You want us to close when???

wormlady · #1 06/04/12, 07:58 PM

We put our house on the market March 1. Not much activity until the past few weeks. The same party has looked at our house 3 times. Each time they say they need the weekend to think about it.

Today they come in with a low ball offer (which we expected in this economy because if you watch the news they are going on and on about people taking big hits on their homes).

What was more shocking to me than the low offer was that they want to close on JUNE 15!!!.

Hello?!?!? That is 11 days away.

We have countered of course - the price and the closing date. So we will see if we move forward on this deal.

What would you do if you had to move out of your house in 11 days?

We are empty nesters and have repeatedly downsized over the past 5-6 years, but right now my mind is sort of blanking out on how to organize the whole 'pack-up-a-2,000-square-foot-home in 11, actually more like 10 days'.

Anyone care to share their experience in moving out in a hurry?

First step, search on Craig's list for boxes and wardrobes....
Second step, start packing kitchen - I think we will just use the picnic basket plates and utensils for the next 10 days.
DH is on his own for the tools and fishing equipment. I will use my small fabric stash to wrap breakables....

Jokarva · #2 06/04/12, 08:11 PM

We sold our house in VA last summer, first buyer wanted a 30 day closing and we agreed....but that sale fell thru. Backup buyer wanted about a 60 day closing. We objected but that was the best they could do. Well - thank goodness! We needed every minute of that 60 days to organize, pack and move (took several trips)....we are slow starters I guess.

If we had to move in 11 days??? I'd pile it all in the driveway and light a match to it. That's my plan if we ever have to move again anyway. Good luck with the negotiations!

ErinP · #3 06/04/12, 08:17 PM

Actually we DID the pile-it-in-the-driveway-and-light-a-match thing the last time we moved. (We used an old water tank as our burn barrel. Burned everything from trash to an old LazyBoy)
We had lived in that house a mere 6 years and it still took us a good 30 days PLUS to get all moved out.

No way could I do it in 11, unless we'd lived there less than 6 months. lol

Haven · #4 06/04/12, 08:36 PM

If they are already pre approved for financing by a bank, I would accept their closing date. Houses are hard to sell now, and it's hard to find approved buyers.

Chances are you will be waiting a looong time for the bank to get things in order. Banks are really dragging their feet right now on closings. A few realtors I know have had to wait 1 - 2 months to close on some houses because the banks cut back jobs and the people they kept are flooded with too much work now.

countrysunshine · #5 06/04/12, 08:59 PM

I would call professional movers if I could afford it. Otherwise, call family and friends in to help and accept it won't all be "your way".

I have moved more than one family member with no preparation in about 24 hours time from start to finish. It can be done. Our last load was always a dump run.

We moved my mom out of the house she had lived in for 26 years with NO preparation in about a 10 hour day.

fantasymaker · #6 06/04/12, 10:01 PM

LOL closeing day does NOT mean moving day!
Id never concider moving till AFTER the closeing since until then they could back out !!!i
Give yourself a comfortable period after the closeing to move.

Harry Chickpea · #7 06/04/12, 10:35 PM

Yeah, you write in that you get to "rent" the house after closing for a period of X days.

Something is niggling me about that fast closing. I've learned over the years that whenever someone suddenly wants something yesterday, nothing good will come of it.

If you need to move fast, local temporary labor for hire, a rental truck and a storage unit. You offer a "tip" to any worker who does NOT break or damage anything, a little under the table for "expenses", and you supply the meals.

If you have a little extra money, the file cartons sold in office supply stores are some of the very best boxes for moving. They are solid, have lids and can be easily sealed, have handles, and are a consistent and reasonable size that won't break your back. Otherwise, 18 cubes, 24 cubes, and one or two wardrobe are all most people need.

stef · #8 06/04/12, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wormlady

We put our house on the market March 1. Not much activity until the past few weeks. The same party has looked at our house 3 times. Each time they say they need the weekend to think about it.

Today they come in with a low ball offer (which we expected in this economy because if you watch the news they are going on and on about people taking big hits on their homes).

What was more shocking to me than the low offer was that they want to close on JUNE 15!!!.

Hello?!?!? That is 11 days away.

We have countered of course - the price and the closing date. So we will see if we move forward on this deal.

What would you do if you had to move out of your house in 11 days?

We are empty nesters and have repeatedly downsized over the past 5-6 years, but right now my mind is sort of blanking out on how to organize the whole 'pack-up-a-2,000-square-foot-home in 11, actually more like 10 days'.

Anyone care to share their experience in moving out in a hurry?

First step, search on Craig's list for boxes and wardrobes....
Second step, start packing kitchen - I think we will just use the picnic basket plates and utensils for the next 10 days.
DH is on his own for the tools and fishing equipment. I will use my small fabric stash to wrap breakables....

Do these people have the money to back up the offer? Something just doesn't seem quite right here. Why do they have to vacate whatever premises they're occupying so abruptly?

Unless you're in a crisis situation, I'd be very leery of this offer.

As far as selling your house is concerned, this is the prime season for people to look. Are you doing everything you can to make your house appealing? (I'm not saying you aren't...I'm just posing the question.)

When I put my house up for sale I looked at it with a dispassionate eye...I wanted to see what a potential buyer would see when they came in the front door. So, I dressed windows as attractively as I could, I lit small lamps for ambient lighting. I made sure the house was scrupulously clean. Never a dish left out or food sitting around. I made sure it smelled good. You want potential buyers to visualize themselves in the space.

Also, basements and garages that are cluttered and untidy are a turn-off. I know people should realize that the stuff is going with you, but if a house is messy, somehow it gives the impression that the owner really doesn't care about up-keep and there could be unpleasant maintainance surprises for the house hunter.

