Monday, January 16, 2006

House Fever

I have it bad. Luckily for me, my husband does, too.

We were driving home from an open house when he turned to me with a knowing grin on his face and said, "It feels good to be looking at houses again, doesn't it?"

When I noticed he had bookmarked a mortgage calculator online, the diagnosis was confirmed.

We have moved every two years (or sooner) out of the past six, primarily to take advantage of the tax-free capital gain on residential properties. We can profit in two years because we've bought the houses below market value and added improvements along the way.


Our two-year mark arrives in April. The baby arrives in June.

Now we're left with more questions than answers: When? Where? How? We like to sell our home before buying another, so we know exactly how much money we can spend on the new one.

We have always moved ourselves with U-Hauls and dollies and me on one end of the sofa. Obviously that strategy won't work this spring. We still have a bit more thinking to do!

Either way, I need to begin preparing my house for resale. Showing a home is much different than living in a home.

I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve to make it look like Martha Stewart lives here and (subconsciously) the buyer will, too, after once glance at my laundry room.

Would you like to see some photos and how-to's as I "redesign" the house for resale this spring?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you have any friends or relatives or church folk who can help you move? The only time we've had movers was when the government paid the tab. Otherwise we've always moved ourselves, but every time, my husband's dad has come to help out and do some of the heavy lifting.

And yes, of course, I'd love to see how you get the house ready to show. And I'd love to hear what areas of town you are looking at.

Mrs.Garcia said...

Meredith,Yes I would like to see some photos and how-to's as you "redesign" the house for resale this spring

CallaLilly said...

I love looking at new homes. Please do post pics.

Anonymous said...

I would love to see pictures. We are going to be putting our house on the market in a year or so and I would love to see how a "pro" at this game gets a house ready to sell.
Carrie

Baleboosteh said...

Oooh yes please!

Anonymous said...

Please, Please, Please post pictures and tips! We're trying to sell our house right now too...I have some idaes.....but I can use all the help I can get!

Roberta said...

Yes, photos please!!! We just moved this past summer, but I always love fresh inspiration and ideas for order and creating a cozy home. :)

Anonymous said...

The photos you post are some of my favorite things on your website. You are creative, and your house always looks so cute so, YES!, please post lots of photos, everyday!

MommyLydia said...

Buying houses as often as you do -- if you get a loan, I'd highly suggest reading Searchlight Crusade -- it's a loan person with recommendations on searching for loans, etc. VERY interesting stuff.

Robin said...

Yes! Bring on the pictures!

Anonymous said...

Hi Meredith,

I love your blog! I would very much like to see your remodeling and "preparing your home to show" ideas. These are my favorite entries of yours.

Keep up the good work!

Carol

Emily (Laundry and Lullabies) said...

Pictures - yes please!

My husband and I bought our home (a 2 bedroom condo) a year ago at below market value. We hope to live here for another few years while he finishes grad school, then move (hopefully profiting in the sale) into a larger home as our family grows. I'd love to know how you've gone about doing this successfully twice already! What are your secrets?

Monica Wilkinson said...

I agree, please share pictures!

Meredith said...

Ruth, thank you for passing along that website--looks like a lot of "insider" information to study!

I'll post photos as I go along. I don't have much "home staging" to do with the fun stuff (furniture, art, etc) because I try to set up my home for resale from the very beginning. I will, however, be doing lots of the dirty work--organizing, concealing clutter, and editing our stuff! To me, that is the real secret of selling your home. It's not what you have, but what you get rid of!

Terri said...

I would like to add that I love your pictures, too. They add so much to your site!

Monica Wilkinson said...

Speaking of Martha ideas - and thinking of your blog post in the past, I remembered that she says you should simmer mulling spices (or similar) with cider to make a great smell in the house when you know you'll be showing it!

Meredith said...

Yes, smells are very important in the kitchen. However, I like to keep the kitchen spotless and counters cleared for showing. What I have done in the past is to brew a small pot of hazelnut coffee and then dumping it into the sink just before leaving the house for a showing. It's not overpowering, but it is warm and inviting.

Kristal said...

Meredith, ANY info would be wonderful! DH & I are wanting to start flipping house. I have never done this before & any help would be appreciated.