How we sold our house off Craigslist

Perhaps the title is somewhat misleading.  The house is not, in fact, sold but is "under contract" as they say.  Regardless, our experience merits being recorded.  Oh, and it's a bit of a long story so do get cozy.

Sometime near the first of April, Chris and I felt/decided the time had come for us to move.  Chris and Wes (co-founders of Pasplore.com) absolutely need to be able to work in the same place (and definitely not 3 time zones away).  We needed to get our house on the market quickly in order to catch the high season.  So, like any man with a clear objective before him, Chris went to work getting our family and house ready to move West.  We began packing, selling furniture on Criagslist, booked a moving truck for June 29th (well, actually it was 2 moving trucks in case we decided to go to Boulder instead of Seattle, but that's another story),  hosted a big yard sale, and began talking to real estate agents.  We were encouraged to hear that our little neighborhood was the best selling neighborhood in Durham this year.

It was sometime around the end of April that Chris came down the stairs to tell me he listed our house for sale on Craigslist, "just to test the waters."

Well, with this pictures and a short paragraph, we received 3 emails from interested buyers who wanted to see the house.  The thing is, we weren't ready to show our house to any perspective buyers.  We asked if they could wait 1 1/2 weeks until we wrapped up some final projects we'd procrastinated.  They agreed and we went to work.

A few days later, thanks to fortunate (I have to think divinely inspired) timing, Chris's amazing parents Brent and Marilyn arrived for a visit.  These saintly people spent their vacation time slaving away on our house to get it ready to sell.  Their energy and expertise in all things "handy" were desperately needed and much appreciated.  The first home showing was scheduled the same day they were to fly home.  We were motivated!

Sadly, I don't have pictures from their visit.  The only record of their time with us is this lengthy to-do list of house projects we completed.

• Clean out nasty, dank cellar.  (Marilyn and Lizzy. Yes, the girls braved the spiders, cobwebs, and bugs, and trash from the previous owners)
• Replace the baseboards in the kitchen (Chris and Brent)
• Install light above cellar stairs (Brent...did I mention he studied electrical engineering?)
• Fix the clothes dryer (Hooray!  After weeks of wet laundry strewn about the house, he just popped down to the cellar and figured out what was wrong and how to fix it. How many father-in-laws can do  that?)
• Fix Stella, Chris's Vespa-like scooter that hasn't been working well for some time. (Brent, of course.)
• Paint: doors, baseboards, touch ups, etc (Marilyn)
• Landscaping: weed, trim, dig, plant, mulch, mow, weedwack.  (Lizzy and Marilyn)
• Paint front porch cement.  This one wins the "Biggest-Improvement-Why-Didn't-We-Do-This-Sooner" Award (Lizzy)
• Paint picket fence (Lizzy)
• More painting: Kitchen portico, door,and casing.  (Chris)
• Plumbing: fix leak in apartment kitchen and braving the cellar (Chris and Brent)
• Fix eaves, seal up cracks, crevices, miscellaneous jobs (Chris and Brent)
• Wash windows inside and out (Marilyn)
• Haul the scrap wood, junk, and random cellar items (like an old toilet that has been there who knows how long) to the DUMP.  The neighbors are hopefully a bit less embarrassed of us.
• Buy a new shower curtain and hem it to fit. (Lizzy)
• Keep Esther away from the power saws and out of the wet paint. (All)

Apart from being tired and a bit sore, we did have a nice time together and even managed to go out to eat a few times.  Esther positively loves her grandparents, as do we all.

As we were driving to the airport, Marilyn told us she would hope and pray that our house would sell quickly so we wouldn't have to keep showing it.  Well, her prayers have always been powerful and in this instance things were no different.  The house did sell quickly and here is how it all happened.

MONDAY:
Morning -  Finish final projects, clean the house, shower, take Grandma and Grandpa to the airport.
5:30pm -  Buyer #1's agent and cousin arrive.  Show them the house.  Wonder what they were thinking.  We think they like the house but aren't quite sure.

TUESDAY:
2pm - Show house to Buyer #2, Buyer#2's agent, and a friend.  Assume they aren't interested in the house.
2:30pm - Buyers #1 arrive along with their youngest daughter, agent, and friend.  Everyone is friendly.  We think they like the house.
6:00pm - Receive offer on the house from Buyer #1.  Full asking price but only 24 hours to decide.  A few negotiations (that Chris drives a hard bargain). We notify other buyers, but agree to sign Wednesday by 4pm.

WEDNESDAY
3:55pm - Buyer #2's agent frantically pulling an offer together as we are preparing to sign Buyer #1's offer.  We hold off signing to wait for the other offer.  We are pacing, restless, and amazed.

4:10pm - Receive Buyer #2's offer.  Higher than our asking price, longer due diligence period.  We inform Buyer #1.

6:00pm - Receive counter offer from Buyer #1.  Even higher still than original asking price.  Very short due diligence period, high due diligence payment (ie. money they lose if they back out), and a very prompt closing date. Buyers #1 are out to dinner and ask that they "can toast to signing the contract before dessert is served."  We agree to sign.

6:30pm- Show the house to Buyer #3 who still wanted to see the house "just in case something fall through."

And that, my friends, is how we sold our house off Craigslist for more that we asked and during the worst housing recession of the century.  It may seem like a lucky chance to some, but for Chris and me, it was a gift from God.  As we move forward to the uncertain and un-salaried future in Seattle, it's reassuring to know that God is there and that He has the power to help us.