Outlook not good

Remember Magic 8 Balls. Man, they were popular.

Unfortunately, if I had one and asked it about the potential of last night's couple making an offer, the subject would equal the answer.

I came across this posting on Grapevine, which is basically just down the street from us, a slightly more expensive model and not a whole lot more expensive. Obviously I think ours is nicer and better, but I also realize that this one has it's own appeal. And depending on the demographic, possibly even more. Boo!

I know I said I was trying not to get my hopes up, but then why am I so glum now?

To make myself feel better, here are the things I don't like about it:

• The write up starts with "A FABULOUS HOME!!!" Why all caps? Why 3 exclamation marks? Why waste the space with hyperbole?
• Lower Level description: "Unfinished basement left for you to add your personal touch!". Ew.
• Eavestrough. It's one word, not two.
• Extra pieces of hardwood from builder left in basement. Why even bother writing that?
• Hood fan: it's two words, not one.
• Year Built: 2007 Approx. You're the original owners, and you don't know when it was built? Shaaaaady.
• Weird siding -why the random bit of a different colour?
• Horrible drapes/sheers in the dining room
• Where is the crown moulding? They say it's there, but I don't see it.
• Drapes in the bathroom? Directly over the bathtub?
• The desk looks way to large for the 'loft' (which is really just a large landing). It makes it look cramped.
• I straight up just don't like the 'gazebo'. It looks like you're camping. And it's not a gazebo for heaven's sake. It's a mosquito net.

Anyway, I'm just being bitchy and juvenile, but all those things are true. It is a nice kitchen though.

Showing, First Act

So, we had our first showing yesterday evening.


The short version: it went well, and the couple should be making a decision today. Fingers are crossed, but the plan is still for an open house on Sunday.

The long version: I left work early so I could get the final prep stuff done. Nothing serious, my list just included closing all the windows, turning on all the lights, turning on the speakers, and putting away Max & Layla's food & water dishes.


That was done quite quickly, so I had a quick drink of water and the doorbell rang. I gave them the tour, and they asked questions along the way. A middle-aged couple originally from the area moving back from BC because grandchildren are on the way. Seem quite well educated in the market, industry and the area as well. Thankfully I'd done my share of research and have paid attention to the build, so could answer his questions quite easily.


Once I'd given them the tour, which ended in the master, I went back downstairs, leaving them to check it out without someone peeking over their shoulders. I, for one, find this essential. If it were me, I wouldn't be nearly as comfortable talking with my partner honestly about the house and peeking in all the nooks and crannies if the homeowner was right there watching me.


My one complaint, and I'm still kicking myself for it, is that as I was turning on the lights, I did a quick sweep in the laundry room because of the litter box. The room didn't smell, per se, but no one ever notices smells they're used to, so I gave it a quick Febreeze spritz. Bad move! I never use the stuff, so I'd forgotten how strong & overpowering it is. Rookie mistake. So I turned on the vent to try to eliminate some of it and keep it from travelling, but that didn't help at all. I had to apologize as we got upstairs because you could already smell it. Damnit! I hate that stuff-I threw out the bottle as soon as they left.
When they came back down, I gave them a feature sheet and we talked dates. They're home in BC is closing Oct 29th, so they asked how flexible we were. I said we can be as flexible as needed since we haven't bought a house yet, but our listing noted October 30th closing-so no flexibility is needed. Perfection.


They were on their way to another showing, and had a few more today. He said they'd likely be making their decision later today.


I have no reason to believe they didn't love our place, but I also have no reason to believe they didn't love another one more. So, I'm cautiously optimistic, but still planning an open house in 2 days. It would be amazing not to have to bother, but that's so ideal, it's fairly unrealistic.

PS-Is the top exterior photo better than yesterday's?

Thoughts and opinions...

Does this picture make our house look like a town home?

I was cruising Building Homes and stalked came across this link where they were discussing if it was a town home or not.

I realize the homes are quite close together (as most new builds are), but I thought this pic best portrayed the whole house. Since it's a corner lot, it's difficult to get both the 'front' and the 'side'.

We may have to have another pic tonight after the showing.

Wondering if you think so too???

My version of Twitter-Home sale edition

I'm way too boring to actually have or use Twitter for anything.

However, at times like this, there's a lot going on and it changes all the time.

