[EngiNurse]

Ugh. Nothing on ours yet. I'm not even sure that lowering the price would even help anything, the market is just so ridiculously slow here.

It may be time to start considering renting it out. We can tap some equity through our Home Equity Line of Credit to help pay for my school, and we have enough cash to probably last around 2 years paying the difference between rent and mortgage, but it would make things really tight.

I just don't know.

[Hibiscus]

Great to hear from others in the same boat ... good luck to everyone.

We *just* put our house on the market. Sign is in the front yard. (Breathe in, breathe out, breath in ...) The market in the States is very tough right now and there is a lot for sale in our neighborhood, so here's hoping for the best ...

Good luck!

Where I am in Connecticut there is a glut of houses on the market and prices have dropped 10-20% in the last year. My realtor gave me a hard hitting message up front on what I should ask for my house and showed me the research on comparable local properties to back it up. She visited the properties, advised me on a couple of things I should get fixed. It appears that in the local market houses either sell within the first few weeks or languish for months so you have to go all out at the beginning. (As an aside, this was my excuse to buy the 10-22mm lens I'd been wanting for my camera for a while - to get the wide angle shots inside the house to help sell it of course ....).

I'm hopefully one of the lucky ones, had a verbal offer within a week and a signed contract with inspection and mortgage contingencies a week later. I wish someone had warned me about the horrors of the home inspection - a raft of inspectors spent 5 hours on my 4 year old house and what I hadn't realised was that I would not see the actual written reports. I just got a very dramatic sounding list of faults from the buyer's broker that had me freaked out - my 75 year old flat in London had less alleged defects when I sold it. My realtor just yawned and set her experts on it, seems it is normal to try and beat the price down. All down to the mortgage assessor visit now.

[holland]

Good Luck Enginurse and Hibiscus,

Next comment isn't house related..but saves me PMing you all...listen to this...

G went back to work Monday ( to prove to NZ employers that he was fit to do so), all they did was question him about NZ, drop hints and the like...G came home and said, 'I might as well tell them...they are hinting, it will be easier to get it out in the open', so Tuesday, he hands his notice in to recieve a mouthful about how ungrateful he was to take the full month sick pay when he knew he was going ( do we look stupid????????????), and when G said when do you want me to leave, his boss ( I am being polite) said 'as soon as possible'......G had given 3 weeks notice. He then got the silent treatment all day literally!

He came out of work knackered and said his heart had been racing al day because he was sooooo stressed...so I said 'bye bye firm'...he's not going back, I promptly wrote a letter to his employer...explaining that due to 'his decision to get G out as soon as possible, he will not be returning', etc etc, and posted it last night.....so thats that!

Oh yes and his employer said 'dont think your getting any holiday pay or your week in hand'..................Cheeky ********, he's met his match!!!!!!!!!!

I told him all correspondance is now to be through postal service so we'll see if he sticks to that, as he is prone to turn up a house...and G will probably loose his temper with him!!!!!!!!!!!

Such a shame after over 6 years.....

Soz, know its off topic, but I know a lot of you on here may have some good tips or at least tell me we've done the right thing!!!!!!!!!

J xx

[zardell]

Cheeky ******* indeed !!

Lets just hope you don't need him for a work reference........:(

Julie

xxx

[Helsandfamily]

Thats terrible !!

he is by far better off relaxing (?) a bit before heading out. Makes you even more sure that you are doing the right thing!:yes

Good luck

Hels

[holland]

Whats relaxing?????????? ha ha ha

Julie, unfotunately we will need him for a reference...but we have copies of the letters we have sent so we will just have to hope we have a sympathetic and understanding NZ boss.....I dont want much do I!!!!!!!!!!

[peebles16]

Jade saw this on another thread and replied but wanted to say well done you two for sticking to your guns what a ridiculous way for an employer to behave!!
You go girl!

On the house selling front nothing much to report still no viewers and am as sick and tired as everyone else about doom and gloom reported in the press. Seems smaller houses and flats are selling so where are these people moving too?? We're just about to shell out even more cash on advertising again in the hope that it will generate some interest. We're going to wait till after the weekend and if nothing happens make the dreaded call to Dunc's employers in NZ saying Nov start date looks unlikely - fingers crossed they've been pretty great so far so hopefully should be okay. Job offer is good till March but that doesn't seem that far off given current market??

Hope that fairy arrives soon and I'll be putting her straight to work!!

Good luck folks
Karenx

[Belmont Babes]

Well Jade - you go girl! How very dare he? It's not like G asked for a bad back is it? Oh well what goes around.........

Well with regard to selling....We have decided that we are not dropping price. We are going to sit it out and wait. We are going to enjoy a fab Xmas with friends and family and relax about it all. Hopefully the market will pick up in the New Year. If not I am going to turn into a fairy and just get the job done for us all. :nice1

[Mickstim]

You know what Nat - I reckon I'd rather trust your fairy powers than that waste of time of a fairy we have at the moment!

