by Hope
In the last few weeks, the number of calls on the house have picked up dramatically. With the fresh paint, greener outside, reduced price, and increased requests for showings, I am certain the right family will see the house. Or a investor, I suppose. (In fact, the couple who viewed it this past week are supposed to put in an offer. Their realtor called me after the showing. But nothing yet.)
I’ve turned down more showings than I’ve accepted lately due to my availability to get the dogs out of the house. Work and mother/daughter responsibilities have picked up significantly as well.
I wrote a summary of the house situation not to long ago.
Here’s where we are now…
The electric work was completed on Thursday. And the electrician has committed to addressing anything an inspection might bring up at no additional charge. Yeah for that. At the time of writing this, I don’t have the final bill, but it should come in around $1,200.
The interior painting is still in progress. I’m very grateful that my contractor is squeezing me in around other jobs. He’s the same man who has helped me throughout my ownership of this house and I trust him implicitly. That, in and of itself, is worth it’s weight in gold. He is charging me $1,200 for labor and the supplies cost me $278. He has agreed to take a partial payment now. And I will pay the rest when the house sells or sooner.
As soon as the painting is complete, a realtor, a different one that the one I originally chose, is taking over the listing.
I will move out completely the weekend of May 1 and the dogs will be boarded. My stuff will be in my car or in storage. I am taking my plants to Princess apartment for the time being.
The family will be in Georgia for Princess’ college graduation through Mother’s Day. Then I will pick up the dogs from the kennel and head to Texas.
Challenges
In addition to the mental challenges of this season of life, I have now been physically sick for over three months. First the cough that wouldn’t quit, then the flu, and now, it seems like I’ve suddenly developed seasonal allergies. Or have a terrible cold that just won’t go away.
I have no energy, can barely breathe, and don’t sleep well. Getting the house off my plate and getting some stability in Texas will help my physical recovery…I hope.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
For someone who has no fulltime out of the house job, you have zero excuse to be turning down showings (illness aside.). What exactly are your mother/daughter responsibilities? Princess/Beauty are adults, they can manage. Or are you in Texas with your mother? Readers can’t keep up with your timeline.
How are you paying for the electrician, mortgage, bills? Your painter is kind to wait until the house sells, considering you’re stubbornly avoiding hiring a realtor (yet desperate to sell but turning down showings….)
Get back to finance and trying to get out of debt. Honesty, transparency….anything? If not, BAD owners, can we get some bloggers who genuinely are trying to better themselves and get out of debt? This endless cycle of Hope has run it’s course. The avoidance of questions over the years has made it apparent this “writer” has no desire to get out of debt. She’s just earning a couple bucks blogging about her life.
We need a like button
I have to say, I agree on getting some other bloggers who either have, or are willing to learn, some financial competence. The aspect of this that was hard to believe is now getting painful and it seems like family or friends? need to consider some intervention to keep this whole situation from becoming dramatically bad.
Or it is all a manipulation to keep the family helping, but it doesn’t really matter; either way the family is going to wind up having to deal with a middle-aged woman either living on their couch or in her car unless someone intervenes with good sense.
Hell, not even good. Just sense would help.
And for the love of your health, go to a damn doctor.
I think you got a lot of solid advice about selling the house and it was largely ignored. The house should’ve been painted before it was listed anywhere. You missed the opportunity to show it at its peak, and you won’t get that back. Also plans should’ve been made to board your dogs so that you could accept all showings. People do not want to deal with extra hassles from a seller when it comes to buying a house. You often just get one shot with potential buyers. I don’t understand the thought process you’re using to go about this whole transaction.
It’s peak?
Actually, ALL of the local agents I met with me advised me NOT to paint it.
At the rate of $50/day to board the dogs, that would counter the goal of optimizing proceeds from the house.
But I understand what you are saying.
I accept plenty of showings, but won’t give up work time for a showing at this point.
Give up work? You have spent months telling us how easy it is to work from your car with your dogs in tow. So what’s the problem? Go work from your car during showings. And if the issue is that you have to give the showing yourself because you refuse to hire someone who knows what they’re doing, then that’s on you. You either want the house sold or you don’t. Stop with the excuses.
Omg, paint is cheap and no one wants to walk in and see projects that need to be done. You paint the entire house agreeable gray and make it neutral. Man, those agents did you no favors.
It is now done. Color gone. My yellow kitchen gone. My teal room gone.
Couple coming for the second time on Friday…maybe an offer?
Realtor has lined up photography for next week. (Our agreement excludes the couples who have already seen the house.)
You should go to a doctor for something that has lasted this long!!
I’ve been to the doctor more in the last 3 months than I have the last 4 years altogether. Insurance for the win. But no resolution.
Hope, I am really trying to cheer for you and sorry you don’t feel well, but never turn down a showing EVER. Board the dogs during this process if you must. You literally are self-employed and living in your car, so live in your car and show the house. Your priorities and actions continue to be misaligned. I hope you are in counseling.
OMG, throw the dogs in the car, drive to the park and work from your car. This is literally your freaking plan once the house is gone. If you’re self showing, then you put the dogs in the car, let the prospective buyers/agent in and drive to the end of the block until they leave.
That is typically what I do for a showing. But it’s not always a time I can do that. If they are the right buyer, then my alternate times will be taken, if no, they weren’t really that interested. But after this weekend, it’s the realtors issue.
Hi Hope,
I’m a newer reader and just wanted to say I can’t wait to follow along on your road trip! I follow some car camping YouTubers and it looks like so much fun, I love that you’re bringing your dogs too. Don’t let the haters get you down, living differently than the norm will always draw criticism but as long as you’re happy and not doing harm to others, I don’t see what the issue is!