So, our house went up at about 10:15 this morning. At about 10:35, moments after posting the link here and e-mailing it to the fam, I get a call from someone visiting from BC who's buying a house ASAP and wants to see ours today. Wowza---that was quick.

We're not ready to show today, hence the open house on Sunday, but she mentioned near the end that they're very interested and asked if she could leave her name and temporary number so that if we were ready sooner, she and her husband could come by. She said she hoped we wouldn't have to bother with the open house.

Let me just say that again...She said she hoped we wouldn't have to bother with the open house!!!

So, heart a-flutter, I called hubs immediately and he was obviously excited. I asked him if he thought we could be ready for a showing tomorrow night. He said definitely-he was going home tonight and working his tail off.

Yes!!! So I promptly called her back and made arrangements for the showing tomorrow night.

Imagine? Can you just imagine??? *insert daydreaming*

No, no-I can't get ahead of myself. It's only been 2.5 hours. But imagine...

Unfortunately the flip side, is that the houses out there I can find are shit. Truly. I think we're going to have to enlist the help of an agent to find a realistic place. Especially if it happens quickly.

Wish us luck!!!!

And we're on...

Here's the link to our actual listing...my nerves are going crazy right now.

Here goes nothing...

Well, I've made the listing, loaded the listing and even paid for the listing.

Here goes nothin'.

Last night, after coming home from a trip to Toronto, I was so pleased that hubs was motivated to help me take the pics for our listing. He played photographer and I played stylist (or, more accurately-remover of style) and remover of cats from shot-er, and I genuinely think we got some great pics of our home.

We were fighting against night-fall (side note: since when did early nights start? I'm not ready for fall!), but we made sure to get the exterior shot among the first.

Despite my own advice, it proved extremely difficult to get bright, clear photos that accurately depicted our house. We're not professionals, and we don't have one of those cool round lenses that fit a lot more room into one shot. I managed to adjust some colours and brightness in Picasa, so I hope it's paid off.

Here are the images we selected for the listing:

Family Room:

Kitchen:

Dining Room:

Master Bedroom (extremely hard to capture):

Ensuite (again-lost the battle against dark, so the lighting's a little off):

Aside from the main exterior shot, there was room for 8 images and 2 floorplan files. Rather than try to get a shot of every room, where they would be less than stellar photos, we opted instead to put a couple of the kitchen and the family room so the whole room could at least be represented. Also-especially for the kitchen, so the appliances could be shown.

We purchased the Sign & Internet with Open House signs from Grapevine, which is the same package we bought for the sale of our last home. We were happy with it, and we don't need the consultation, etc, so this was perfect for us. I also called and asked if we could get it up ASAP and get the signs delivered & installed ASAP as well. It'll all be up and ready for sale to the public tomorrow! Eeek!

We've decided to have our first open house this coming Sunday, hence the slight rush, but I don't see why we'd wait. We don't have plans, it should be a decent day weather-wise, and we want to see what's out there. So, why wait?

I tried to keep the write-up succinct, and after several drafts, here's the final product:

Brand new 3 bed/2.5 bath 1900 sq.ft. corner unit located in Mattamy Fairwinds near Scotiabank Place. This home boasts numerous upgrades and custom touches,including hardwood and pot lights throughout main level, a hard-wired multi-room stereo system and high end appliances.Third floor features a spacious master bedroom with large walk-in closet and a retreat-like 4-pc ensuite. Automatic garage door opener for 2-car insulated garage, rough in for security system and central vac make this home move in ready. New construction still covered by Tarion Warranty.

And that's that. Tomorrow I'll (hopefully) have the link to the actual posting. In the meantime, I'd love to know what you think...did I follow my own advice? Would it peak your interest?

My Tips for Home Staging

There are lots of websites, blogs and everything in between that give tips on how to stage your home for a sale. Since hubs and I are doing that right now, I thought I'd make my very own list from experience in selling and looking to purchase. I've tried to include images to show what I mean. For most-a yay and a nay in regards to the topic.

1. Cleaning: This one I hope goes without saying. Clean the crap out of your house (not literally, I hope). Clean like you would if your whole family, including aunt Margaret who "secretly" swipes her finger over windowsills, and who "innocently" looks in your fridge to see if there's some juice (but really is looking to see how clean & stocked it is).
   
