Our house is for sale and the constant showings are making our lives ridiculous right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the opportunities we keep getting even with the way the market is right now, but I just feel run over by a truck at this point.
If we just had to tidy up and go to lunch while they are here, that wouldn't be a big deal, but the list of chores to be done to be competitive is massive;
Please humor me while I ramble, Drew is at school, Roman is sleeping, husband not answering phone.
make sure all laundry is done and put away
run dishwasher, empty
scrub shower, whole bathroom
clean all windows, mirrors
dust everything
clean up yard
empty all trash from rooms and garage trash can and in street
clean kitchen sink, counters, appliances
vacuum carpet, vacuum wood floors, swiffer
put out all new accessories, towels, pillows, soaps, rugs, etc.
wipe down both sets of wood stairs
buy fresh flowers for table (this is adding up quickly)
take all coats, jackets, hats, bags (for 4 people) off hooks and throw into car
take all extra food that does not fit into cupboards (for 4 people) and throw into car because we don't want to draw attention to fact that there is little cupboard space
throw toy bin into car
make all beds, straighten rooms, put away (hide) any personal items
straighten closets and cupboards
These things are difficult because we can't just organize and keep organize, there is no room here to do that - it's why we are moving! So we just start over each time.
open windows to air out - don't cook anything day of
put all business stuff away - again no room to stay organized so this is increasingly irritating when I have to come home and try to get a grip on scheduling, accounting, to do's, etc.
Most of the time I am here with my youngest and scrambling by myself to get it all done.
While we are doing this, we are still trying to make repairs to the house and increase potential. We thought we were done when we listed it, but know we still need to do some. I have two storage units that are full to make the home more spacious, we still need to replace the bathroom sink, fix the crack in the front window, and we're pretty sure we are going to finish the basement and add a 2nd bath.
What is really annoying is the feedback that we are getting is about the fact that the basement isn't finished and there is only one bathroom - well it states that online and in the print outs! Why are we all wasting our time?
I'm really burned out and just want to get my work done, take care of my family, myself, and my clients. But for now, it looks like it will continue. We had one showing on Monday, two on Wed. and now another tomorrow and one Sat.
We have to move; I need an office, we need a playroom, we need another bathroom.
There is a lot more going on here as well, but I'll get into that later. ;)
Thanks ahead of time for your understanding and patience with me returning calls, emails, and getting galleries up.
Also, thank you so much for your support and desire to work with me. I know this sounds kind of cuckoo, but my calender for the year is almost completely full! I have a couple of spots in Aug., Sept is open, and a couple of spots in Oct. That is it.
I was hoping to be able to get to another project that I am excited about this summer, but it looks like it will have to wait until after Christmas time.
Once I moved to Columbus, I started my business over in Video, shooting weddings. I loved many aspects of that; the motion of the image, the support of the music to tell the story. Family-movies are what I would love to get up and running along with what I am currently doing. I hope to be able to offer different packages of either just family movies, or movies along with still images, so you get the best of both worlds.
Alas, it will have to wait. I am excited though.
Let me know your thoughts about any of the above bits and pieces. I can hear you now.........."Just hang in there" "This too shall pass" "It's all for the best" "You are doing it for your family" "You are Wonder Woman!"
Thanks guys, I feel better already. :)
2 comments:
Awww...I'm sorry things are so stressful for you and your family right now! I'm sure it's not easy to constantly transform your home--your living AND working space--to more of a showroom. Being competitive in this market where so many homes are for sale is undoubtedly tough. But remember one of my favorite quotes: "Perfectionism is the enemy of completion". So try to cut yourself some slack and rest a little easier knowing that your home WILL sell, and probably not because of fresh flowers or a lack of evidence that anyone actually lives there. Instead it will probably sell because it feels like a HOME to someone else, just the way it did to you when you bought it. In the meantime, maybe you could try to limit the days of the week you are willing to show your house, and emphasize with your realtor that you don't want people looking who aren't going to buy because of the unfinished basement and single bathroom. That's SUCH a waste of everyone's time. Make your realtor work for YOU, and decide what tips and advice make sense for you, act on them, and discard the rest. So take of your Super Woman cape and let it rest for a bit! :) Better to let that rest than your sanity and your health!!! Good luck.
Lisa - I understand the madness! My best advice, pick up a few under the bed totes. You can throw the extra food and bags and coats in them at a moment's notice, and put them under beds, stack in the garage (people wont know its stuff you use every day, they will think you have started packing to move) and you can grab them to use and put back. Remember that you priced the house without a finished basement. Someone will want to buy it that way and finish it themselves - I promise. We did =) Take care!!! Erin
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