Moving, Flu Bug, etc.

[BradyBunchMom]

I am needing to really stay focussed on eating LDL right now.  I NEED the energy and not the extra weight.  We will be moving around the first of May and I'm ok with the move....even think it may be the mountain after the valleys of the past year (baby's heart surgery, Grandmother's stroke, flood, parent's divorce, end of church meeting...) but we have never moved our family of eight this kind of distance or had to sell a home in this kind of market.  I know the Lord has it all under control.  Please pray that He will work out the details and give me the self control needed to stay on task.  We are doing paper plates & cups and trying to pack up what we can now.  If anyone has other helpful tips for showing a home while living in it or easy, healthy LDL meals, please share.  All of us have had the flu but are seemingly on the mend.  We are having to live in the upstairs part of our home because we are refinishing the wood floors downstairs...the fridge is on the porch but I can access everything most of the time. 

Sorry, this seems so scattered....a bit overwhelmed I think.  Thanks for praying.

Trusting Jesus,
Julie

[Queenie]

Julie - I thought we were moving also, but as it turns out, we're not. 

However........ in preparation for this move, I did a LOT of reading.  The best hint that I read about showing a house while living in it was - if you are able - rent a storage unit.  Move absolutely EVERYTHING out that you don't need to live, on a daily basis.  Get rid of all the clutter, all the "extra" furniture, all the clutter in the closets, and 90% of the things that "personalize" your home (all the pictures, the magnets on the fridge, etc., etc.).

As I sit here in my living room, I see at least three pieces of furniture that I don't need! 

Just my 2 cents worth...

Carolyn

[BradyBunchMom]

Thanks Carolyn,

We even have two mostly empty storage buildings on our property that we can store our extra things in.  I'm going to print out your post and show it to my kids though.....the older ones believe that they are expert decorators and "why wouldn't we keep that out?" 

Thanks Again,
Julie

[CJ]

Julie,

You asked about showing a house. These are my thoughts.

Tell the realtor you need XX amount of time for scheduling a showing. Even without kids, I couldn't ever be SHOW READY in less than an hour.

Right now it is ugly outdoors but that won't last too much longer. Anything you can do to the outside - like hiding the garbage can, clean lanterns, make sure there isn't any old newspapers by mailbox, wash the door if you have children or pet paws on them, etc. are easy to do. 

Inside, have the windows looking clean (remove a screen or two if you can) and keep the sinks, counters, floors, etc. as clean as possible. I don't worry too much about the rest. I figure if potential buyers know it is used for love and living, they understand if there is an extra chair here or there. I have taken down the majority of personal photographs but not all of them. I feel if they see that we are neat and professional people - whom take pride in our home, that is important also. When there is going to be a showing, I remove rugs. This looks neater and it reveals more of the tile and wood flooring. If you must have a rug down, fluff it up in the drier if there isn't time to wash it first. I have special towels that I use for "Show & Tell" in the bathrooms. I even have a certain long silk gown & robe that I leave hanging on a satin hanger on a hook. I put a candle and/or bottle of wine and glass by the tub with nice towels. Nice soap bars are a good touch also. I set the dining room table and/or kitchen table as if special company is about to arrive - cloth napkins and the works. A bowl of fresh fruit or large veggies make great centerpieces since the garden isn't producing fresh flowers. A vase filled with sliced lemons and limes in water is another nice touch. Sometimes I display a current sewing project and have the machine out. It is a HOME!!!!! A large bowl of popcorn in the family room is another nice touch, or a game table set to play checkers.
My list for the last minute check is:
Plug in candle potpourri pot (subtle but pleasant scent)
Remove dog food dishes
Layout a clean rug by the front door (for their shoes) - a nearby chair for boot removal is also good
Turn on music throughout the house, same station
Turn off telephones
Check temp of house, (make sure cooler in summer and FP in winter)
Turn on almost all the lights
Put all toilet seats down and fold TP in a V (like in a hotel)
Empty all garage cans
Hide dirty laundry (if there is any)
Remove cell phone cords, police scanner, extra appliances (like popcorn popper, coffee pot, etc)
Make sure our jewelry, cameras, etc are put safely away
Have disclosures and marketing information for the property on the counter

That's all I can think of for now. Feel free to ask me anything regarding 'staging' a house. I'm afraid I can't help with ideas of eating healthy during this transition. Sorry. Where are you moving to? 

