Selling our house in Asheville... Market advice? (sale, 2009)

[JCL78]

Hello All,

My wife and I put our house on the market 4 weeks ago in Asheville. It is a 2005 construction, stick built home in which we have brought from no lawn and no deck to wonderful landscaping and a beautiful custom built deck which we enjoy every day. However, I must be with my family in Denver and we have to sell. We have had 6 showings in 4 weeks, and everyone says it is wonderful and "shows well" but not one bite. We have not had a showing in 8 days now after a fairly steady 6 in the first 3 weeks. The house is listed at $224,900 which in it's class we feel is the best home in that range. Should we be worried about this recent lull in showings and no offers? We are going mad with cleaning every night and day.

Thanks...

Concerned in Asheville

[Father John]

Originally Posted by JCL78

Hello All,

My wife and I put our house on the market 4 weeks ago in Asheville. It is a 2005 construction, stick built home in which we have brought from no lawn and no deck to wonderful landscaping and a beautiful custom built deck which we enjoy every day. However, I must be with my family in Denver and we have to sell. We have had 6 showings in 4 weeks, and everyone says it is wonderful and "shows well" but not one bite. We have not had a showing in 8 days now after a fairly steady 6 in the first 3 weeks. The house is listed at $224,900 which in it's class we feel is the best home in that range. Should we be worried about this recent lull in showings and no offers? We are going mad with cleaning every night and day.

Thanks...

Concerned in Asheville

I don't know Asheville's market, but I have read that North Carolina is slowing down now. A lot depends on the size, location, and desirability of the home. We had 7 showings and have 2 more scheduled after less than a week with just a sign in the yard - not even listed with any agency! But will we sell? Who knows.

Several people here have had homes on the markets for 10 months (San Diego), 6 months (Florida) and so on.

I have said before and I will say again: This is like job hunting. Every person you see who does not buy the house is discouraging, but it only takes ONE success and you are done.

Don't panic. Keep a stiff upper lip and persevere.

Winston Churchill said, "When you are going through Hell, remember to keep moving!" And Captain Taggart said, "Never surrender! Never Give up!"

[fastfilm]

And... "By Grapthar's mighty hammer, what a savings."

[Father John]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

And... "By Grapthar's mighty hammer, what a savings."

LOL! We have a winner!

[larycham]

The housing market around the country reminds us that we are all connected. In NW Florida, where we live, our housing market is affected by the loss of jobs in the auto industry and depression in Michigan--a state that supplies our area with many visitors and retirees. In turn, our dream of moving to the Asheville area is put on hold by the huge inventory of homes here (in part caused by economic conditions in the upper Midwest).

Sad to say, recent forecasts suggest the prospects for change any time soon are dim--late 2009 most likely, some say. For all of us, I hope the market picks up much sooner than that.

[Father John]

Originally Posted by larycham

The housing market around the country reminds us that we are all connected. In NW Florida, where we live, our housing market is affected by the loss of jobs in the auto industry and depression in Michigan--a state that supplies our area with many visitors and retirees. In turn, our dream of moving to the Asheville area is put on hold by the huge inventory of homes here (in part caused by economic conditions in the upper Midwest).

Sad to say, recent forecasts suggest the prospects for change any time soon are dim--late 2009 most likely, some say. For all of us, I hope the market picks up much sooner than that.

While all you say is true, larycham, it does not mean there is no hope or a home won't sell. The average sale time is about 4 months right now. That is slow, but homes ARE selling. The worst states are Arizona (mine), Nevada, and Florida (yours). But my dad's home in Zephyrhills (NW Florida) finally sold after 8 months on the market. We put a sign in our yard and 5 days later have shown to 7 interested people.

Location, condition, location, price, and location are important. If you have those five things and location, you will sell. Guaranteed.

[andybuildz]

Originally Posted by JCL78

Hello All,

My wife and I put our house on the market 4 weeks ago in Asheville. It is a 2005 construction, stick built home in which we have brought from no lawn and no deck to wonderful landscaping and a beautiful custom built deck which we enjoy every day. However, I must be with my family in Denver and we have to sell. We have had 6 showings in 4 weeks, and everyone says it is wonderful and "shows well" but not one bite. We have not had a showing in 8 days now after a fairly steady 6 in the first 3 weeks. The house is listed at $224,900 which in it's class we feel is the best home in that range. Should we be worried about this recent lull in showings and no offers? We are going mad with cleaning every night and day.

Thanks...

Concerned in Asheville

LOL...cleaning every day to show it? LOLOLOL
Join the club!
We're on LI in NY and the house we live in I spent the past four years restoring, renovating and building on to to sell. Its been on the market since Aug 1st with zero bites. LOTS of open houses (DW is a broker for over 25 years) and I'm a renovation contractor/builder 32+- years. See my profile for my website. Its the Goose Hill Rd Project.
Lowered the price twice already as is everyone else around me.

And I'll tell ya what...it used to be location location location but now it only one thing and one thiong only. Price! Adjust the price to the condition and location but don't fool yourself. Wishing and waiting and praying won't make it happen. Price will!
Hey...at least we live in really clean houses...lol.
Not allowed to post the link to the RE listing but heres a link to the Virtual Tour. And you can read about it a little in my web site in my profile if you want. We're in Cold Spring Harbor, LI. Less than an hour to midtown Manhatten on the north shore.
FloorPlanOnline.com - The Next Generation of Virtual Tours!
Hit the red button that says tour on the top right and go to full screen...there's even music...lol
Good luck
andy

[spunky1]

Wow, nice pad!

[VBmom]

Boy, do I know how you feel! Our house has been on the market over 6 months. With a six year old and a 15 year old it is impossible to keep the place spotless. Funny thing is...we have a family from out of state that really wants our house (if they can just sell theirs). This family stopped by on a Sunday, the house was a wreck! They just drove up and said they didn't care if it was clean. We showed it to them and they loved it. Maybe the trick is to not care about the clutter. All this cleaning and staging is exhausting.

[andybuildz]

Originally Posted by spunky1

Wow, nice pad!

Thanks...too bad I can't really enjoy it. What depressing times.