<p>It might be palatable for you, Emaheevul07, and easier to process the message, rather than reacting to the messenger if some of our posts were worded more gently. However, those of us who are older take nothing for granted about whether younger folks have adequate information and act accordingly. It does not matter why the messenger is opining, it is just thoughtful advice. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>I think the posters who voice their concerns genuinely care about you, Ema. I’ve seen my fair share of love birds turning into vicious raptors…</p>
<p>To lighten up the mood:</p>
<p>[What</a> can go wrong in an open house? Everything, readers say | Real Estate | The Seattle Times](<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2018772461_realopenhousestories29.html]What”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2018772461_realopenhousestories29.html)</p>
<p>Have you ever been to an open house from hell? I have. :)</p>
<p>^^^not really, I don’t know Ema and don’t really care what she does. My posts are more for other young readers who may think owning real estate is the thing to do. I think they should consider real estate market in their region and where they are in their life, and certainly buying a real estate with someone who is not your legal partner is a lot more complicated.</p>
<p>BB: “love birds turning into vicious raptors” – I intend to steal that phrase and NEVER EVER give you credit. It’s that good!</p>
<p>Dmd, please feel free to use it. 
there is one favor I will have to ask for in return though - do you still have the link to the fabulous glass artist who produced your custom kitchen cabinet knobs? :)</p>
<p>Oh my, BunsenBurner – what a great article! That’s one of the reasons I haven’t had any Open Houses in our house!!</p>
<p>I told Dstark, but will now share our story with the rest of you since the topic of open houses has come up.</p>
<p>I worked terrifically hard to get my mother’s house ready for sale last year - even painted the kitchen cabinets, did all sorts of repairs and even plumbing myself. </p>
<p>Finally it was ready to go on the market. The realtor advertised the first open house. My H was with the realtor a few minutes before the open house began, standing in front of the windows looking out into the backyard, when one of the very large oak trees in the back yard slowly toppled over across the entire yard.</p>
<p>What? Your DH doesn’t carry a chainsaw around with him?? ;)</p>
<p>He left it in his other pants, jym. :)</p>
<p>I seriously LOL’d, Hayden!!!</p>
<p>emaheevul (dying to know what this means!) —that was quite an overreaction to thoughtful advice from DMD. No one was judging your personal situation.</p>
<p>Years ago, H and I went to look at homes and were in a lovely 100 year old home that oozed charm - til we went in the basement and saw a swastika painted on the wall. And, no, they weren’t Indian, it couldn’t be construed as anything other than what it was. It was “from the previous owners” but they never bothered to paint over it. Uh-huh.</p>
<p>Hayden, I remember that story.</p>
<p>Amazing timing.</p>
<p>Remember- this is the PARENT CAFE. This the place we old geezers get to hang out. Young people should expect parental advice. Em… you want to discuss housing with us- be prepared for our years of wisdom and offering advice. That’s what we do on CC.</p>
<p>Back to houses. It is cheering to hear others know what a pathetic market is, I can relate. Others who can relate to more than two years on the market and expecting low prices. btw- any house above $250-300 K in old city is in the top percentiles for price (there are now at most a handful asking near or greater than one million, at most low hundreds above $500 K). Some big city markets people don’t realize what it is like in middle sized ones- there just aren’t that many buyers in good times. Driving 20 minutes is on the other side of town, 30 minutes out in the countryside. </p>
<p>Good luck trying to downsize. Frustrating to keep a house clean- even with only two people. Needing to leave on vacation with everything ready for a showing “just in case” (and it usually didn’t happen- of course the one time we were out of country without much internet access the real estate agent needed the security code we had given him, sigh- luckily checked emails at an internet cafe and the power interuption came after). Spotless sinks. Generally depersonalized all of the time instead of putting away, replacing stuff on shelves. Not redecorating, spending as little as possible and living with old carpet instead of replacing (if I had known I would have replaced it years ago so we could enjoy it)…</p>
<p>Then there’s the new city and house. Needs work- much more than what we left behind. Have the time and money, but new to area and there’s a learning curve. Makes me glad I didn’t go through carpet replacement- will do it here. Just did a truckload of mulch up north and need to get around to some here now that I know what to use (choice of one- pine bark) and where to get it. Gardening will have to wait- still need names for most of the landscaping, library books aren’t as helpful as I thought (too many similar trees/bushes).</p>
<p>Buying a house isn’t like renting. Not something you want to do every few years. You lack easy mobility. When the market was hot it was too soon for most of us to consider moving- kids in HS stage. Once kiddos are gone it is a burden for those of us who could afford a nice, large house. Too many empty rooms, and if you retire you may as well relocate as well as downsize. We were in our last house nearly 20 years and I figure this one for the same period. If we were to split up or one of us dies this house can work for one. I figure in 20 years selling this house will not be our problem- we will either be dead, in the nursing home or the house will be under water (global warming could flood Florida) so we won’t ever have to go through the house selling process again!</p>
<p>I reserve the right to change my mind in five years more or less- after the memory of the buying-selling-moving-fixing process has faded.</p>
<p>Both houses in my neighborhood just lowered their prices about 5%. One has been on the market about 5 weeks, the other about 2. We are not sellng anytime soon, but I am still bummed - for my neighbors eager to sell and also for the implications on market value for my home. The nicer one has it’s first open this weekend.</p>
<p>5% in 2 and 5 weeks? That’s a pretty quick adjustment.</p>
<p>There’s a house a block a way that’s selling for $100,000 less than I like to think our house is worth. On the minus side it has an ancient (but gorgeous) stove that needs to be lit with a match. On the plus side it has an extra half lot, and some amazing plasterwork on the ground floor ceilings. It’s under contract - it hasn’t been on the market very long. Luckily our house is still worth quite a bit more than we paid for it, and we aren’t going anywhere.</p>
<p>^I would think having an extra half-lot would be a gargantuan plus and the stove would be a miniscule minus.</p>
<p>Those stoves can be renovated. Check out this link: [America’s</a> #1 site for restored vintage antique stoves and refrigerators](<a href=“http://www.antiqueappliances.com/]America’s”>http://www.antiqueappliances.com/)</p>
<p>When I was living in NJ during the week (did it for two years, for my last job), my landlady had one of those huge old gas stoves with six burners. It was an amazing piece of equipment and was original in her 1930 house.</p>
<p>I would throw out anything antique in the kitchen or bathroom (except maybe a bath tub). We have improved those equipments because we want something easier to use and clean. The idea of having to light a stove or burner is just crazy to me. I have come to appreciate very sleek, modern bathrooms.</p>