[Queenie]

Wow, Carla!

Are you a realtor?

Carolyn

[CJ]

No, I'm not. However I have bought and sold several properties over the years. In fact, most of them have been successfully handled without a realtor. I recommend people selling on their own if at all possible. I know that is not what realtors like to hear, but it is a lot easier than people think. I can help with some ideas if someone finds themselves in that situation.

[Gwennaford]

Hey Julie -- I used to travel with an oil exploration crew & live in motels full time, so I have a lot of experience cooking without a kitchen.  I can't think of any LDL recipe that you couldn't do with a few basic appliances that are well suited to cooking on a dresser or folding table.  Just don't plug them all into the same circuit, or try to use them all at once!

Slow cooker - soups, stews, roasts, chicken, sloppy joes (or Made-Rights!) chili.
Coffee maker or Electric Kettle - also brews tea, instant soups & oatmeal, quickly heats water for other recipes, AND washing dishes.
Stick or tabletop blender - Purees soups & smoothies
Electric Skillet - Grill, fry, roast, braise, stew, saute, boil.  It can cook anything you would normally do on a stovetop or griddle.  If you can still find one anywhere, the money you spend on it wouldn't come close to what you would spend feeding one takeout meal to a family of ten.
Microwave - They are so lightweight and portable now, you can take them anywhere.  Betcha didn't know you can even roast chickens & TURKEYs in there!  There's a trick to it, but it's not hard.  Look at the owner's manual, or online for recommended cooking times.  Birds come out juicy, moist & nicely brown, because the juices caramelize on the skin (which you WILL remove before eating, right!?!)  We didn't have the luxury of a microwave while I was travelling full time, because it WAS back in the 70's when they were still about the size of your CAR!

Use a couple large plastic tubs with sturdy lids to throw everything into & move out into your shed to "hide the evidence."

You might want to cook where there's an exhaust fan so your bedroom doesn't smell like chili!  Prospective buyers might not understand!

Hope this helps you and your family to enjoy the adventure of camping out inside!

Gwen

[BradyBunchMom]

Wow, thanks so much for the encouragement and prayers.  We are all feeling better....just very tired.....and lot's and lot's and lot's to do.  What is that they say about eating an elephant?....is elephant even LDL approved?

I don't have much time and my sweet little Marcie turned the computer off the last time I tried to reply.  We are moving to one of the most beautiful (if not the most beautiful) areas in Texas.......the Hill Country...Kerrville, TX.  It will be fabulous for everyone once we get there and are settled I know.  We really do have a peace about that.  Limbo/moving is certainly the struggle for me and the kids and, on the heels of a year with sooooo many changes.  Thanks Mary for mentioning the kids.  Please do continue to pray for them.  There have been many tears already.  We will be spending much time with many of their church friends and our family over the next weeks with Easter and people helping us finish projects on the house and all.  Please pray that these are good times that help with the transition for them.  Also, that we would be able to sell quick and get settled with my husband there during the two weeks he will have off in early May.  It is a daunting thing but our Lord is able.  Our kids are such troopers....always helping so much....please pray the Lord blesses them through this.  Oh, and that we can keep finding ways to stay LDL and healthy.....it is very tempting to run through the drive thru at Taco Bell/Little Ceasars when things are so hectic but I have lots of fruit, Joe's pesto, salad and all fruit spread in the fridge and Wasa Bread in the pantry...that helps. 

Thanks again for your prayers, encouragement and ideas!

