House on the Market - Now we wait...

7 years ago

It's frustrating and exciting at the same time waiting for an offer. I had the same conflict as some others; how much to renovate or at least update this time? Normally, I get a house completely move-in ready, but after having just restored another to 50s perfection, I decided to put this one on the market perfectly clean and empty. Location is highly desirable, and feedback has represented this clearly. That's why I bought it in an hour after finding it - and there were two other offers on the table by noon the first morning.

But goodness, has HGTV had an impact in the past few years. I've purchased homes in all kinds of states of disarray, with clothes still in closets, and junk piled high in basements. Every home I've ever purchased was from an elderly owner and my expectations were in accordance with that reality. Now I'm the older seller (but not that old!).

Mine is pristine and neutral with the gorgeous hardwoods visible but covered in a couple rooms, and the walls are (gasp) cream, not the requisite gray. I did NOT repaint. I've repainted every house I ever bought to my taste anyway. I was thinking, "Let the buyer do it this time!" I have lived long enough to know that you always, ALWAYS keep the older appliances because they last for decades. Just last weekend, my husband whipped up a fabulous brunch in our new-to-us 1960s two level range. My last house had a Kitchen Aid dishwasher that was still working fine since the 50s! Goodness, do you think ANYTHING made today is going to last 50 years?

First showing- everything great, especially location, except the "old appliances (stove only!) . Okie-dokie. I can throw in a new appliance if you make a strong offer.

Second showing - Absolutely nothing was acceptable - except the stellar location. Everything under the sun needs updated. How could we possibly have LIVED in this dump (not exact words, but you get the gist). Ha ha. It's amusing to me.

It's an adventure.

Featured Answer

cpartist

7 years ago

LOL on the expectations.

My first house had gold wall to wall shag style carpet in every room, gold painted woodwork and walls (in a 1927 home!), the original windows, appliances that were over 30 years old, the original tile in the kitchen and second bathroom, the original tile in the 1950's addition along with a 1 wall mini kitchen in the master bedroom.

But it also had gorgeous lincrusta wallpaper on the coved ceiling, 9' high ceilings throughout and was solid as a rock.

We removed the carpet to expose gorgeous maple flooring with a mahogany band defining the rooms. We changed the yellow linoleum kitchen flooring, put in Ikea cabinets, new formica, replaced the stove since it didn't work well, painted the walls a more pleasing color and called the kitchen done.

We painted the rest of the walls a more pleasing color, did all the woodwork in white, removed the kitchenette in the master and added a walk in closet instead, and relandscaped our 40' x 100' plot.

We had no problems selling our property and actually back then (1993) sold it on our own.

Our 1898 house which we bought in 93 and sold in 2010 was actually in worse shape. We did have to replace the stove, fridge and w/d in that kitchen but did keep the ancient KA dw.

"My last house had a Kitchen Aid dishwasher that was still working fine since the 50s! Goodness, do you think ANYTHING made today is going to last 50 years?"

Nope not a thing. Got to love those old appliances. They were workhorses. That's the huge difference. Back then things were built to last. We were also more respectful of our environment too.

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Comments (8)

pudgeder
7 years ago
The right buyer will come along soon enough. I agree, HGTV has done a number on expectations!
midcenturymodernlove
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you! When I compare my expectations to those today, I have to laugh. Of course, I am sure my mom could have said the same thing about my expectations compared to hers right after WW II, when housing was very scarce.
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User
7 years ago
I had to laugh. Several years ago I mentioned that students could reduce the amount of their loans by living in housing that did not have all of the amenities. I was blasted by several parents after I mentioned that some luxuries like dishwashers and pools were not necessities. I keep wondering how most even survived this long without so many things.

I would love to have the pull out range that was in this house when we moved in. It had two ovens including one that had a working spit. It sat on a cabinet and the electric burners which had a cutting board in front of them pulled out. It did need some work as it was down to two burners of the five. and the burners did tilt but it was a thing of beauty. I had seen one exactly like it in Gourmet in the late 1960s advertised for just over $2,000. Alas a friend of my husband decided that I needed a new stove and he and my husband removed and took it to a junk place one day when I was working.
pamghatten
7 years ago
I was laughing this morning as I looked at real estate listings in my neighborhood, I regularly look to see what they are on the market for. Older homes (all were built in the 1950's), with older kitchens and baths ... but the walls had all been painted grey. Really? That's going to sell the house? so funny .... Good luck with your sale!
midcenturymodernlove
Original Author
7 years ago
Yeah, I'm not bothering with the gray! And I did update the baths, but not completely renovate them.
midcenturymodernlove
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Even my son said today - having never bought a house - "WE lived in it for years? How could it need that much updating for someone to buy it?"

Right, son. Right. You WERE listening.
handmethathammer
7 years ago
I hate grey walls, so I'm glad you didn't do that. But I can see how it was not moving the buyers who want move in ready homes at a bargain price.

I think my mom has the same range she had when she bought her house in the 1960s. Some burners are failing. LOL.