Jade - I agree. How very dare they? G must have felt pretty rough about that treatment and it is totally unfair.

Nat - I'm with you on the Christmas thing and we are definitely not reducing again (although I'm sure I've said that before!) Our main problem is that we have to be there by end of May and waiting until March/April to hope to get a sale seems to be cutting it very fine. We may just have to go on a holiday and validate but that seems like an awful waste of money - and M is desperate to give up work!

Anyone heard from Specky John at all? He seems to have gone quiet.

Keep the faith everyone - it will happen eventually!

Bxx

[Mickstim]

:clap :clap

Shana - forgot to say well done to you for the sale. Hope it all goes through without a hitch!!

Bx

[holland]

Hey,

Been to solicitors today to pick up a looonnnng form and a contract...the letter in it states that when both parties have signed.......there's no going back!!! yippee

Babr- G is used to the way they are, they are an absolute nightmate and soo unprofessional, he's glad to be out of there

J xx

[holland]

PS- Iv'e got a full time job for him for the next 3 weeks............packing the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[peebles16]

Bet that's a relief Jade to get in writing - well done! And look you've nearly reached your 1000th post - double celebration!!
Karenx

[holland]

oh yes......nearly the big 1000!!!! ha ha I feel 1000....this fresh air in NZ better be as good as people keep saying!!!

J xx

[Caroline and Dave]

This is probably a case of the press stirring things as usual but this sort of thing is not what you want to read.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071011/tuk-uk-britain-rics-fa6b408_2.html

[Belmont Babes]

I keep hearing this but I am not reducing anymore. I think/hope it will all blow over. A storm in a teacup :D Who am I trying to kid?

But, if it doesn't and we really cannot sell, how long will we have until we have to be in NZ? We will be issued with WTR visa. At the moment NZIS have the file on hold waiting for Paul to make a decision which job he is going to take. He has sort of decided but no point in finalising until we sell. Help needed please. Maybe I should email the case officer and put her in the picture. Thoughts?

[Belmont Babes]

Also why do I have a green spot by my name and others have blue?

[peebles16]

Never noticed that before Nat mine's green too!?
Karen

[ruzoko]

At the moment NZIS have the file on hold waiting for Paul to make a decision which job he is going to take. He has sort of decided but no point in finalising until we sell. Help needed please. Maybe I should email the case officer and put her in the picture. Thoughts?

Sorry to butt in, but am I hearing that you've actually got a visa on hold? Does that mean that your time is not ticking away while you sort out your stuff? Is that really possible?

[Silverwing86]

Also why do I have a green spot by my name and others have blue?

Hi guys and gals,

Just to clarify, when the spot is green it shows that you are currently online, when it is blue, you are offline.

I've been following this thread for quite a while now and I really feel for all of you in the process of selling your houses, how incredibly stressful :eek: !

Although ours took six months to sell (in The Netherlands) and we ended up getting a buyer before we even had a definite decision from INZ (due to medical issues), we were lucky in the sense that over there, once you agree on a price with a buyer, you both sign a contract (sort of an 'Intent to Buy') right away and that's it.

They are then committed to buy and if they do pull out, it will cost them (and make you) quite a bit of money. IMO that takes away a lot of the added stress some of you are forced to experience (hang in there Jade, almost there !), as if it isn't all stressful enough as it is !

Anyway, you first need to find that elusive buyer of course, so I've decided to make a feeble attempt to help by sending some magic and good vibes over from NZ.

Here goes:

Hocus Pocus, bubble and squeak,
Send the buyers that they seek,
Let those be of chainless kind,
Fast and sure, let contracts bind,
Let them quick be on their way, (to NZ of course !)
Hear me now, come make their day !

Hmmmm okay, sorry :o, to say I'm not very good at the rhyming thing is being kind :D, but please trust that it's meant well !

Good luck all, every day I check this thread and hope for good news, keeping fingers and toes crossed (although it makes typing a tad complicated ;), it's well worth it if it does anything to help)...

Cheers,
Silver

[holland]

Silver...what a fab post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All people on here selling have been a bit disheartened this week...so Im sure they will be chuffed with your hocus pocus!!!!

J xx

[Mickstim]

Silver...what a fab post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All people on here selling have been a bit disheartened this week...so Im sure they will be chuffed with your hocus pocus!!!!

J xx


My sentiments exactly. Thank you Silver - I am waiting for the spell to work (for all of us!)

Barbxx

[holland]

Hey Barb....how do you highlight what people have said???? ( like you've done up above...). I can't suss it!!

J xx

[vixxann]

Silver - thank you that's great :nice1

I'm all into hocus pocus - especially coming up to Halloween:D
If I see witches flying over then I'll ask them for house selling spells for us all

[peebles16]

Thanks loads Silver :nice1 very thoughtful of you!

