This past Sunday we had our first open house. It was pouring rain, gusty winds, and most of the rivers and streams in the area were near flood stage. It was miserable out. Not the kind of day you want for your first open house. Our realtor called us that morning to make sure our basement was not taking on water (it wasn’t) and to dial back our expectations. “Tire kickers don’t come out on a day like today,” he said. “Whoever comes is a serious buyer, but I wouldn’t expect a lot of activity.”
Fifteen minutes before the open house there were two cars outside. Meanwhile, my husband was getting on a plane to California where he’d be spending the week training for his new job. He wasn’t landing on the west coast until 1:30am ET. I didn’t think that a problem because, well, I didn’t think anyone was coming to my open house! While the open house was going on we went to visit friends, then to church, and when we came back home I got the first call from my realtor.
Turns out 18 parties came through my house in two hours. And we already had an offer. A very good one.
I panicked. My head started spinning. I hadn’t even gotten used to the idea of my house being on the market and yet here we were talking about a closing date. My husband was up in the air. Totally unreachable.
When, I wondered, can we use our cell phones on airplanes?
With nothing else to do but stew by myself, I finally went to bed and set my alarm for 2am. I woke up, called the husband, and we discussed the offer and closing date, which was much sooner than we had ever anticipated.
Later that morning, a second offer came in.
My realtor asked, “Do you know how many sellers would kill to be in your shoes right now?”
“Yes, I do,” I said. “I feel very blessed. But also overwhelmed.”
Last night we signed the purchase offer and today my house is under agreement. I can only hope our house hunting trip in New York over Easter goes just as well and just as fast. Because the one scenario I didn’t really plan for is the one where we don’t have any house to live in.
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24 Responses to It’s All Happening So Fast
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Did I tell you it wouldn’t take long–your house is so beautiful. You’re right, though, it doesn’t give ME much time to get used to the idea either. We’ll really miss you guys!! I think you have great adventures ahead….
Congratulations!
Make a good list of what you need and want in your New York house before you go for Easter. We have bought all of our houses very quickly, it really helps to have done your thinking before you see all the pretty houses.
Congratulations! That is so great, especially in this market. I hope you find a house over Easter and that you can relax a little and have fun looking. My husband and I were just talking about how no one ever sells a house during an open house, but I will tell him about this exception!
Awesome! Congratulations!
Isn’t it head swirling crazy when this happens! We put our first home up for sale and on Day 7 we received 8 offers – all in one day. And every one of them was for above our asking price. It was insane and unreal. And bad because now we’ll think that always happens. Sadly it doesn’t happen for everyone but I’m so glad it did for you! Just remember what the Chevy director (sorry, forgot her name) that Kristin interviewed at SXSW said about how she makes it through her working mom day – she only thinks of tomorrow’s day & plans because if she starts thinking beyond tomorrow she’ll panic. Congrats again!
I’m not surprised, because your house is beautiful, but it IS overwhelming. Take a deep breath…
That’s great news, Erin. You will find a house. Take it from someone who has been there. I came back from Beijing in May for 4 days, after 2, I thought I’d be going back with no house, but on day 3 we walked into the house we knew would be ours. Our realtor was fabulous. I highly recommend something she does, she writes a letter of introduction about the family who wants to buy the house. The sellers of our house had 4 offers and they chose ours because of the letter.
Good luck to you and yours.
That’s wonderful news Erin! Take your Must Have/Nice to Have list and forward it to the realtor you will be using in NY. That will really help them narrow down your choices and your perfect house should be on that list. Good luck & happy hunting!
That is so great! We are putting ours on the market soon, I can only hope it happens the same way. CONGRATS!
Erin, congratulations on the progress! It seems like it was “meant to be”, huh? From one OCD planner to another, I can totally understand how panicked you might feel. BUT, it will be okay, and you WILL find a place to live!
P.S. How’s Kristin taking the news?
Congrats Erin – and I know exactly what you’re going through (only we made the aggravating mistake of FSBO when we last moved. Saved money but OH so stressful!) We’ve moved 3 times in 10 years and 2 of those 3 times we’ve purchased our house with one mega day of hunting by doing it without the kids – and logging oodles of houses in the course of one day. The 3rd time it took us 2 days of looking. Best of luck. Just remember, when one door closes, another opens. I’m just so thankful you and Kirstin are keeping MM on the “air”!!!!
I am mourning for Kristin, Anders, Spohie and Mike! LOL I am happy for you but feel a loss. Silly I know.
I hope you get a wonferful place there and that this will bring a wonderful new dimension to your friendship and show.
I moved from Calgary Canada to Austin TX and left behind my BFF of 16 years. We kept intouch every day and now that I have moved back we are as good as ever. She will ALWAYS be my BFF (20 years and going strong) and distance couldn’t ruin anything. Best of luck.
Wow Mazal Tov! That is wonderful. Good luck on your new start in life.
Reading this made me a little sad. I am happy for you and your husband though. I don’t do change well. So, all I can say is that in my eyes you are handling all of this beautifully. Congrats!
Oh, I forgot to mention that you can look for foreclosed homes in the area you are interested in.
Look at Bank of America, Fannie mae and freddie mac websites. Type in REO in your search. (You can look at other bank’s listings but those are the big three at least they were when I was helping a friend look for a home a couple of years ago)The listing agents that have the homes also normally have more homes that are foreclosed upon. You can make any offer you want and they have to submit it to the bank for approval.
I am sorry for mentioning it if it is not for you. But if the bank already owns the homes, then there is nothing you could do to help the family that was foreclosed upon. This way you may be able to find yourself a nice affordable home.
Congrats! That’s exciting that it sold so quickly! But I understand how selling a house your kids have spent time growing up in is a bittersweet thing! Best of luck finding a new house.
Congrats on the offer! We’re going through the same thing right now and helps to see someone with success in this market. Remember to take a deep breath every now and then!
Erin,
I am so happy for you but sad for us. We had a stager come today and I am just overwhelmed with the “to do” list. I thought you’d keep me motivated with your “on the market” stories. Hey, if it happened to you, it could happen to us. Exciting times!
I have never heard of that happening and I’m shocked with this housing market. Congrats and happy moving!
Congrats!! Our house sold in 3 days w/out an open house. It was a drive-by & they offered full price. We were so astonished! But we’d decided on building a house, which wasn’t completed for another 6 months… so we had to move into an apartment for the remaining time. The apartment was horrible, but we’re in love with our forever-home, so that makes it all worth it! Good luck on your search-I know everything will work out great!!
That is amazing-the market, at least in Boston, must be getting better. Things are looking up, economywise, yay!
Congrats! I bet you do feel like you’re in a whirlwind adventure! Your house is beautiful and you staged it so nice! I’m not surprised that you had 2 offers already. It seems like a nice family area and they get to live in an infamous Manic Mommies house.
That comes with major bragging rights. 
I hope you find your dream home over Easter!
Hugs!
Yolanda
WOW – congratulations Erin (and family). How exciting. You will find a new place to call home. I hope you find it over Easter weekend.
I can’t wait to follow your move experience. Have a great weekend – how lucky you are to not have to keep the house ‘show ready’.
OMG Erin! That is AMAZING!!! I’m so excited for you. I think this is due to all of your hard work and design sensibilities. What a relief not to have to keep your house spotless anymore!
I can’t wait to hear the next installment of your Manic Mommie Move.