Amazingly calm
So I got my first offer on my house today. I’ve written before about staying calm through all of this, especially because sometimes a sure thing may sometimes turn out to be not so much of a sure thing. Even though I’ve told myself not to get excited, that hasn’t stopped from doing so anyway.
The night I finished my house I took myself out and spent too much and ate too good in celebration. When I put the house on the market I had visions of Scott Schneider, an ex-coworker who decided to sell his house himself. As he was hammering the sign into his front lawn a realtor drove by; he sold his house the next day. During that first weekend, when I had three showings, I tried to stay relaxed, knowing it was the first step of a possibly very long journey. But there was a little piece of me that assumed that all three prospective buyers to fall in love and I would have to fend them off with a stick before I was able to sell my house to just one.
So yeah, I’ve been trying to stay calm… but I’ve also been dreaming the dream too. Then came this offer.
I think the biggest factor in me keeping my cool this time is that it’s quite a bit lower than I’d like it to be. Though I’m forced to remind myself that my asking price is “high” for the current market (and my tax appraisal). If I compare there offer to an asking price that might be more appropriate for current conditions it’s not quite as bad, but still low. But not so low that it’s unthinkable that we’ll reach an agreement, so I counter offered.
Now either they balk and walk away, or we haggle. I may be posting sunnier news within the next week or so, but right now it’s all fake money and big talk. For now then, I’m calm.