Linda {Calling it Home} 7/23/14 Linda {Calling it Home} 7/23/14

Selling Our Home

Since we are all blog readers and stalkers, it should come as no surprise that the agents I interviewed unanimously agreed in today's market, selling a home is all about the internet. Gone are the day's when people open the Sunday paper to find an open house....well, maybe a few do, but most of us know how to search and stalk homes online. And that makes it all about the picture.

My agent's company has an in-house photographer that shoots all of their listings. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the company photo's and included hiring a professional photographer as a requirement to earn our listing. The photographer she hired was amazing and I really liked working with him. The goal is about selling open space not personal taste so nothing on the counters, all lights on, and shoot from the furthest point possible.

I told my agent that I only had one chance to get this right. We purchased our home in a hot real estate market and it looked like we were headed into one again....fifteen years later. I left nothing to chance the house was about to have its biggest audition. The home went on the MLS's on a Monday with specific instructions, "No showings until the Realtors Tour on Friday". There was an open house on that Sunday.

That Friday, the Realtors Tour broke our agents record of most agents to attend. The previous record was set in 2009. Six agents brought clients with them, as well. That night we got our first offer. They say your first offer is your best, but that was not the case for us. Because our listing stated a company relocation, this potential buyer thought we were desperate for a quick sale. According to the letter that accompanied the offer, he is a Neurosurgeon with a very pregnant wife. Not only did they want to buy the home at a low price, they also wanted us out before school ended. We chose not to counter his offer.

There were non-stop showings from Friday through the open house on Sunday and shortly after the open house, we got our second offer. It was from a professional couple and unlike the first offer, it was a good place to start. Meanwhile, the Neurosurgeon's agent was begging for a counter offer. We counter both offers at the same price.

While couple one and two were contemplating our counter offer our home was being shown at a steady pace. It was exhausting to keep the home looking perfect and ready for show at a moments notice.

You can see that this picture was taken before Jennifer's artwork arrived.

I was told that a 'New York' couple was seriously interested in our home. They came to see the home multiple times. One time was in the pouring rain so they asked to come back again the next day. They submitted a good clean offer that gave us the terms we wanted. We accepted.

The entire sales process was a little over one week. I met the couple during the home inspection. They were lovely and she even brought her father along to see the home. He and I had an interesting chat about covering a/c units in the winter :).

The only thing that I regret is that I won't be able to be their neighbor, although that would be impossible because we would want to live in the same home.

Remember when I told you my home would sell between (A) & (B) leaving me with a specific number in my head? It sold for almost that exact number.

The moral of this story, don't ask your Neurosurgeon for real estate advice.

I sincerely wish the 'New York' couple all the love and happiness we felt when we lived in this home.

Linda {Calling it Home} 8/14/13 Linda {Calling it Home} 8/14/13

A Hamptons Cottage

Thank you for your lovely comments on my CL finds. I would like everyone to know that I will not be painting the Chinoiserie wood chandelier. I'm crazy, not certifiable.

As for the sofas....I never know what is more interesting...the CL finds or the CL stories. The short story is that the sofas were delivered to my home by two lovely gentlemen. We all met at the apartment, I paid the seller and then paid the movers upon delivery. The long story is that it took weeks in the making and a lot of emailing to make all of this happen. Everyone worked together, including the seller who lowered her price to help cover the moving costs ;-)

And now I want to obsess with all of you over this charming Hamptons Cottage. I think it is perfect...let's go stalk it.

All Photos Courtesy of Wettlig Architects

What do you think? Would you change anything?

Linda {Calling it Home} 3/11/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 3/11/12

Adirondack Chairs

I have a few Adirondack chairs, nothing special...the plastic kind. They are tired, faded and could use a fresh coat of paint. I just can't decide what color.

Source

Do you have a favorite color? I must admit...I think mine is the last one. I just love French Blue in the garden.

Linda {Calling it Home} 2/7/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 2/7/12

House Stalking...again!

It's February and spring is just a bit too far away for my liking. Our winter has been mild and not much snow to mention. If I just jinxed it for our area....I'm sorry. However, it is still not gardening weather. So, I'm going back to Nantucket....visually!

This one will do just fine

Source

The inside of this home is not what I would have expected...so, I'm just showing you the outside. If you want to see beautiful interiors of Nantucket homes, go here.

Linda {Calling it Home} 1/29/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 1/29/12

Take a picture of your screen!!!

Last Wednesday, ABC has decided, yet again....to show a rerun of my favorite show Revenge. I am sure it is part of a plot to hit it hard during February (sweeps), and get huge ratings. What ABC doesn't know, is that my other favorite "Hampton's" show just started....Royal Pains!

You know where I was headed (with all my extra time, thanks ABC) ...Hooked on Houses. I wanted to find some great images from previous episodes for some inspiring ideas. To my shock...Julia (Hooked on Houses) did not have Royal Pains! For years, I have found EVERYTHING I have ever searched for on her site. I sent her an e-mail and she let me know how she does the "magic". Now, many of you may already have figured this out....this post is not for you. For everyone else.....Julia watches a show on her computer and takes a picture of the screen. Here is how you do that.

So easy, right! I went to an older episode of Royal Pains, and took this shot

Here is the disclaimer....although I found this a cool bit of information to know....I won't be doing this very often. Julia also told me that it takes a huge amount of time to capture images from television shows. That was an understatement!! So, for me...my plan is to continue to go to Hooked on Houses. I'll let Julia do all the work. I might dabble with this again, when I have huge amounts of spare time. Is this something you would ever try?