Trusting Jesus,
Julie

[BradyBunchMom]

Carla,

I was looking back over the wealth of info. you provided.  Wow, great ideas!  The idea of not going with a realtor is so apealing....we really could use the extra money going to the more expensive market.  We have not signed a contract yet.....just have had many say that it is next to impossible to sell w/o a realtor in this market....not that things have been any worse or even as bad here as nationally.  Please do share your ideas.  Have you listed on the MLS with one of those services...put it in the paper....what else?  We live on a river front small acreage property....very good drive up appeal (EVERYONE tells us how pretty our house is...Colonial Revival Farmhouse-ish)...convenient to everything in our smallish city (100K-150K people) yet w/o city taxes.  It would be on the high end of property values as it is around 3000 squft...4 bedroom/4 bath/ living/ library/ office.....  The people next door have their much newer home, about the same size but twice the acreage...listed for $130K more than we would list at, but we would be the only two properties in our area for sale.  We have sold and bought without a realtor but weren't under any pressure to move.  I guess trying ourselves for a month couldn't hurt?  My husband wants it sold, but maybe if I sat down and wrote out the numbers he'd look at trying a month without a realtor.

Any other ideas on this?

Thanks,
Julie

[Queenie]

Gee, I hate to even comment because clearly there are others that know more about this...  However........  I'm thoroughly convinced that you COULD do it yourselves. 

Riverfront?  Is there much boat traffic?  You could put a For Sale sign so that it could be seen by the boats. 

Where we live, there are regularly people that drive around neighborhoods looking for homes for sale - people get it in their heads where they want to live - and who knows?  There might be someone that's just been WAITING for your property to go up for sale...

Just a couple of ideas from an amateur!! 

Carolyn

[Forever Young]

By all means post a sign on the water side of your property as well as on the street side.  The market is never dead when God is involved.  My Mom sold her house WITHOUT even a sign.  One of her neighbors knew someone who wanted to live in the area, and the man approached Mom about selling her house....and...while I was on vacation he told her would buy her house.

When I got back home (I am a former real estate agent) I got a contract and did the paperwork.  Then we hired a title company to get the paperwork all done up legally...and the house was sold.

Try posting signs...IF...that doesn't work, then you might have to try something else.  Do you have boards in the laundromats, grocery stores, etc. that allow you to post things that are for sale?  Do you have a free weekly paper?  If so, use them.  Use people at church, work, businesses, etc.  TELL everyone you know that you are selling your house.  Just see what will happen...

Jeanne

[Always Young]

Hi Julie,
In the way of encouragement,(in the natural) I can tell you this.When Jeanne and I were moving from Il. to Indiana, where we are now, there was one thing that helped keep me going. There is a family room in the basement of the house where we now live. All during the move  I kept envisioning myself sitting in that room relaxing and watching TV with all the work of the move behind us.It really helped to keep me focused . Pick out something good about where you are going,something you are looking forward to and concentrate on it.It will help. In the same way that keeping our eyes on Jesus and concentrating on what lies ahead, keeps us going for God.
Hope this helps......By the way.......Who is the good looking Blonde in the post just above mine?????
Love in Christ,
Jim

[Gwennaford]

Jim, you are such a sweet person.*  It was beautiful the way you framed your comments about a real world situation, then tied it all into a spiritual foundation.  I've never seen it done better.  Are you a preacher?  If you aren't you could be!

*Don't worry Jeanne -- there aren't enough words to express how special I think YOU are!

CHOO CHOO.....

[BradyBunchMom]

Thanks Ya'll,

You really are encouraging me sooo much. 

Carolyn, well there really isn't much boat traffic.....as a matter of fact...I don't think I've seen any boats except one of those hover/fan air boat type things that reminds one of the Rescuers....the boys LOVED watching that thing.  In North Texas, rivers are often dry or very close to and that would describe our banks much of the time.  There is fishing when the river is up though and it is still pretty down there if you aren't too big into clear water (I think the Wichita River runs off the Red River....the name fits too).  We liked that our property was river front when we bought it, but I don't think it is a huge draw.

