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[terrier3]

On 7/17/2014 Sweetbay magnolia said:

On 7/16/2014 terrier3 said:

I think people realize that estate sales are different from sales with families moving into other homes.

I wouldn't go nuts. People like to feel "special" and they are among the first to get a chance to bid. I guess I must have learned that from the Q!!!!

If you don't get any bids from letting people in early, you can always have the realtor tell you their feedback and can then make repairs, do adjustments based on why they said they didn't want to place an offer. You have nothing to lose!

Here is the listing for my aunt's house...you can see all the furnishings we had in the home. The house was sold BEFORE this was posted on Zillow. Note how we said we would re-do the carpeting...we never actually were going to do that. If we had a buyer that insisted on new carpets, we would just give them a price adjustment to reflect that they would have to do that themselves - let them think they were getting a special "deal". We gave the buyer a break because we never had to paint anything, clean out anything or do anything except hand him the keys! Hiring people to clean it out and paint would have cost a LOT!

We might have made more money if we waited longer - comps were about $10,000 more in that neighborhood. But I didn't want to take the chance of having it sit either.

BTW - I have been in sales for over 30 years myself (not homes). I have picked up some ideas over the years on how to position a product.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4626-Newton-Rd-Hamburg-NY-14075/30350732_zpid/

Cool house. Nice lot. Certain people like "different". Mid-century has been popular, too. Looks a little Frank Lloyd Wright-ish.

Thanks Magnolia!

I can laugh about this now but...

My aunt passed away suddenly in her sleep. I went to see her on Saturday morning and couldn't get her to come to the door. After trying the phone and walking around the house, I called the police. The officer had to break down the door between the garage and the house to get in. She had obviously passed during the night.

Because she died at home, we had to wait for the detective to come and make sure there was no foul play and for the funeral home to pick up her body. As we sat in the kitchen, me and 3 policemen, they started looking around and commenting on how cool the house was - mid-century Danish modern furniture and accessories. Then they started asking when the house would be on the market...and could they get an early look! My aunt was still in her bed and they were contemplating buying her home!!! One officer said that several guys on the force had found their homes that way - estate sales where they had been called to the home because the owner had died.

I told them my aunt would have been proud that they admired her home...but it felt VERY strange!

[terrier3]

Estate sale suggestion when you are also selling a home -

If the house is going to be vacant...please think long and hard about having an estate sale on the premises.

It's a tip off to thieves - who might come back later and remove all the copper wiring and anything they can sell for scrap metal.

Many estate sale companies will take your items and sell them at another estate sale or even a B&M antique store.

Also, if the home is empty and has a septic system, you may have to get it re-inspected to sell.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

On 7/18/2014 terrier3 said:

On 7/17/2014 Sweetbay magnolia said:

On 7/16/2014 terrier3 said:

I think people realize that estate sales are different from sales with families moving into other homes.

I wouldn't go nuts. People like to feel "special" and they are among the first to get a chance to bid. I guess I must have learned that from the Q!!!!

If you don't get any bids from letting people in early, you can always have the realtor tell you their feedback and can then make repairs, do adjustments based on why they said they didn't want to place an offer. You have nothing to lose!

Here is the listing for my aunt's house...you can see all the furnishings we had in the home. The house was sold BEFORE this was posted on Zillow. Note how we said we would re-do the carpeting...we never actually were going to do that. If we had a buyer that insisted on new carpets, we would just give them a price adjustment to reflect that they would have to do that themselves - let them think they were getting a special "deal". We gave the buyer a break because we never had to paint anything, clean out anything or do anything except hand him the keys! Hiring people to clean it out and paint would have cost a LOT!

We might have made more money if we waited longer - comps were about $10,000 more in that neighborhood. But I didn't want to take the chance of having it sit either.

BTW - I have been in sales for over 30 years myself (not homes). I have picked up some ideas over the years on how to position a product.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4626-Newton-Rd-Hamburg-NY-14075/30350732_zpid/

Cool house. Nice lot. Certain people like "different". Mid-century has been popular, too. Looks a little Frank Lloyd Wright-ish.

Thanks Magnolia!

I can laugh about this now but...

My aunt passed away suddenly in her sleep. I went to see her on Saturday morning and couldn't get her to come to the door. After trying the phone and walking around the house, I called the police. The officer had to break down the door between the garage and the house to get in. She had obviously passed during the night.

Because she died at home, we had to wait for the detective to come and make sure there was no foul play and for the funeral home to pick up her body. As we sat in the kitchen, me and 3 policemen, they started looking around and commenting on how cool the house was - mid-century Danish modern furniture and accessories. Then they started asking when the house would be on the market...and could they get an early look! My aunt was still in her bed and they were contemplating buying her home!!! One officer said that several guys on the force had found their homes that way - estate sales where they had been called to the home because the owner had died.

I told them my aunt would have been proud that they admired her home...but it felt VERY strange!

Cops! I guess they get jaded to things like, well, my aunt just died??? Strange and sad enough as it was and now they're asking about the home sale??? Shows you though that it was a desirable property.

[drizzellla]

On 7/18/2014 Sweetbay magnolia said:

On 7/18/2014 terrier3 said:

On 7/17/2014 Sweetbay magnolia said:

On 7/16/2014 terrier3 said:

I think people realize that estate sales are different from sales with families moving into other homes.

I wouldn't go nuts. People like to feel "special" and they are among the first to get a chance to bid. I guess I must have learned that from the Q!!!!

