Please help we want to move soon. I just had a baby 3 months ago and we've out grew our house. It's 3 bedrooms but it's a small house 1199 sq ft. We've had our house on the market since March. We've dropped the price twice and now we have it up for lease as well and we still have not been able to sell. Everyone likes our house but would like 2 full baths rather than 1 1/2. We are thinking of taking it off the market and reinlisting but wanted to get some feed before doing that. Should we invest 5K-10K on an extra bathroom or should we reinlist? Please help!
Thank you so much! After all your advice my sense of desperation has dissipated. I'm going to let it be and hopefully soon very soon someone will fall in love with it the way I did 3 years ago. Thank you so much and God Bless!!
I don't think this is the time to sell. See how long you can hold and and then re-list.
There are some homes in my neighborhood that have been on the market almost a year. Granted...they are asking WAY too much and I hope they get it. It is like they are hoping for some New Yorker or Californian to come through. GREED
Good luck and don't sell out too quickly
We're living in a 1200 square foot home with two children and another on the way. Sure, we'd like more space (and I'm sure we'll feel it even more once we've brought the baby home!) but it just isn't in the cards right now. What we did instead was make it more liveable for us. We did lots of reorganizing and decluttering; lots and lots of storage so that everything has a place and we don't feel so closed in. My husband is from the UK, where smaller homes are the norm; he lived his whole life, until coming to America at age 25, with his parents & sister in a 1000 square foot home with one bathroom; his bedroom was the size of a walk-in closet, no kidding.
Maybe y'all can find some ways to get more comfortable with the space you do have & wait out the horrible market. I know it sucks to feel like you JUST NEED SOME FREAKIN SPACE but you do what you gotta do, right?
Best of luck in making your decision!
I agree with Melissa's sentiments. If you can't sell now, make the most of it. Maybe a trip to Ikea's showroom will give you some ideas or inspiration on how to make the best use of limited space.
Regarding that bathroom, my opinion is to leave it be. Someone out there will be interested in the house just the way it is (like you did) or will have plans of their own to expand the bathroom. Let the buyer incur the cost of expanding.
In these economic times, getting a loan and closing on yours and the new property will probably run about $5000 each, if you own your home outright, which I presume you don"t. I would ask some one for a name of a plumber and just install a shower.Good luck do not bite more than you can chew since all our jobs are not secure.
I also am a Realtor. I agree with Dijea. Are you getting showings? If you are not getting showings, it could be price, comments in MLS or pictures. Also check your drive-up appeal. Ask a friend who has not seen your house in a long time to come as they were a buyer. Ask them to be very honest. If you are getting showings, are you getting feedback? Somethings are hard to change like floorplans and how many baths you have. But you can do things to make it show better. Have someone who specializes in staging. It is cheaper then adding a bath. Is your agent advertising. If it is done right, this helps. Agents should know the best places. Different areas have better luck in different publications. If your agents kows your area, they should know what works and what does not. It is not as simple as putting it in MLS and putting a sign in the yard anymore. This is the best time to sell. Do not change agents for a month or so. Then if you change, it still shows how many days you were listed with the other agent. Good Luck and do not give up!
With the market the way it is, I think it would be worthwhile to convert the bathroom. Be sure to really check around. We know some people too.
As a real estate agent, I would say if you think your Real Estate agent is doing a good job I wouldn't change agents. That reeks of desperation. I don't know your specifics, because location and surrounding houses are going to make a difference on that question. If you are the only house in your neighborhood with 1.5 baths maybe. If there are more houses just like yours I wouldn't rush out and write a check. Have your agent bring the office through and have the other agents make suggestions as how you can improve your chances. Know this that if you have to add foundation you are looking at more than 10K. If you can work it without adding foundation you might keep that price.
I do understand your frustration because I live in a 2/2 with two kids. Sometimes you feel squished in so tight that you want to scream. I wish you the best of luck.
I'm sorry, I just saw this post and am late with a response.
I have been looking at houses for my retirement for about 2 months now.
I haven't seen your house so I don't know if this applies to you or not.
BUT . . . most of the houses I have seen . . . those sellers should have been watching HGTV for at least 3 months before they put their houses on the market.
STAGING IS EVERYTHING!!!!! If nothing else, you probably want to at least talk with a stager and see what they say may be the problem in securing a buyer.
Good Luck!
