House on the market - for 5 hours!

[3catwoman3]

Many of you read and commented upon my post in late January or early February about moving my 98 yr old mom into a senior living community near me in Illinois after she became ill during her Christmas visit. She recovered well, but I told her that her days of living all alone 700 miles from me were over. She agreed, although reluctantly, and has overall been happily adjusting to life in a lovely 55+ community about 8 miles from me.

A friend of a friend back in Rochester NY is a realtor, and took on getting my mom’s house staged and ready to go on the market.

She listed it about 7 PM Sunday evening, with a very nicely done 36 picture tour. She got 3 calls within 2 hours, and an offer that was $11,000 OVER asking price before midnight! The listing price was already several thousand dollars higher than I was expecting- this house is a modest little ranch house, built in 1964 - only 1300 sq feet, but does have a finished basement and a large back yard. Nothing spectacular. Our family has been the only owners.

The interested couple saw it in person this afternoon, and loved it. They have a 3 yr old son, and this will be their first house. The contract is signed and we close in about 6 weeks.

To say I am gobsmacked by the speed and success of this endeavor is a gross understatement.

[Demovictory9]

1. wow! congrats!!

[Wounded Bear]

2. Congrats!

Kind of scary placing mom in a retirement community right now, but I wish you and her the best.

Hope you made a few quid to tide you over the hump here.

[Demsrule86]

3. Congrats! Two years ago, I sold my house in Cortland Ohio. We did not have it on the market...

We were finishing up a couple of things touch up paint, cleaning etc. We did a 'house is coming post' and this one realtor begged to show it...we said no no...finally gave in. It was the Saturday before Mother's Day so I cleaned all day...I am a maniac about these things...finished as they were pulling in the driveway. Hubs and I left. We drove down the road and waited. We were meeting the kids for a dinner for Mother's Day a my favorite restaurant in a couple of hours. I was wearing my cleaning clothes still...figured they would be out within say 30 minutes at the most. Well I had to go to a store buy a dress, clean up in their bathroom and finally after they had been in for hours...we got a call that they had made a full price offer. We had another offer come in even though the people hadn't seen it and we ended up selling it for more than asking. At that point, no more cleaning and no showings...we had backup offers so the buyers were pretty laid back and asked for very little...easiest sale ever! It was a large two story colonial that we had renovated ourselves. Hubs got a new job in Cleveland and the commute was miserable so we moved.

[gademocrat7]

4. Great news!

Congratulations on the house sale and having your mother close by.

[blm]

5. Happy for you - no stress.

😉

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. That is fabulous.

I get so frustrated by the many stories of elderly parents who adamantly refuse to consider leaving their homes, when they really have no business trying to remain on their own. I am so glad your mother finally understood what is needed.

I'm all of 71, and I know that if I live as long as I hope (I have plans for my 97th birthday) I will probably need to be in some sort of independent/assisted living place. I will do my best not to stay on my own longer than I can really take care of myself.

[3catwoman3]

11. It was actually one of those "blessing in...

...disguise” situations for her to fall ill while she was here visiting. She couldn’t go back to Rochester unless I took her to the airport, and I told her I wasn’t taking her. That made it relatively easy. Had this occurred while she was still in Rochester, convincing her to move would have been hellishly difficult.

I am her only surviving child. My only sibling, my brother, died way too young at 23 in a scuba diving adventure that did not go well. No extended family back in NY, so it makes sense for her to be near me, finally.

She is 98, and mentally sharp as a tack.

[yellowdogintexas]

17. I am absolutely certain I will end up in Arizona

at some point. My only child lives there, so if I am left alone, she will make me move

[spanone]

7. K&R

[iluvtennis]

8. Congratulations! Think it was good move to move your mom closer to you. nt

[3catwoman3]

13. Most definitely.

My post 11 above has more details if you are interested.

[iluvtennis]

19. Aww, 98 and sharp as a tack - I love her.

[flamin lib]

9. This shows the value of a professional realtor.

Staging and presentation make all the difference and a hot market helps. When my clients did as I told them they got more than market, when they didn't it languished.

The decision to buy is made in the first 3 minutes, after that it's all about justifying the decision.

[3catwoman3]

16. And sometimes the decision NOT to buy...

...is made in the first 30 seconds!

I was once taken to a home that had a huge water tower right behind the house that looked like a Saturn rocket ready to be launched. I said to the realtor, “Don’t even take me inside.”

Another time, we looked at an available lot in a development that was almost completed. Location was OK, but the street was named Penny Lane. My husband was married once before, and his ex-wife’s name is Penny. I tried, ever-so-briefly, to convince myself that I could only think of the Beatles’ song, but I knew that would not work. Some things you should not have to do, and living on a street that shares a name with your spouse’s ex is one of them -

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. How wonderful!

[Tucker08087]

12. So nice to hear good news!

Thank you for sharing. Congratulations to you, and how nice that your family’s home has a new, young family to continue making happy memories! I love happy endings!

[sprinkleeninow]

14. very well done! 👍

[calimary]

15. Oh EXCELLENT!

Thanks for the good news! It means so much during such a miserable time.

[2naSalit]

18. That was fast!

Congrats!

[More_Cowbell]

20. I bet that your mom will like to hear about the young family that will live there

I know she won't regret her move, but still it will probably make her smile to think about a new family making a life where she did.

[woodsprite]

21. Congratulations! That is awesome, and wicked fast! nt

[bucolic_frolic]

22. COngrats

A small house is a wise investment for a young couple. Low heat, low taxes, older house - all the known bugs worked out! And while the speed hints it might have fetched more, a good realtor knows his customers, and sometimes young, enthusiastic and inexperienced buyers will pay a bit more than most because they really need a place to live and have years to make bank on it. Sounds like you made a good deal for all.

Thanks for the post ... I may be traveling in that type of boat sooner or later.

[LAS14]

23. Congratulations!!! Nearest big city??? nt

[3catwoman3]

26. My mom's about-to-be-former house...

...is located in one the the many suburbs that make up the city of Rochester, in New York - home of KODAK, the Eastman School of Music, the University of Rochester, and Bausch and Lomb Optical just to name a few. XEROX also, IIRC. Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony are part of Rochester history. It’s a good small city with lots to do. Only 10 miles from the airport. Half an hour from good beaches on Lake Ontario.

I live in one of the far northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Sorry if TMI.

[LAS14]

27. No, no. Not TMI. Thanks for responding. nt

[displacedtexan]

24. Congrats on your mom's smooth transition to an easier life close to you!

And kudos on accomplishing such a massive endeavor under enormous pressure!

[liberalla]

25. Wow! That's fantastic! Congratulations on the quick sale.

I remember that post about your mother. I'm so glad to hear she's settling in well at the new place.
It sounds like things have worked out well for all involved!

[treefarmers]

28. Yep my neighbors sold their house in the first day with multiple offers

[SheltieLover]

29. Congrats!

Thanks for sharing your great news!