Selling our house.....UPDATE

[kymom99]

the ones around us certainly do-and one has put a moritorium on interdistrict enrollments because they are already struggling to meet their existing student population's needs.

we were actually approached by someone we did'nt even know (friend of a friend) who floated the idea of letting them use our address in order to enroll their kids in our school district. shot that down and then called the district (my kids were in private school at the time) and asked if they could flag our address somehow to ensure noone claimed it as a basis for enrollment.


one of the public school districts near us implemented the identical system-all teachers instruct on the identical curriculum/schedual b/c depending on where you live within the district you are assigned to a specific school. large rental population so it makes it easier for a kid whose family moves (teachers DETEST it b/c they can't spend more time on a subject/concept if class needs it or excellerate it if they show mastry).

Yeah that’s a sad way to teach, but I can see where it might be necessary in transient areas.

 

[kymom99]

I agree. Which is what gets me in trouble on the Cruise Line Forum where some parents are of the belief that it's not big deal to take a kid out of school for a week for a vacation.

It’s not a big deal in most cases.

 

[tvguy]

It’s not a big deal in most cases.

Depends where you live. It's Felony truancy in California.

 

[Southernmiss]

I wouldn't really call the baked cookie thing as "worked like a charm" if it took 80 days to sell the house. I honestly wonder if your house would have sold in the same 80 days without having to bake 80 batches of cookies (or however many showings you had)

The showings started because I called the realtor.

Once she began to show the house I baked 1 batch of cookies. The very next client she showed the house to bought it.

 

[kymom99]

Depends where you live. It's Felony truancy in California.

In Kentucky you can get an educational enhancement opportunity excuse. It’s not hard to get them approved. But I was speaking as a teacher. Your average kid will not be adversely affected by missing a few days of school for a vacation. Notice I said average, not kids with poor attendance records or those who struggle with academics.

 

[tvguy]

In Kentucky you can get an educational enhancement opportunity excuse. It’s not hard to get them approved. But I was speaking as a teacher. Your average kid will not be adversely affected by missing a few days of school for a vacation. Notice I said average, not kids with poor attendance records or those who struggle with academics.

Another issue is here, with open enrollment, your child's slot at school is not held for them. If your child is in one of the hot schools and there is a waiting list of students wanting in, they forfeit their slot to a student on the waiting list.
Never was an issue for us as my wife and I never had more than 4 weeks vacation at work. Our kids had 15 weeks off over the course of a year, so they had plenty of time for vacations without having to miss school.

 

[cayennews]

I know that someone else said this too, but you should get a St. Joseph statue and bury it in your yard upside down, facing your house. I have bought and sold several homes and have done this. When your house sells you dig up the statue and bring it to your new home and put it in a place of prominence. It has always worked for me.

 

[sam_gordon]

I know that someone else said this too, but you should get a St. Joseph statue and bury it in your yard upside down, facing your house. I have bought and sold several homes and have done this. When your house sells you dig up the statue and bring it to your new home and put it in a place of prominence. It has always worked for me.

We forgot to do that. As far as I know, the figurine is still buried at our old house.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We've had open enrollment here for 20+ years so they don't care where you live anymore. They just care that your child shows up each day so they get their $75+ a day reimbursement from the state.
Wonder how many school districts still require proof of residence to admit a child?

The district where I teach is very strict about residency. The school I am at is near the county line, so several of our teachers live in the next county over, and there own kids can't go to our school because they are out of district and there are no exceptions.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I know that someone else said this too, but you should get a St. Joseph statue and bury it in your yard upside down, facing your house. I have bought and sold several homes and have done this. When your house sells you dig up the statue and bring it to your new home and put it in a place of prominence. It has always worked for me.

We sold our old house in 2009 when the bottom had fallen out of the housing market and nothing seemed to be selling. I buried the St. Joseph and the next showing resulted in us selling the house for only $2000 less than our asking price. I tried to go dig him up after we sold, but couldn't find him in the front flower bed.

 

[Christine]

I think in the last several years, we've all been spoiled by a quick market. Houses selling in hours with bidding wars. Yes, that's great, but should not be the expectation going forward.

As an old person, I recall most home sales taking a "long" time. My dad was a realtor for years, in a bustling area, and we never had an expectation that a house should be sold in "X" days. It could generally take weeks and you had a lot of inconvenience having to leave all the time for showings, etc. It was drudgery selling a home until about 2019. It was so easy at that point, I thought about it just because I can't bear the thoughts of going back to the previous ways of selling and it taking a bit.

With the climbing interest rate yet prices NOT dropping, I wouldn't be panicking at 6 days (or now 7). It would take me another 3 weeks before I even considered dropping the price unless you have to be out.

I have definitely noticed a slow down in my own area because of interest rates. The flip side is that people are hanging onto their homes and lower rate mortgages so inventory is tight--which you'd think would drive sales. In some really, really super hot areas that's still the case but not so much in just regular (but good) neighborhoods.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Only sold one house myself, and I hope that is the last time.