My house sold in a relatively short time for only a little less than I asked. I know the Lord's hand was on me to make the sale go through, but I had to do my homework, too.

MO_cows · #9 06/04/12, 10:52 PM

You would be surprised what you can do when you have to. We moved our DS's family over Memorial Weekend. 2 story house, 3 bedroom, full of furniture and "stuff". We had son, two of son's friends, DH, total of 4 pickups and 2 trailers, and we moved it all in 2 days. The friends and their pickups were only there on day 1. And not everything was packed because of DDIL being swamped at work and unable to take off. Lots of clothes got moved in trash bags, lots of lamps and odds and ends tucked in the back seat of the pickups and such. It wasn't pretty but it got done. They have to wait until July 11 to get into the new place, so most of their stuff is on pallets in our barn. DH had a brilliant idea - the last load we brought in the stock trailer is STILL in the stock trailer in the barn. It won't have to be unloaded and loaded again, just hitch up and go to the new house.

DarleneJ · #10 06/05/12, 05:13 AM

Ask for boxes at a liquor store. They're free, a good size (you can pack books, etc. without them becoming too heavy, and many of them come with those cardboard dividers which are great for nic naks or take them apart and layer between stacked plates, etc.

NickyBlade · #11 06/05/12, 06:03 AM

We moved in a hurry once... For us, we were going to stay with family for 7 months and not bringing our belongings. An 8x8x16ft pod cost $250 a month. Rather than get two pods and double our price, we gave away all of our knock down furniture that would be cheaper to replace and packed our good stuff. Took 3 days and we packed that pod like tetris.

wormlady · #12 06/05/12, 06:23 AM

Thanks for all the advice/encouragement! I think we can, I think we can....Like I said we have gotten rid of a lot of extraneous stuff over the past several years.

Turns out our buyer is getting married on June 30th and that is why she wants to close AND MOVE IN on the 15th. In our counter offer, we specified June 20th as the closing.

We are so far apart in price though, that we cannot even meet her in the middle. It will be a miracle if this deal works, but we know Who is in the business of miracles.

Our buyer is prequalified, so that is good. DarleneJ thanks so much for the reminder about liquor stores - we were a dry county until this past year. Now two liquor stores have opened and guess who will be visiting both! Let the rumors begin (

small town...).

Packedready · #13 06/05/12, 08:33 AM

Counter with a rent back for an additional 15 days, or close and give possession 15 days after closing.

mnn2501 · #14 06/05/12, 08:38 AM

We've never taken longer than 3 days to pack up and move (and we've had 3 and 4 bedroom houses) and that's normal living to moving truck -- how much stuff do you have?

Part of downsizing is getting rid of stuff.

danielsumner · #15 06/05/12, 08:39 AM

Boxes at Home Depot. They are not expensive and just put them together as needed. You can return the extras.

wormlady · #16 06/05/12, 10:08 AM

Just got a call that they rejected our counter. Oh, well....still packing boxes and getting rid of stuff - thanks for all of your input!

ronbre · #17 06/05/12, 10:35 AM

we moved my mom's house in a weekend, it was a 5 bedroom 3 story house..we just got the family and a lot of pick up trucks and got er done in 1 1 /2 days.

Pam6 · #18 06/05/12, 10:47 AM

It sounded like they wanted a steal of a day and to get your head reeling from the move out date to make you anxious so you were not thinking clearly and so you could not truly consider the money amount they were offering. It sounded like the rush rush move out date was to distract you on the price.

I think I could move my entire household and family with 6 kids in less than a week....depending on how far away the new place is. I would move and unload one room at a time starting with the kids rooms then bathrooms, spare bedroom (storage room for last). I would leave one person at the new house to just reset up the stuff that the loaders unloaded so the loaders could drive back for another load.
I have even thought that I could move in two days. I would invite friends and make them entirely responsible for one room in my house...pack up, move it, reset it up.

Bandit · #19 06/05/12, 11:20 AM

Good luck on finding a buyer that really wants it for what it is really worth , not a tire kicker buying to invest in there future .
We know We will be moving someday out of this rental duplex of 20 yrs. just don't know when and where too , but started last weekend by tossing the sofa , hutch , and a few other items bulky items were Not too Attached too .
Town charges $ 25 to pick up " Bulky Waste " on 1st Monday's , some items $$$$ to toss , like rugs starting with an 8 X 10 @ $ 25.00 and all metal or tv's $ 25 + ea.
As to the items we saved , they went into the Home Depot " Tough Box " 27 gal. tote .
I first heard about them on a Expededition Forum
I belong too , where when on the roof , the contents stay dry , plus they will hold 400 # .
A little pricey , @ $ 13.97 ea. but we are buying a couple a week till everything is packed and stacked
Tough Box from The Home Depot - Model#:207585
NOTE
If any of you go this route for storage containers There are TWO Different ones with the Same SKU. # A square design cover and a diamond design cover , they Are Not Interchangeable .
We went with the Square designed one
Our plan is to fill all of our 18 gal. Sterlite bins and but them into box lot auctions , cleaning out our 30 ft. storage locker as we go and making some $$$$ with out having to pay to dump .
Bandit

Laura Zone 5 · #20 06/05/12, 11:37 AM

THIS thread is why I am purging my home now.

Moved a 1600 SF home and 400 SF garage in 2 days.
That's going from "just living in my house to EMPTY".

When we unpacked, I took my time and threw a TON of stuff away.
That was 9 years ago, and our house now is almost 3 x the size of the old house.
So you can imagine how much........eh hem.......stuff I need to get rid of.

Call friends, kids, grandkids, any able bodied person you can to help. If you belong to a church, see if those folks will help. They may have some boxes too!!