Great News

Our real estate agent met me out at the Placitas house today to talk about what needs to happen to get it ready for the market. The major remodel is mostly done, but the house is still really rough around the edges.

There are pits in the yard where holes were dug for various reasons and never filled, and dead plants that need removed.

There’s missing baseboard trim and general touchup needed.

Paint mishaps (oops!)

There are stained and gouged places in the walls as a result of various projects.

We’ve got a missing gate,

Old cabinets that need touched up (or the vanity just replaced)

A new front door that was never stained or finished and is now showing water staining

Heater controls that are unreadable and look like the 1960’s (these are in every room, right at eye level).

And the handyman list goes on and on.

John was planning on doing it all himself, and he has been working very hard. But there is still way too much to do, and it’s just not realistic with his work schedule. Meanwhile, we have an enormous amount of belongings at the house that need to get moved out. Just getting moved is going to be about all that we can manage ourselves.

So my agent, who is fantastic, is going to bring in a crew to knock out all the many little interior issues. She’s going to write up the list of items, get them out here for the quote, and oversee the work. All we have to do is write the check. It’s unusual for an agent to do that much, and I’m very grateful.

She’s also sending a yard guy out to fill in the holes, remove the remaining rubble, and basically tidy up the yard. The yard currently looks like the tail end of a construction site, because that’s exactly what it is.

We’re also going to do some work on the long, steep, driveway so it is less intimidating.

After we’ve gotten our junk moved out and the crew has handled all the remaining items, my agent is going to help me stage the house.

Then this house should sell well! We hope. It’s such a relief to have professional help, because I’ve known for awhile that we were in way over our heads.

Maybe tonight I will sleep well!