We have kids and dogs that tend to make a mess of the house. I’ve been looking into options like Opendoor or an iBuyer since they seem like the only feasible way to sell, but I know I’d likely get a lot less money that way. The house needs a little work, like some landscaping and paint, but honestly, I don’t have the bandwidth to handle that with work and the kids. I really want to move, but I’m not sure how showings would work with the dogs. They aren’t crate trained, and usually, we just leave them in a guest bedroom downstairs when we leave for work or anything. I’m also considering listing it for a lower amount to make it happen, but it feels like things aren’t moving at all right now with the high rates. I really appreciate any advice you all might have. It seems pretty daunting and overwhelming, but I’d love to make it happen.
Talk to experienced agents in your area about the reality of timeline, price, and how showings would go. You can also schedule showings on specific days or times, but that might limit your buyer pool. You’ll likely net more money on the open market than selling to an iBuyer.
@Hadley
That sounds like a good idea. I think I’ll reach out to some agents to get their insights on this.
Could you move to a rental and store your stuff with pods while you sell your house?
Willow said:
Could you move to a rental and store your stuff with pods while you sell your house?
That’s a possibility, but I’m worried that if the house sits for months without selling, those costs would add up quickly.
With pets, you should be prepared for showings to happen anytime, so you’ll need to get the dogs out of the house within a reasonable timeline.
Zenith said:
With pets, you should be prepared for showings to happen anytime, so you’ll need to get the dogs out of the house within a reasonable timeline.
Yeah, that’s a challenge. I’m not sure how to manage that with their routine.
You won’t really know if any iBuyer or cash buyer will offer a ‘lot less’ until you talk to an agent and see what the market value is for a quick sale. You should also consider how much effort and money you’d have to spend to get there.
@Montana
I appreciate that perspective. I guess it makes sense to gather more info first.
What state are you in? Some brokerages will let you borrow funds to fix things up.
Zion said:
What state are you in? Some brokerages will let you borrow funds to fix things up.
I’m in [Your State]. I hadn’t thought about borrowing for repairs. That could be helpful.
We always had the dogs hop in the car with us and went to a park during showings. It worked out pretty well.
Clove said:
We always had the dogs hop in the car with us and went to a park during showings. It worked out pretty well.
That’s a good idea. I think a park visit would keep them happy while we handle showings.
Try to clean up your house, spruce up the yard, and do some painting to get it out of the way. If you or your partner work from home, you can leave with the dogs during showings. Just make sure your realtor communicates with potential buyers that there are dogs and that you will leave with them during the showing. I just sold my condo while still living there, and it worked out fine.
@Whit
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ll definitely start cleaning and sprucing things up. It’s comforting to know it can work out.