May Have An Offer On Our House - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Travelin Duo · RV-Dreams Family Member

May Have An Offer On Our House

D and J · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are in the same situation right now. The couple who is buying our house wants most of our furniture, TV's, A/C's etc.

We have agreed to a price for most items, and are keeping it a separate transaction from the house deal. (no sense in the buyer paying interest of used stuff)

House inspection is tomorrow, and our buyer is locked into his mortgage rate, so if there are any problems found during inspection I anticipate leaving the house price alone and dropping the price on belongings.

We lucked out in our furniture sale. The buyers said they wanted to move closing date up by one week. We told then we might need that week to finish selling off our furniture and belongings. They then said they would take (almost) everything.

I hope the information on what we are doing is helpful!

Good luck on the sale of your house! and see ya on the road!

hogans1947 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Obviously I'm not Howard but guess I can reply.
Have you ever used craigslist.com to buy or sell or even give away? It's like e-bay but in your local area so you don't deal with shipping, paypal and all that. We used it to sell some things and also there is a free section where you can get rid of things. Just say the first person here gets it and you will be amazed what happens.
It really is fun to give things away because we are so blessed to live this lifestyle !!!
Brenda

Froggi · RV-Dreams Family Member

My house hasn't sold YET but this is the second time I've been through this. Last year I sold everything and had my buyer back out at the last minute. I got tied of living on folding & borrowed furniture so bought again (ugh!).

Last year I just talked it up with my neighbors, mailman, UPS driver and anyone else I ran into. I sold every large piece but one that way.....the smaller stuff was yard saled. I had three yard sales and almost sold out. It was amazing.

This year, since I am working, a yard sale just isn't an option. I ended up with my youngest daughter committing to buying my living room and master bedroom (I get to use it as long as I need it).

I have sold the one large piece from last year (dining room hutch), my dining room, a large painting, an antique gateleg table, 2 antique dressers, an office bookcase via free advertising in a local online trader. The closest craigslist is Nashvile so not using that. I have more furniture to put on the trader but am taking the time to take good photos - plus you can only have 10 free ads active at one time. In previous years we used Penny Savers, etc. for the bigger stuff but again, too rural here for that to really work unless it's a big ticket or highly desired item.

I have also hooked up with a friend who isn't working but can use the money. Anything that I think might sell on eBay is going to her. She's going to take the photos, put up the ads, ship them and I pay her a 20% commission for doing that. Works out well for me and lets me sell some a lot of things rather than just donating them to Goodwill.

Howard · Host

Hi Duo!

We sold our home completely furnished and decorated. We packaged the furnishings in a separate transaction.

We actually reduced the real estate portion to keep property taxes lower for the buyer and increased the price for furnishings.

The more you can get your buyers to take in the deal, the better. It will make your life easier even if you have to take less than it is worth.

For everything else, it's a combination of techniques. Even though we sold the house completely furnished and decorated, we still ended up having three yard sales to get rid of stuff. We also donated lots of clothes and household items. And we threw away bunches as well.

We didn't use ebay or craig's list, but many, many people do. Another option is an auction. We have run into a few people that have done that and we probably would have had to do that if we hadn't sold furnished.

The one thing that will drive you crazy if you let it is trying to get as much for your stuff as you think it is worth. It just ain't gonna happen, so you have to keep your eye on the big picture and the future. It's not an easy process from an emotional, logistical, or physical standpoint.

But once it is done, there is a great sense of relief. Just prepare yourself and do what works for you. Good luck!! biggrin

Travelin Duo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks so much for all the advice and info.
The couple has opted to buy a large portion of our things.
Even paintings and prints on the walls.
They are lovely people, and it makes me feel better knowing this very nice couple are going to be living in our home, and although you will think I am
really whacko......
Naturally we were hoping that our home would sell before we started out in the Sping ...and I should have been jumping for joy last week when they came back here, and chose so many of our things to buy.....well.....when they left...
I sat down on the the floor in front of the fireplace in the family room and was looking around...and just started to cry!
I am not a cry baby (well only at movies ...over animal stories ....you get the idea) I just lost it.
It was real...and as happy and relieved as I was ..I cannot explain it...I am sort of lost too.
As for the St Joseph Statue...we sent for the kit and also the St Jude Novena.
On the 8th day...they came and said they wanted to buy our home.
Our friends who have been fulltimers for over a year now...did this also and sold their house when nothing around them was selling, and they are not Catholic ...just believe and have faith....Like they said ..it is not a plastic statue..it is your faith and believing and what it represents.
It is not a done deal with us as yet as our buyers are selling their home also, and hopefully all will go well without complications.
As for me...I am very thankful, and Larry is also...he was a bit concerned when he walked into the room and I was crying, but he understands I am a nester. I've already bought "stuff" (flameless candles for one thing ) for the Motorhome.
Need to make it homey. Not cluttered...just have a homey touch.
Thanks again Howard, and everyone.
Sorry this is so long.
I am just still a little overwhelmed.
Looking forward to it all being over with, and us out in our new home on the road.
Don't mean to sound ungrateful, because I am so thankful we found a nice couple to buy so fast...very thankful indeed. Just like you......we are donating clothes and household items also and are giviing furniture to families who need it, and gave our two brand new bikes to two teens that we found out about that were in need, and they got them through a friend who just told the families someone wanted them to have a bike, and enjoy. Just like all of you... it feels good to help out when we can. The least you can do... when all is working out so good for you, and you can go live your dream life.
Even if you are a nut..and cry about it. Good grief !!!
Who can explain my mixed feelings... weirdface just can't figure me out !!!
Good luck to all of you selling your homes too.
Taken up enouugh fo your time with my mixed feelings...!
I was never confused like this before.
Thank you so much.
My best wishes...to all of you nice folks.

hogans1947 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't think you are a "nut." I think you are a wonderful, sensitive woman who is dealing with a life change. The good thing is ....you are dealing with it openly and honestly. Rod McKuen (I know I am dating myself) said "It is good to cry sometime. It lets you know you are still alive."
Give yourself some time and I honestly believe you will embrace your new lifestyle with the freedom from "stuff." It is so invigorating and freeing !!!
Brenda