Empty Nest, Empty House? How do I unload this thing?!
From
| May 18, 2010
In Coffee and Convo
As many empty nesters do, I’m downsizing. The four-bedroom house I have lived in for the past 12 years is way to big for just me and two dogs. My girls’ rooms are basically a place to lay their heads when they come home from school and a place to store their stuff between apartments and rental houses.
But here’s the rub: It’s a buyers market and it sucks for sellers! My house has been on the market for over 7 months and I was ready to move 9 months ago. I walk in the house now and feel the weight of it on my shoulders.
It’s not just the mortgage that weighs me down but the fact that it is so empty now and even though it’s a modest size, it’s just too big. There’s this feeling that it is a family house, and my family has moved on.
So I’m reaching out to you for any tips to get this thing gone. What are your secrets to selling a house in a yucky market? Anyone else out there downsizing? Any coping techniques for me in the meantime? Let me know! Please add your comments in the section following this post.
Notes from Beverly:
Alicia,
It might just be time for you to call on Saint Joseph! Sure it’s an urban legend that burying a statue of St. Joseph in your yard sells your house for you, but surely it can’t hurt! When I lived in Minneapolis, everybody buried a St. Joseph and you'd hear great stories of success.
Here’s the deal:
You bury a small plastic statue of St. Joseph in your front yard, (preferably upside down), and voila, the house supposedly sells like magic!
Here’s a link to info on this legend:
http://www.snopes.com/luck/stjoseph.asp
Here’s a link to where you can mail order a statue for $6.95:
http://www.catholicsupply.com/christmas/stjoe.html
Here’s a link for instructions on exactly how to bury your saint in your yard:
http://www.st-josephstatue.com/st_joseph.htm
Let us know how it turns out!
Comments
From Alicia Ross - May 19, 2010
I hear ya Sheila, and believe it or not, I’ve reduced it $50,000! So I can’t go much lower and not feel like I am giving it away! I need to be able to move somewhere else and I’m splitting the profits with my estranged husband….like so many women who find themselves in a divorce situation not of their choosing, I’m a little desperate now….honestly desperate housewives takes on a whole new meaning…..
From Alicia Ross - May 19, 2010
OK, Not being Catholic, I have a few questions regarding the St. Joesph thing…Since he is the Patron saint of married couples, does it negate it since I am divorcing (although according to my understanding, my divorce is the only OK divorce allowed???)? And since I am Protestant, does it work for me, too? I think I’ll buy one just in case, I mean what can it hurt? Thoughts?
From Beverly Mills - May 19, 2010
All I can tell you is that in Minneapolis, it seemed to work for just about everyone, no matter what!!
From Molly - May 20, 2010
My house has been on the market for a year. I just this week decided to rent it out. If you’re in an area that is not losing value then you can put it on the market again for the same price (or higher) in a year or so. It’s not ideal, but at least you can get into something with lower maintenance and payments. And for family friendly houses, the summer is the time when those folks are looking. I wish you luck. This is not a fun position to be in.
From Alicia Ross - May 20, 2010
From Robin Pile via Facebook:
Beats me, We have a house we’re putting up for auction after being on the market for 14 months.
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From Stella H. - May 18, 2010
This isn’t what you want to hear but… in this down market, if your house hasn’t sold in 7 months, you need to reduce the price. Homes across the country have lost value thanks to the greedy mortgage makers & borrowers who weren’t qualified to get their mortgages. If you really want to move on & stop making those payments, lower the price. And start packing!