Selling a home~emotional vs non-emotional

[sassysu3]

So there have been a few threads out there lately about home selling, of which I have attached myself to or started.

If I have to bake one more apple pie or light one more candle...obviously it requires much more energy than that. Keeping the house "just so" so at basically a moments notice you can let prospective buyers through is an ongoing process.

Although it is a business transaction, how can one not expense emotions? Afterall, the going forward with your life basically hinges on having your house sold (perhaps less so, if it's a home that was for investment only and not personal use.)

Then there's all the energy (if one chooses to do so) used in getting the house ready for the market to boost the selling chances. And don't let those fliers run out!

*sheesh*

However, the trick is to keep those emotions in check...regardless of the no-shows when you avail yourself all day for, or the sit and wait to see what kind of offer is coming in, and the final splitting hairs over the final deal.

A-hem...does this sound like I'm getting emotional???:eek: YOU BET!
But I'll keep this between you and me.:p

[mlynn]

I understand where you're coming from. I can't stand vaccuming anymore. We just sold our house, and ended up putting 4 bids before one was accepted.

I will say my dh was the more emotional one, though. He fell in love with the first house, and was really bummed when it didn't work out. Its hard when you can picture yourself in the house, ykwim? HE was already imagining our DS playing in the backyard, walking to school, etc.

I just keep repeating "everything happens for a reason" to myself. Sometimes with clenched teeth, though. :-)

[Kristilyn1]

Oh, I hear you! Having sold it myself I had to make sure that I didn't get upset when people asked to see the house, I showed it and then they never called back...guess they didn't like it! LOL.

We had a very emotional thing happen with the first buyer we had (we released him and went with offer #2) Anyway. The back of our property had a stone wall, about 50 feet long, we owned the wall and about 10 feet behind it, parallel to the wall. This 10 feet behind the wall was all overgrown with bushes and trees and not used for anything, but was subject to a right-of-way granted to our neighbor behind us--this right-of-way was from 1890-something for the purpose of bringing their horses onto the road (no horses, no barn now, nothing). Anyway, our buyer was concerned about the right-of-way because he's an idiot (this was proven by other things he did and said) we called our neighbors and asked them to sign something to release the right-of-way since they never used it, etc. They said sure! We signed our P&S contingent upon this release--about a week goes by and our neighbor calls to say that they've changed their mind, they won't release the right-of-way and that they want to buy it. I BEGGED this man, cried hysterically asking him to please rethink this as the buyer had indicated that he would NOT buy our house without this release. I told him that we had already committed to buying a new house---$10,000 non-refundable deposit, etc. Nope. Refused to do it. We are now two weeks away from our supposed closing date and he proceeds to DRAG his feet on how much he wants to pay for the right-of-way, etc. Knowing that we had all these things riding on it. He just couldn't make up his mind how much it was worth........then, he wanted to buy 1/2 the STONE WALL TOO!!! Meaning, we would own about 2 feet of the width of the wall, and he'd own about 2 feet of the width of the wall--but THAT wasn't good enough either, he decided he wanted to own a BIGGER portion of the wall then us! It's OUR WALL, mind you! You also have to understand that our neighbor beside us has the same wall and the same deal--so he would effectively be making his property line so screwed up it isn't even funny, and he wouldn't own the whole wall, just our portion! So imagine a 50 foot stone wall, about 5 feet wide, being co-owned by two neighbors. Can you imagine anything more ridiculous? Who would want to co-own a stone wall???? I could KILL this guy. Finally, we had to walk away from the buyer and luckily someone came right away. And this buyer said he'd sell him the stone wall and right-of-way over his dead body! But let me tell you---I had more than a few sleepless nights and still can't understand how someone could be so selfish and greedy. I can't help but think he did this on purpose to make us crazy. So sometimes you can't help but get emotional!

Kristi

[sassysu3]

Kristi ~ :eek: amazing how people can conduct themselves.
Bet you are glad that chapter is closed!

[Chiffonade]

I attach a great deal of emotional value to inatimate objects - there are people who simply don't do this. A house is a box to live in and nothing more. (I wish I could be that detatched :rolleyes:...)

Depending on how long you're in a house (1 year-20 years?), when you began living in it (just after getting married?), some emotions will be easier to navigate than others. Are you the type to nick the closet door as your son or daughter grows up? Do you look at your yard and think about the last touch football game you might have played with a favorite relative who has since passed? Do you survey your kitchen and recall the umpteen holiday meals prepped there?

If any of the above describes you, you're doomed to be tossed by emotions during this process. You'll just have to accept that this emotional upheaval will be part of the equation as you sell your house.

Frankly, I want to move to a place I won't want to leave. I have not been that lucky in the past few years. Once I find that place, I'll pour my heart and soul into the house and that will be it for me!

[SusanL]

SASSYSU3 I can still feel your pain from selling our house 6 years ago.Good luck, we were both very emotional about our house, we loved it and hated to move!
DH and I would spend hours cleaning and vacuuming the carpets so that you could tell what rooms the prospective buyers had visited. We literally drove ourselves crazy. But on a humorous note, one couple had scheduled a time to see the house. We, of course, worked like crazy to get everything ready. After waiting 1 1/2 hours, thinking they were a no-show, we were tired and decided to take a nap. We both fell asleep and they showed up 2 hours late. We were embarrassed and apologized. They went through the house and said nothing but "Thank you." Saddened by their response, we both went back to sleep. Fifteen minutes later our doorbell was ringing, they wanted and bought the house:).

Kristilyn1 What a nightmare!! So glad things worked out! Wow, some people really are selfish!!:(

[rosie_one]

The good side to this story is that if you are emotionally attached to your house it shows while you are selling it. I really think that you can tell if a home has been loved and enjoyed and well cared for or "is just a box to live in". I would much rather buy one that has been well loved. :) Good luck with the process. I hope you have a great sense of accomplishment when it's all over!

Kristi, I can't believe what a drama that turned into. Holy cow. :(