whats it take

So you want to move huh? Well we do , But what does it take in a crazy buyers market? well patience, and the willingness to spend money to try and give your home the "WoW "factor.  When i was a child my father would but and sell homes. We would live in them for awhile and then sell to upgrade or make a profit. Now this wasn't your typical house flip. We would live in them for 5-6 years and then sell for what ever the market would return. Seemed like a easy thing to do. First the for sale by owner sign would go up. then we would move. I was either blind to the entire process , or basically back then , there wasn't much of a process.  

Lets jump ahead 30-35 years.  Crown moldings, granite counter tops , all brick homes, and lets not forget stainless steel appliances. These have become the must haves , so much that contractors lure new home buyers  in with all the "top grade "  upgrades.  So we find ourselves needing to compete .  I remember sitting in a park in mountain view ca one day chatting with a neighbor and the discussion of home prices came into the conversation, and i remember telling her that even if home values came down 100000.00  homes would still be very expensive (around 500000.00 -700000.00 ) , my neighbor then proceeded to tell me then homes would be affordable...  excuse me but who in there right *&%%@(& mind thinks that is affordable.  maybe thats why we are in the mess we are in .. 

So my days have been filled competing....            shampood the carpets, painted the room and sarah spent countless hours staging the bookcase .

new rugs ,shampood carpet and paint from floor to ceiling

new staging flowers on the coffee table , new rug, carpets cleaned and paint from top to bottom

 

new floor in the bathroom, paint, framed in the mirror, new lights..

. we were able to find the top of sarahs craft table in the overhaul...

kitchen took new paint, new floor , crown moldings on the cabinets(not shown) counter tops.

and the mighty list goes on and on and on.....     good news is we have the house just the way we want it.  problem is , its 8 years later and we dont get the enjoy it....   but the key thing to remember , if your trying to sell, or trying to buy..   a house is just that , a house........    a home is where we enjoy time with family and friends.