Disappointment
Our house has been on the market for a few weeks now. We've had a few phone calls and inquiries, mostly people asking if we would be willing to rent it out or rent to own. We can't rent it out; we have to sell it so we can afford the house we want to buy. So after the whirlwind of cleaning and packing, getting our house ready to sell, we sit and wait. We keep fliers stocked out front, and they have been steadily disappearing, but very few people have called. Two days ago we got a phone call from a lady who asked to see our house-- our first showing! We were excited, and worked over the last couple days to get our house sparkling for a showing, scheduled for this morning.
This morning we put the finishing touches on the house, making sure the beds were made and the trash taken out. Twenty minutes before the appointed time, I took the kids to a neighbor's house so they wouldn't be under foot, and then went back home to wait. At first I walked around polishing spots on the floor that I hadn't noticed before and putting away a stuffed animal the kids had left on the floor. I wandered around trying to imagine what my impression would be if I were seeing the rooms for the first time. Satisfied that we had done all we could do, I eventually picked up my book and started reading. The minutes ticked past. But no one knocked on the door. I didn't hear footsteps on the walk, I didn't see any cars pull up in front of the house. The phone didn't ring with someone asking for directions or apologizing that they were running late. The house was silent. I waited for half an hour, then slowly left the house to get the kids and bring them back to our still for sale, still unseen house.
I feel frustrated, maybe even a little betrayed. We worked hard to prepare our home to be shown. It isn't like a house that is vacant, that you can clean once, stick a lock box on the door, and let any one come any time. We have four children and we all live here. The lady who called asked if she could see our home. She specifically requested a morning appointment, she knew the day. She had our phone number. What happened to common courtesy, to let someone know when you can't keep an appointment?
At the same time there is frustration. We want to sell our house. We think that people would like our house if they saw it. But no one has seen it. We have posted pictures and ads on the Internet, including the MLS, where real estate agents can find it. We have a sign and fliers out front, facing a fairly busy street. We have done what we can to let people know that it is for sale. What more can we do? Then again it has only been three weeks. We won't give up yet.
This morning we put the finishing touches on the house, making sure the beds were made and the trash taken out. Twenty minutes before the appointed time, I took the kids to a neighbor's house so they wouldn't be under foot, and then went back home to wait. At first I walked around polishing spots on the floor that I hadn't noticed before and putting away a stuffed animal the kids had left on the floor. I wandered around trying to imagine what my impression would be if I were seeing the rooms for the first time. Satisfied that we had done all we could do, I eventually picked up my book and started reading. The minutes ticked past. But no one knocked on the door. I didn't hear footsteps on the walk, I didn't see any cars pull up in front of the house. The phone didn't ring with someone asking for directions or apologizing that they were running late. The house was silent. I waited for half an hour, then slowly left the house to get the kids and bring them back to our still for sale, still unseen house.
I feel frustrated, maybe even a little betrayed. We worked hard to prepare our home to be shown. It isn't like a house that is vacant, that you can clean once, stick a lock box on the door, and let any one come any time. We have four children and we all live here. The lady who called asked if she could see our home. She specifically requested a morning appointment, she knew the day. She had our phone number. What happened to common courtesy, to let someone know when you can't keep an appointment?
At the same time there is frustration. We want to sell our house. We think that people would like our house if they saw it. But no one has seen it. We have posted pictures and ads on the Internet, including the MLS, where real estate agents can find it. We have a sign and fliers out front, facing a fairly busy street. We have done what we can to let people know that it is for sale. What more can we do? Then again it has only been three weeks. We won't give up yet.
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