   Those wall vents-vacuum 'em. Those baseboards-wipe 'em. Behind the toilet-clean it. Stair rails-wipe those too. Window ledges-clean them all. Appliances-clean them inside and out. No, at an open house or private viewing, people probably won't check all those things, but in case they do check, you want it to give the impression that the house is very well maintained, and nothing is forgotten. Yes-it's more work, but not all that much if you think about it. And it may sell your house.


2. Tchochtkes: Put them away. Despite being hard to spell, they're not that hard to box up. This one's mostly based on purchasing experience since I'm not a knick-knack person. I don't care about your collection of antique dolls, teapots, figuringes or anything else. Pack them up and put some neutral decor in the display case if you need to. Baskets, candles, etc, but keep it un-cluttered. Keep counters cleared, shelves bordering on sparse and tables/surfaces with the absolute minimum. I want to imagine myself there-not your stuff and your memories.
   
   Oh-and for heaven's sakes. Take your magnets, reminders and children's art off of the fridge.
   
3. Photographs: Same idea as knick knacks. You can have a couple photos out to warm the house up slightly, but generic-ish ones and in not-so-prominent places. Display areas should be clear and nightstands, etc shouldn't have any. Again, I want to imagine myself there, not you and your dog/mother/children. Speaking of which, I've heard it mentioned (probably on Opes) that any photographs of children should especially be put away in case someone viewing your home is less than trustworthy or potentially pervy. Awful to think about, but you never know.
   
   Think about it: If you visit a home builder's model homes, there are almost never photographs in the home.
   


4. Curb appeal: Do not forget the outside! I know hubs and I have participated in the creepy slow drive-by when we see a home we're interested in. And first impressions say a lot. You can crop/angle images for MLS in a very positive way, but driving by and seeing it in person can make or break it. Hose down all porches, railings, etc. Wipe your mailbox, banisters, tables, etc. Put out a nice potted plant and make sure there aren't any dead plants around.
   
   And don't forget to get your car(s) out of the driveway. Park it a few houses down so there's room for potential buyers to park and feel comfortable.
   
5. Bathrooms: Clean them, clear them and empty the trash. I don't want to inherit a gross bathroom, I don't want any indication of how's it's currently used, and I certainly don't want to see your bathroom garbage.
   


6. Clutter: Has been mentioned several times, but bears repeating. Keep clutter OUT of your house if you're trying to sell it. It may make it feel colder to you, but hopefully it won't be yours for long, and sorry, but no one else really cares if your favourite memories are on display in their potential new home. Just look at it this way: You're getting a head start on packing!
   
7. Furniture arrangement: Any unnecessary furniture you can stash or store somewhere else-do it. You want the home as functional and "blank-slate"-y as possible. If there are any obvious traffic-stopping pieces of furniture (get an honest outside opinion) move 'em or store 'em. Any very stylized furniture you may want to temporarily replace too. Slip covers can be wonderful things.
   
   Assume anyone coming to look through your home has never read Style at Home, Domino or watched HGTV. Sure, they appreciate a nice design and a beautiful home, but they don't understand that vintage art is all the rage, that your collection of ottomans are handmade in Nepal or that ikat is actually very trendy right now.
   
   
8. Closets: Clean them, organize them, and get rid of anything you can. The idea is to make your home seem as spacious and functional as humanly possible. If you can store stuff so there's extra space in your closets, all the better. Try to make them seem like you couldn't possibly fill all the closets because they offer you so much storage. This is a great way to get yourself to purge,purge, purge too. Easier for packing later and for the move. See-it's not all for someone else's benefit.
   
   
9. Windows: Open the blinds, close the windows. You want to let in as much natural light as possible, but keep the noise to a minimum. You never know when some loud, annoying motorcycle is going to drive by your open window.
   
   
   
10. Lighting: Key. Perhaps this is spoken a bit too much as the wife of an electrician, but I think lighting can really make a space. You want to avoid any dark looking spaces whatsoever. I usually turn every single light on in the house for a showing/open house. Sorry planet (but they're energy efficient!). When someone's going through, I don't want them to have to fuss around with the switches to see a spare bedroom, etc. And we all know that generally the switches aren't exactly where you'd think they'd be, so help potential buyers avoid the frustration of this task and let them enjoy your home!
    
