Re: [gardeners] Rosemary's house
Allen and Judy Merten (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sat, 03 Oct 1998 19:00:33 -0500
Hi Rosemary and Pat,
Two years before we moved to Bastrop Co., we moved to Austin from Galveston
Co.
The house we lived in, in Galveston Co. was leased with the guarantee that it
was income property and would never be put on the market to sell. Yeah Right!!
We were there two yrs when the real estate co that was the property manager
started bugging us about making appointments to show the house. GRRRRRR!! I
soon became a difficult tenant. One real estate agent was constantly trying to
schedule appointments at our customary supper time. I didn't feel very flexible
about this as we still had all three sons still at home. It was family time
besides time to eat. The realtor couldn't believe that people still had family
suppers. We refused those times. She showed up with clients. I answered the
door, kindly told the clients that the family was eating supper and did not
wish to be disturbed. They understood, she didn't. The short of it is she was
invited to walk down the driveway or skid down there on her a**. The next day
we got a nasty phone call from the manager of the co. I went to see him, while
he was still on the phone. I do my best work in person! Thereafter the realtors
with that agency were very nice. We moved to Austin before they sold the house,
which took another six months. I would have been under the jail by then!
Ain't 'nothing but a nightmare, selling a house. Ask my Dad!
Allen
Bastrop Co.,Tx
Rosemary Carlson wrote:
> THANK YOU, PAT!!! If nothing else today has made me smile (and nothing
> HAS!), THIS email did! Everyone should print this out and KEEP it! I
> certainly have! Being a somewhat reclusive individual, the sense of
> violation that comes with strangers parading through my house, going
> through my closets, and looking through my medicine cabinet is damn near
> more than I can STAND.
>
> This would all be better IF my new house was ready for me to occupy it.
> THEN, I could run there. However....they are drywalling and it ain't a
> pretty sight - not to mention I'd be living on the subfloor. :)
>
> I have a silver tea service for Pat's table by the fireplace. Now, to go
> FIND it! :) :)
>
> Tomorrow is the dreaded OPEN HOUSE. Everyone keep their fingers crossed
> that this house sells TOMORROW - else I will lose my mind. Ya'll don't want
> a babbling idiot on this list, now do ya?
>
> Rosemary in Lexington, KY
> zone 6a - who will have NO yard when I move! YEA! My yard will be forest
> floor with a SMALL patch of grass.
>
> At 04:01 PM 10/3/98 +0000, you wrote:
> >It is an old formula, but having sold houses using it -- and for my
> >price -- consider doing the following -- keeping in mind that you
> >are making a "stage setting" for a lifestyle the buyer hopes to
> >duplicate. (AND that in love, war and real estate, image is often
> >more important than full disclosure.)
> >
> >a. Buy a bunch of freezer bread dough. Divide into small hunks.
> >b. When a shopper is coming, pop one of those hunks in the oven to
> >create the scent of "home."
> >c. Never draw attention to your garden. If asked about it, say, "Oh,
> >that? I do have a junior high school boy who comes by once in a while
> >to mow. Actually, it takes care of itself."
> >d. Have a pot or two (NO MORE) of a somewhat exotic something
> >by the front door. Say to shopper, "Wasn't it nice of the last person
> >who came by to send those?"
> >e. Have a fire laid in the fireplace. Put herb cuttings on top. When
> >the shopper gets out of the car, light the fire. The scent and the
> >welcoming sight of a fire says "HOME."
> >f. Rearrange the furniture a bit to set a generous size table to one
> >side of the fireplace. On it place your grandmother's lace
> >tablecloth, a silver tray, 2 or 3 of your finest teacups, and a
> >pretty container (covered) of cookies. When the shopper arrives, say,
> >"I was just having a cup of tea. Do sit down and have one with me."
> >g. Keep Mozart. deBussy or Sibelius (no Wagner) playing at all times.
> >It will keep shoppers soothed and will muffle any mysterious pipe or
> >plumbing sounds. It will also contribute to your mental ease.
> >h. On days when shoppers may arrive, all meals are to be prepared and
> >eaten in secrecy! One's kitchen must be pristine at all times. It is
> >essential, however, that a perfect vegetable or two (or perhaps the
> >meticulously posed ingredients for a gourmet omelet) be posed in the
> >kitchen. Make it an artistic presentation: bowl, pan, basket,
> >utensils -- all must be in harmonious balance.
> >i. Refer to "h" for clues for arranging bathrooms. They must always
> >look like they are used only by two-dimensional models from Country
> >Living.
> >j. If storage is a problem, and your house is cluttered, rent
> >off premises storage. Closets and garages should echo with emptiness.
> >In one house, I totally emptied one closet and "forgot" to point it
> >out until late in the tour, with a "Oh, I'd forgotten about this
> >closet! There ARE so many of them in this house, you know."
> >
> >Tips "a" through "j" have served me well. Indeed, the last house we
> >sold went for more than our asking price. Two buyers arrived
> >simultaneously - each wanted the house and they entered into an
> >immoderate bidding war, each upping the other's offer. Person A "won"
> >out over Person B. I have been told that subsequently Person A
> >went on to grander and greater quarters, and he first called
> >Person B who then bought it from him!
> >
> >And, if you promise never to tell them, it wasn't all that great a
> >house! Good luck on selling, and don't let the shoppers get you down.
> >If you can find it, Robert Benchley (the grandfather of the Benchley
> >who wrote "Jaws" etc) has a wonderful essay on selling a house and
> >the sense of violation one feels when others go through your
> >refrigerator!
> >
> >Pat
> >
> >
> >