Sunday, January 11, 2015

Moving, Part Two

Vinyl covered pool tables are so great for sorting papers and for cutting out quilts. With a pool table likely to leave the house, I started to get busy cutting out a quilt for the last grandchild of my late husband. This quilt is a huge challenge,--a Doctor Who quilt with a phone booth on it.

Two people dropped out coming to buy the pool table. I had accepted both offers for $400. The third offer from this virtual yard sale was for $425. Two couples actually came to look at the pool table on Saturday and I gave them the suggestion that they hire professional pool table movers which is how our 1972 pool table was re-felted and set up in our den. While they were interested, they called back and said there was too much involved with moving and setting up a pool table and so they would not be buying it.

My dear friend Sally is always thinking of me. In October she had told a professional about my pool table and he had offered me $1000 on the spot for it. I still had his card where it said "buy-sell-trade." Foolish me I said I wasn't ready in October. You see I was holding on to remaining in my house and the myth that widows shouldn't make any major decisions in the first year after the husband dies.

That very first week in January, before the house was on the market, I did have a call from a buyer's realtor--another connection from my thoughtful friend Sally. I didn't hear back (maybe it was too soon), and so I had my realtor call their realtor. My realtor, Alison Terry,  sent me this text:
The husband thought it was a great property, and the wife initially thought so also. But after discussing what would need to be done for their needs, they decided it was too large a project and more money than they had cash set aside. The agent indicated he might have someone else who would be interested. He will let us know. 
My hopes of a quick sale of the house were dashed.

However, with a phone call yesterday I did sell the pool table for considerable less ($250). Guess who! Yes, that "buy-sell-trade" gentleman above. Why the $750 less price? It turns out my great Montgomery Ward pool table doesn't have replacement parts any more (he already had purchased two of them since October). He will bring me cash and a professional pool table mover will come to get my pool table.

In another week my newly-retired-rocket-scientist-Huntsville-Alabama brother comes and works with Pharis. The big project is taking up the rug and painting the concrete floors. I have a month-long substitute job, but these two men will work on the project while I am teaching. Pharis has already been painting the trim outside along with other maintenance projects.

I hear Pharis and my brother will also play golf. 

9 comments:

  1. I know the realtor said to paint the floor I wonder though, It is not that much $ to get new carpet. we put a good pad under some fairly cheap neutral carpet in our upstairs and had it installed by home depot for about $800 it was a pretty big space. You might be able to pay with credit and have it paid back from the sale.. just a thought. Going in debt is a big thing-- maybe not possible? but brand new carpet is a good seller and neutral is the key. Just was thinking of it. also-- renting rather than buying is so much less responsiblity when you are alone. (another of my thoughts--but in no way am I saying I know best, just thought of it. :) Love you carol!!!!

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    1. Your ideas are right on, Mary! Thanks for your prayers and support!

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  2. I'm glad that you were able to finally move the pool table, Carol. I think they are great things to have, but have heard they are hard to get rid of when people are done with them, just based on their size and feasibility of moving them. At least you got some money for it; in a later blog post I'll be saying how we disposed of things we couldn't sell and that involved basically just giving them away. I'm sorry the potential buyers didn't work out, but God does have the right person to buy that house of yours, of course on his timing and not ours. It is good your brother will be working with Pharis on the house; I'm sure the fellowship will be good for both of them.

    betty

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    1. Today I put a happy memory about the pool table on the Facebook LIKE page for this blog. It was so special. Bob kept score for Sally and my husbands, both of whom had/have short-term memory. I really do put more things on that page than on this blog.

      Can't wait to read how you got rid of stuff before you moved, Betty.

      I gave Pharis my late husband's golf clubs, so it will be great that my brother can teach Pharis how to golf. I really never got into golfing. At one time I really liked tennis, but because of carpal tunnel I don't do things that stress my wrists.

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  3. You know.. my mom was a realtor, she was very successful too. she would always say de clutter, paint/carpet do the 'face lift' things not the things you have to fix cuz they don't work-- but make it look nice and then you can always negotiate the other stuff-- the key is getting people to walk in and think this looks fresh.

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    1. It's like all the things that I didn't have time for as a caregiver are coming back to haunt me. Then you pick up something and you have a grief moment.

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  4. It must be quite overwhelming Carol. :( My heart goes out to you. I hope I am not adding to the burden with my advice. I will write more by email. :)

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  5. Prayers for you as you make these life changes.

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    1. Thanks so much, Linda, Mary and Betty. I do appreciate your prayers. Some new interest in the house from my own contacts, not the realtor.

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