Well that didn’t take long.
Our house is under contract! A grand 72 hours after being listed. Or rather, it will be as soon as the buyers get to their hotel and fax back the signed updated contract, but we have no reason to think that they won’t (knock on wood) - it is apparently a seller’s market.
There were two offers, actually, the second much stronger than the first in both price and background story/plans of the buyers, which was important to me along with the dollars. The slightly weird/awkward element was that the buyers are represented by the wife of our primary agent, and they generally work as a team, so they were doing the dual-representation dance. Can’t envy them that. The wife had to go stand around outside in the heat while the husband helped us with strategy - he had kept himself away from the details of the buyers on purpose.
So the negotiation happened in the dining and living rooms, basically. The buyers had given their agent some guidance on what they would negotiate, and she was able to reach them though they are headed out of town, to finish things off.
If all the dates hold, we’ll have two weeks between buying the new house and selling the old one. I’m already checking for recommendations for movers. Fortunately I have a good supply of boxes lined up from work - and now that we don’t have to keep the house looking immaculate, we can actually start packing, instead of saving it all for a mad dash at the end. And we can sleep in and relax tomorrow without worrying about clearing out every few hours for more showings!
Whiplash.
July 28th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
Wow! That’s wonderful, and we hope it all goes through. What do you know about the buyers? They’re just moving to town? With the college? Anyway, sleep tight.
Much love, Mom and Dad
July 29th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Woke up this morning to a “sold” sign added to the realtor sign out front, so the paperwork must have come through.
The buyers are parents buying it for their student daughter to live in, which on the surface is one of the scenarios we wanted to avoid, for the sake of our neighbors. But. The daughter is pregnant but intends to finish up her senior year on time anyway; wants to be in walking distance in order to stay most involved with her friends, access to classes and faculty, etc. The boyfriend is in the picture but forbidden by the parents from moving in. Once the baby comes, mom will move down for the rest of the academic year to help with the baby. They plan to stay probably 2-3 years at this point, maybe more depending on how life after college goes.
So there should be a lot fewer loud parties than the other house on the block that was bought for student children - especially once mom moves in. A family, of a sort. The other offer, which was less money, was also an investor who planned to rent it out - less attractive in all ways (thank goodness for small favors, would have been harder if money and story votes went to different offers).
July 30th, 2006 at 11:13 am
Wow! So quick! And what relief it must be not to have to keep the house immaculate. :)
I like the idea of the non-traditional family moving in too. It’s such a lovely home, Anne. I’m glad it won’t be rented.