Message Boards

I have been reading this message board for years. Enjoy it very much.

My daughter recently remarried and they are selling his house. After I visited there one time, I began to talk to them about all I had learned on this board.

He says, "No need to paint--my RE Agent said so". I say house will be on market till pigs fly if you don't fix it up.

He was a single father with 15 year old daughter. So--domestics were not on their horizons at all.

So they agree to turn over the "management" of the house to me, for which, in exchange I can do anything I want to it as long as I pay for what I do.

I went in and scrubbed and scrubbed. My mantra was "If it is ugly, it has to be made pretty OR IT HAS TO GO".

Then I painted most of the house (the bedrooms were ok). Cleaned and cleaned some more. Had a bay window with a nice custom honeycomb blind set but rain had gotten an open window and left a brown mark on the main blind. Took blinds down and made a curtain for the window.

Fixed faucets, replaced this and that. Matched all the switchplates, put up all new light bulbs (that matched). Cleaned fans. You get the idea.

I staged the house (THANKS HGTV) and it looks wonderful.

Got a full price offer yesterday--on the market 37 days.

Houses all around them sitting on market 100, 200 days.

This house is proof of everything ever written on this site about the importance of immaculately cleaning if you want to sell.

I don't think that sil and daughter even realize that my work is what sold the house.

But, I am a happy camper.

Always great news to hear a success story. You also know from the Boards here no successful agent would say no need to fix it up, unless the price was so low it didn't matter.

Good for you you took the bull by the horns, put your knowledge to work, and provided a
happy ending for all.

Congratulations to your family!!!!!

puddin42, You deserve a big trophy saying "Greatest Mother-in Law Ever" (or at least a coffee mug ) from your new son-in-law! But, you are right - the best satisfaction is knowing how much you have helped your daughter's new family even if they don't realize it. Glad to know that reading this message board helped!

Congratulations! You do definitely deserve an award! I hope they at least took you out to dinner to thank you for your time, effort and ability to help sell their house!

Great story, I have never been able to understand as to why most men, don't agree to do updates in a house, YOu actually have to pushe them. Even if they don't do them. Is just the idea.
Congratulations, I am now on the verge of paying for some improvements also and my husband doesn't know it yet, but he is going to get a big surprise, when I disclose what's in the future. LOL

Congrats...hope you receive a nice 'bonus' of some sort...you deserve it!

Puddin,

Not only are you a very smart and savvy lady, but you are the Best Mother-in-Law EVAH!!!

Oh, wow, what a wonderful story!