Yes, I understand they are necessary – especially in this market.  South Florida – like much of the country, is in a serious slump.  So why am I selling my house?  Two Reasons – 1 – to get my kid into a different middle school next year, and 2- to downsize a bit. 

I like my realtor, he’s a decent guy.  He dropped in last night – 40 minutes late, a serious pet peeve of mine – to go over what he thinks needs to be done to make the house more saleable.  Touch up paint – makes sense; unclutter the garage – I’ve been after my hubby to do this for years so, um, yeah; resurface the pool – trying, the guy we had all lined up isn’t returning phone calls, got a name for someone who might actually show up to do the job?; power wash the roof and driveway – did that last week (Oh, okay he says); shampoo the rugs and steam the grout – did that last week and remember, this was the model house 12 years ago, the previous owners had big dogs and grandchildren and the carpet needs replacing – something the new owners can do (another Oh, okay); power wash the lanai – did that 2 weeks ago (another Oh, okay);  We’ll paint the lanai as soon as the pool is resurfaced, how’s that?  He thought that was okay so long as we didn’t use white.  Then it turned ugly . . .

Could I box up everything in my office and put it in storage?  Um, hell no, I actually need my reference books to write and the promo stuff has to be at my fingertips since I have not 1 but 2 books out in the next 35 days.  Could I take everything off my bathroom vanity?  Um, hell no again.  I’m happy to stick stuff under the sink if/when he shows the house but no, I will not pretend that no one lives here.  Would I move the lingerie cabinet out?  Um, hell no part 3 – call me selfish but I’d like my undies and jammies accessible. Could we box up my daughter’s toys and books?  Gee, she’s 10 and call me silly but I think she’d like to have toys and books.  And my personal favorite – could I get rid of some of my shoes? 

And I thought the most painful part of yesterday was having the stitches removed from my foot . . .

Yep, they want it to look like no one lives ther--almost. When I was living with OCD man, we must have had the only house that needed to be cluttered up a little, according to the agent, who would show up with a box of potted plants and knick-knacks before each open house.

I know they like potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in the house. I don't want to see a mess, but having normal things on the vanity or a child's books and toys or an office in actual use is not a mess. It's a living house.

Thanks Toni & Mary! I have no problem decluttering but when he wanted me to take the toaster, coffee pot and telephone (we have one of those 1 phone plugs into the land line and all the extensions work off outlets) off the counters I was dumb founded. What? Potential buyers are going to be put off because we make toast (ps - it's stainless steel and my OCD requires me to clean the crumbs out daily), drink coffee or use the phone? Makes me wish I had a mortgage to default on

Friday, February 1st 2008 @ 2:35 PM

Scary -- we might be going through the same sort of thing, although at the moment, thank goodness, it's not urgent. The thought of a realtor coming in and telling me what will make my house marketable is scary. I LIKE my clutter. And although I know 'paint' will be a biggie, the thought of what has to be moved to get at the walls sends chills down my spine