Hello Moms :)
My husband and I have been trying to sell our house (through different realtors) on and off for the past two years... it's in a great neighborhood and we've done a lot to it, it's just very small (approx. 760 sq. ft.) with no basement and no backyard and with the market being how it is - all strikes are against us. My question to you all is has anyone ever done or know of someone who's done a home auction? If so, how did it go? Did you/they get the money you/they wanted out of it? Do any of you have any opinions of home auctions (good or bad)? We don't have to move for financial reasons or anything like that - we have just completely outgrown our small house and need something bigger. We live in the Wyoming, MI area and are looking to move to Holland, MI (where all my friends and family are). I am desperately in need of a support system and it's been two years of trying to get out of our current house! I don't know how much longer I can take it! If any of you have any advice or opinions on home auctions or any other "get out of your house quick" ideas, let me know... thank you :)
I would suggest advertising it at the local colleges. Sounds like a great starter home for a young person or couple just starting out.
My husband and I had the same problem. We out grew our other house as well. What we ended up doing is renting it out so we could pay the mortgage on it and move to a bigger house. We do one year leases with credit check. I don't know about an auction. I would imagine that you aren't going to get what you want out of it. I think that is something that happens when a house is in foreclosure or the owner has passed away so the banks can get something out of the house.
I have heard about posting the house on ebay. You are not required to take the bid and you might just find someone. Good Luck
Hi K. -
I know it can be really frustrating to just sit and wait once you decide to sell your home. The market is challenging right now from a seller's stand point, but buyers are out there and rates are good, so try to stay positive.
Have you checked out other houses in Wyoming to compare your price? Check out what houses are actually selling for (and what houses are selling), not just the list price of homes currently on the market. Making sure you are priced competitively is key! If a buyer can get twice the square footage for the same amount of money, they may not stop and take the time to notice all of the great improvements you've made to your home.
Also, carefully consider your curb appeal. Often buyers will drive by to check out potential properties. If it doesn't stand out and made a great first impression, they'll never schedule a walk through or have the opportunity to picture themselves living in your cozy and inviting home.
If you are in a position to rent it out for a while, you may want to consider it. It would give you an opportunity to make the move you so anxiously have been waiting for and hold off on selling until the current inventory of homes comes down a little. There is an added responsibility once you decide to become a landlord, but many sellers have opted to take this route. There is a growing need for quality rental properties.
Finally, if you would like to continue to market your home for sale, you may want to consider consulting with a home stager. Getting a different perspective from a professional can make a big difference and typically staged homes sell about 50% faster than non-staged homes. (There are also a number of websites that offer staging tips for free if you'd like to do some research first).
Good luck to you... You never know, maybe this year you'll be enjoying Tulip Time from your own front porch ;)
Please feel free to call or email if we can answer any questions for you: ____@____.com
Hi K. - Boy do I feel for you. How stressful! This might sound completely crazy but have you thought about asking a local church for help? With the house being so small you are looking for a first time buyer who is either single (single parent) or newly married no kids. Often churches in the community know of people who are just starting out wanting to get out of a rental situation and own their home. I would also call the local Habitat of Humanity office. They build low income small homes for people just starting out. Sometimes if the situation is right they will buy purchase an existing home. Either way keep thinking outside the box.
Finally offer a perk to the buyer, for example pay for lawn care or house cleaning for the first 6 - 12 months they own the home.
Good Luck and God Bless ~ Jenny