Still no sign of the fairy up here - postal strikes ggrrr!
Karenx

[Belmont Babes]

Silver- what fab hocus pocusery for us. Thank you. I'm so pleased you are following the thread too.

karen - how stupid am I about the coloured spot. When you said "that's funny Nat, mines green too I thought "no it's not, it's blue....then the penny dropped. I don't have blonde hair for nothing you know!!!

ruzoko - well no the visa hasn't been issued yet. They are waiting for us to get back in touch about which job will be accepted. When we do I guess the clock will start ticking then? :confused: I will email case officer and ask.

Well maybe on 31st October we should all get around our cauldrons and make a spell for a sale. What do you mean you don't have a cauldron?

[holland]

Solicitor can't fit us in to sort paperwork until Monday grrrrrrr

[peebles16]

Nat must be the blonde highlights for me then:D Off to buy cauldron tomorrow mine's a bit rusty :nice1

Good luck for Monday Jade and positive vibes for all of us so we get loads of viewers at the weekend:)

Kx

[Mickstim]

Jade - just hit the 'quote' buttton at the bottom of someone's post if you want to quote it.

I'm all for a bit of witchery on Halloween if it's going to get this house sold.

Lots of luck to everyone - anyone with a viewing booked for the weekend? Not us again!

Bxx

[holland]

[QUOTE=Mickstim;157694]Jade - just hit the 'quote' buttton at the bottom of someone's post if you want to quote it.

testing testing

[holland]

its not done it right ....................

Got to go back to work now!!!!!!!!!!

[Silverwing86]

testing testing

:laugh Somehow the end quote, which looks like this [ / quote ] (but without the spaces in between), got lost :D !

Give it another shot ?

Silver

[Mickstim]

its not done it right ....................

Got to go back to work now!!!!!!!!!!


Try again Jade!!!

[holland]

Try again Jade!!!


testing testing 1, 2!!! I know it won't do it...I must be doing something wrong!

[holland]

wwwwwaaaaaaahhhhhhooooooooooooo!!!!

:laugh I can quote

[holland]

Jade - just hit the 'quote' buttton at the bottom of someone's post if you want to quote it.


Bxx


Just testing if I can quote part of someones post...fingers crossed

[holland]

yeeeaaahhh...sussed it!:yes

[Mickstim]

:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

Bananas for being clever J!!!

[Mickstim]

Just checked on Rightmove and the house round the corner from us has reduced in price AGAIN. It started out in May at £450 000 and has now reduced to £369 950. They have dropped the price about 6 times but now that is by £80 000. This is scary stuff - cos if they don't sell at that price then there is no hope! I think it was overpriced to begin with but now it is surely the bargain of the century. I will be watching it closely :rolleyes:

[Belmont Babes]

Barb that's mad. They can obviously afford to drop where as we can definitely not!

[Mickstim]

Barb that's mad. They can obviously afford to drop where as we can definitely not!

Either that or they are totally desperate! I don't actually know them so have no idea of their circumstances - they obviously don't have any fairies at the bottom of their garden though!

Bxx

[Andy-Dee]

Has Peebles got the fairy yet - it needs to have a quick turnaround and head South again.

[lockstock]

yeeeaaahhh...sussed it!:yes

And I can do it too now! Thanks for the tutorials guys!!!!

[holland]

Estate agent rang today and the 'Sold' sign should go up this week!! yippee, Im going to take a photo we've waited that long!!

Been into Blackpool shopping today...and realised why I am going to NZ!! Sooooo busy, people coughing on me, toilets out of order,cash machines not working in shops, people barging into me, raining and everyone had a face like a slapped bottom!!

Sooooooo while everybody else was buying jumpers...I was in the sale section buying flip flops!!!:yes :D

Posivibes to all

J xxxx

[zardell]

I was in the sale section buying flip flops!!!:yes :D

J xxxx



Well, a girl can never have enough jandals........:D

Julie

xx

[Mickstim]

I am soooooooooooo jealous Jade, but very, very glad for you too!

Posivibes for everyone else!

Bxx

[holland]

eh.....50p Jandals at that!!!

[Smiler]

Been into Blackpool shopping today...and realised why I am going to NZ!! Sooooo busy, people coughing on me


Sorry quick rant - Why is it people have lost the ability to put their hand over their mouth and turn away from someone when they cough???? :mad:

Looking forward to seeing a pic of that SOLD sign. :nice1

[holland]

Smiler.....everyone I have come accross today have clearly not been taught/shown how to this!! cough, cough, cough, cough, cough:(

J xx

[zardell]

eh.....50p Jandals at that!!!


Thats my kind of shopping...:nice1

Julie

xx

[Andy-Dee]

Do they come with kitten heels in NZ?????

