We Sold Our House!

So, we actually did it. We sold our home! After living in this two bedroom, humble colonial for seven years, we took the plunge and put it on the market. Surprisingly, it sold within the first weekend, to the first showing and above list price. More about that coming soon including how I staged it myself on the cheap.

The decision to sell has been in the works for years.

It probably started around the time Owen was a toddler. The two bedroom thing was starting to become an issue. Eventually we made it work by switching out the master to make it the kids’ shared bedroom.

And then Violet was born, and two bedrooms just wasn’t going to cut it anymore. The hardest part was waiting it out for the right time. This past spring was finally the time.

When that for sale sign went up, the reality hit me. (For the nosey curious I edited out the actual number there for the video listing, so don’t try texting it ?).

Suddenly cars were driving by reallllly slowly and turning around down the road a little ways. People wanted to see it immediately so we booked six showings the first Saturday it was listed. The first two people loved it enough to have competing offers, and by Sunday, it was sold.

Then reality hit me again…we had to find a new house!

We didn’t even know what town we were going to live in, just hoped it would be a closer drive for my husband to work. And conveniences like Wegman’s (our grocery store) and Target which are currently about 25 minutes away. It would be nice to have a few more options other than just the Dollar General and the over priced tiny grocery store when we need something.

We had been looking for a couple of years here and there when something interesting came up, but suddenly we were going to houses every week and then for a little while every day. Finally, we found one. It’s a traditional colonial, on a cul-de-sac, with four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a two car garage. I am excited to finally have what I have been wanting for YEARS: a family room and a living room, two fireplaces, a formal dining room and a finished basement which will be a playroom for the kids. I even get my own bathroom in the new place…whoo hoo.

I have lots more to share about the new place in the coming weeks (we move the end of this month!), but for today I wanted to take you inside this place when I got it all spiffed up and ready to sell. If you are a regular you might not believe how empty it looks! You’ll even see some places I have never shared here before because they never looked this good. I definitely read everything I could about staging and used my own unique style to make it shine for potential buyers. Some photos shown below are from the MLS listing and are credited as such.

Source: GENRIS

Source: GENRIS

My husband finally finished the kitchen we have been working on since this post. Sheesh that took us awhile. It was really both of us for the delay on that (plus having a couple more babies to keep us busy!). I am often very indecisive and don’t like to commit to anything and he gets tired pretty early and has limited free time to work on projects around our house. But he did it and let me tell you…it looked AMAZING! I am actually pretty sad to give it up because the kitchen at our next home is not this nice or big. We are going to make it work though like we always do.

Source GENRIS

I’ll show you more from the upstairs soon, including the shared kids’ bedroom, our bedroom and both the upstairs and downstairs bathroom makeovers. There is so much to do when getting a house ready to sell!

I kept the outside simple, just cleaned it up and put our patio furniture in select places to make it look inviting.

By now you might be thinking, “Where the heck did you put all of your “stuff”?

I actually spent several weeks decluttering our home by donating, putting LOTS of things for free on the side of the road (my neighbors were loving me!) and just plain throwing junk away. I read the book 5 Days to a Clutter Free House (affiliate link*) before I got started and it completely changed my life. I never want to go back to all of the clutter!

After decluttering, I packed up a lot of our belongings to send to a storage garage that we rent. It was really freeing being away from all of it! I only kept what we really needed, simple items to stage with and a small amount of the kids toys. I actually dread bringing it all in and cramming up the new place…hoping to keep things simple there as well. It is a lot easier to maintain!

I’m definitely going to be sad when we walk out the door for the last time to this place. So many memories. We brought all of our children home here. It is the only place they have ever known and I know it will be hard for them to say goodbye to their school and friends and this sweet little place.

But, I am even more hopeful as I look to the future and think of all of the memories that will be made at the next place we will call home. Can’t wait to take you along on the journey!

Sources:
(contains affiliate links and items received through brand partnership*)
Items from Raymour & Flanigan:
Adirondack chairs
Sectional couch & chair
TV cabinet
Dining table & chairs
Black and white geometric rug – Urban Outfitters
Kitchen Cabinet Paint – Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations in Gray
Kitchen and dining room light fixtures – Lowe’s
Faux Peony Arrangement – Target
Front Door Wreath – Target
Hello-Goodbye Doormat – Target
Cast Iron Garden Table and Chair Set

If you have a question about a source not listed here be sure to check out some of my other home decor posts or just ask and I will do my best to point you in the right direction!

Till next time…

~Alice W.

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*This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for any sales made through them. Full disclosure.

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