But it remains a house built in 1962 which was never updated.  Because I (and previous owners) have always fixed anything that was broken, it is completely functional.  But it is not pristine, and it is not new. 

Someone named Cinderella commented on one of my posts about the house that I should consider updating the house and making it the house of my dreams.  Then maybe someone else would want it!  And certainly, in an ideal world (one with unlimited money) I might do that.  

The complaints that prospective buyers have relayed to my realtor are that the house is too small, the kitchen is too small and the property is too small.  Not much I can do about any of those facts!

So I buried a statue of St. Joseph in the yard next to the real estate sign.  With his help, surely it's just a matter of time.


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6 comments:

Lynilu said...

To sell a house these days, one has to be patient. Or insane to even try. Or a little of both!!

Renovation would probably be a good idea, but as you say, without the funds, it is not feasible. So, back to patience .... just try to not make yourself lose sleep over it, and the time will come.

I hope St. Joseph is looking at you with gentle, understanding eyes! Good luck, Betty!

Cinderella said...

I'm sorry it's so hard to get the house sold. My emapthy, Betty.
((hugs))

Cinderella said...

Just came back again to say hello.

Several small vases of fresh flowers from the park across the street, and the smell of fresh baked cookies from the refrigerated dough you get at the market that you can slice and put on a cookie sheet can make a house the house of your dreams too - it isn't JUST or only spending money, but I apologize if it came off that way!

I wish in triplicate that you get the home you want and your sells, Betty.

betty said...

It's funny you should say that, Cinderella, because I have been spending the past couple of weeks trying to make affordable improvements, like a new tablecloth in the color I think really complements the kitchen, and a new bedspread, also in the color I think makes the bedroom look best. I always have fresh flowers for each showing, and I always smell up the house either with cinnamon, peppermint or cookies. There is a showing on Thursday, and this time, I really feel that the house looks its best, short of major renovation, and I know that everything in and about the house works well, including the gutters. (And I did do some minor renovating, like a new counter top in the main bathroom.)Today I "redecorated" the living room by removing a couple of things which were not helping. I washed all the windows inside and out, nearly killing myself in the process. The house looks its best, in my opinion.

Hugs,
Betty

Cinderella said...

Wishing you the very best of luck on the showing this Thursday, dear Betty!

Those were the perfect things to do - I am proud of you! I remember how pretty the house looked when you showed us the pictures after you'd done a major clear out/tidied everything up earlier this year, I think it was.

Hugs back, dear cyber friend:)

Cinderella said...

Good Monday morning to you dear betty. Just checking in to see how the showing went, but I assume because you haven't posted that you just need to keep your hopes up and your fingers crossed - it WILL happen! It's just a way of testing your persistence!