Today’s prompt: SETTLE
“Smelled horribly.”
These two words were part of the first feedback comments we got from a realtor who had shown our house to his or her clients. The realtor was referring to our cats, but until I looked back at the email before writing this post, in my head the recollection was “the house [itself] was horrible.”
It takes a thick skin to read realtors’ comments. I wish this particular one had phrased things differently. There was a way to present the concerns without being so cutting about it.
I suppose from a transaction standpoint it really doesn’t matter to me who settles down in this house next. However, in my mind’s eye I see a family that goes through as many stages as we did. Elementary school. Middle school. High school and graduations. Seeing an elderly relative through two bouts of cancer, countless incidents of letting the cats out, and ultimately their last days before passing away at Hospice House.
*end of five minutes*
Maybe things have worked out this way for a reason. I have long stretches of hours in our home to myself — working from home, working with Wayne on getting it ready to sell, trying to reduce the cat smell. Maybe the house and I are saying goodbye to each other.
I love this house. I love this neighborhood.
I know, blunt realtor aside, it will bring joy to whoever settles here next.
I hardly foresee “horrible” for the next occupant.
Welcome to this week’s Five Minute Friday. Our instructions, via creator Kate Motaung: “Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.” (But I can’t resist spell checking, as you can imagine.)
I am also linking up to Kat Bouska’s site (www.mamakatslosinit.com), under the prompt “Share an instagram image from this month and explain what it means to you.”
*written on my iPhone … all thumbs!
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
Moving is exhausting to the mind, body, and spirit. I’m sorry the realtors were so blunt. Thanks for sharing your viewpoint as a seller. (I’ve purchased three homes in the last 18 years. I hope we can stay put for a while, but the nature of my husband’s job requires that we move about every 6 years.) Have a great week.
It can be exhausting (although the prospect of being out from under a huge payment and all the obligations that come with a big house is pretty promising too). And yeah, blunt is going to happen. This town just isn’t that big and I know lots of realtors so it’s hard not to wonder if it’s someone I know. Which still doesn’t erase the cat smell of course!
It is a lovely home full of memories so naturally it s hard to hear unflattering comments. Best of luck in moving.
Thanks Haralee! We deserve the comments to an extent, but I write what I think/feel so here it is! 🙂
I can’t imagine not hoping a lovely young family settle in your place. It must be so very hard to move with all the history. Hoping your next home will be the beginning of many new and happy chapters too.
I hope so too. There is so much about this house/yard/neighborhood that is custom made for a growing family. However, I’ll take one person with financing too! 🙂
Such a grueling process! Good luck with getting it sold!
Is it ever! Thanks for the support!
I’m sure the right family will find their way to your house. Praying you along this journey friend. Moving is so exhausting. I’m in the 4 spot this week.
I appreciate your prayers. I am sorry I have been such a sporadic visitor to your site; I appreciate your faithfulness in visiting me. <3
Four years ago, we sold our house of 29 years – the place where we brought our girls home from the hospital and raised them through college and marriage. AND we always had cats. I feel ya! 🙂
Right?! I think we need some cat lovers to get interested in this house! 🙂
I feel like a house always becomes a member of the family. It is hard to think about letting it go when so many of your memories are tied up with it. I always dreamed of buying a house and staying there forever but hasn’t happened for us and doesn’t seem to happen very often these days.
Leah @ Confessions of Parenting
Yeah — and in a way times have changed. I’m not sure if I had it to do all over I again I would have taken this same route (big house, big debt). Live and learn I suppose. I try to be happy wherever I am. 🙂