11. Scent: Don't try too hard. And don't use a million plug-ins: it looks like you're hiding something. Have an outsider (that doesn't visit your house often) come by and let you know how it smells. We all know every home has a smell, and we all know some of them aren't that pleasant. Have someone tell you so you can take action if necessary.
    
    Baking cookies, bread and stuff---nice for a restaurant or grocery store, but frankly I think it's a little too gimmicky and obvious. I like to keep the windows open for as long as I can before a showing for some fresh air, and keep some nice reed diffusers wherever they can be. Think linen, spring, etc over cinnamon, vanilla, etc.
    
    
12. Pets: This one hurts. If you've read my older posts, you know that we had some tough times when it came to our cats when we were selling our old house. It was a smaller home with no basement to stash their stuff, so we had to get them out of the house. I know my house is clean and I know my cats are clean. But no one else does, and even as an animal lover myself, I still hypocritically prefer a pet-free home. Or at least one that doesn't shout "Animals Live Here!!!"
    
    So, get rid of their gear. We are guilty of having a lot of cat beds, posts and toys throughout the home. Hey-they're our babies. But...when it comes time to sell, they get stored. Some come out again after photos & an open house, but not all. This time, since we have a little nook for it, we'll be keeping their litter box out. It's risky I know, and I may not be taking my own advice, however...we've since crafted a nice fabric door for it which really contains the smell and hides the visual. We'll also be keeping it IMPECCABLY clean. It will probably look like additional storage to the uninformed, but we have no intentions of misleading anyone. If they ask-we tell. Simple as that.
    
    A bonus for us-our cats are sissies. So as soon as they hear someone come in that's not us, they run and hide. If they determine it's someone else they know, they may venture to see them. If not, they generally remain hidden. If, however, your animals don't have this brand of social anxiety, I'd take them on a road trip. Especially if it's a big dog or something. I know it's hard on you and the animal, but sometimes it's for the best.
    
    
13. Kids: I almost forgot about this one because we don't have to think of it quite yet. However, by a similar token as above, unnecessary baby & kid furniture, accessories, toys, etc should be stored out of view. Not everyone is familiar with or as welcoming about the immense amount of 'stuff' that comes with children, and certainly not everyone is a fan of kid-centric designs (especially in bedrooms). Hey-not everyone is even a fan of kids, period. But that doesn't mean you can't sell your house to them.
    
    Clear out the kid-clutter, paint their bedrooms beige if you need to (it's temporary and their imaginations can still function), put away their fingerpainting projects until your next home and get them out of the house for showings.
    
    
14. Online Listing: Your listing will bring in your potential buyers. With a crap listing, you'll have a crap turnout.
    
    Take good pictures. Take a variety of pictures. Don't take 3 of your kitchen, no matter how awesome you think it is. There is a maximum number of pics allowed on a listing, and if they're all of your kitchen and backyard, it seems like the rest of the house is crap. Make sure the pictures are well-lit and clear. Download and play around with Picasa if you're able. It's a simple way to really improve your pictures. If you can't go that far, at least use the Edit Photos function in MS Picture Viewer.
    
    The blurb...KISS. Keep it simple, to the point yet informative. Don't use infinite superlatives saying how gorgeously beautiful your stunning home is. I won't read it, and I certainly won't believe it until I see it. Don't tell me it's a 'must-see': everyone says that. It's only a must see if I like it. Also, don't tell me it's the nicest home I'll find or the best on the block---that's an opinion. I'd like to make my own thanks. Include the square footage, a couple highlights and maybe a simpleton's statement on where it's located (Not everyone would know your specific neighbourhoods name, but they will know a mall, arena, etc)
    
15. Price: It's all about the Benjamins. For you and for the buyer. You know how much you 'need' to get from the sale. If you're looking for a fairly quick and painless sale, look at the comparables in your area and don't get greedy. If you can sell the home for $250K and the homes in your area are listed at around $260K and have the same 'basics' as yours, don't list it at $275K because you like yours better and want more. Unless there are quantifiable upgrades on your home (hardwood floor, premium lot, etc), don't be stupid. List it along the lines of the other models, or even be really savvy and list it for a smidgeon less to pique interest. Also, don't say 'priced to sell' unless it really is.

If all else fails and you need a kick in the butt, head over to Lovely Listing (formerly It's Lovely I'll take it) and be reminded that the above isn't as obvious as one might think or hope. Also a few excellent reminders of what NOT to do.