Jim, though it is VERY hard for me to imagine sitting and relaxing very long anywhere, I have been doing a lot of MLS browsing.  I save off lots of the homes with views. At the top of my list right now is a house that has a hill sitting right behind it and the view from the front yard is incredible.  I guess I picture our family hiking up that hill then coming back down for devotions under a sunset on the covered front porch.  This home has motivated me and the kids throughout the day today....we've been washing wood (we have custom wood cabinets, molding, 6 panel doors, window seats, etc. troughout).  One of the ways I know the Lord is moving us is that I can get excited about very small homes while leaving my huge dreamhouse.  A house is just a house....a family can be content to make a home wherever God leads.  Did I ever tell ya'll about our 7 months in a travel trailer (my 5th child, David, was born while we lived there)?  This is NOTHING compared to that adventure....I am a bit older though   These kind of thoughts help me.  And you guys....my dear LDL cheerleaders help so much too.

We ARE trying the "Sign in the Yard" and ad in the paper for a week or so before we list.  I can't wait to see what the Lord will do.  Oh, since this is a prayer thread.....could you all pray for a Christian family for our home....many neighborhood witnessing/ministry needs.

Thanks Again,
Julie

[CJ]

Hi Julie, I'm glad you decided to try to sell "for Sale by Owner." I don't know what the market is like in your area but around here there seems to be more interest in buying from sellers that are selling direct. No matter how one looks at it, the realtor's fees are added on somewhere, plus they have extra administrative fees that they tack on over and above the 6 or 7% commission. You can always say that the house is currently available for X amount of dollars (or best offer) but if it is not sold in X amount of time, the price will go up.       

Placing the signs is step one. Place a few extra on the corners that are down the road so casual traffic will be motivated to check it out. You can also go through organizations that will charge you a flat fee for some their help, like listing on the MLS or PLS, provide signs and brochures, advertising in magazines, etc.. Each company has their own way of doing it so you need to do your homework. The main disadvantage with using them is that you pay more upfront, BUT, it is a lot less than a realtor.

To sell all on your own, contact a closing company and find out what you need to have completed before you sell, such as a purchase agreement and property disclosures (well, septic, etc.). Also ask them to break down what fees you will be needing to pay to have the closing at their office. In Minnesota there is a state tax as well as a bunch of other fees that all add up and affect your bottom line. Most office supply stores will have the basic purchase agreement that you need, or you might be able to buy them on-line. You can even have your title/abstract company start the title work so that is done.

You might also want to start taking photos and get them posted on a website, such as photobucket or other free viewing sites. That way when you run an ad, you can have potential buyers view your website before wasting your time coming to see it. If you do a "Sell Direct" listing, they will have a website for you also. To put together sometype of marketing brochure would not be too difficult either. Just don't let your kids turn the computer off when your almost done. Haha 

There are a lot of free web sites that allow you to list your property on the web for free. Do a search for your state and it should lead you to the better ones for your area. Be very careful about screening calls prior to wasting time with the scam artists that are out there. It is also okay for you to request that potential buyers have some sort of preapproval or pre-qualified letter if you question their financial capabilities.

Free free to e-mail me if you want any specific information. I've been rather vague here but it should be enough to get you started. Anyone that can raise 6 children and weather the storm as you have done this past year, can certainly accomplish selling your home. There is a buyer out there that will make you proud to turn the keys over to them. Good luck! 

 

[Always Young]

Hi Gwennaford,
Thank you for your kind remarks. Yes I am a preacher. Jeanne and I Pastor Word of Life Fellowship in Elkhart In.
God Bless,
Jim

[Gwennaford]

Hi Gwennaford,
Thank you for your kind remarks. Yes I am a preacher. Jeanne and I Pastor Word of Life Fellowship in Elkhart In.
God Bless,
Jim

Awesome! -- Next time I'm in Elkhart I'm definitely coming to Word of Life Fellowship.  Do you do traditional or contemporary praise & worship, or some of both?

[DEBBIEWEBE]

Let me know when youre going Gwennie....I'll meet ya there...I dont think Im all that far from Jim and Jeanne.  I live close to Interstate 80.  Thats nearby you guys in Indiana isnt it?

[Gwennaford]

Travel out West is wishful thinking for me right now, Debbie.  I have some very dear friends that moved to Mackie, near Oakland City, IN a couple years ago & I miss them so much.  I MISS YOU BONNIE & PHIL.  I'll have to look at MapQuest to see how far they are from you & Jim & Jeanne.