If you don't get any bids from letting people in early, you can always have the realtor tell you their feedback and can then make repairs, do adjustments based on why they said they didn't want to place an offer. You have nothing to lose!

Here is the listing for my aunt's house...you can see all the furnishings we had in the home. The house was sold BEFORE this was posted on Zillow. Note how we said we would re-do the carpeting...we never actually were going to do that. If we had a buyer that insisted on new carpets, we would just give them a price adjustment to reflect that they would have to do that themselves - let them think they were getting a special "deal". We gave the buyer a break because we never had to paint anything, clean out anything or do anything except hand him the keys! Hiring people to clean it out and paint would have cost a LOT!

We might have made more money if we waited longer - comps were about $10,000 more in that neighborhood. But I didn't want to take the chance of having it sit either.

BTW - I have been in sales for over 30 years myself (not homes). I have picked up some ideas over the years on how to position a product.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4626-Newton-Rd-Hamburg-NY-14075/30350732_zpid/

Cool house. Nice lot. Certain people like "different". Mid-century has been popular, too. Looks a little Frank Lloyd Wright-ish.

Thanks Magnolia!

I can laugh about this now but...

My aunt passed away suddenly in her sleep. I went to see her on Saturday morning and couldn't get her to come to the door. After trying the phone and walking around the house, I called the police. The officer had to break down the door between the garage and the house to get in. She had obviously passed during the night.

Because she died at home, we had to wait for the detective to come and make sure there was no foul play and for the funeral home to pick up her body. As we sat in the kitchen, me and 3 policemen, they started looking around and commenting on how cool the house was - mid-century Danish modern furniture and accessories. Then they started asking when the house would be on the market...and could they get an early look! My aunt was still in her bed and they were contemplating buying her home!!! One officer said that several guys on the force had found their homes that way - estate sales where they had been called to the home because the owner had died.

I told them my aunt would have been proud that they admired her home...but it felt VERY strange!

Cops! I guess they get jaded to things like, well, my aunt just died??? Strange and sad enough as it was and now they're asking about the home sale??? Shows you though that it was a desirable property.

After my Grandmother's funeral, the immediate family went back to her house. We were only in the house for a few minutes and the phone started to ring. It was years before caller ID - so someone answered the phone. It was a Real Estate Agent wanting to list the house. There were countless phone calls from other agents after that.

Wish it was that easy for everyone.

[sipp]

Hmm- My Mom's house was vacant for a year or so ( but also in my name) and my insurance agent knew that it was vacant- then my kid moved in for 2 years ( and I notified him of that and that the furniture etc. was still there) and my premium remained the same- now it's empty and vacant- while we are painting and cleaning- never gave it a thought --he knows it's empty and vacant again and going on the market as soon as we can get it ready--- It's a major company that I insure with. Wondering now - I paid for the year already- and there's never been any difference in premium or forcing me to sell within a time frame. Why Wouldn't a company still insure a vacant home? It's still worth something. Would seem logical that it one would still want to be insured - it is an asset. I can't imagine how they could force you to sell.

[Mistreatedbycs]

On 7/18/2014 dgluvr said:

Hmm- My Mom's house was vacant for a year or so ( but also in my name) and my insurance agent knew that it was vacant- then my kid moved in for 2 years ( and I notified him of that and that the furniture etc. was still there) and my premium remained the same- now it's empty and vacant- while we are painting and cleaning- never gave it a thought --he knows it's empty and vacant again and going on the market as soon as we can get it ready--- It's a major company that I insure with. Wondering now - I paid for the year already- and there's never been any difference in premium or forcing me to sell within a time frame. Why Wouldn't a company still insure a vacant home? It's still worth something. Would seem logical that it one would still want to be insured - it is an asset. I can't imagine how they could force you to sell.

My business property has 2 apartments over my store and yes, it was a problem with the insurance company and still is. Since no one is living in the building it's an added risk if anything goes wrong.

p.s. it's terrible with my siblings too, they have a voice but aren't doing a thing....probably better since nothing would get done then...........too funny.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

On 7/18/2014 dgluvr said:

Hmm- My Mom's house was vacant for a year or so ( but also in my name) and my insurance agent knew that it was vacant- then my kid moved in for 2 years ( and I notified him of that and that the furniture etc. was still there) and my premium remained the same- now it's empty and vacant- while we are painting and cleaning- never gave it a thought --he knows it's empty and vacant again and going on the market as soon as we can get it ready--- It's a major company that I insure with. Wondering now - I paid for the year already- and there's never been any difference in premium or forcing me to sell within a time frame. Why Wouldn't a company still insure a vacant home? It's still worth something. Would seem logical that it one would still want to be insured - it is an asset. I can't imagine how they could force you to sell.

The insurance company didn't force me to sell. It was the added risk and liability (and paying for a house I wasn't living in) that made me very grateful to get rid of it. I, too, was insured by a major player; they choose not to insure vacant homes. Some will grant a rider or continuance based on factors they decide. You may still not be protected against thievery or vandalism, and I would argue that if a water pipe burst and was not detected for days/weeks/months, or if there was a gas leak, or a roof leak, or a fire unstopped because no one was there to quell it, even the best of companies would find a way out of it. An asset? Yes. But only if the home is intact and habitable. You may live in a part of the country that is different from mine, and your insurer may be very generous in their coverage. Check the exclusions on your policy. You most certainly have done the right thing by informing your agent of the property's status.

[sipp]

Fortunately it is so close that we are over there almost every day - fixing it up to sell and the neighbors have our number if they see or hear a problem and we can be there quickly if there's a problem. Hopefully everything will go well.