Sold the first house that I/we owned due to divorce. By the time the house was to be sold, I definitely had NO desire to live there anymore, and it felt like the house had a life-draining energy to it. (all emotional baggage aside now) According to my dad, we had trashed it, that is debatable, but we did spend some money, and elbow grease improving it. I remember repainting everything. We had what carpet there was professionally cleaned, had some ripped up and hardwood floors shined up. I don't remember the exact dollar amount, but it wasn't huge what we spent fixing the place.

Anyway, it sold quickly... just took the first (and only) offer. Got an offer within a couple days of the sign being in the yard. We went through a realtor so the process of the business end was pretty easy. All we had to do is show up and sign stuff.

 

[DawnM]

The showings started because I called the realtor.

Once she began to show the house I baked 1 batch of cookies. The very next client she showed the house to bought it.

I dont' understand. The showings started when you called a realtor? Were you trying to sell on your own first? I can't make people come just because I call a realtor. I must be reading this incorrectly.

 

[DawnM]

I think in the last several years, we've all been spoiled by a quick market. Houses selling in hours with bidding wars. Yes, that's great, but should not be the expectation going forward.

As an old person, I recall most home sales taking a "long" time. My dad was a realtor for years, in a bustling area, and we never had an expectation that a house should be sold in "X" days. It could generally take weeks and you had a lot of inconvenience having to leave all the time for showings, etc. It was drudgery selling a home until about 2019. It was so easy at that point, I thought about it just because I can't bear the thoughts of going back to the previous ways of selling and it taking a bit.

With the climbing interest rate yet prices NOT dropping, I wouldn't be panicking at 6 days (or now 7). It would take me another 3 weeks before I even considered dropping the price unless you have to be out.

I have definitely noticed a slow down in my own area because of interest rates. The flip side is that people are hanging onto their homes and lower rate mortgages so inventory is tight--which you'd think would drive sales. In some really, really super hot areas that's still the case but not so much in just regular (but good) neighborhoods.

Yeah, all of that seems to be true here too. And people are moving here faster than housing can keep up. Most of them are moving down from NY/NJ areas. I am in the Charlotte area.

 

[lifesavacation]

You’re going to be fighting interest rates. Price to make up for that or expect it to take longer.

Best of luck to you.

 

[DawnM]

Depends where you live. It's Felony truancy in California.

Things have changed in CA. I haven't worked in public education since 2005 in CA. We had students barely even come to school and nothing ever happened.

However, I will say that even though it is on the books, I doubt it is enforced very much. In talking to friends still working in the schools I was in, it doesn't sound like things have changed that much. These aren't kids going on cruises, these are teens skipping school.

It is the same here in NC. We as school counselors will even call to report truant students (typically even though the schools say 10 days, we wait until around 30 to call) and nothing is really ever done to anyone other than failing classes.

 

[DawnM]

You’re going to be fighting interest rates. Price to make up for that or expect it to take longer.

Best of luck to you.

We are trusting the judgement of our realtor AND the stats for our neighborhood. However, lowering the price is something we are willing to do if necessary. Yes, I want it sold YESTERDAY, but that is just wishful thinking.

And people who can't afford our neighborhood won't come look. All the houses in our immediate area with our square footage and upgrades are priced similarly. In fact, ours is lower than many. But we have a big house and it will take a certain buyer. It just sucks to wait and have to go through the showings and such.

 

[DawnM]

Another issue is here, with open enrollment, your child's slot at school is not held for them. If your child is in one of the hot schools and there is a waiting list of students wanting in, they forfeit their slot to a student on the waiting list.
Never was an issue for us as my wife and I never had more than 4 weeks vacation at work. Our kids had 15 weeks off over the course of a year, so they had plenty of time for vacations without having to miss school.

Plenty of time, but unfortunately, during peak seasons, when the rest of the world is out. When crowds are high, costs are up, etc.....

I SO miss year rounds schools where I worked for 17 years. It depended on which track I was on, but there were many years I was on B Track of a Concept 6 Schedule and it was fantastic. I was off March and April and then again for Sept/Oct. Our school year went July 1-June 30th with breaks throughout.

I travelled all over the world for lower fares, low crowds, cooler weather, etc.....

 

[lifesavacation]

We are trusting the judgement of our realtor AND the stats for our neighborhood. However, lowering the price is something we are willing to do if necessary. Yes, I want it sold YESTERDAY, but that is just wishful thinking.

And people who can't afford our neighborhood won't come look. All the houses in our immediate area with our square footage and upgrades are priced similarly. In fact, ours is lower than many. But we have a big house and it will take a certain buyer. It just sucks to wait and have to go through the showings and such.

There’s just less buyers right now because of interest rates. Especially since rates have bounced up from historical lows. People are aware of how much they’ve gone up so only really interested people are out looking. There is more inventory to choose from. But I don’t know your specific market. You might be priced appropriately but your neighbor may be really motivated to sell and put his house on market for less and that’s a big deal to some buyers. Try to be patient. Selling a house is stressful.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Sold only one house, in 2016. Had a great real estate agent. Up for sale, open house and offer all within 3 days. I live in a desirable area with a very highly rated school district. This year is the least amount of homes I've seen for sale in my neighborhood. There is a 50+ community in town. Very popular. Homes would sale even before being put on MLS. Now seeing them listed and then with price drops.