[peebles16]

Still no sign of the fairy up in Scotland - must have got lost along with all the viewers?!

[holland]

Has it still not arrived peebles?? Im sure its on its way!!

[Andy-Dee]

If she's not there tomorrow, I'm putting a hit out on her with a couple of dodgy elves I know.

[EngiNurse]

Our realtor told us that if we really want to sell before we have to leave, we'll have to significantly reduce our price, incurring a large loss.

I'm not happy.

It looks like I'll have to take a loan from my 401k to fund school, and we'll rent out the house while the market stabilizes. :wah

[Mickstim]

That's a real shame Enginurse. Is there a good rental market there? We are also very reluctant to do that but who knows - if things don't pick up here we may have to do the same.

Bx

[Shana F]

So sorry, Enginurse. I know renting the house is a huge hassle, but who knows ... it might be better to wait until the market improves and sell at a nice profit. I'm feeling your pain ... we bought our house two years ago (when the market was hot and we thought we were going to be in Atlanta for a long time) and now there is a huge glut of houses for sale in our neighborhood. We've only been on the market a week but I'm mentally preparing myself for what happens if it doesn't sell (at a decent price) in time.

I was talking to my dad about it (he is extremely practical and fiscally conservative) and he said, "Yeah, there's a good chance you'll lose money on the house, but you can't let a house stop you from living your life." Not what I expected him to say at all, and it makes me feel better when I'm down about the market ...

[holland]

Oh dear...I don't know what to say...the market is so depressing at the minute xxxxx posivibes to all as usual!

I feel awful posting about where we are upto, when you are all having a tough time xxxx

We signed contacts yesterday, the other side are still waiting for the searches to coe back and then they have to sign contracts, we are hoping to exchange next week. We have singed everything though, so hopefully no more trips to the solicitors xx

[Belmont Babes]

Jade you musn't feel bad, you have had far more than your fair share on the journey. You deserve nothing but the best for the remainder of your journey X
X

Well the market does look depressed, but things can only get better. I am trying to remain positive. Renting for us isn't an option so looks like we will have to wait it out. I can't help feeling totally removed from all thing to do with NZ. I feel totally in limbo.

All the best to all
Nat X

[Mickstim]

Jade - well done on the signing. Believe me you have nothing to feel guilty about (except maybe starting this endless thread??) We are so happy for you to have got so far.

Nat - I'm with you on the limbo thing. It is so very, very frustrating. I was chatting to my son in Tauranga at the weekend and it seems things are pretty much the same there. Houses in his area that were on the market when we were there in May are still not sold too - so seems to be a worldwide slump going on. We will make it though, one of these days.

Positive vibes to all

Barb xxx

[peebles16]

Oh Jade nothing to feel bad about! The fact that you're moving on with the whole thing gives me hope that all of us posting on the endless thread will be doing the same very, very soon!!

Renting not option for us either really and getting worried about OH's job but trying as ever to be positive.

P.S. Still no fairy thinking about stalking the postie - bit OTT!?!

Best of luck to all and positive vibes
Kx

[holland]

We have singed everything though, so hopefully no more trips to the solicitors xx


:laugh took me ages to come up with the lyrics, but I composed a song about our house and the fairy...

:D

J xx

[holland]

Note to self..........check typing errors before posting!!!!:D

[holland]

I have a SOLD sign, but don't know how to post pic...never mind!!

[Mickstim]

Amazing!! Hope you manage to figure out how to post it. Can't you just copy and paste? I wanna see it!


Bxx

[holland]

Nah...not that easy unfortunately.....

J xx

[holland]

oh my goodness...after lots of reading, Im going to TRY and post photo...ha ha ha...are you placing bets on whether this works??????????

[holland]

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff179/velidhu/house3001.jpg

I look very serious!!!!!!!!! I felt like a donkey traffuc kept going past wondering what we we're doing!!

J xx

[holland]

HOW BIIIIIIIGGGGGGGG.................oh my goodness, how embarrasing, I don't know how to make it smaller!!

[holland]

I Hope this has deleted????

Smaller???

[Mickstim]

Don't know how big it was Jade but I reckon it is pretty good! Well done girl. What a wonderful sign and a very happy Jade under it.

Now, please can we have one?

Bxx

[holland]

You will get one soon B I am sure of it xxxx

J xx

[peebles16]

Well done Jade!! Don't care how big it is just want lots more of them to share around!
Karenx

[Shana F]

Congrats, Jade ... gives us all some hope!!!

[Silverwing86]

Brilliant news Jade, congratulations :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana! You must be soooo relieved that it's finally all sorted out !

Nice to be able to put a face to the name and by the way, what a lovely house you've just sold !

Now all you need to concentrate on is getting yourselves over here, piece of cake :p !

Cheers,
Silver