Part II - Preparing For Showings And Waiting For Offers

Preparing for Showings is completely anxiety ridden. Presenting a home that looks as if nobody lives there is is an effort ...but it is also a step in separating yourself from the personal aspects of your home.

I am not a perfect housekeeper....my house definately looks lived in.I even have my share of chachkies! But, a week before the listing would be active I found myself entering and re-entering each room, as if I were a stranger, trying to see through another's eyes. I packed away many things and bought new valances and pillows for the Living Room (Red....a concession to some Feng Shui advice). I put on a new comforter ensemble I had been saving for a year! (found it on sale!) and it's matching curtains. It is a beautiful satin set but nothing I would normally use because we have two dogs who sleep on our bed.Much to my family's chagrin...I took all of the frequently used items such as toaster oven, coffee maker, blender etc. off of my counters and put them in a large bin in a closet. The kitchen looked great.....and it really wasn't that difficult to go get the items as needed! I felt compelled to vacuum before every showing and should have bought stock in Windex as I sprayed and polished everything in sight!

One would think it would get less anxious as time went on but every showing was as frantic as the last....picking up and hiding the traces of normal life!

We have been fortunate in having quite a bit of activity and great feedback. We have had five different prospects request second showings.

Every time there is a second showing my husband and I have allowed ourselves the luxury of going out to do drivebys "just in case". Picking out properties to see when we have an offer....don't want to waste a minute! But.....the offers don't come.

The frantic cleaning cycle begins again!

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Edit: In between starting this post and now.....we have received an offer! It was less than the asking but doable....we accepted and are now doing drivebys "For Real"! My next installment will be Dealing With Home Inspection and Finding A New Home!

Concord NH Realtor